What is shipment tracking and why is it important?

In today's world of online commerce, consumers want to know at every moment where the parcel they ordered is and when it will arrive, and to feel reassured by the confidence that the process is underway. That is the purpose of shipment tracking, known by other names such as parcel tracking or tracking.

In this article, we will look at exactly what shipment tracking is, what its purpose is in logistics, what its real benefits are for businesses and individuals, and how we apply it at InPost to improve every delivery.

This is the system or process by which a company or consumer monitors the movements of a parcel, from the moment it leaves the warehouse until it reaches its destination.

For a logistics company, this means visibility over the final delivery chain; for the customer, it means knowing where their purchase is.

Statistics show that most people who shop online use tracking services, when available.

Real-time tracking of a parcel serves several purposes:

• Informing the customer, which reduces the number of requests to customer service;
• Monitoring operations in order to know when a shipment is delayed, and exactly where it is, so action can be taken in time and problems anticipated;
• Analyzing data: tracking reports make it possible to detect problem areas, zones that tend to cause delays, etc.
• Building trust: customers who have access to the status of their order feel more comfortable and assured that everything is going as it should; this improves the shopping experience and loyalty.

For individuals:

• Peace of mind from being able to know the status and location of the delivery;
• Fewer surprises: if the parcel is nearby, the buyer can be ready for delivery; if the parcel is still far away, they will know they cannot expect it in the immediate future.
• Total control: the customer receives notifications, will know when they need to collect their order, etc.

For businesses:

• Fewer incidents: fewer information requests, fewer failed delivery attempts;
• Improved logistics metrics: first-attempt delivery rate, waiting times, costs per new attempt;
• Brand image: offering tracking options gives a positive impression of the store;
• Data collection: knowing which area is most vulnerable to failures, what type of shipments require different logistics, etc.

Real-time tracking is an integral part of the InPost service, for both businesses and individuals. It is a feature available on all shipments, both domestic and international.

The recipient only needs to enter the parcel number, which we provide, on our shipment tracking page to check the status of a parcel in real time and when and where that shipment can be collected. Notifications about important changes in the shipment status are also sent throughout the entire process.

Real-time tracking has become a fundamental resource in today's logistics, for both businesses and individuals. When your customers can check where the parcel is, its status and how they will receive it, the shopping experience improves and logistics operations become more efficient.

At InPost, full visibility is integrated into the shipping service from the very beginning. Contact us to find out more about our business offer and enjoy this competitive advantage in your logistics.

Does the idea of offering a first-class delivery experience sound appealing to you? With InPost you will have real parcel tracking, easy to implement and customer-oriented.