In today’s e-commerce world, keeping customers informed about their shipments is crucial for a smooth shopping experience. If you’re running a WooCommerce store and using UPS shipping services, offering live tracking directly from your store is essential. Whether customers ask, “How do I track a package?” or wonder, “Where is my order?”, providing reliable, real-time tracking gives them the answers they need.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up UPS tracking, manage tracking details, use the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin, and keep your customers updated on their UPS orders.
On This Article
- Why Shipment Tracking Matters for WooCommerce Stores
- How UPS Tracking Works in WooCommerce
- Requirements to Use UPS Tracking in WooCommerce Store
- How to Enable UPS Tracking in WooCommerce
- What Happens Without Automated Tracking in WooCommerce
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why Shipment Tracking Matters for WooCommerce Stores
Order tracking plays a crucial role in the e-commerce experience, especially for WooCommerce store owners using UPS to handle their shipments. It not only benefits customers but also streamlines operations for businesses. Here’s why UPS tracking is essential for your WooCommerce store:
- Customer Satisfaction: Real-time tracking helps customers stay informed about their orders, reducing uncertainty and enhancing their experience.
- Fewer Inquiries: With tracking details, customers can easily check their order status, minimizing “Where is my order?” questions.
- Building Trust: Providing reliable, real tracking updates fosters trust, encouraging repeat business.
- Better Communication: Automatic tracking notifications ensure customers are always aware of their delivery progress.
- Efficient Logistics: Tracking helps store owners monitor shipments and quickly address any issues, ensuring smooth order fulfillment.
How UPS Tracking Works in WooCommerce
UPS Tracking provides real-time updates about a package’s journey from the moment it is shipped until it is delivered. Here’s how the process works:
1. Tracking Number Assignment
When a shipment is created, UPS assigns a tracking number to it. This number is used to identify the package in the UPS system, allowing both the sender and the recipient to track the shipment’s progress.
2. Real-Time Updates
As the package moves through the UPS network, it is scanned at various checkpoints. Each scan updates the status of the package, which includes the following common tracking statuses:
- Label Created: UPS has received the shipment details and is preparing for pickup.
- Shipped/On the Way: The package is in transit and moving toward its destination.
- Out for Delivery: The package is in the final stage of delivery, heading to the recipient.
- Delivered: The package has reached its destination and has been delivered.
3. Customer Notifications
UPS sends automated notifications via email or text, providing updates on the package’s progress, including the UPS tracking number.
4. Tracking via the UPS Website
Customers can track packages by entering the UPS tracking number on the UPS tracking page or mobile app. This gives them access to detailed tracking information, including the current location of their package and expected delivery time.
However, Managing UPS live tracking manually in WooCommerce presents challenges, such as manually sending tracking details to customers, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. This can lead to missed communication, negatively affecting customer experience. Fortunately, the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin automates the real-time tracking process.
Let’s explore how this plugin simplifies UPS tracking services for both store owners and customers.
Requirements to Use UPS Tracking in WooCommerce Store
To track your UPS shipments in your WooCommerce store, you’ll need just a few essentials:
- A UPS Account
To access UPS shipping rates, you’ll need a registered UPS account. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for free on the UPS website. Once your account is active, you’ll be able to get the credentials required for integration.
2. WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin
The WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin with Print Label plugin is the key to displaying live UPS rates in your WooCommerce store. It automatically connects with UPS, retrieves real-time rates based on order details, and displays them at checkout.
With these two things in place, you’re all set to track your UPS shipments seamlessly.
How to Offer UPS Tracking in WooCommerce
To track your UPS shipments in WooCommerce, ensure you have a processed order with a UPS shipping label already generated.
If you haven’t set that up yet:
- To display UPS live rates at checkout, read How to display UPS live shipping rates in WooCommerce.
- To generate UPS shipping labels, visit How to Print UPS Shipping Labels for WooCommerce Orders.
Managing Tracking Details as a Store Owner
As a store owner, you can easily view and manage real-time tracking details from the WooCommerce order page. The plugin generates a tracking ID for each order automatically after generating labels. You can directly click the tracking number to view shipment details.
Or, you can also copy and paste the number to get updated shipment tracking information.
How customers receive tracking details
To send UPS shipping tracking details to customers via email, you can enable the UPS Tracking service in the plugin settings. The plugin also allows you to customize the tracking message that appears in customer emails.
After this, once the order is marked as Complete, the plugin automatically includes the UPS tracking number and a clickable tracking link in the order completion email sent to the customer.
Additionally, customers can track their orders directly from their “My Account” page, where they can view the tracking details for all their purchases.
What Happens Without Automated Tracking in WooCommerce
If you are running a WooCommerce store that sells premium products, like custom jewelry or curated gift boxes, your customers will naturally want to know where their order is every step of the way, especially after dropping serious money.
When you ship with UPS, you will view the UPS tracking page, log into your UPS account, copy the tracking number, go back to the WooCommerce order, and try to figure out the best way to share that info with the customer.
It will be a hassle:
- You will forget to send the tracking number, or remember too late.
- Customers will flood your inbox with “Where’s my order?”
- There will be no consistent place for them to find tracking details.
- It will all just feel messy and make the whole experience feel less professional.
The Solution:
You can install the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin, and everything can change.
- You can just enable the tracking, and the tracking info will automatically be shown to both you and the customer.
- Once you mark the order as completed, the plugin can instantly send a clean, professional email with the UPS tracking number and a clickable tracking link.
- No more manual emails. No more customer confusion. No more dropped balls.
Just a smooth, streamlined process that can save time, cut down on support requests, and give your customers the peace of mind they expect when buying premium products.
Conclusion
Providing accurate tracking is essential for a smooth e-commerce experience, especially when selling premium products. The WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin automates tracking updates, saving you time and ensuring your customers always have the information they need. It’s a simple solution that improves both your operations and your customers’ experience.
For more details or support, contact PluginHive Support.
FAQs
- How many digits is a UPS tracking number?
A UPS tracking number has 18 characters, starting with “1Z.” Store owners get this automatically in WooCommerce. Customers receive it in the order email and can track it in “My Account.”
- How long is UPS tracking information available?
UPS retains tracking info for 90 days (up to 24 months for international shipments). Customers can still view it in “My Account.” Store owners can access it via WooCommerce.
- Is UPS delivery tracking real-time?
Yes, UPS delivery tracking provides real-time updates on your package’s progress. In WooCommerce, customers receive live tracking updates via email and can view the current status directly from their “My Account” page.
- What is the UPS tracking system?
The UPS tracking system provides real-time updates on shipments, allowing you to monitor the journey of packages from dispatch to delivery directly within WooCommerce.
- Can I send tracking updates automatically?
Yes, the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin sends tracking updates automatically once the order status is marked as “Completed,” ensuring timely communication with your customers.
- Can I track UPS packages without a UPS account?
You can track UPS shipments using the tracking number, but a UPS account is required to access shipping rates, generate labels, and integrate the service with WooCommerce.
