# Automatically Send Tracking Information to Customers in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
Losing customers because of poor post-purchase communication is a costly mistake. Automated tracking information delivery is a simple yet powerful way to boost customer satisfaction and reduce support tickets. This guide will show you how to automatically send tracking details to your WooCommerce customers, even if you’re a complete newbie.
Why Automate Tracking Information?
Imagine this: you’ve just made a purchase online. Days go by, and you’re anxiously checking your inbox for updates. Finally, you receive an email—not from the company, but from the shipping carrier—with your tracking information. This is *not* a good customer experience.
Automating this process offers several key advantages:
- Improved Customer Experience: Customers receive immediate updates, reducing anxiety and fostering trust.
- Reduced Support Tickets: Fewer customers will contact you to inquire about their order status.
- Professional Image: Automated email notifications show you’re organized and detail-oriented.
- Increased Sales: Happy customers are more likely to return and recommend your store.
- WooCommerce Order Delivery: This plugin is known for its ease of use and robust features, allowing you to customize email templates and integrate with various Explore this article on How To Add Brand To Woocommerce Product shipping carriers.
- AfterShip: A widely used plugin that integrates with numerous shipping providers, offering automatic tracking updates and branded tracking pages.
- YITH WooCommerce Order Tracking: This plugin provides advanced tracking options, including Google Maps integration for visualizing shipment location.
Methods for Automating Tracking Information
There are several ways to automate sending tracking information, ranging from simple plugins to custom code solutions. Let’s explore the most common and user-friendly options:
1. Using WooCommerce Plugins
This is the easiest and recommended approach for most users. Many plugins readily handle this functionality, often with additional features like order confirmation and shipping notifications.
Popular Plugins:
How it works: After installing and activating the plugin, configure the settings to connect to your shipping provider(s). The plugin will automatically fetch tracking information when an order’s status changes (e.g., “Completed,” “Shipped”) and send an email to the customer.
2. Using Custom Code (Advanced Users)
For those comfortable with PHP and WooCommerce’s architecture, you can implement a custom solution. This offers maximum flexibility but requires technical expertise and careful testing.
Example (Conceptual): This is a simplified example and might need adjustments based on your theme and WooCommerce version. Do not directly copy and paste this code without thorough understanding and testing.
add_action( 'woocommerce_order_status_changed', 'send_tracking_email', 10, 4 ); function send_tracking_email( $order_id, $old_status, $new_status, $order ){ if ( $new_status == 'completed' ) { $order = wc_get_order( $order_id ); $tracking_number = $order->get_meta( '_tracking_number' Explore this article on How To Sort Product By Category In Woocommerce ); //Replace with your tracking number meta key if different $tracking_url = 'https://www.example-shipping.com/track?id=' . $tracking_number; //Replace with your tracking URL format
$subject = ‘Your Order #’ . $order_id . ‘ Has Shipped!’;
$message = ‘Your order has been shipped! Track it here: ‘ . $tracking_url;
wp_mail( $order->get_billing_email(), $subject, $message );
}
}
This code snippet hooks into the `woocommerce_order_status_changed` action. When an order’s status changes to “completed,” it retrieves the tracking number (assuming it’s stored as a meta field `_tracking_number`), constructs a tracking URL, and sends an email.
Choosing the Right Method
For most users, installing a reliable WooCommerce plugin is the easiest and most efficient way to automate tracking information. Custom code should only be considered if you require highly specific functionality not offered by existing plugins.
Remember to always test your solution thoroughly before launching it to your customers. Check for email deliverability, correct tracking links, and overall user experience.
By automating your tracking information process, you’ll create a more positive customer experience, reduce your workload, and build a stronger, more loyal customer base.
