Flexport core workflow a

Flexport Core Workflow A: Bookings & Purchase Orders

Overview

The primary Flexport integration path: create purchase orders, book shipments, and track cargo through the supply chain. The API v2 uses RESTful endpoints at https://api.flexport.com with JSON payloads.

Prerequisites

• Completed flexport-install-auth setup
• Understanding of Flexport freight types (ocean FCL/LCL, air, trucking)
• Valid shipper/consignee addresses configured in Flexport Portal

Instructions

Step 1: Create a Purchase Order

const BASE = 'https://api.flexport.com';
const headers = {
  'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.FLEXPORT_API_KEY}`,
  'Flexport-Version': '2',
  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
};

// POST /purchase_orders — create a PO to track inbound goods
const po = await fetch(`${BASE}/purchase_orders`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: 'PO-2025-001',
    status: 'open',
    buyer: { name: 'Acme Corp', address: { country: 'US' } },
    seller: { name: 'Shanghai Supplier', address: { country: 'CN' } },
    line_items: [
      { sku: 'WIDGET-A', quantity: 500, unit_of_measure: 'pieces' },
      { sku: 'WIDGET-B', quantity: 200, unit_of_measure: 'pieces' },
    ],
    cargo_ready_date: '2025-04-15',
    must_arrive_by: '2025-05-20',
  }),
}).then(r => r.json());

console.log(`PO created: ${po.data.id}`);

Step 2: Create a Booking

// POST /bookings — book freight against a purchase order
const booking = await fetch(`${BASE}/bookings`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    freight_type: 'ocean',          // ocean, air, trucking
    incoterm: 'FOB',                // FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP, etc.
    origin_port: { code: 'CNSHA' }, // Shanghai
    destination_port: { code: 'USLAX' }, // Los Angeles
    cargo_ready_date: '2025-04-15',
    purchase_order_ids: [po.data.id],
    wants_freight_management: true,
    wants_customs_service: true,
  }),
}).then(r => r.json());

console.log(`Booking: ${booking.data.id} | Status: ${booking.data.status}`);

Step 3: Track Shipment Milestones

// GET /shipments/:id — once booking is confirmed, a shipment is created
// Milestones include: cargo_ready, departed, arrived, customs_cleared, delivered
const shipment = await fetch(
  `${BASE}/shipments/${booking.data.shipment_id}`, { headers }
).then(r => r.json());

console.log(`Shipment ${shipment.data.id}:`);
console.log(`  Status: ${shipment.data.status}`);
console.log(`  ETD: ${shipment.data.estimated_departure_date}`);
console.log(`  ETA: ${shipment.data.estimated_arrival_date}`);
console.log(`  Legs: ${shipment.data.legs?.length ?? 0}`);

Step 4: Retrieve Documents

// GET /shipments/:id/documents — commercial invoices, bills of lading, etc.
const docs = await fetch(
  `${BASE}/shipments/${shipment.data.id}/documents`, { headers }
).then(r => r.json());

docs.data.records.forEach((doc: any) => {
  console.log(`${doc.document_type}: ${doc.file_name} (${doc.url})`);
});

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Solution
422 invalid port code	Unrecognized UN/LOCODE	Use standard codes like CNSHA, USLAX
400 missing required field	Incomplete booking	Check freight_type, origin_port, destination_port
409 duplicate PO	PO name already exists	Use unique name field or append timestamp
404 shipment not found	Booking not yet confirmed	Wait for booking confirmation webhook

Examples

List All Purchase Orders with Filters

const pos = await fetch(
  `${BASE}/purchase_orders?status=open&per=25&page=1`, { headers }
).then(r => r.json());

pos.data.records.forEach((po: any) => {
  console.log(`${po.name} | ${po.status} | Ready: ${po.cargo_ready_date}`);
});

Update PO Line Items

await fetch(`${BASE}/purchase_orders/${poId}`, {
  method: 'PATCH',
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    line_items: [{ sku: 'WIDGET-A', quantity: 750 }],  // Updated quantity
  }),
});

Resources

• Booking API Tutorial
• Purchase Order API Tutorial
• Shipment API Tutorial
• API Reference

Next Steps

For customs and invoicing workflow, see flexport-core-workflow-b.