Purpose
1 Automate real-time shipment tracking notifications to customers upon order dispatch, status updates, or delivery, reducing manual workload and improving customer experience.
2 Synchronize carrier status with order systems and trigger multichannel alerts (SMS, Email, WhatsApp, in-app) to keep buyers informed throughout the shipment lifecycle.
3 Log tracking communications for compliance and support purposes, and escalate issues if delivery exceptions occur.
Trigger Conditions
1 Order status marked as "shipped" or "dispatched" in the ERP/WMS system.
2 Carrier provides a tracking status update (e.g., in-transit, out-for-delivery, delivered, exception).
3 Customer inquiry or scheduled notification interval reached.
4 Delivery exception or delay is detected via carrier API.
Platform Variants
1 Twilio SMS
- Feature/Setting: Use Messaging API; configure webhook to send SMS upon order status update.
- Sample: POST /2010-04-01/Accounts/{AccountSid}/Messages.json
2 SendGrid
- Feature/Setting: Send email notification through Mail Send API; set dynamic templates for tracking.
- Sample: POST /v3/mail/send
3 WhatsApp Business API
- Feature/Setting: Send shipment alerts with tracking link; configure template message with tracking data.
- Sample: POST /v1/messages
4 Slack
- Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks to send internal shipment updates to logistics channel.
- Sample: POST https://hooks.slack.com/services/{webhook_url}
5 Microsoft Teams
- Feature/Setting: Use Connector to push tracking updates as adaptive cards to relevant team.
- Sample: POST /v1.0/teams/{team-id}/channels/{channel-id}/messages
6 HubSpot
- Feature/Setting: Workflow automation to trigger email/SMS based on shipping stage custom property.
- Sample: Trigger workflow with “Shipment Tracking Update”
7 Salesforce
- Feature/Setting: Process Builder/Flows to send notification via Email Alerts or SMS App.
- Sample: Flow: Update action → Send Email Alert
8 Shopify
- Feature/Setting: Use Order Fulfillment webhook to initiate customer notifications & update order notes.
- Sample: Order Fulfillment Event → Trigger webhook
9 WooCommerce
- Feature/Setting: Hook into “woocommerce_order_status_completed” action, call notification service.
- Sample: add_action(‘woocommerce_order_status_completed’, ‘send_tracking_notification’)
10 Zapier
- Feature/Setting: Set “New Tracking Number” as trigger, connect to Email/Text/Messaging actions.
- Sample: Trigger: New Entry in ‘Shipments’ App
11 Klaviyo
- Feature/Setting: Flow for “Order Shipped” event, push tracking in personalized email/SMS.
- Sample: Trigger: metric ‘Shipped Order’ → Send Notification
12 Mailgun
- Feature/Setting: Send shipment status with dynamic content via Mailgun Send Email API.
- Sample: POST /v3/{domain}/messages
13 Amazon SNS
- Feature/Setting: Use publish API to broadcast tracking event notifications through SMS/Email.
- Sample: Publish request with Message = "Shipment Out for Delivery"
14 Google Chat
- Feature/Setting: Use Webhooks for posting tracking milestone messages.
- Sample: POST https://chat.googleapis.com/v1/spaces/{space}/messages
15 ShipEngine
- Feature/Setting: Use tracking API to pull carrier status, automate outbound notification flow.
- Sample: GET /v1/tracking?carrier_code=usps&tracking_number=123456
16 AfterShip
- Feature/Setting: Use Webhooks on tracking status; notify customer via chosen channel.
- Sample: POST to notifications endpoint with tracking info
17 Zendesk
- Feature/Setting: Trigger ticket update with tracking data, send outbound notification to requestor.
- Sample: POST /api/v2/tickets/{id}/comments
18 ActiveCampaign
- Feature/Setting: Use automations for “tag added: shipped”; send email/SMS with tracking.
- Sample: Automation Trigger: “Tag added: shipped”
19 Freshdesk
- Feature/Setting: Send ticket update or push notification on shipping event.
- Sample: Update ticket status via Conversations API
20 OneSignal
- Feature/Setting: Send push notifications with tracking status and link.
- Sample: POST /notifications with {tracking_link, status}
Benefits
1 Eliminates manual notification tasks, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
2 Enhances customer satisfaction through proactive, transparent updates.
3 Centralizes shipment status tracking and communication in business records.
4 Reduces "where is my order" inquiries, lightening customer support demand.
5 Enables scalability, supporting high volume shipping with minimal operational friction.