Woocommerce How To Send Tracking To Customer

WooCommerce: How to Send Tracking Information to Your Customers and Improve Their Experience

Introduction:

In the world of e-commerce, a smooth and transparent shipping experience is crucial for customer satisfaction. After a customer places an order on your WooCommerce store, they’re naturally eager to know when their purchase will arrive. Manually updating them on the shipping progress can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Thankfully, WooCommerce offers multiple ways to automate the process of sending tracking information, enhancing customer trust and reducing inquiries about order status. This article will guide you through the different options and best practices for effectively communicating shipping details to your customers. By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only improve customer experience but also boost your brand reputation and drive repeat business.

Why Sending Tracking Information Matters

• Builds Trust and Transparency: Sharing tracking details demonstrates that you’re actively managing the order fulfillment process and keeping your customer informed.
• Reduces Support Requests: Customers can check the status of their shipment themselves, freeing up your time to address other concerns.
• Enhances Customer Satisfaction: Knowing where their package is and when it’s expected to arrive reduces anxiety and improves the overall shopping experience.
• Drives Repeat Business: Happy customers are more likely to return to your store for future purchases.
• Helps Manage Expectations: Clear delivery timelines, even with potential delays, minimize frustration and improve customer understanding.

Main Part: Sending Tracking Information in WooCommerce

There are several methods you can use to send tracking information to your WooCommerce customers, ranging from manual entry to fully automated solutions.

Method 1: Manual Entry with WooCommerce Order Notes

This is the simplest approach, suitable for stores with low order volumes. You manually add the tracking number and carrier details to the WooCommerce order and add an order note that is sent to the customer.

Steps:

1. Locate the Order: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to WooCommerce > Orders. Find the order you want to update.

2. Add the Tracking Information: In the “Order details” meta box, find the “Order notes” section.

3. Create an Order Note:

• Select “Note to customer” from the “Add note” dropdown.
• Enter the tracking number and carrier information in the text area. For example: “Your order has been shipped! Tracking Number: ABC123456789, Carrier: FedEx.”
• Click “Add Note”.

Pros:

• Simple and requires no additional plugins.
• Suitable for low-volume stores.

Cons:

• Time-consuming for larger order volumes.
• Prone to human error.
• Doesn’t provide a direct link to the tracking page (customers must manually copy and paste the tracking number).

Method 2: Using a WooCommerce Shipping Tracking Plugin

Several plugins automate the process of adding and sending tracking information to your customers. These plugins typically integrate with popular shipping carriers and provide a more seamless experience. Some popular options include:

• WooCommerce Shipment Tracking: A free and widely used plugin that allows you to add tracking information to orders and automatically send it to customers.
• AfterShip Tracking – WooCommerce: Integrates with AfterShip for automatic tracking number updates and email notifications.
• TrackingMore WooCommerce Tracking Plugin: This plugin allows to automatically import tracking number from CSV, Google Sheet, API or FTP.

Example: Using WooCommerce Shipment Tracking Plugin:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “WooCommerce Shipment Tracking,” install, and activate the plugin.

2. Configure the Plugin (Optional): Some plugins may offer configuration options under WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping or a dedicated settings page. These options often allow you to customize the email template and integrate with specific carriers.

3. Add Tracking Information to the Order: When editing an order, you’ll find new fields for entering the tracking number and carrier information. The customer will be notified automatically, and you can customize the tracking message they receive.

4. View Tracking Information in Account Area: Most tracking plugins add the tracking information to the account area of logged in customers.

Example code (Hypothetical example for interacting with a tracking plugin API – *This may not work without specific API integration*):

<?php
// Get the order ID
$order_id = 123;

// Get the tracking number (assuming it’s stored in a custom field)

$tracking_number = get_post_meta( $order_id, ‘_tracking_number’, true );

// Get the shipping carrier (assuming it’s stored in a custom field)

$shipping_carrier = get_post_meta( $order_id, ‘_shipping_carrier’, true );

// Create a link to the tracking page (replace with the actual URL format of the carrier)

$tracking_url = ‘https://examplecarrier.com/track?tracking_number=’ . $tracking_number;

// Build the tracking message

$tracking_message = “Your order has shipped! You can track it here: ” . $tracking_url;

// Add a note to the order (and send to the customer)

$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

$order->add_order_note( $tracking_message, true ); // true sends email to customer

?>

Pros:

• Automated process saves time and reduces errors.
• Often integrates with multiple carriers.
• Provides direct links to the tracking page.
• Improves customer experience with automated updates.

Cons:

• Requires installing and configuring a plugin.
• Premium plugins may incur additional costs.
• Plugin compatibility issues may arise with other plugins or themes.

Method 3: Using Shipping Carrier API Integrations

For larger stores with more complex needs, direct API integration with shipping carriers can provide the most robust and reliable tracking solution. This typically requires custom development or using a more advanced e-commerce platform.

How it works:

1. Integrate with Carrier APIs: Your WooCommerce store directly connects to the APIs of shipping carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS.

2. Automatic Updates: The system automatically retrieves tracking updates from the carrier and updates the order status in WooCommerce.

3. Customized Notifications: You can customize the notifications sent to customers based on specific tracking events (e.g., “Shipped,” “Out for Delivery,” “Delivered”).

Pros:

• Real-time tracking updates directly from the carrier.
• Highly customizable notification system.
• Seamless integration with your WooCommerce store.

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise or hiring a developer.
• Can be more expensive to implement than other methods.
• Requires ongoing maintenance to ensure API compatibility.

Conclusion:

Sending tracking information to your WooCommerce customers is essential for building trust, reducing support requests, and enhancing their overall shopping experience. Whether you choose to manually enter tracking details, use a dedicated plugin, or integrate directly with shipping carrier APIs, ensuring your customers are informed about the status of their orders is crucial for success. Evaluate your store’s needs and choose the method that best suits your order volume, technical capabilities, and budget. Remember that proactive communication is key to keeping your customers happy and loyal. By implementing a reliable tracking system, you’ll create a positive brand image and foster long-term customer relationships, ultimately driving growth for your WooCommerce business.