E-COMMERCE & DELIVERY
Add what3words at checkout to collect precise delivery locations
Get set up in 3 simple steps
1
Select your software
We have plugins available for major platforms and tools.
2
Get an API key
Create a what3words account and select our free tier.
3
Add the what3words extension
Follow the steps to add the what3words extension to your software.
Used by large and small businesses
Prefer to build it yourself?
Our developer pages offer integration guides, API documentation and more to help you create with the what3words API.
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FAQs
Which delivery companies accept what3words?
Many couriers and logistics businesses around the world are delivering more efficiently with what3words, including DPD, DHL, Aramex and Evri (formerly Hermes). See a list of what3words-enabled logistics providers here. If your chosen carrier doesn’t use what3words addresses yet, we still encourage you to add a what3words address field to your checkout page.
There’s no plugin for my platform, can I still add what3words to my checkout page?
Yes, as long as your e-commerce platform allows for customisation of your checkout page, you can use our JavaScript Autosuggest Component. This simply involves adding a script and an HTML element to the page. See this tutorial for help.
Alternatively, you can ask customers to enter their what3words address in the ‘Delivery instructions/additional information’ field at checkout. In this case we recommend adding the following text: ‘Add any additional information for the driver, or a what3words address’. Please note that addresses entered in this way will not be verified by our AutoSuggest technology, so we recommend a full integration for best results.
If you need further support, please get in touch and let our team know what tools or platform you’d like to use what3words on.
How do my customers find their what3words address?
Many people already know the what3words address of their front door, so are prepared to enter it, just like they would a street address.
If they don’t know it yet, they can use the online map at what3words.com or the free what3words app. They should first search their street address, then select the exact 3 metre square of their delivery location – usually a building entrance or delivery bay.
Your social media and newsletters are a great place to encourage customers to find their what3words address, and use it when placing their next order. You’ll find handy resources for this in our communications hub here.
What are the benefits of adding a what3words address field to my checkout?
Adding a what3words address at checkout enables you to collect very precise delivery locations from customers. This makes it easier for couriers to find the exact location, and can reduce delivery times by up to 30%. It also reduces lost parcels, and time-consuming phone calls from drivers asking for directions. In summary, what3words saves e-commerce and delivery companies time and money, and it enables a better customer experience.