CBDS Delivery Solutions¶

Overview¶

To ship with CBDS through the Ecommerce APIs, a merchant must onboard to use one or more of the delivery solutions listed on this page. A delivery solution determines how parcels arrive at the CBDS Hub and determines whether the Create Shipment API prints a shipping label. All delivery solutions return an end-to-end tracking number.

This page groups delivery solutions by shipment type:

International Outbound
International Inbound
International Returns
Canada Domestic

Switchable Delivery Solutions¶

Pitney Bowes provides “switchable” delivery solutions. Merchants can have multiple delivery solutions associated with their accounts and choose which solution to use for a shipment when issuing the Create Shipment API.

Merchants set up their delivery solutions when onboarding with CBDS. Merchants can add solutions after onboarding by contacting their Pitney Bowes implementation managers.

Select the Delivery Solution when Creating a Shipment¶

When invoking the Create Shipment API, the merchant specifies which delivery solution the shipment uses. The merchant specifies the solution by passing a value through the DELIVERY_SOLUTION option in the shipmentOptions array. The tables below on this page give the values to pass. In the following example, the merchant uses a FIRSTMILE delivery solution.

"shipmentOptions": [ {
    "name": "SHIPPER_ID",
    "value": "9024324564"
},{
    "name": "DELIVERY_SOLUTION",
    "value": "FIRSTMILE"
}, ... ]

International Outbound Delivery Solutions¶

CBDS offers the following delivery solutions for the Create Outbound Shipment API. The availability of a delivery solution depends on the outbound country.

Solution	Does the Create Shipment API Print a Label?	First-Mile Option	In Create Shipment API set DELIVERY_SOLUTION to:
Piece-Level Shipment U.S. outbound	Yes. The API prints a USPS label for delivery to the CBDS Hub.	Either USPS picks up the parcel or the merchant delivers it to USPS.	FIRSTMILE
Bulk Pickup U.S. outbound	Yes. The API prints a PB label for delivery to the CBDS Hub.	Pitney Bowes picks up the parcel. This solution is available for merchants who ship more than 200 parcels a day.	PICKUP_STANDARDLABEL
Drop-Off to PB Facility U.S. outbound	Yes. The API prints the PB label that Pitney Bowes will use to transport the parcel from a PB facility to the CBDS Hub.	The merchant delivers the parcel to the PB facility. The label for delivery to the facility must include the following on the first address line: “Attn: PB Cross-Border.”	PICKUP_STANDARDLABEL
Drop-Off to CBDS U.S. outbound, UK outbound	No. The API does not print a label for this solution. The merchant prints the first-mile label prior to invoking the API.	Either the merchant delivers the parcel to the CBDS Hub or Pitney Bowes picks up the parcel. The merchant prints the first-mile label prior to invoking the API and provides the label’s tracking number when invoking the API. Important Failure to provide the tracking number will result in the parcel being unrecognized at the CBDS Hub.	One of the following: DROPOFF_CLIENTLABEL: The merchant delivers the parcel to the hub. PICKUP_CLIENTLABEL: Pitney Bowes picks up the parcel. DROPOFF_GENERICLABEL PICKUP_GENERICLABEL
Drop-Off to CBDS with Generic Label UK outbound	Yes. The API prints a generic label the merchant uses when delivering the parcel to the CBDS Hub.	Either the merchant delivers the parcel to the CBDS Hub or Pitney Bowes picks up the parcel.	One of the following: DROPOFF_GENERICLABEL: The merchant delivers the parcel to the hub. PICKUP_GENERICLABEL: Pitney Bowes picks up the parcel.
Drop-Off to CBDS with Final-Mile Label Canada outbound	Yes. The API prints the final-mile label for delivery from the CBDS Hub to the final destination.	Either the merchant delivers the parcel to the CBDS Hub or a domestic carrier picks up the parcel. The merchant attaches the final-mile label prior to delivery to the hub.	One of the following: DROPOFF_FINALMILELABEL: The merchant delivers the parcel to the hub. PICKUP_FINALMILELABEL: A domestic carrier picks up the parcel.

International Inbound Delivery Solutions (Canada Only)¶

CBDS offers the following delivery solutions for international inbound shipments to Canada. The solution determines whether the first-mile destination is a U.S. hub or Canadian hub. The solution also determines whether the shipper uses the Batch Container Label API for the container label. Both solutions use the Create Inbound Shipment API to print the final-mile label for delivery from the hub to the destination.

Solution

Does the Create Shipment API Print a Label?

First-Mile Option

In Create Shipment API set DELIVERY_SOLUTION to:

Drop-Off to U.S. Hub

Yes. The API prints the final-mile label.

The shipper containerizes parcels for shipment to a CBDS Hub in the U.S. The shipper prints container labels through the Batch Container Label API.

DROPOFF_FINALMILELABEL

Drop-Off to Canadian Hub

Yes. The API prints the final-mile label.

The shipper containerizes parcels and ships them to a CBDS Hub in Canada. The shipper prints container labels outside these APIs.

DROPOFF_FINALMILELABEL

CBDS Returns Delivery Solution¶

The Create Returns Shipment API always prints a first-mile label for delivery from the local depot to a CBDS Hub. CBDS currently supports returns from Canada to the U.S. When issuing the Create Returns Shipment request, set the DELIVERY_SOLUTION shipment option to FIRSTMILE.

Solution

Does the Create Shipment API Print a Label?

In Create Shipment API set DELIVERY_SOLUTION to:

CBDS Returns Delivery Solution

Yes. The API prints a first-mile label for delivery from a local depot to the CBDS Hub.

FIRSTMILE

Canada Domestic Delivery Solutions¶

CBDS offers the following delivery solutions for domestic shipments within Canada. To ship within Canada, use the Create Domestic Shipment API.

Solution

Does the Create Shipment API Print a Label?

First-Mile Option

In Create Shipment API set DELIVERY_SOLUTION to:

Drop-Off to Local Depot

Yes. The API prints a first-mile label for delivery from a local depot to the CBDS Hub.

The merchant delivers the parcel to the local depot.

FIRSTMILE

Drop-Off to CBDS
with Final-Mile Label

Yes. The API prints the final-mile label for delivery from the CBDS Hub to the final destination.

The merchant delivers the parcel to the CBDS Hub. The merchant attaches the final-mile label prior to delivery to the hub.

DROPOFF_FINALMILELABEL

Bulk Pickup
with Final-Mile Label

Yes. The API prints the final-mile label for delivery from the CBDS Hub to the final destination.

Pickup is available for high-volume shippers. Pitney Bowes picks it up the parcel for delivery to the CBDS Hub. The merchant attaches the final-mile label prior to delivery to the hub.

PICKUP_FINALMILELABEL

Additional Information¶

Merchants can optionally use SFTP instead of the APIs to provide parcel data to Pitney Bowes. For more information, contact your Pitney Bowes representative.