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Why should you migrate to API v3?

API v3 delivers powerful new capabilities unavailable in v2 to streamline operations, which is especially relevant if you are shipping high volumes or handling complex shipments. A standout improvement is per-parcel customisation for multicollo shipments, allowing you to specify individual weights, dimensions, items, and insurance amounts for each parcel. This removes the API v2 limitation where all parcels in a shipment had to share identical attributes, thereby enhancing accuracy and flexibility. For single-collo shipments, synchronous announcements now return labels instantly within the API response, minimising the risk of rate limiting by combining shipment creation and label retrieval into a single call. This significantly reduces delays caused by multiple API requests to fetch labels. Brand ID is now decoupled from the sender address, enabling more flexible and precise branding management. API v3 allows your entire workflow, from creating orders to printing labels, to be handled programmatically via the API, eliminating the need for manual work in the Sendcloud platform and boosting automation efficiency.

Exclusive API v3 Features

  • Label notes (parcel.label_notes): Print SKUs for pick-and-pack efficiency, customer delivery instructions (e.g., β€œRing the blue doorbell”), or personalised thank-yous.
  • SSCC tracking (parcel.sscc): Monitor pallets or containers across the full supply chain.
  • Native ZPL labels (label_detail.mime_type): Direct carrier ZPL output prevents scanning errors common with converted formats.
  • Delivery scheduling (delivery_dates.handover_at / deliver_at): Notify carriers of planned handover times (ideal for warehouse pickups) and expected delivery to customers.
  • Validate a return: Check that return shipment details are correct before label creation.
  • Manage shop order statuses and custom status mappings for Prestashop v2 integrations.
  • Create, update and delete carrier contracts via the API.
  • More pickup carriers supported for scheduling pickups programmatically.
  • Create an external parcel for tracking.

What’s changed?

Managing orders

In API v3 we’ve introduced a dedicated Orders API to simplify order management. In API v2 these functionalities were spread across the Integrations and Parcels APIs, and some functionalities were only available for certified Sendcloud partners. * This endpoint is only available for certified Sendcloud partners.

Shipping an existing order (creating labels)

The new Ship an Order API in v3 allows you to create a parcel and request a label for an existing order in Sendcloud in one step, both asynchronously and synchronously. In API v2, you could only do this asynchronously.

Shipments API v3 vs Ship an Order API v3

The Ship an Order API is specifically designed to create shipments and request labels for existing orders in Sendcloud, in a single step. In contrast, the Shipments API allows you to create a shipment and request a label in a single step without having an existing order in Sendcloud. Note that the Shipments API supports the following features which are not currently available in the Ship an Order API:
  • synchronous multicollo
  • importing order notes
  • order split
  • shipping rules controls
  • label creation when the order doesn’t exist in Sendcloud
  • sender address support (dynamic)
  • instructions on handling failures stemming from carrier validation errors

Integrations

New in the Integrations API v3, we’ve added the ability to manage shop order statuses and custom status mappings for Prestashop v2 integrations. Custom status mappings allow you to define how your shop order statuses correspond to Sendcloud’s internal status categories, enabling more accurate order processing.

Parcels/Shipments

In API v2, the Parcels API was used to create shipments and request labels. In API v3, this has been replaced by the Shipments API. You can also refer to the following field changes when migrating from the Parcels API v2 to the Shipments API v3: * Native ZPL labels are only supported for a few selected carriers. As of 1/12/2025: Asendia, Bring, BRT, Colis PrivΓ©, Colissimo, DHL eCommerce Benelux, DHL Germany, Inpost Poland, Ontime, PLX Parcel Logistics, Trunkrs, UPS

Returns

In API v2, returns were handled via the Parcels API. In API v3, there is a dedicated Returns API to make managing returns easier. We’ve also introduced the possibility to validate return shipments before creating them.

Contracts

In the v3 version of the Contracts API, we’ve added support for creating, updating, and deleting carrier contracts via the API.

Pickups

In the v3 version of the Pickups API, we’ve expanded support to include several new carriers that were not available in v2. There have also been some field changes between the Pickups API v2 and Pickups API v3. Please refer to the pickup fields section for more details.

Tracking

The Tracking API v2 is replaced with the Parcel tracking API v3, which has an improved response structure, and supports creating external tracking parcels.

Dynamic Checkout

The Dynamic Checkout API v2 is replaced with the Dynamic Checkout API v3, which contains references to the Shipments API v3 instead of the Parcels API v2, and can be used with codes from the Shipping options API. Error responses also now comply with the JSON:API standard for error objects.

Analytics

The Analytics API v2 is replaced with the Analytics API v3 (BETA). Endpoints now live under /analytics/... instead of /insights/..., accept arrays for the carrier, shipping option, and country filters, and shipping methods are replaced by shipping options. Country filters are renamed from_country_code / to_country_code to match other v3 APIs.

Reporting

The Reporting API v2 is replaced with the Reporting API v3, which references shipping options instead of shipping methods, uses from_address_* / to_address_* field naming to match other v3 APIs, and returns errors in the JSON:API format. There have also been some field changes between the Reporting API v2 and Reporting API v3. Please refer to the reporting fields section for more details.

What stayed the same?

Webhooks

There are no changes to webhooks between API v2 and API v3. Additionally, the new Event Subscriptions API (BETA) provides a programmatic alternative for subscribing to parcel events. It supports multiple connection types (webhook, Klaviyo) and configurable authentication, giving you more flexibility than the classic webhook setup.

API v2 endpoints that are compatible with API v3

Some API v2 endpoints don’t yet have an API v3 equivalent, but can still be used together with any API v3 endpoint. Here’s a list of those endpoints:

Field changes between API v2 and API v3

Shipment/Parcel fields

Address fields

Parcel item fields

Shipping methods vs. Shipping products vs. Shipping prices vs. Shipping options fields

Customs fields

Contracts fields

Pickups fields

Reporting fields

The values you can pass in the fields array and the columns that appear in the CSV have been renamed to match the rest of the v3 APIs. The filters object follows the same renames where applicable. announced_after and announced_before are now required.

Dynamic Checkout fields

Sender address fields