"Light" integration with GLS shipping company

We use GLS for shipping, as I'm sure quite a few OC-users do, judging by GLS's European coverage. Would appreciate an extension that allows:

• Calculation of shipping,
• Printing of labels,
• Emailing tracking numbers (links?) to customers in shipped notes

GLS site(s)
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 9/EN/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 1/FR/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 1/PL/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 1/ES/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 2/PT/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 3/DE/1.htm
http://www.gls-group.eu/276-I-PORTAL-WE ... 1/NL/1.htm
http://www.gls-czech.com/
http://www.gls-italy.com/index_noreg.asp
http://www.gls-hungary.com/
http://www.gls-romania.eu/
http://www.gls-slovenia.si/
http://www.gls-slovakia.sk/

GLS are also logistics partners of Parcelforce UK, Swisspost, Norwegian Post etc...

But before such an integration and GLS shipping module, I have a suggestion for light integration built into the core, not only for GLS, but generically for shipping companies.

Essentially, it would be great if a tracking link can be included in the "Shipped" email.

1. Shop owner will configure a URL with 3 parts for each installed language: prefix, tracking number, and suffix
   e.g. In case of GLS, I could say
   English
   Prefix: http://online.gls-hungary.com/tt_page.php?tt_value=
   Suffix: &lng=en&glsco=1
   German
   Prefix: http://online.gls-hungary.com/tt_page.php?tt_value=
   Suffix: &lng=de&glsco=1
2. In the order, when the shop owner selects Order Status as "Shipped" then a textbox is presented, wherein the shop owner can enter tracking number, e.g. 1234567890
3. In the order status updated email (order shipped) a link is included based on order language, e.g.

   Code: Select all

   Tracking: <a href="http://online.gls-hungary.com/tt_page.php?tt_value=1234567890&lng=de&glsco=1">1234567890</a>

   if the order was placed in German

While this concept may be interesting, the first step would be knowing how to obtain the parcel number. Any API documentation you can provide from first post ?

In the light integration, I am proposing that the store owner manually enters the parcel number in a textbox at the time of marking the order as shipped.