Shipment Tracking Software 101: All You Need to Know

We all know how important shipment tracking is to anyone with shipping needs.

• For E-commerce Businesses:

Need for real-time updates to enhance customer experience.

• For Logistics and Freight Companies:

Requirement for efficient management of multiple shipments.

• For Manufacturers:

Importance of tracking components and raw materials for timely production.

• For Consumers:

Desire for transparency and updates regarding their purchases.

Powerful shipment tracking software can effectively address various tracking demands and challenges for different stakeholders.

Before we dive into how shipment tracking software can serve an individual or a business, let’s briefly introduce what shipment tracking software is and how it works.

What is Shipment Tracking Software?

Shipment tracking software is a digital tool to monitor and manage the movement of goods during the whole shipping process. It gives both businesses and customers real-time updates on the status and location of the shipment.

In fact, instead of a mere tool, shipment tracking software serves as the linchpin that connects diverse stakeholders. 

For carriers, it’s a central place to upload and manage all tracking info from pickup to delivery status; For 3PLs (third-party logistics providers), it’s a must-have tool to run their operations. By integrating with carrier systems and consolidating tracking data 3PLs get visibility and control over the entire transportation process.

For shippers and consignees, it gives them transparency and peace of mind. With notifications and status updates, they can track their shipments and head off any problems that may arise. This level of visibility helps build trust and makes everyone feel informed and in control.

In short, using the shipment tracking software will streamline communication among stakeholders and guarantee on-time delivery.

How Does Shipment Tracking Software Work?

Next, let’s learn about how the shipment tracking software works.

1. Connecting with Carriers

Shipment tracking software starts by linking up with various shipping carriers through APIs. This allows it to gather real-time tracking information directly from each carrier’s system, making sure everything is in sync.

2. Creating a Shipment

When you create a shipment, the carrier generates a unique tracking number. This number is like a digital passport for your package, allowing everyone to follow its journey from start to finish.

3. Tracking the Journey

As the shipment moves, carriers use scanners and GPS technology to capture its location at key points—like when it’s picked up, passed through sorting facilities, and finally delivered. Each time something happens, the tracking information gets updated automatically.

4. Real-Time Updates

Users can access a central dashboard that shows the current status of all shipments. Whether you’re a business owner, a logistics manager, or a customer waiting for a package, you can easily see where your shipment is and when it’s expected to arrive.

5. Stay Informed

The software sends out notifications to keep everyone in the loop. If your package is out for delivery, delayed, or has arrived, you’ll get alerts via email or text. This way, you never have to wonder where your package is.

6. Delivery Confirmation

Once the package is delivered, the carrier updates the status to confirm delivery. Some tracking systems even require a signature or photo to provide proof that the package has reached its destination.

Core Features of Effective Shipment Tracking Software

All-in-one Shipment Dashboard

An all-in-one shipment dashboard offers a simple and intuitive interface that brings together order tracking information from various logistics channels into one central panel. 

Especially for e-commerce businesses, it is not uncommon to have an online store on every popular e-commerce platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Klaviyo. This means multiple sources of logistics information and different carrier partners, which makes a one-stop shipment tracking solution essential.

To make e-commerce easier, TrackingMore offers an integrated shipment dashboard that allows businesses to access tracking information of all their shipments in one place. It gives users a 360° picture of each shipment’s latest status, detailed information, estimated delivery time, etc. 

Through this centralized dashboard, businesses can not only simplify day-to-day operations but also make long-term strategic decisions. For instance, by analyzing past shipping data, businesses can forecast peak shipping times for certain regions or seasons—such as the Black Friday shopping period—and prepare their resources accordingly. This foresight helps ensure they are fully equipped to handle the surge in orders, minimizing delays and meeting customer expectations during high-demand times.

Branded Tracking Page

A branded tracking page is a customized web page where customers can track their orders while staying immersed in your brand’s identity. It can feature your brand’s colors, logos, and messaging. 

A branded tracking page has a singular goal—to strengthen the customer post-purchase experience. 

By offering an order tracking page on your website, customers can track their orders by themselves rather than submit WISMO (Where Is My Order) tickets. By simply inputting the tracking number or order number into the search box, customers can get up-to-date tracking information on their orders. This not only reduces their post-purchase anxiety but also builds their trust in your brand, especially for the first-time customers to your store.

Then what are the benefits of featuring the tracking page with your brand elements?

By offering consistent visual elements and content, such a page connects your brand and customers at a deeper level. It makes order tracking feel like a continuation of the purchase journey and builds enhanced brand recognition as each interaction reinforces familiarity. 

Moreover, you can showcase up-selling or cross-selling products on this page, creating more opportunities for potential purchases.

Automated Shipping Notifications

Automated shipping notification is a must-have feature for an e-commerce-friendly shipment tracking software. 

After a customer has purchased a product, real-time tracking updates are a key touchpoint between the merchant and the customer. These shipment notifications aren’t just a message; they play a crucial role in the customer journey. 

Merchants can choose to send customers a delivery notification only when a shipment is delivered, or they can choose to keep them informed at key delivery points. Imagine if you were a customer, would you choose the former or the latter post-purchase experience?

From the moment a customer places an order, they can’t wait to get the latest news about the order, whether it has been picked up by the carrier, and whether it’s already in transit. If it didn’t arrive on the estimated delivery date, did something happen during the shipping journey? 

Each of these ideas from customers can be a double-edged sword for merchants; they may not be able to tolerate the anxiety and cancel the order, or they may ease themselves and increase their recognition of your brand or even make a second purchase after receiving timely shipping notifications.

With an easy drag-and-drop interface, businesses can customize the notification templates, just like the tracking page. This turns the notifications into an extra marketing channel, where you can showcase your brand and promote best-selling products. TrackingMore is designed to help boost sales growth.

Shipment Tracking API

A powerful shipment tracking API can connect your system or application to multiple carriers’ systems. Businesses can access all the tracking information from multiple carriers through one API, eliminating the need for individual integrations with each carrier’s API, making shipment tracking no more complicated and time-consuming.

When considering the performance of a shipment tracking API, please consider the key factors listed below.

• API Stability: The API must be reliable with minimal downtime. Any disruptions can impact tracking availability and timeliness, which are important for smooth logistics operations.
• Data Accuracy: The API should accurately sync data across multiple carriers, relying on the provider’s ability to handle voluminous data. It should also standardize tracking events from different carriers.
• Data Security: Given that shipment tracking APIs handle sensitive customer and order data, they must comply with strict data security standards. This will help protect privacy and maintain trust.
• Data Fetch Frequency: The API should make frequent data pulls to ensure real-time tracking updates. This is mainly important for time-sensitive or high-value shipments as it will help you manage delivery exceptions efficiently.
• Integration Flexibility: The API should easily integrate with your existing systems, including the ERP and the store’s admin portal. This will quickly streamline operations and ensure smooth data flow.
• Carrier Tracking Support: The API should support your current carriers and offer the flexibility to add new ones as your logistics network grows. This will ensure scalability without added complexity.

TrackingMore offers the best shipment tracking API which is integrated with 1,300+ global carriers including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and China Post. 

With 99.9% API uptime and AI-powered data processing, TrackingMore delivers fast and accurate shipment tracking information for businesses. Plus, TrackingMore offers a range of SDKs on GitHub for easy testing and integration. Migrating from another tracking system to TrackingMore can even take as little as 1-2 business days. 

Our 24/7 customer support is always ready to handle any inquiries or requests, schedule a demo with our logistics expert now!

Benefits of Using Shipment Tracking Software

Using an advanced shipment tracking system offers many advantages to businesses that are taking up this option. These benefits include:

Transparent Shipment Visibility

The shipment tracking software allows you to gain real-time shipment visibility, offering immediate access to their current location, status, and estimated delivery times. This level of visibility ensures that you can proactively manage and respond to any transit issues or delays.

Streamlined Supply Chain Processes

Inefficient supply chain processes can be a major hindrance to business growth. A shipment tracking system changes this by streamlining the supply chain workflow, making each process efficient and effective, like shipping route selection and logistics performance optimization.

Reduced Customer Service Cost

Effective shipment tracking allows customers to find information about their orders without having to ask for help. This means there won’t be a flood of inquiries, you can reduce labor costs, and allow your customer support team to focus on more complex issues.

Improved Customer Experience

In the current market, customers no longer view shipment tracking updates as a bonus feature during their transactions with businesses; instead, they expect it as a fundamental service. Having a reliable shipment tracking system that consistently provides timely and accurate shipment updates helps improve their experience and boost loyalty to your brand.

Strengthened Brand Image

Customizing tracking interfaces with the brand’s identity transforms routine shipment updates into immersive brand experiences, deepening customer engagement and reinforcing brand loyalty. This strategy elevates the brand’s perception by seamlessly integrating brand identity into the post-purchase stage of the customer journey and turns even the simplest interactions into brand affirmations.

How To Choose the Best Shipment Tracking Software?

Not all online shipment tracking software is made equal. The open-source shipment tracking system is free but has limited function. If you operate a long-term business, you will need to use a business-targeted shipment tracking software. 

What any shipment tracking software comprises will depend on what types of clients it serves. For example, dropshippers prefer software integrated with more carriers, while eCommerce merchants may seek a reasonable balance between carrier count and level of customization.

So the software that suits your business is the best. Here’s how to choose the best shipment tracking software for you.

1. Features and Functionality

First, consider if the tracking system has the features and functionalities that are important to your business. The software you choose should have features that can meet your business’s specific shipment tracking requirements. Some must-haves are real-time tracking, multi-carrier tracking, customization features, SMS and email alerts, and data analytics.

2. Compatibility and Integration

Like all software you deploy in your business, shipment tracking software also needs to be compatible. It should be easy to integrate and not require expensive development costs. If you decide to migrate from an old shipment tracking software to a new one, make sure to consider the migration costs like shipment data extraction and transformation fees, if the new shipping statuses match the old ones, and potential system downtime that may affect business operations.

3. Security and Data Protection

Modern businesses cannot risk having shipment tracking software that poses a threat to the security of their systems or leaves their data and that of the customer exposed. Check whether the tracking software you are going for aligns with your company’s data protection policy and complies with renowned international security and data protection standards. 

4. Scalability and Future Growth

A true mark of a successful business is its ambition. Your shipment tracking software should be scalable enough to sustain the future growth of your venture. Assess its scalability in terms of shipment volume, ability to integrate new carriers, and adaptability to logistical changes, ensuring it supports your business’s expansion effectively.

5. Cost and Return on Investment (ROI)

The key factor to consider is how much the shipment tracking software is going to cost your business. Some tracking systems are affordable at first glance but have numerous add-ons that could blow up your budget. Aside from the actual cost you are paying, you also need to consider if the software will enhance your business operations enough to help you recoup the investment.

TrackingMore Can Help Your Business to Thrive

Many well-known international brands such as Shein, Kaufland, and AliExpress have chosen TrackingMore as their shipment tracking partner so that buyers all over the world can receive their packages successfully with peace of mind. Finally, facilitates repeat sales and brand loyalty.

Case Study: Printify

Printify was founded in 2015 and has become a leading print-on-demand platform with over 2 million subscribers who can create and sell custom products worldwide. 

However, the company was facing a big challenge in having a single, centralized system to track orders across its network of printing providers and carriers. This resulted in different delivery times and difficulty in providing customers with order tracking information on time and accurately. 

Specifically, Printify needed:

• A single, centralized system to track orders across multiple printing providers and carriers.
• Solutions to manage different delivery times caused by different carriers used by printing partners.
• Ability to provide order tracking information to customers on time.

In 2021, Printify partnered with TrackingMore to tap into TrackingMore’s global carrier network and shipping data. Since then, Printify has seen significant improvements. TrackingMore’s integration has given Printify more visibility into their shipment process so they can catch potential delays early and develop plans to ensure on-time delivery.

And the numbers don’t lie. Printify has seen a 34% reduction in operational costs and 3x faster customer inquiry resolution.

Learn more about how Printify solves the WISMO dilemma >>>

E-commerce and Beyond

Apart from Printify, TrackingMore’s tracking platform is built for companies of all sizes and industries. 

For online sellers, you can view all your shipments in one dashboard, send automated notifications to your customers, create custom tracking pages that match your brand, and choose different carriers as you need; for logistics service providers or software developers, you can integrate our shipment tracking into your existing systems to boost your services and meet your customers better.

In general, TrackingMore is your partner for logistics, customer experience, and revenue growth. 

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