Lovable and UPS API integration: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

 

Creating the UPS API Integration File

 

Create a new file in your Lovable project called upsApi.ts (for example, in your src folder). This file will contain the integration code with the UPS API. Since Lovable does not have a terminal, we use the built‐in browser fetch functionality so no external dependencies need to be installed.

export interface UPSRateRequest {
  origin: string;
  destination: string;
  weight: number;
}

export interface UPSRateResponse {
  rate: number;
  currency: string;
  success: boolean;
}

export async function getUPSRate(requestData: UPSRateRequest): Promise<UPSRateResponse> {
  // UPS API endpoint and credentials
  const endpoint = "https://onlinetools.ups.com/json/Rate";
  const apiKey = "YOURUPSAPI_KEY"; // Replace with your actual API key
  const username = "YOURUPSUSERNAME"; // Replace with your UPS username
  const password = "YOURUPSPASSWORD"; // Replace with your UPS password

  // Construct request payload for UPS Rate API
  const payload = {
    UPSSecurity: {
      UsernameToken: {
        Username: username,
        Password: password
      },
      ServiceAccessToken: {
        AccessLicenseNumber: apiKey
      }
    },
    RateRequest: {
      Request: {
        RequestOption: "Rate",
        TransactionReference: {
          CustomerContext: "Your Customer Context"
        }
      },
      Shipment: {
        Shipper: {
          Address: {
            City: requestData.origin,
            CountryCode: "US"
          }
        },
        ShipTo: {
          Address: {
            City: requestData.destination,
            CountryCode: "US"
          }
        },
        ShipmentWeight: {
          UnitOfMeasurement: { Code: "LBS" },
          Weight: requestData.weight.toString()
        }
      }
    }
  };

  try {
    const response = await fetch(endpoint, {
      method: "POST",
      headers: {
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
      },
      body: JSON.stringify(payload)
    });
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(HTTP error! status: ${response.status});
    }
    const data = await response.json();
    // Extract the rate information from the response.
    return {
      rate: data.RateResponse?.RatedShipment?.TotalCharges?.MonetaryValue || 0,
      currency: data.RateResponse?.RatedShipment?.TotalCharges?.CurrencyCode || "USD",
      success: true
    };
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("UPS API request failed:", error);
    return {
      rate: 0,
      currency: "USD",
      success: false
    };
  }
}

 

Integrating the UPS API Call in Your Main Application

 

Open your main application file (for example app.ts or whichever file handles your application logic) and import the function you just created. Then add code to call this function—perhaps attaching it to an event or running it during a specific workflow.

import { getUPSRate, UPSRateRequest } from "./upsApi";

async function showUPSRate() {
  const requestData: UPSRateRequest = {
    origin: "New York",
    destination: "Los Angeles",
    weight: 5
  };

  const result = await getUPSRate(requestData);
  if (result.success) {
    console.log(UPS shipping rate: ${result.rate} ${result.currency});
    // You can integrate this result into your UI components as needed
  } else {
    console.log("Failed to retrieve UPS shipping rate.");
  }
}

// Example: Call showUPSRate when the related user action occurs (such as clicking a button).
showUPSRate();

 

Configuring Your UPS API Credentials

 

In the upsApi.ts file, you will find placeholder strings such as "YOURUPSAPIKEY", "YOURUPSUSERNAME", and "YOURUPS_PASSWORD". Replace these placeholder values with your actual UPS API credentials. If Lovable supports environment variables, you can set these values externally and access them through your project’s configuration settings.

 

Testing the Integration

 

Since Lovable does not have a terminal, you can test your integration by running your application using the built‐in run option. When the showUPSRate function executes, you should see the logged output in the console. Check the browser’s console or the Lovable log viewer to verify that the UPS rate data is retrieved and displayed correctly.

 

Final Integration Considerations

 

Ensure your project files are saved after making these changes. Each time you make an update, run your application using the Lovable run feature to see the changes in effect. You can also expand this integration by handling UI display for the shipping rate, error notifications, or additional features as required by your project.