If you're shipping physical products from Odoo, integrating with Australia Post or StarTrack eliminates manual label creation, automates tracking number capture, and can calculate shipping rates directly on sales orders. Here's how to set it up.
Integration options
There are several ways to connect Odoo with Australian carriers:
- Odoo Shipping Connector — Odoo has built-in shipping connectors for major international carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL). Australia Post is not included natively, but third-party Odoo modules exist for Australia Post integration.
- Third-party Odoo modules — Several modules on the Odoo App Store provide Australia Post and StarTrack integration. These typically use the Australia Post API to calculate rates and generate labels from within Odoo.
- Shipping middleware — Platforms like Shippit, ShipStation, or Starshipit sit between Odoo and the carriers. You push orders from Odoo to the middleware, which handles carrier selection, rate shopping, label generation, and tracking updates back to Odoo.
- Direct API integration — For businesses with specific requirements, a custom integration using the Australia Post Shipping & Tracking API can be built.
For most Australian businesses, a shipping middleware like Shippit or Starshipit is the most practical approach. They handle multi-carrier rate shopping, label generation, and tracking — and integrate with Odoo via API or connector modules.
Setting up with a shipping middleware (recommended)
Step 1: Set up the middleware account
- Create an account with your chosen shipping platform (Shippit, Starshipit, ShipStation, etc.).
- Connect your carrier accounts — Australia Post, StarTrack, Couriers Please, TNT, etc. The middleware manages all carrier credentials.
- Configure shipping rules — default carrier selection, service level (express vs standard), and packaging defaults.
Step 2: Connect the middleware to Odoo
- Install the middleware's Odoo connector module (available on the Odoo App Store or from the middleware provider).
- Configure the API connection with your middleware account credentials.
- Map Odoo delivery methods to middleware shipping services.
- Set up the sync: orders pushed from Odoo to the middleware, tracking numbers synced back to Odoo.
Step 3: Configure delivery methods in Odoo
- Go to Inventory → Configuration → Delivery Methods.
- Create delivery methods matching your shipping options (e.g., "Standard Shipping", "Express Shipping", "Free Shipping over $100").
- For each method, set the Provider to your middleware connector.
- Configure pricing rules — fixed price, based on weight, based on order value, or fetched in real-time from the middleware.
- Set delivery product — the product that represents the shipping charge on invoices.
Using the integration
- On sales orders — Select the delivery method. If rate fetching is configured, Odoo calculates the shipping cost and adds it as a line item.
- On delivery orders — When the delivery order is validated, Odoo pushes the shipment to the middleware. The middleware generates the label and returns a tracking number.
- Label printing — Print shipping labels directly from the delivery order or from the middleware's dashboard.
- Tracking — The tracking number is stored on the delivery order and can be sent to the customer via email notification.
- Returns — Some middleware platforms support return label generation from Odoo.
Direct Australia Post API setup
If you prefer a direct integration without middleware:
- Register for an Australia Post Developer Account at developers.auspost.com.au.
- Apply for API access — you'll need a Shipping & Tracking API key.
- Install an Australia Post Odoo module (search the Odoo App Store for "Australia Post").
- Configure the module with your API credentials, account number, and default settings.
- The module typically provides: rate calculation from postcode to postcode, label generation (eParcel format), and tracking number retrieval.
Package and weight configuration
- Set weight on each product under the Inventory tab. Accurate weights are essential for rate calculation.
- Configure package types under Inventory → Configuration → Package Types. Define your standard box sizes with dimensions and max weight.
- When processing deliveries, assign products to packages. This information is sent to the carrier for accurate labelling and rating.
Tips for Australian shipping
- Set your warehouse address correctly — this is the "from" address on shipping labels.
- Configure delivery zones if you charge different rates for metro vs regional vs remote areas.
- Consider offering free shipping above a threshold — configure this as a delivery method with a "Free if order amount is above" rule.
- For dangerous goods or oversized items, you may need carrier-specific configurations that go beyond standard API integration.
Shipping integration eliminates manual label creation and reduces shipping errors. If you need help connecting Odoo to your carriers, get in touch.