Connect Carrier Accounts
Plans: All plansatforms: All Platforms
Connecting your carrier accounts with AfterShip Tracking is imperative for us to retrieve tracking updates for your shipments from the carrier based on the tracking number provided. You will not be able to check shipment updates from your AfterShip Tracking Shipments dashboard if the associated carriers are not connected with your AfterShip account. Follow this help guide to connect all the carrier accounts for which you have pending trackings.
It's wise to connect your carrier accounts before you import your trackings into your AfterShip account.
We notify you about carriers with which you’re not connected via in-app banner, pop-up, and email. Make sure you follow the below-given steps asap whenever you get a notification.
Go to Tracking dashboards > Shipments in your AfterShip Tracking admin
Click Connect account(s) now. You will land on the Carriers settings of your AfterShip account, where you’ll come to know about the carriers you need to connect to to track shipments
Click Connect now and provide the requested details to establish a carrier account successfully.
With some carriers, we have partnerships agreements that allow you to access tracking data directly without needing individual user credentials. While for some carriers you might have to connect your carrier account in order to access tracking information.
For carrier api connections, you must input API key in order to receive tracking updates.
For carrier ftp, sftp and webhook connections, contact our support team for further assistance.
AfterShip Tracking supports Royal Mail integration and is available exclusively for Premium and higher plans.
If your carrier account isn’t connected, AfterShip will not be able to retrieve tracking updates for shipments using that carrier.
Yes, you can connect multiple carriers simultaneously via the Carriers settings page in your AfterShip admin.
No, some carriers have direct partnerships with AfterShip, allowing data access without API credentials. Others may require API keys or support team assistance for FTP, SFTP, or webhook setups.
Royal Mail integration is available only on Premium and Enterprise plans. Upgrade your plan to access this feature.
Reach out to our chat support team immediately with a screenshot of the error for fast resolution.
Carrier connections are required for AfterShip to fetch tracking updates for your shipments.
Connect your carrier accounts before importing tracking numbers to avoid incomplete data.
API key, FTP/SFTP access, or webhook setup may be needed depending on the carrier.
Royal Mail support is exclusive to Premium and above plans.
API (Application Programming Interface) - A secure method for systems to communicate with each other. Used by AfterShip to pull tracking data when an API key is provided by the carrier.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A standard network protocol used to transfer files. Some carriers use FTP to share tracking information with AfterShip.
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) - A secure version of FTP that encrypts the data being transferred. Preferred for sensitive shipping information.
Webhook - A way for apps to send real-time data to each other. Some carriers use webhooks to push tracking updates to AfterShip.
Partnered Carrier - A carrier that has an official data-sharing agreement with AfterShip. Users can access tracking updates without needing to enter credentials.
Overview
Connecting your carrier accounts with AfterShip Tracking is imperative for us to retrieve tracking updates for your shipments from the carrier based on the tracking number provided. You will not be able to check shipment updates from your AfterShip Tracking Shipments dashboard if the associated carriers are not connected with your AfterShip account. Follow this help guide to connect all the carrier accounts for which you have pending trackings.
It's wise to connect your carrier accounts before you import your trackings into your AfterShip account.
Steps you need to follow
We notify you about carriers with which you’re not connected via in-app banner, pop-up, and email. Make sure you follow the below-given steps asap whenever you get a notification.
Go to Tracking dashboards > Shipments in your AfterShip Tracking admin
Click Connect account(s) now. You will land on the Carriers settings of your AfterShip account, where you’ll come to know about the carriers you need to connect to to track shipments
Click Connect now and provide the requested details to establish a carrier account successfully.
With some carriers, we have partnerships agreements that allow you to access tracking data directly without needing individual user credentials. While for some carriers you might have to connect your carrier account in order to access tracking information.
For carrier api connections, you must input API key in order to receive tracking updates.
For carrier ftp, sftp and webhook connections, contact our support team for further assistance.
Additional considerations
AfterShip Tracking supports Royal Mail integration and is available exclusively for Premium and higher plans.
FAQs
1. What happens if I don’t connect my carrier account?
If your carrier account isn’t connected, AfterShip will not be able to retrieve tracking updates for shipments using that carrier.
2. Can I connect multiple carrier accounts?
Yes, you can connect multiple carriers simultaneously via the Carriers settings page in your AfterShip admin.
3. Do all carriers require API keys?
No, some carriers have direct partnerships with AfterShip, allowing data access without API credentials. Others may require API keys or support team assistance for FTP, SFTP, or webhook setups.
4. Why is Royal Mail not available in my plan?
Royal Mail integration is available only on Premium and Enterprise plans. Upgrade your plan to access this feature.
5. I’m seeing an error while connecting a carrier then what should I do?
Reach out to our chat support team immediately with a screenshot of the error for fast resolution.
Key takeaways
Carrier connections are required for AfterShip to fetch tracking updates for your shipments.
Connect your carrier accounts before importing tracking numbers to avoid incomplete data.
API key, FTP/SFTP access, or webhook setup may be needed depending on the carrier.
Royal Mail support is exclusive to Premium and above plans.
Appendix
API (Application Programming Interface) - A secure method for systems to communicate with each other. Used by AfterShip to pull tracking data when an API key is provided by the carrier.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A standard network protocol used to transfer files. Some carriers use FTP to share tracking information with AfterShip.
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) - A secure version of FTP that encrypts the data being transferred. Preferred for sensitive shipping information.
Webhook - A way for apps to send real-time data to each other. Some carriers use webhooks to push tracking updates to AfterShip.
Partnered Carrier - A carrier that has an official data-sharing agreement with AfterShip. Users can access tracking updates without needing to enter credentials.
Updated on: 23/05/2025
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