How to create Bigcommerce shipping plugin to get online rates from FedEx / UPS / USPS

Creating a BigCommerce shipping plugin to get real-time rates from FedEx, UPS, or USPS requires integration with their respective APIs and implementing the plugin within BigCommerce’s ecosystem. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Understand BigCommerce and Carrier APIs

BigCommerce Developer Documentation

• Familiarize yourself with BigCommerce’s APIs and webhooks:
  BigCommerce Developer Documentation

Carrier APIs

• Obtain API credentials for the shipping carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS). Each carrier has its own developer platform:
  • FedEx: FedEx Developer Resources
  • UPS: UPS Developer Kit
  • USPS: USPS Web Tools

2. Set Up Your Development Environment

• Choose a language/framework to develop the plugin. Common choices include Node.js, Python, or PHP.
• Set up a web server to host the plugin, as it may need to interact with BigCommerce via REST APIs.

3. Develop the Shipping Plugin

Step 1: Authenticate

• Use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate with BigCommerce. Create an API client in your BigCommerce store to get the client ID, client secret, and access tokens.

Step 2: Fetch Order and Address Data

• Use the GET /v2/orders and GET /v2/customers/addresses endpoints to fetch the customer’s shipping address.

Step 3: Connect to Carrier APIs

• Use the carrier API documentation to:
  • Send the origin and destination addresses.
  • Provide package dimensions and weights.
  • Retrieve rate estimates.

Example (FedEx API Request)

{
  "accountNumber": {
    "value": "YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER"
  },
  "requestedShipment": {
    "shipper": {
      "address": {
        "streetLines": ["Sender Address"],
        "city": "Sender City",
        "stateOrProvinceCode": "TX",
        "postalCode": "75063",
        "countryCode": "US"
      }
    },
    "recipient": {
      "address": {
        "streetLines": ["Recipient Address"],
        "city": "Recipient City",
        "stateOrProvinceCode": "CA",
        "postalCode": "90210",
        "countryCode": "US"
      }
    },
    "packages": [
      {
        "weight": {
          "value": 5.0,
          "units": "LB"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Step 4: Calculate and Display Rates

• Parse the response from the carrier API and format it for display in the BigCommerce checkout.
• Use BigCommerce’s shipping settings API to push available shipping methods and rates.

4. Integrate the Plugin with BigCommerce

BigCommerce Shipping Provider API

• Create a custom shipping provider using BigCommerce’s Shipping Provider API:
  • Shipping Provider API Documentation

Webhook for Updates

• Implement a webhook to update shipping rates dynamically whenever the customer modifies the cart or address.

5. Testing and Deployment

• Test the plugin thoroughly:
  • Use sandbox accounts for FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
  • Test various scenarios: invalid addresses, large package sizes, etc.
• Deploy the plugin on your web server and integrate it with your BigCommerce store.

6. Optional Features

• Rate Comparison: Allow customers to compare rates from multiple carriers.
• Label Printing: Extend the plugin to print shipping labels using carrier APIs.
• Tracking: Add shipment tracking capabilities.

Example Tech Stack

• Backend: PHP, Node.js or Python with Express/FastAPI.
• Hosting: AWS, Google Cloud, or Heroku.
• Database: Mysql, MongoDB (if storing configurations) or BigCommerce settings.

If you’d like, I can help you with specific code examples for any of these steps!