Want to manage your DHL shipments easily and efficiently? Then the DHL app is just what you need. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll have it set up in no time.
Before installing and setting up the DHL app, you should prepare the necessary information from your DHL Business Customer Portal.
Preparations in the DHL Business Customer Portal
Before you get started in ikas, collect the required data:
- Log into your DHL Business Customer Portal.
- Navigate to Contract Data > Contract Items.
- Note down the billing numbers for the following products:
- DHL Paket
- DHL Paket International
- DHL Warenpost
- DHL Warenpost International
- DHL Returns
Installing and Setting Up the DHL App in ikas
Important: Make sure that the weight is correctly specified — both in your products (under Weight) and in the DHL app (under Default KG). The app’s default weight will only be used if no weight is set in the product itself.
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In your ikas dashboard, go to Apps > Appstore and install the DHL Paket Germany App.
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After installation, you’ll find the app under Apps > My Apps. Click Settings to begin the setup.
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Click "Connect" to link your DHL Business Customer Account. Enter and save your DHL Login Credentials.
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Enter the previously noted DHL Account Numbers into the designated fields.
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Managing more than 5,000 DHL shipments per day? Insert your Tracking API Key. You can find more information [here].
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Select your preferred Label Format.
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Choose the Weight Unit for your products.
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All available European countries will be automatically added. Remove any countries you don’t want to generate labels for.
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Enable Email Notifications:
- Send an email notification when the order status changes to Shipped.
- Send an email notification when the order status changes to Ready for Shipment.
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Decide whether the Sender Information should be taken from ikas or from DHL:
- Enabled → pulled from DHL
- Disabled → pulled from ikas
(This also applies to the recipient’s address for returns.)
➡️ Instructions for setting up a sender reference can be found at the end of this support article.
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Set up address verification and return address handling:
- Address Verification is handled by DHL.
- Address Correction is automatically managed by ikas to fix common input errors.
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Configure your Export Settings:
- Decide whether to use the Premium Service for Exports.
- Define the handling of Undeliverable Packages.
- Make sure that Item Description and Country of Origin are added as product attributes beforehand, so they can be selected here.
These fields are necessary for creating Commercial Invoices during export.
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Set up your Return Settings:
- Enable return labels.
- Enter your return billing number.
- Optionally, combine shipping and return labels into a single document.
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Choose per sales channel whether Automatic Label Creation should be enabled.
If disabled, labels must be created manually within each order, and the order status must be updated manually as well.
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Define Default Settings for automatic labels (if enabled):
- Package Type for domestic and international shipments.
- Default Weight (if the product doesn’t specify a weight, the default weight will be used).
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If you don't use automatic label creation, you can manually create package types — including weight — and select them during label printing within the order.
Creating a Sender Reference
You can create a sender reference through your DHL Business Customer Account.
Simply log into your DHL account, navigate to Parcel & Merchandise > Address Book > Senders, and manage your sender references there.
Once you've created a sender reference, you can enable the Sender Reference checkbox in the DHL App Settings within your ikas Dashboard.
Enter the sender reference exactly as created. This way, sender or supplier information will be pulled directly from DHL.
This feature also allows you to print your logo on the DHL label.
Note: If the Sender Reference checkbox is disabled, sender/supplier information will instead be pulled from ikas > Settings > General Settings.
In that case, your logo cannot be printed on the DHL label.
✅ That’s it! Your DHL App setup is now complete.
For any assistance or if you have further questions, please let us know. You can contact us by phone at +49 7361 3893012 or email us at support@ikas.de.