Package tracking has become a vital part of online business transactions. If you’re not using it, you’re opening yourself up to a whole host of potential problems with customers.
Trackers have completely changed the way the courier industry works, giving real-time information at every stage of the parcel’s journey. It can be used for tracking local and same-day delivery items as well as international ones.
There are a number of package tracking systems available, and different carriers use different ones depending on their needs. Some give a basic overview of the package’s whereabouts and records when it has been picked up and delivered. Others are much more powerful and allow you to track the package at all stages, and others are part of a bigger barcode asset tracking system that saves you the time and resources that a manual inventory count would entail.
If you send out packages regularly, you should be using a carrier that has an online tracking system.
How Your Package is Tracked
For every package, a unique barcode is generated and assigned to that particular package. The barcode is then stored on the tracking system so that all updates can be stored against it, removing the chances for human error and giving detailed information.
These barcode labels are scanned at every step of the delivery process by all those who come into contact with them. When the package is delivered to its final destination, it is scanned again to confirm that you have taken delivery of the parcel.
Once the parcel barcode has been generated and logged with the courier delivery system, it begins its journey to the customer. Depending on the type of system used, the customer can see that the item has been packed, dispatched, collected by the courier Sydney, at the depot, and out for delivery. In some systems, customers can see the exact location of the delivery vehicle and when it is likely to arrive.
If a complex tracking system is being used, then the level of detail is much higher. Some even allow for a more personalized delivery which lets the customer track the delivery in real-time and can even message to rearrange or have the item delivered to a neighbor or at a different time.
Why You Should Use a Tracking Service
Parcel tracking is important for both business and domestic deliveries. If you’re a business, you want to know that your products are being received by customers and if they aren’t, be able to deal with this directly with the carrier company. It’s also a great service to give to your customers. They themselves can track the status of their delivery, giving them greater control and reducing the chances they will contact you for information, tying up your time with customer service issues, and chasing down information from the courier.
From a customer service perspective, parcel tracking is a basic service that they would expect when ordering online. Smartphone technology has made it much easier for customers to keep on top of their deliveries and schedule them around their lives at a time convenient to them.