Shipment tracking

How can I learn how to track a shipment?

Being able to track shipments has become an integral part of both business-to-business and business-to-consumer shipping, spurred exponentially by the boom of eCommerce and an increasingly connected world. Therefore, it is to be expected that now more than ever it is vital that people understand not only what shipment tracking entails but also how to track shipments.

Therefore, this section will help to explain not only what tracking shipments entails, but also how shipment tracking works and how you can begin tracking a shipment no matter who your shipment is being handled by, whether it be DHL, DPD, CTT, 4PX, or otherwise!

What is shipment tracking?

In essence, shipment tracking is having the ability to have visibility over the progress of your shipment from dispatch to delivery. Effective shipment tracking will allow you to know where your parcel is and its current status at any point along its journey.

Shipment tracking is now an expected service and therefore included as part of most couriers' services, especially on more premium and express delivery options.

How does shipment tracking work?

Shipment tracking is achieved by assigning a unique tracking code to each shipment, which allows it to be identified along its journey. As the shipment passes between the various depots, processing centers, warehouses, stations, post offices, or different courier and logistics company's, it is then scanned, to confirm either its arrival, delivery, or any other number of tracking 'event' updates. These updates are then sent automatically to tracking applications and the information regarding that update is available to view.

Here is an example:

You are a Chinese merchant with an online eCommerce shop based in China selling protective face masks. You receive an order from France for 2 boxes of masks. You accept the order and then proceed to purchase international parcel delivery services with a logistics company, in this case, the ship from China service. Once you have packaged your order and it has been collected by a local courier partner, it will be processed and assigned a unique shipment tracking number. Using this shipment tracking number on the Ship24 website, both the sender and buyer can track the shipment globally, receiving updates on each stage of the parcel's journey towards its final destination. This provides reassurance to both parties on the progress of the parcel. It is also useful for shipment handlers, who are involved with forwarding tens of thousands of shipments daily.

What is a shipment tracking code?

A shipment tracking code is a combination of letters and numbers created for a parcel when processed by them. You may receive other similar-looking codes with your order confirmation, such as an order reference number or receipt, however, it is only the shipment tracking number you will need to track a shipment. This shipment tracking number will remain with the parcel throughout its journey and be the only information you will need to use when tracking your parcel with Ship24. You do not need to know who is handling your parcel or enter any personal information about yourself or the shipment. With just the shipment tracking number. You can find all the information you need on your parcel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Which methods can I use to track a shipment?

Depending on the carrier, there are several means by which you can track a shipment. However, it is most commonly done over the internet or via telephone number. Originally, shipment tracking was done directly via the courier with which you sent your parcel. This was because earlier on in the parcel delivery sector's development, couriers would be responsible for end-to-end (origin to the final destination) delivery, meaning you could find all the information on your parcel via a courier's website.

However, to satisfy increasing international demand for products, logistical solutions which require many parcel delivery couriers, logistics companies, and national postal services have had to be sought, meaning shipment tracking was becoming more difficult.

This is where Ship24 stepped in, other than a universal, multiple carrier tracking service which provides shipment tracking for thousands of online marketplaces, e-tailers, logistics companies, and couriers all in one place. No more logging in and out of courier sites or switching tracking, millions are now using Ship24 as their go-to tracking service for all their shipment tracking needs.

What does a shipment tracking number provide me with?

A shipment tracking number will give you the ability to get various information about your parcel. Such as:

• Status
• Current Location
• Most recent event date and time
• Current handler (courier / postal company)
• Status Reason

Will my shipment tracking number include an estimated delivery time?

At the point of purchase on a marketplace or with a seller, you should be provided with an estimated delivery time regarding your order. The size, weight, and destination of your parcel (as in the distance from its original point of dispatch), will all have an impact on the speediness of the delivery. Many courier companies, especially express couriers, will offer much faster shipping times than national postal operators.

This is because they will use faster modes of transport for delivery, such as aircraft, and larger companies, in particular, will have more facilities and resources which will ensure faster delivery turnarounds. As mentioned previously, with numerous handlers now involved in the delivery of a single parcel, delivery times can vary depending on the capability of each handler involved. For instance, while dispatch of a parcel from China may be quick with a company like Cainiao, when it arrives in Europe, PostNL may be slow in delivering it to its final destination. Therefore, delivery times are only estimates and it is always advised to check shipment tracking on the Ship24 website to give you the best idea of a package's progress.

Why isn't my shipment tracking number working?

If you are having problems using your shipment tracking number, double-check that you have entered it right into the system, as this is a common problem people have. The best way to avoid this is to copy and paste the number from an email or website but be careful to not include any extra spaces or numbers on either side.