What You Need to Know About Tracking Packages

The focal point of e-commerce fulfillment is the shipping of goods to customers. For accountability and the easing of customers' minds, package tracking is now a key element of customer satisfaction and an added advantage.

To this end, the majority of customers expect delivery services to provide means of package tracking. Perhaps this is why tracking is free for most delivery services, especially the reputable and popular ones. Due to the importance of package tracking, shipping companies, as well as courier, logistics, and delivery companies, enable customers to track their packages and parcels via their websites and apps. Such enablement platforms have headers 'track my package', 'track package', 'parcel tracking', and 'package tracker'.

So What Is Tracking?

Tracking is the process of locating and monitoring your packages and parcels in real time as they travel from their drop-off points to their final destination. Usually, this is done by using tracking numbers provided by delivery companies. A majority of delivery companies and associated businesses assign and share tracking numbers with their customers. Usually, the package/ parcel tracking number is included in confirmation emails and other emails. Doing so enables customers to track where their packages and parcels are at all times.

Tracking is such an important part of fulfilling e-commerce orders that to be a top-rated seller on some e-commerce websites, a large proportion of their shipments must offer tracking information.

The Process Of Tracking And Delivery

It is one thing for you to have a boon, it is another matter to utilize it. In this section, we shall examine the process of tracking your packages and parcels. Each step from the initial will be touched upon consecutively in the following subsections.

Input Your Tracking Information

The very first step in tracking your package(s) is inputting your tracking information. Sometimes the only information you need to input is the tracking number for the package. Delivery companies have various platforms that enable you to track your package. These platforms include:

●      Text tracking: Reputable delivery companies allow you to track packages with your mobile phone number via text messaging. To use this platform, send a text to the specified number containing the tracking number to receive an automatic update.

●      Delivery company website: Enter the package tracking number and other necessary information directly on the appropriate webpage of the delivery company's website to see the real-time status of a delivery.

●      Mobile apps: Download a courier app, preferably the app of the delivery company you're using on the app store to track packages.

●      External tracking platforms: You can view the tracking info for your packages on platforms that are not made by the delivery company you're using. However, use only trusted and reputable external tracking platforms.

Automated Processing

The delivery company's automated processing and sorting equipment automatically processes and scans your package, before your package reaches the local post office.

The delivery company will also scan barcodes at the delivery depot, otherwise known as a sorting hub. This also occurs at other points of the company’s direction of travel to give customers full visibility when they track packages.

Delivery Depots Sorting

When your package is located at the last delivery depot, it means that your package is at its final stop before it's delivered at your doorstep or a delivery center.  Your package will be on its way after it's placed on a delivery truck.

Last-Mile Delivery

This is the transportation of your package from the closest delivery hub to its final delivery destination.

Delivered Package

At this stage, your package is delivered to the intended destination. As a standard, this will be reflected in your tracking information.

In conclusion, learn as much as possible information about the delivery company before using it. An excellent way to do this is to read the FAQs and reviews about the company. You should also know the delivery company's policy on damaged deliveries and missing goods.