Expedited shipping boosts client satisfaction, especially for eCommerce retailers. A study reported an online flooring company witnessed a 100% increase in customer satisfaction using Dolly Delivery service. This proves why Dolly Delivery API integration has become a popular eCommerce solution.
Dolly* is a popular on-demand delivery service partner from Seattle. Trusted by the likes of Lowe’s and Costco, Dolly retail API empowers retailers to offer same-day delivery of big and bulky products.
For one of our US retail clients, our integration specialists used Dolly API for optimizing their shipping services. After using Dolly delivery service API for months, the client was thrilled seeing positive customer reviews and repeat customers.
This blog explains the detailed Dolly API integration process, its key features, and the benefits the integration offers to eCommerce businesses like yours.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
The Process of Dolly Delivery API Integration: Our Case Study
At The Brihaspati Infotech, we integrated Dolly retail API into one of our client’s websites, thus strengthening the order fulfillment process. They wanted to fasten the shipping of their large and heavy orders and Dolly delivery service was one of the best options in the market.
Let’s walk you through the main steps to the eCommerce delivery API Integration:
Step 1: Secure Dolly API Credentials & Access Tokens
First and foremost, we visited Dolly’s developer portal and registered the client. After completing the documentation, we acquired the Client ID and Client Secret required for OAuth 2.0 authentication.
Additionally, we implemented OAuth 2.0 for secure communication between the client website and Dolly’s API. We used access tokens to authorize API calls.
Step 2: Created Dolly API Endpoints
We created the REST API endpoints for different actions, such as
- Create Delivery Request: Send a JSON payload (item details, addresses, time windows) via a POST request to create deliveries.
- Modify or Cancel Deliveries: Use PUT or DELETE requests to update or cancel deliveries.
- Track Deliveries: Send GET requests to retrieve delivery statuses, with real-time data.
Step 3: Configured API Calls
We created form fields at checkout to capture the necessary data, such as:
- Item details
- Pickup/drop-off locations
- Delivery windows if applicable
Our custom code validates the shipping data entered at checkout. The data is then formatted into JSON before being sent to the Dolly API.
Step 4: Managed API Requests
We used a POST request to send the shipping data to the Dolly API. In return, the Dolly retail API provides real-time shipping quotes and delivery estimates, displayed to users.
Step 5: Set Up Webhooks
We configured webhooks to handle real-time delivery status updates. This setup enabled customers to receive automatic notifications (via SMS/email), with updates displayed on the order tracking page.
Step 6: Tested & Deployed Dolly Delivery API Integration
We used Dolly’s sandbox environment to test API workflows, such as:
- Delivery creation
- Cancellations
- Status updates
Our team deployed the integration to production and monitored API performance using logs or error-handling tools.
Key Features of Dolly Delivery API Integration
- Same-Day Delivery: The Dolly API allows eCommerce platforms to offer same-day delivery service for large and bulky items.
- Real-Time Shipping Quotes: Get instant shipping quotes based on customer location, item size, and delivery windows with Dolly API.
- Proactive Delivery Notifications: The Dolly delivery API supports webhooks and notifications. Therefore, ensuring customers receive real-time delivery updates via SMS or email.
- Efficient Transportation Management System: Modify, cancel, or track shipments through intuitive API requests, streamlining transportation operations.
- Scalability: The Dolly API can scale across multiple locations, turning retail stores into distribution centers for faster local deliveries.
Benefits of Dolly Delivery API Integration
eCommerce delivery is a huge challenge for businesses dealing with heavy and spacious items like household furniture. Dolly API integration simplifies the shipping process by automating many key tasks.
- Improved Customer Experience: On-demand furniture delivery and real-time order updates improve customer satisfaction and retention.
- Faster Delivery: Reduce delivery windows from weeks to hours. Thus, generating potential sales leads for repeat business.
- Operational Efficiency: Automate furniture delivery processes, from booking to tracking. Thus, creating business value with streamlined logistics.
- Increased Sales: Faster furniture delivery leads to more purchases and higher cart conversion rates for sustainable business.
- Scalable: Expand your eCommerce delivery services as the business grows. Thus, turning retail stores into distribution centers.
Upgrade eCommerce delivery with powerful integration solutions like ours. Whether you’re a new or an established retailer, you can rely on eCommerce specialists like us.
Industries That Benefit from Dolly Delivery API Integration
Several industries can benefit from Dolly retail API integration, especially those that rely on scaling up delivery services for complex items. With the automated retail shipping solution, businesses can improve their delivery services and operational efficiency.
Here are some key industries:
E-Commerce
Any online retailer can use Dolly API to provide faster local delivery, improving customer satisfaction rates.
Self-Storage Companies
Dolly delivery API enables storage facilities to offer moving services, improving the customer experience.
Furniture & Appliance Retailers
Dolly delivery API integration offers fast, reliable delivery for heavy appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Home Improvement & Hardware Stores
Home improvement stores selling heavy equipment like tools benefit from same-day delivery services via Dolly API.
Development Challenges During Dolly Delivery API Integration
Our Dolly API integration was successful, but it wasn’t without conquering some challenges. Here are some development challenges we faced during the process:
Handling Complex Data Structures
Proper formatting and validating data (like delivery details) in JSON for API requests was difficult. However, we created robust validation functions to ensure all fields (e.g., item details, addresses) were properly formatted in JSON before sending requests to the API.
Real-Time Error Management
Managing real-time API responses and handling errors (e.g., unavailable delivery slots) was challenging. However, our developers implemented error-handling logic that notified users when issues occurred.
Webhook Integration
Setting up webhooks for real-time delivery updates wasn’t easy. Also. we had to ensure secure communication between the client website and the Dolly API.
Our developers however used retry mechanisms for failed webhook deliveries and tested notification systems for real-time shipping updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dolly delivery API enables eCommerce stores to offer fast, reliable delivery services, including same-day furniture delivery. After integrating, the Dolly retail API helps improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Dolly API is designed for large, bulky items like furniture and appliances. However, it is equally proficient in managing smaller items depending on your delivery needs.
Dolly API offers standard REST endpoints, making it easy to integrate into most eCommerce platforms. However, we would like to analyze your website before going ahead with the integration.
We calculate the cost of API integration after studying various factors, such as the size of your business and the complexity of the integration. For an accurate estimate, please contact our integration specialists today.
Once integrated, you can offer same-day furniture delivery through Dolly delivery API, depending on the availability of drivers and the customer’s location. The API is designed to provide quick delivery options, often within hours, allowing you to offer fast and flexible delivery times.
Schedule a consultation with one of our integration specialists and get started.
*Disclaimer
We would like to clarify that we have no affiliation, association, or endorsement with Dolly or its affiliated companies. Any references made to Dolly, its products, services, or trademarks are solely for informational purposes and do not imply any endorsement or partnership.
Ready to Start Same-Day Delivery with Dolly API Integration?
Integrating Dolly API allows our retail client to offer seamless, same-day shipping for bulky items. Also, this helped expanding store inventory and generate extra sales opportunities for business growth.
Whether you own a warehouse, storage unit, or an online store, Dolly API offers tailored and flexible eCommerce delivery solutions for your business needs. At TBI, we specialize in integrating eCommerce delivery APIs with Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce and other platforms.
Get started today and streamline your logistics with same-day delivery services to meet the growing market demand.
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