Inventory and Supply Chain AutomationPurpose
1.2. Deliver automated status updates to staff and customers to streamline order fulfillment, reduce inquiry load, and increase transparency.
1.3. Integrate tracking with third-party logistics, shipment carriers, email/SMS notifications, and retail management systems for end-to-end supply chain oversight.
1.4. Automate exception alerts for delays, delivery failures, or customs issues to enable proactive customer service.
1.5. Maintain accurate inventory status by dynamically updating based on shipping milestones and confirmed deliveries.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. Carrier status update received via webhook, email, or polling API.
2.3. Item status changes to “out for delivery” or “delivered” in carrier system.
2.4. Exception (delay, damage, or return) detected on carrier portal or via integration.
2.5. Manual request for shipment status by customer or staff.
Platform Variants
• Feature/Setting: Shipments Webhook — configure webhook to push status changes (create, out for delivery, delivered, exceptions). Sample: Register Webhook endpoint; filter by ‘TrackingUpdates’.
3.2. UPS Tracking API
• Feature/Setting: /track/v1/details endpoint with shipment tracking number; poll every 2 hours; parse JSON delivery status.
3.3. DHL Express API
• Feature/Setting: /track/shipments endpoint; enable push notifications; auto-alert on status = ‘delivered’.
3.4. USPS Web Tools
• Feature/Setting: “Track and Confirm” API with scheduled requests; parse
3.5. Shippo
• Feature/Setting: Shipment Tracking Webhooks — subscribe to “track_created”, “track_updated”.
3.6. EasyPost
• Feature/Setting: Tracker object with webhook URL; auto-receive updates for all carrier events.
3.7. AfterShip
• Feature/Setting: Webhook trigger on status change; use /trackings POST for registration.
3.8. Shopify
• Feature/Setting: Orders/fulfillment webhook; push fulfillment status to customer email via automated flow.
3.9. WooCommerce
• Feature/Setting: Order Status trigger via REST API; send notifications on custom delivery milestones.
3.10. Magento
• Feature/Setting: Shipment API; trigger order status update and email notification workflow on delivery completion.
3.11. Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Feature/Setting: Power Automate flow with HTTP action; configure external carrier webhooks as trigger.
3.12. Oracle NetSuite
• Feature/Setting: SuiteScript to poll carrier tracking; auto-update sales order status and alert contacts.
3.13. Zoho Inventory
• Feature/Setting: Integration with carriers; webhook for delivery status; send notification via Zoho Flow.
3.14. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Send SMS via /Messages endpoint when delivery status changes or delay/exception detected.
3.15. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Transactional email API; deliver shipment status template on change.
3.16. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Event-triggered transactional email; API call with status update content.
3.17. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Webhook app; post to #logistics channel when shipment moves status or is flagged as delayed.
3.18. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Incoming webhook to supply chain group; configured with structured JSON for status updates.
3.19. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: Google Apps Script webhook to auto-update shipment status column; timestamp each update.
3.20. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Flow Builder with HTTP Request trigger; update Order record and notify sales rep on delivery/exception.
3.21. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Webhook trigger with filter on carrier status; actions: update CRM, send customer email/SMS.
Benefits
4.2. Increases visibility and accountability in supply chain operations for sensitive/regulated inventory.
4.3. Improves customer satisfaction by delivering timely, automated communications without staff intervention.
4.4. Minimizes costly fulfillment errors and exceptions through early detection and structured alerting.
4.5. Enables consistent, real-time synchronization between all retail, logistics, and customer-facing systems.