WooCommerce courier integration means a fully automated flow: the customer places an order, the AWB is generated automatically, the tracking link arrives by email, and you don't touch anything manually. In this guide we cover the step-by-step configuration for FAN Courier, Sameday, DPD, and Cargus - from official plugin to custom API integration, with a focus on real automation.
At 10 minutes per AWB and 50 daily orders, we're talking about over 8 hours lost every day - a full-time person doing nothing but copying addresses and clicking "Generate". The solution: complete WooCommerce courier integration, with automatic AWB on order status change, real-time shipping cost calculation, and tracking notifications to the customer.
Why you need courier integration in WooCommerce (not just a plugin)
A shipping plugin without proper configuration only solves half the problem. The real difference lies in these components:
Without these components, you only have a shipping method with a fixed price - which means either you lose money (the price is too low) or you lose customers (the price is too high).
FAN Courier WooCommerce - official plugin vs. custom API
FAN Courier integrates into WooCommerce through the official plugin (free) or through direct REST API - the choice depends on your order volume and desired level of automation.
Official FAN Courier plugin
The official plugin (available on WordPress.org as Fan Courier for WooCommerce) offers:
/estimate_cost endpoint)Step-by-step configuration:
client_id, username, password (obtained from your FAN Courier account > API Integrations)When to go with custom API
The official plugin covers 80% of cases. You need custom API integration when:
FAN Courier exposes a documented REST API, with endpoints for /create_awb, /tracking, /delete_awb, and /print. Authentication is done via header with Authorization: Bearer {token}.
Pro: The most mature integration ecosystem in Romania, good documentation, dedicated technical support for high-volume partners.
Con: The admin interface of the plugin could be more intuitive; some advanced options require custom code.
Sameday WooCommerce - easybox and address delivery
Sameday integrates into WooCommerce through the official plugin that covers both address delivery and easybox selection with an interactive map directly in checkout.
Official Sameday plugin
The Sameday Courier Shipping plugin offers:
/api/client/pricing endpoint)Configuration:
API Username and API Password (from your Sameday account > Integrations)Easybox - proper configuration
The easybox component requires special attention. The plugin injects a JavaScript map into the checkout page where the customer selects the locker. Critical points:
Pro: Easybox is a real differentiator - 20-30% delivery cost reduction compared to address delivery. Customers prefer it.
Con: The locker map can slow down checkout on weak connections; requires careful mobile testing.
DPD WooCommerce - configuration and specifics
DPD Romania integrates through the official plugin that covers standard delivery, express delivery, and pickup points - a clear advantage for stores with EU customers thanks to the international network.
DPD integration
The DPD Romania plugin is configured as follows:
clientId)DPD specifics
Pro: Strong international network if you also have EU customers. Growing pickup points network.
Con: Plugin less frequently updated than FAN or Sameday; smaller community in Romania.
Cargus WooCommerce - plugin, API, and costs
Cargus (formerly Urgent Cargus) offers WooCommerce integration through an official plugin and REST API, with competitive pricing for high volumes.
Cargus plugin
The Cargus WooCommerce plugin offers:
Configuration:
API Key, username, and password in the plugin settingsIntegration costs
Cargus does not charge additional fees for API usage. The real costs are:
Pro: Competitive pricing for high volumes; stable and well-documented API.
Con: Smaller pickup point network than Sameday or DPD.
Automatic shipping cost calculation - weight, volume, and zone
Correct shipping cost calculation at checkout directly impacts conversion rate: a price that's too low eats into your margin, a price that's too high drives the customer away.
How the calculation works
Each courier exposes a price estimation endpoint that receives:
_weight field in WooCommerce)(L x W x H) / 6000 (in cm/kg)The courier returns the calculated price, which the plugin displays at checkout.
Proper configuration
Weight (kg), Length (cm), Width (cm), Height (cm) fieldsFixed price vs. calculated price
For stores with similarly sized products (e.g., clothing, cosmetics), a fixed price per zone can be simpler and equally effective:
For stores with varied products (e.g., furniture + accessories), real-time calculated pricing is mandatory.
Automatic AWB in WooCommerce - generation on status change
Automatic AWB generation eliminates the biggest bottleneck in order processing: instead of opening each order and clicking "Generate AWB", the system handles everything on its own.
How to implement automatic AWB
The standard method: a WordPress hook that triggers on order status change:
add_action('woocommerce_order_status_processing', 'generate_awb_automatically');
function generate_awb_automatically($order_id) {
$order = wc_get_order($order_id);
// Courier API call for AWB generation
$awb_number = ''; // courier API response
// Save AWB number in order meta (HPOS-compatible)
$order->update_meta_data('_awb_number', $awb_number);
$order->save();
}
Most premium plugins offer this option natively - you enable it from settings without custom code.
The fully automated flow
Configuring automatic AWB with courier APIs can be complex - especially when managing multiple couriers simultaneously. At Creative Side, we integrate couriers into WooCommerce with automatic AWB generation and tracking for dozens of stores. If you prefer to focus on sales rather than technical configurations, request an estimate.
Common errors with automatic AWB
Integrated tracking - email notifications with tracking link
Integrated tracking in WooCommerce automatically sends the AWB number and tracking link in the status update email, without the customer having to ask.
Implementing tracking in emails
The best courier plugins automatically add the AWB number and tracking link in the WooCommerce status update email. If your plugin doesn't do this, you add it manually:
add_action('woocommerce_email_order_details', 'add_tracking_to_email', 20, 4);
function add_tracking_to_email($order, $sent_to_admin, $plain_text, $email) {
if ($email->id !== 'customer_completed_order') return;
$awb = $order->get_meta('_awb_number');
if ($awb) {
$tracking_url = 'https://www.fancourier.ro/awb-tracking/?awb=' . $awb;
echo '<h2>Parcel tracking</h2>';
echo '<p>AWB number: <strong>' . esc_html($awb) . '</strong></p>';
echo '<p><a href="' . esc_url($tracking_url) . '">Track your parcel</a></p>';
}
}
Tracking links per courier
Each courier has a public tracking page:
https://www.fancourier.ro/awb-tracking/?awb={AWB}https://sameday.ro/#/awb/{AWB}https://tracking.dpd.ro/?shipmentNumber={AWB}https://app.urgentcargus.ro/Private/Tracking.aspx?id={AWB}In a multi-courier implementation, you also store the courier name in order meta, then dynamically build the correct link.
My Account page with tracking
In addition to email, add a tracking section on the "My Account" > "Orders" page. The customer sees the latest order status and can access the tracking link anytime, without searching through email.
Multi-courier - how to manage multiple couriers on the same store
Most online stores in Romania use 2-3 couriers simultaneously - FAN Courier for high volume, Sameday for easybox, DPD for international deliveries. Here are the three main management strategies.
Multi-courier strategies
1. Courier selected by customer at checkout:
The customer chooses between FAN, Sameday, and DPD. Each appears as a separate shipping method, with real-time calculated pricing. This is the most common approach.
2. Courier selected automatically based on rules:
woocommerce_package_rates hook3. Courier selected manually by operator:
For stores with low volume (under 20 orders/day), the operator chooses the courier from admin. Not ideal, but simple.
Technical management
When you have multiple courier plugins active simultaneously:
_shipping_courier (fan/sameday/dpd/cargus), _awb_number, _tracking_urlThis multi-courier integration connects directly to invoice automation with SmartBill - once the AWB is generated automatically, the invoice is issued in the same flow, without manual intervention. If you're in the WooCommerce online store creation phase, plan the courier integration from the start - it's much simpler than adding it later.
Which plugin unifies multiple couriers
There are also "umbrella" plugins that integrate multiple couriers into a single interface:
The advantage: a single AWB management interface. The disadvantage: dependency on a third-party plugin that must keep up with all couriers' APIs.
How to choose the right courier for your store
The choice depends on your store's profile - there is no "best courier", only the right combination:
| Criterion | FAN Courier | Sameday | DPD | Cargus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National coverage | Excellent | Very good | Good | Very good |
| Easybox/lockers | No | Yes (3,000+) | Yes (pickup) | Limited |
| International delivery | Limited | No | Excellent | Limited |
| WooCommerce plugin | Mature | Mature | Medium | Medium |
| Automatic AWB (plugin) | Manual/custom | Yes | Manual/custom | Manual/custom |
| Average parcel price (standard) | 15-22 RON | 14-20 RON | 16-24 RON | 14-21 RON |
For a store that sells predominantly in Romania, the combination FAN Courier + Sameday easybox best covers the needs: FAN for address delivery (volume, reliability) and Sameday for lockers (lower cost, customer preference). If you also have EU customers, add DPD as a third option.
If you want to understand how these integrations affect the performance and conversions of your WooCommerce store, shipping cost and tracking experience are two factors with direct impact. And for an overview of WordPress and WooCommerce development, courier integration is one of the critical pieces in the puzzle of a functional store.
FAQ - WooCommerce Courier Integration
How long does a WooCommerce courier integration take?
For a single courier with an official plugin, basic configuration takes 2-4 hours. A complete integration with automatic AWB, tracking in emails, and real-time cost calculation requires 1-3 days. Multi-courier integration with automatic selection rules adds another 2-3 days of development and testing.
Can I use multiple couriers simultaneously in WooCommerce?
Yes. You install each courier's plugin and configure separate Shipping Zones or parallel shipping methods. The customer chooses the courier at checkout. Alternatively, you use an umbrella plugin (Flavor, WP Desk) or automatic rules that select the courier based on weight, zone, or order value.
What do I do if the courier plugin doesn't support automatic AWB?
You have two options: (1) use a premium plugin that includes this functionality, or (2) develop a custom hook on woocommerce_order_status_processing that calls the courier's API and generates the AWB automatically. The second option requires PHP knowledge and access to the courier's API documentation.
How do I display the easybox option in WooCommerce checkout?
The official Sameday plugin includes an interactive map that is automatically injected into checkout when the customer selects the locker delivery service. Make sure that: (1) you don't have cache on the checkout page, (2) the theme doesn't override the map styles, (3) you're using the classic WooCommerce checkout or verify compatibility with checkout blocks.
How much does courier integration cost for a WooCommerce store?
The cost depends on complexity. Free official plugin + self-configuration: 0 RON (just time). Premium plugin with automatic AWB: 200-500 RON/year. Professional custom integration with automatic AWB, tracking, multi-courier, and automatic rules: 2,000-5,000 RON, one-time. Annual maintenance: 500-1,000 RON for updates and compatibility with new WooCommerce versions.
Need professional courier integration? We configure FAN Courier, Sameday, DPD, or Cargus with automatic AWB and integrated tracking - from plugin setup to custom API integration. Request an estimate and we'll tell you exactly what it involves for your store.
