Short answer: There are several ways to automatically send Bol orders to PostNL— manually (by creating labels separately), through Bol’s own shipping options or the PostNL portal, through a channel integrator (such as ChannelEngine, EffectConnect, or Channable), or through an integration platform like KoneX. Which option is best depends on your order volume and whether you want to connect one or more channels and systems.
Do you sell on Bol and ship via PostNL? If so, you’ll want orders to be automatically routed to your fulfilment center and for the shipping information—including track and trace—to be sent back to Bol—without anyone having to manually enter the data. Manual processing takes time, leads to errors, and results in delayed status updates. KoneX integrates with Bol via Fulfilment by Retailer (FBR): you ship through your own fulfilment partner or warehouse, using PostNL as the carrier. Below, you’ll find an honest overview of the available options and when to choose each one.
What data should you actually link?
Before you choose a method, it’s helpful to know exactly what needs to be transferred between Bol and your fulfilment provider (using PostNL as the carrier):
| Data | From | To | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products | Bulb | Fulfilment | Your fulfilment center knows which items to expect |
| Orders | Bulb | Fulfilment | Automatically prepare orders for picking, packing, and shipping via PostNL |
| Shipments & Track & Trace | PostNL / Fulfilment | Bulb | Bol and the customer can see the status: reported as shipped on time |
| Inventory | Fulfilment | Bulb | Avoid overselling; keep your Bol listings up to date with current inventory |
Please note: Returns are not processed through KoneX, and KoneX uses FBR (Fulfilment by Retailer), not LVB (Logistics via Bol). FBR is the fulfilment model—you handle shipping yourself; the integration exchanges the above data via the relevant Bol interfaces.
Ways to connect Bol to PostNL
1. Manually (create labels individually)
You retrieve the orders from Bol and create the PostNL labels by hand, after which you update the tracking information in Bol. No technical skills are required, but it’s time-consuming and prone to errors. This is manageable with just a handful of orders per day, but becomes unsustainable as soon as you grow or start selling on multiple channels.
2. Bol’s own shipping options / the PostNL portal
Bol and PostNL offer their own tools for creating labels and reporting shipments. Great for shipping labels only, with low volumes and a single sales channel. The limitations become apparent when you need to reconcile inventory across multiple channels, or when orders must first go through your own fulfilment/WMS—in which case, some manual work is still required.
3. A channel integrator (ChannelEngine, EffectConnect, Channable)
If you sell on multiple marketplaces, a channel integrator consolidates your inventory and orders and can manage shipping. This is ideal for multichannel inventory management. If your main goal is to ensure that your orders, shipping, and inventory are in sync between Bol, your fulfilment provider, and your back office, an integration platform is often a better fit—though the two can also complement each other.
4. An integration platform
You connect Bol and your fulfilment system once to an integration platform, which automatically orchestrates the data flows (products, orders, shipments, inventory)—with PostNL as the carrier. Less maintenance, a single overview, and the flexibility to add additional marketplaces, a second carrier, or your ERP later on without having to rebuild anything. This is the KoneX approach: a ready-to-use integration—no custom development required.
Comparison at a glance
| Method | Setup | Maintenance | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | No technical skills | Lots of manual work | Very low volumes |
| Bol / PostNL Portal | Fast, standard | Handmade Items in Stock/Multichannel | Shipping labels only, single channel |
| Channel Integrator | Multichannel Approach | Focused on offerings/channels | Selling on Multiple Marketplaces |
| Integration Platform (KoneX) | Connect once | Centralized, scales with growth | Orders, Shipping, and Inventory in Sync; Growth |
Are you doubting between individual connections and a platform in general? Then also read: Individual connections or an integration platform? How to make the right choice .
How does KoneX do it?
With the Bol – PostNL integration from KoneX, products and orders are automatically transferred from Bol to your fulfilment center, and shipments (with track & trace) and inventory are automatically updated back in Bol—via Fulfilment by Retailer (FBR), with PostNL as the carrier. This way, you ship on time, keep your Bol inventory up to date, and prevent overselling—all without duplicate data entry. You connect each system once and can easily add additional marketplaces, a carrier, or your ERP later on— Integrate Once. Connect Everywhere.
It’s important to be honest: if you don’t sell much and only need shipping labels, the standard shipping option from Bol or PostNL is perfectly sufficient. However, once orders need to go through your own fulfilment process, inventory levels across channels need to be accurate, or you’re selling on multiple marketplaces, an integration platform is generally more reliable and cheaper to maintain.
Related
Be sure to check out KoneX’s Bol ↔ PostNL integration, or read our other integration guides: Integrating Bol with Active Ants (Paxon) and Amazon, or Integrating Bol with your ERP and fulfilment system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know which approach is right for your Bol and PostNL situation? Schedule a no-obligation consultation —we’ll give you honest advice, even if a standard shipping option is sufficient.
