International Shipments & Customs
The DPD Connector supports international shipping including full customs data transmission. This page explains how to configure international shipments and what customs data is required.
When Are Customs Data Required?
| Destination | Customs Data? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic (DE β DE) | β No | Munich β Hamburg |
| EU Single Market (DE β EU) | β No | Munich β Vienna |
| Non-EU (DE β Third Country) | β Yes | Munich β Zurich, London, New York |
EU Detection
The connector automatically detects based on the country code whether it is an EU or non-EU shipment. For EU shipments, no customs data is transmitted.
Setting Up Incoterm Mapping
The Incoterm mapping assigns the appropriate DPD customs parameters to each BC shipment method code.
Opening the Page
- Open the DPD Shipment Setup page
- Click Incoterm Mapping in the action bar
Mapping Fields
| Field | Description | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Shipment Method Code | BC shipment method code | e.g. DAP, DDP, EXW |
| Description | Description (automatically from BC master data) | e.g. Delivered At Place |
| DPD Incoterm | DPD Incoterm code | DAP, DDP, EXW |
| DPD Payment Term | Who pays duties and taxes? | See below |
| DPD Clearance Cleared | Customs clearance status | See below |
DPD Incoterms
| Incoterm | Meaning | Who Pays Duties & Taxes? |
|---|---|---|
| DAP | Delivered At Place | Recipient pays import duties and taxes |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | Sender pays all duties and taxes (total cost) |
| EXW | Ex Works | Recipient bears all costs from the factory |
Which Incoterm to Choose?
- B2C (End Customer Shipping):
DDPβ The customer receives their package without customs surcharges. Best customer experience. - B2B (Business Customer Shipping):
DAPβ The recipient handles customs clearance themselves. Common in B2B trade. - Ex Works:
EXWβ Only in special cases when the buyer organizes everything themselves.
DPD Payment Terms
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DAP | Recipient pays duties and taxes |
| DDP | Sender pays duties and taxes |
| Duties Sender / Taxes Recipient | Sender pays duties, recipient pays taxes |
| Duties Recipient / Taxes Sender | Recipient pays duties, sender pays taxes |
DPD Clearance (Customs Clearance)
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No | No customs clearance (EU single market) |
| Free | Duty-free (e.g. certain product groups) |
| Export Cleared | Export customs declaration completed |
| Transit Cleared | Transit customs declaration completed |
| Import Cleared | Import customs declaration completed |
| Hybrid | Mixed customs clearance |
Example: Mapping for Typical Scenarios
Scenario 1: Shipping to Switzerland (B2C, DDP)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Shipment Method Code | DDP |
| DPD Incoterm | DDP |
| DPD Payment Term | DDP |
| DPD Clearance Cleared | No |
The customer in Switzerland pays nothing upon delivery β all duties and taxes are billed to your DPD account.
Scenario 2: Shipping to UK (B2B, DAP)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Shipment Method Code | DAP |
| DPD Incoterm | DAP |
| DPD Payment Term | DAP |
| DPD Clearance Cleared | Export Cleared |
The business customer in the UK handles import duties and taxes themselves.
Customs Data in the Shipment
For international shipments, additional data is automatically transmitted to DPD:
Shipment Data (ALN MCDPD Shipment Data)
For each international shipment, a record with additional DPD-specific fields is created:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Parcel Type | Type of shipment: Goods or Documents |
| Reason for Export | Export reason: Sale, Return, or Gift |
Export Reasons
| Reason | DPD Code | When to Use? |
|---|---|---|
| Sale | sale |
Regular sale to a customer |
| Return | return |
Return / reverse shipment |
| Gift | gift |
Gift shipment |
Customs Invoice Data (Commercial Invoice)
For non-EU shipments, the connector automatically creates a commercial invoice with the following data:
| Data Field | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Goods Description | Item/Shipment | Description of the goods |
| Goods Value | Order value | Total value of the shipment |
| Currency | Document currency | Currency of the goods value |
| Country of Origin | Item master data | Country of origin of the goods |
| HS Code | Item master data | Harmonized System tariff code |
| Consignee | Recipient address | Name and address of the customs consignee |
Maintain HS Codes
For smooth international shipping, you should maintain the HS Codes (Harmonized System Codes) and countries of origin in your item master data. Missing customs data can lead to delays at customs.
Default Values for International Shipments
In the DPD Shipment Setup, you can configure default values for international shipments:
| Setup Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Default Incoterm | Default Incoterm (used when no mapping exists) |
| Default Payment Term | Default payment terms |
| Default Clearance Cleared | Default customs clearance status |
Fallback Logic
If no Incoterm mapping exists for a BC shipment method code, the connector uses the default values from the setup. This way, international shipping works even without explicit mapping.
Flow of an International Shipment
1. Start label creation
β
2. Connector detects: Non-EU country
β
3. Look up Incoterm mapping
(or use default values)
β
4. Compile customs data:
- Incoterm, Payment Term, Clearance
- Parcel Type, Reason for Export
- Commercial Invoice (goods value, HS code, country of origin)
β
5. Send SOAP request with customs data to DPD
β
6. DPD creates label + customs documents
β
7. Label saved in Business Central
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create a mapping for every shipment method?
No. If no mapping exists, the default values from the DPD Setup are used. A mapping is only necessary if you use different shipment methods with different customs parameters.
What happens if I don't provide customs data?
For non-EU shipments, customs data is mandatory. Without customs data, DPD will reject the shipment and return an error message.
Does the connector support T1/T2 customs documents?
No. The DPD API does not support separate transit customs documents in the current version. For complex customs scenarios, contact your DPD account manager.
Can I change customs data after the fact?
No. Customs data is transmitted to DPD at the time of label creation and cannot be changed afterwards. Create a new label if needed.
Which countries are considered EU?
The connector uses the Business Central country table to determine EU status. Countries with the EU field enabled are treated as single market (no customs data required).