Custom Sendcloud integration development
Appfront builds custom Sendcloud integrations that seamlessly connect your e-commerce operation with Europe's largest shipping platform. Using the official Sendcloud REST API, we build integrations that generate labels, track shipments and handle returns, fully automated from your own systems.
What is a Sendcloud integration?
Sendcloud is Europe's largest shipping platform, founded in Eindhoven and used by more than 27,000 online sellers. The platform brings together over 100 carriers, including PostNL, DHL, DPD, UPS, FedEx and Budbee, under one roof. Sellers generate shipping labels, offer customers track and trace, and manage returns, all from a single central dashboard.
A Sendcloud integration links your web shop, order management system or custom application directly to the platform. Orders are automatically turned into shipping labels, tracking statuses flow back to your customer and return notifications are processed without anyone having to open the Sendcloud dashboard manually.
Appfront builds these integrations to measure using the official Sendcloud REST API. We align the carrier logic, shipping rules and error handling with your specific shipping processes, so you gain more control over your logistics without extra manual work.
Real-time tracking
Shipping statuses from all carriers are sent straight back to your system via webhooks. Your customers always see the up-to-date status of their parcel, without delay.
Automatic labels
Shipping labels are generated the moment an order comes in. The right carrier is selected automatically based on your shipping rules, weight and destination.
Returns portal
Return requests are processed automatically via the Sendcloud Returns API. Customers receive a return label, and you gain immediate insight into which products are coming back and why.
Our development process for Sendcloud integrations
From an initial analysis of your shipping volumes and carrier preferences to a fully working integration with monitoring, every step is aimed at an integration that speeds up your logistics without introducing new complexity.
We map out your current shipping process: which carriers you use, which shipping rules apply, which systems supply orders and how returns are currently handled.
We design the integration layer, determine which Sendcloud API endpoints are needed, set up webhook events, and define the error handling and retry strategy.
Implementation with automated tests per carrier and shipping scenario. You see working builds along the way and can place test shipments in the Sendcloud sandbox environment.
Controlled go-live with validation of labels, tracking and returns. This is followed by ongoing management, with monitoring, alerts on errors and support for carrier changes.
What a Sendcloud integration delivers in practice
Every integration is tailored to your specific shipping process. These are the features we most often build for organisations that want to automate their logistics through Sendcloud.
Label generation & shipping
Orders are automatically converted into shipping labels with the correct carrier. Based on weight, dimensions, destination and your shipping rules, the integration selects the optimal shipping method, without any manual selection.
Track & trace sync
Tracking statuses from PostNL, DHL, DPD and all other carriers flow back in real time to your webshop or order system via Sendcloud webhooks. Customers are kept automatically informed about the status of their parcel.
Returns handling
Customers request returns via the Sendcloud returns portal or through your own interface. Return labels are generated automatically, the return status flows back to your system, and stock is updated as soon as the parcel has been received.
Shipping rules & carriers
Complex shipping logic is programmed into the integration: carrier selection based on country, weight or order value. Special rules for letterbox parcels, pallets, express deliveries or Same Day Delivery are applied automatically.
Checkout integration
Sendcloud's checkout widget, or a custom implementation, lets customers choose from shipping options, pick-up points and delivery times at checkout. The chosen option is passed straight to the integration for label generation.
Reporting & dashboards
Shipping data from Sendcloud is combined with order data in custom dashboards. Insight into shipping costs per carrier, delivery times, return rates and cost per order helps you optimise continuously.
Typical use cases in practice
Depending on your type of organisation, an integration with Sendcloud can look very different. We regularly see four patterns recur, each with its own approach and architecture.
E-commerce webshops
A webshop that ships dozens to hundreds of parcels a day via PostNL, DHL or DPD cannot run on manual label creation. We connect your WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento or Lightspeed environment to Sendcloud so that labels, tracking and returns run fully automatically. See also our e-commerce development.
Marketplace sellers
Sellers on bol.com, Amazon and other marketplaces combine orders from several channels. A Sendcloud integration pulls orders from all your sales channels, generates labels through the right carrier and sends tracking information back to the marketplace platform, all from one central point.
Fulfilment companies
Fulfilment partners ship on behalf of dozens of clients, using different carriers and varying service levels. A custom Sendcloud integration routes each shipment to the right carrier based on the client, service level and destination, with separate reporting per client.
B2B wholesale
Wholesalers and distributors who ship both parcels and pallets to business customers benefit from an integration that selects the right shipping method based on dimensions, weight and delivery time requirements. Delivery addresses and contact persons are automatically taken over from your ERP or CRM system.
Technology we use
We build Sendcloud integrations on modern, well-maintained stacks. The choice depends on your existing technical landscape and preferences, so your team can manage the integration itself or develop it further when needed.
Why choose Appfront for your Sendcloud integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for e-commerce and logistics in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of your shipping process. An integration must not only work technically, but also fit practically with how your warehouse, customer service and administration operate.
With every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your team, or any future supplier, can understand, monitor and extend the integration. No black box, just transparent code with clear logging.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the Sendcloud API specifications and your business logic. This keeps communication short and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during the build, such as carrier rules, fallback scenarios or webhook configurations.
You may also be interested in our broader services in integrations, custom software and web app development.
- Experience with Sendcloud's REST API, webhooks and sandbox environment
- Specialists in e-commerce and logistics integrations
- Custom multi-carrier shipping logic developed
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance for carrier changes and API updates
Security and privacy in Sendcloud integrations
Shipping data contains personal data: your customers' names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. This data falls under the GDPR and requires careful handling. Appfront treats every integration with that as the starting point.
We do not store unnecessary data, we encrypt personal data both in transit and at rest, and we document the data flows so that your record of processing activities remains complete. API keys are stored in a secrets manager and never hardcoded in the application code.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant processing of customer and address data
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege API keys
- Audit logs with traceable shipping and return flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues for errors
- Monitoring and alerting for failed label requests
- Secrets management via Vault, AWS SSM or Azure Key Vault
- Data minimisation: only exchanging the fields that are necessary
Frequently asked questions about Sendcloud integrations
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about custom Sendcloud integrations.
A Sendcloud integration is a technical link that allows your webshop, ERP system or own application to communicate automatically with Sendcloud's shipping platform. Through the official REST API, shipping labels are created, track & trace statuses are synchronised and returns are handled, without manual steps in the Sendcloud dashboard.
A custom integration makes sense when the standard Sendcloud plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify or Magento do not fit your workflows well enough. Think of situations with complex shipping rules, multiple warehouses, a proprietary order management system, or when you want to integrate Sendcloud with ERP or fulfilment software for which no ready-made connector exists.
A simple one-way integration, such as automatically creating labels for new orders, can be operational within two to three weeks. A more extensive integration with bidirectional tracking, a returns portal integration and multi-carrier shipping rules usually takes four to eight weeks. After an initial meeting, we give you a realistic schedule.
We build on the official Sendcloud REST API, using webhooks for real-time status updates. We develop the integration layer in Node.js, Python or PHP, depending on your existing stack. For hosting and scalability, we use Docker, AWS Lambda or Azure Functions. Data storage runs through PostgreSQL or Redis for caching shipping statuses.
The cost depends on the number of systems to be connected, the complexity of your shipping rules, the number of carriers you use and the level of automation you want. Ongoing management, monitoring and support for carrier changes also affect the investment. We always provide a clear quote following a no-obligation analysis of your situation.
Yes. All integrations are developed in line with the GDPR and security best practices. Personal data such as addresses and phone numbers is encrypted in transit and at rest. Authentication runs via API keys with restricted permissions. We minimise the scope of the data exchanged and document the data flows for your record of processing activities.
After going live, we proactively monitor the integration for errors, time-outs and Sendcloud API changes. When carriers are added or the Sendcloud API changes, we adapt the integration in good time. We offer ongoing management with clear SLA agreements, so you can be confident of a stable shipping flow.
Sendcloud is used by more than 27,000 online sellers across Europe. A custom integration is particularly relevant for e-commerce businesses with high shipping volumes, marketplace sellers selling through multiple channels, fulfilment companies shipping on behalf of clients, and B2B wholesalers with complex delivery logistics.
Ready to build your Sendcloud integration?
Tell us which systems you want to connect to Sendcloud and where your current shipping process falls short. We'll help think through the architecture and deliver a working integration that suits your volume, carriers and way of working. A no-obligation first conversation will give you a clear picture of the possibilities within half an hour.