In today’s global ecommerce landscape, parcel tracking has become more than just a convenience—it’s an essential feature for both businesses and consumers. While customers crave transparency, businesses can also leverage tracking data for insights that drive efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. Here are five reasons why parcel tracking is vital and how it benefits everyone involved.
A driver unloading packages from a van for a time-critical delivery.
1. Communication Builds Trust
For consumers, especially those buying from international retailers, tracking offers peace of mind. When customers place an order, they’re making a financial and emotional investment. The ability to track an item reassures buyers that their purchase is moving as expected.
This is especially important for cross-border purchases, where customs delays, exchange rates, and foreign logistics systems add complexity. Parcel tracking helps keep everyone in the loop, even when unexpected delays occur. A tracking tool can allow customers to easily monitor their package’s journey across multiple carriers, ensuring clear communication at each stage.
According to Ordertracker, businesses providing tracking updates are considerably enhancing their customer experience, building trust, and increasing traffic along with revenues, with 90% of customers returning on the website for tracking purposes, and on average 4 times per sold item. Instead of waiting for customers to ask, companies can proactively send email notifications. These automated updates foster loyalty and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases, especially in competitive markets where communication is key to customer retention.
2. Real-Time Data for Disruption Management
While tracking is often seen as a benefit primarily for consumers, businesses can gain significant value from real-time tracking data. Whether it’s a weather-related disruption, a strike, or political instability, understanding when and where delays occur can be critical.
Real-time tracking help businesses stay informed about potential issues. For example, if a storm is expected to hit a key distribution center, companies can take action by rerouting shipments or updating delivery estimates. This not only prevents surprises but also allows businesses to maintain transparency with their customers, which reduces frustration when delays are inevitable.
Tracking data becomes particularly valuable during global events, such as the ongoing impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, where shipments can be delayed or rerouted due to political conditions. Having accurate, up-to-date information lets businesses respond faster and with more agility.
3. Historical Data for Seasonal Planning
Businesses also benefit from the wealth of historical data that tracking systems generate. By analyzing past trends, companies can better prepare for peak shopping periods such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Christmas. Shipping during these times can be a logistical challenge, but knowing when delays tend to occur can help businesses plan accordingly.
With historical tracking data, retailers can forecast demand, adjust shipping expectations, and stock inventory more efficiently. For example, data might show that shipments to certain countries slow down during the summer due to customs staff shortages or during the holiday rush in winter. Armed with this information, businesses can plan ahead, ensuring their customers aren’t caught off guard by delivery delays.
Moreover, having access to reliable tracking platforms allows businesses to set more accurate delivery expectations year-round, further enhancing customer satisfaction.
4. Customs Bottlenecks and Transparency
Customs delays are a major source of frustration for both customers and businesses. Tracking tools can make bottlenecks visible, allowing businesses to intervene and communicate with customers about the cause of any delay. Often, delays occur due to incomplete customs documentation or missing information in shipment details.
For store owners, it’s important to ensure that all customs documentation is accurate and complete before shipping. Many ecommerce platforms, including Shopify and WooCommerce, allow for easy integration with tracking tools, ensuring that documentation is provided digitally to avoid hold-ups.
Tracking systems can pinpoint where packages are stuck, giving businesses and customers insight into the situation. This transparency helps manage expectations and reduces the anxiety that often comes with delayed shipments.
5. Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction
Before modern tracking tools, customers often called companies directly when they had questions about their order’s whereabouts. This not only overwhelmed customer service teams but also led to slower resolutions. Today, tracking provides a more efficient solution for both parties.
Customers can self-serve by checking their tracking numbers online, reducing the number of customer inquiries about order status. Businesses, in turn, can spend less time fielding “Where’s my order?” questions and focus more on optimizing other areas of customer service. Tracking allows retailers to offer seamless tracking without additional work for the customer.
By giving customers the ability to track their orders in real-time, businesses reduce the likelihood of complaints or refund requests. When issues do arise, having the tracking information readily available makes it easier for support teams to resolve them quickly.
Final Thoughts
Parcel tracking is no longer just a luxury—it’s an expectation. Customers want to know where their items are, and businesses benefit from the insights provided by tracking data. Whether it’s improving communication, managing disruptions, or planning for busy seasons, tracking offers critical benefits for both store owners and consumers.
Tracking tools not only offer transparency but also give businesses the ability to optimize their shipping strategies and deliver a superior customer experience. As ecommerce continues to grow, parcel tracking will remain a key component of successful online retail operations.