The short answer

DHL Express (USA) Inc. stopped supporting its Tradeshift connection on October 19, 2026. If you invoice DHL Express in the US, your invoices now need to go through DBNA, DHL's preferred e-invoicing network, or through Basware.

You don't need to build anything or become a network provider yourself. You sign up with a DBNA certified access point, such as DocStudio, and send your invoices through it. Setup takes one short call, and you can start from $9 per user per month.

What DHL's letter means in plain English

If you received the "No invoicing through Tradeshift" letter from DHL Express (USA) Inc., it comes down to four points.

• Tradeshift is off. Invoices sent through DHL's Tradeshift connection no longer reach DHL as of October 19, 2026. If you pay for your own Tradeshift account, ask Tradeshift how they will deliver to DHL now.
• DBNA is DHL's first choice. DHL strongly encourages US suppliers to send invoices over DBNA. Basware is the second option. Emailed PDFs are not on the list.
• "Reach out to your DBNA/Peppol service provider" means: use a DBNA certified access point. If you don't have one yet, you choose one. You don't become one.
• Every invoice needs a DHL reference. Include either a DHL purchase order number or a cost center. Invoices without the right reference can be held up.

Already past October 19? What to do now

If you sent an invoice through DHL's Tradeshift connection after October 19, assume it did not arrive. The fix is simple, but the order matters.

1. Stop sending through the old route. Don't resend the same invoice through Tradeshift or by email.
2. Set up a DBNA connection. Choose a DBNA certified access point and connect to DHL Express (USA) Inc.
3. Send each open invoice once, over DBNA. Use the same invoice number and include the DHL purchase order or cost center.
4. Check unclear cases with DHL. For questions about a specific invoice, DHL's supplier team is at servicetosuppliers.US@dhl.com.

The main risk is duplicates. If the same invoice reaches DHL twice, through different channels, it can slow down payment for both.

What DBNA and an access point are

DBNA (Digital Business Networks Alliance) is the network US businesses use to exchange e-invoices and other business documents in a standard electronic format. Companies don't connect to each other one by one. Each company connects to the network through a certified provider, called an access point.

It works like phone carriers. You sign up with one carrier, and you can call anyone on any other carrier. On DBNA, an invoice travels in four hops:

1. Your company creates the invoice.
2. Your access point (for example, DocStudio) sends it over the DBNA network.
3. DHL's access point receives it.
4. DHL Express (USA) Inc. gets it in its accounts payable system.

The access points exchange documents under DBNA's shared rules. That's why you only need one connection to reach DHL and any other buyer on the network.

DBNA vs Peppol. DHL's letter mentions both. They are separate networks built on the same design. DBNA serves the US, and Peppol is used mainly in Europe and Asia. To invoice DHL Express (USA) Inc., you use DBNA.

You don't need to become an access point

This is the most common point of confusion in DHL's letter. Becoming an access point means getting certified by DBNA and running network connections for other companies. That's work for service providers, not for a carrier or vendor who simply needs to get paid by DHL.

To invoice DHL via DBNA, you only need an account with one certified access point. There's no software to install, no integration to build and no IT team required. If you don't use accounting software, you can type invoices into a web form.

Your options

You have three ways to keep invoicing DHL Express (USA) Inc. The right one depends on what you use today.

If you're setting up something new, a DBNA access point is the most direct route, because it's the channel DHL asks for first.

How to send your invoices to DHL with DocStudio

DocStudio is a DBNA certified access point. Switching takes three steps, and a DocStudio representative works with you from the first call.

1. Book a 15-minute call. Tell us how you invoice DHL today and how many invoices you send.
2. We set up your account. Your representative connects you to DHL Express (USA) Inc. on DBNA, so you don't have to look up or type in DHL's network address. Then we walk you through your first invoice.
3. Send and track your invoices. Enter each invoice in the web form with DHL's PO number or cost center. DocStudio delivers it over DBNA, and you can see the status of every invoice you send

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Our video shows the whole process, from adding DHL as a customer to sending your first invoice.

Common mistakes that delay payment

• Sending the same invoice twice. Don't email a PDF to DHL's old addresses after sending it over DBNA. DHL treats it as a duplicate.
• Leaving out the DHL reference. An invoice without a PO number or cost center can sit on hold.
• Invoicing the wrong entity. Bill DHL Express (USA) Inc., tax ID 94-3380424, not another DHL company.
• Waiting for the old route to come back. DHL's Tradeshift connection is off. Invoices sent there won't reach DHL.

What it costs

DocStudio costs $9 per user per month, including up to 50 documents a month. If you send more, see all plans.

FAQ

Does DHL Express USA still accept invoices through Tradeshift? No. DHL Express (USA) Inc. stopped supporting its Tradeshift connection on October 19, 2026. If you pay for Tradeshift yourself, check with Tradeshift how they deliver to DHL.

How do I send invoices to DHL Express USA now? Through DBNA, DHL's preferred channel, or through Basware. To use DBNA, sign up with a DBNA certified access point such as DocStudio.

What is a DBNA service provider? It's a certified access point that sends and receives e-invoices on the DBNA network for its customers. DHL's letter calls it your "DBNA/Peppol service provider".

Do I have to become a DBNA access point to invoice DHL? No. You only need an account with one certified access point. It delivers your invoices to DHL for you.

Can I still email PDF invoices to DHL? No. Emailed PDFs aren't among DHL's accepted channels, and sending the same invoice by email and over DBNA creates duplicates.

I don't have accounting software. Can I still use DBNA? Yes. With DocStudio, you can type invoices into a web form. Nothing to install, no integration needed.

Is DBNA the same as Peppol? No. They are separate networks with the same design. DBNA is used in the US, and Peppol mainly in Europe and Asia.

Who do I contact about a specific DHL invoice? DHL's supplier team at servicetosuppliers.US@dhl.com.

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If your invoices to DHL Express (USA) Inc. are on hold since the Tradeshift switch-off, we can get you connected over DBNA. Book a 15-minute call, and a DocStudio representative will set up your account and walk you through your first invoice.

Set up DBNA invoicing to DHL

DocStudio is a certified access point on the DBNAlliance network. DocStudio is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by DHL. DHL is a registered trademark of Deutsche Post AG and is used here only to describe DHL Express (USA) Inc.'s published supplier invoicing requirements.

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