When it comes to dropshipping, one of the crucial factors that ensure customer satisfaction is providing reliable tracking information. Without accurate tracking, customers might become skeptical about the legitimacy of your business. This article will guide you on how to generate valid tracking numbers for dropshipping, ensuring smooth operations for both you and your customers.
Why Are Tracking Numbers Important in Dropshipping?
Tracking numbers are much more than just a series of numbers; they serve as an assurance for your customers and a tool to maintain transparency. Here’s why they are essential:
- Customer Trust: Providing a tracking number gives customers peace of mind, knowing they can monitor their shipment’s progress.
- Reduced Disputes: Tracking numbers help ensure customers don’t contact you unnecessarily or file complaints due to delivery uncertainties.
- Professionalism: Including a valid tracking number boosts the perceived credibility of your dropshipping business.
Understanding the importance of tracking numbers is the first step; now, let’s move on to how to create them effectively and ethically.
How Are Tracking Numbers Generated?
Before you can start generating tracking numbers, it’s vital to understand their structure. Most tracking numbers follow a standard format unique to a courier company. For example:
- USPS: 20-22 numeric digits (e.g., 9400 1000 0000 0000 0000 00).
- FedEx: 12 numeric digits (e.g., 1234 5678 9012).
- DHL: A mix of numeric and alphabetical characters (e.g., JD00022567785643559).
These codes are generated when couriers process shipments. But in dropshipping, where you may not physically handle or ship products yourself, you’ll need alternative methods to generate valid tracking numbers for dropshipping.
Methods to Generate Valid Tracking Numbers
1. Use a Dropshipping-Friendly Software
One of the simplest methods is investing in automation tools that integrate with couriers. Platforms like TrackiPal, Aftership, or Oberlo often sync with suppliers and couriers to provide legitimate tracking numbers as soon as orders are processed.
How it works:
- When a customer places an order, the supplier ships the product.
- The shipping platform generates a tracking number from the courier.
- The software automatically updates this number on your store and sends it to the customer.
This method ensures that the tracking numbers provided are real and aligned with your supplier’s logistics operations.
2. Rely on Suppliers
Many dropshipping suppliers, especially on platforms like AliExpress or CJ Dropshipping, provide tracking numbers for free once an item is shipped. Here’s how to leverage this option:
Step-by-step process:
- Confirm with your supplier if they support tracking integration for your region.
- Request the tracking information once the product ships.
- Input it manually into your store’s backend, or sync using an automation tool.
By doing this, you’re providing valid tracking numbers sourced directly from the supplier, ensuring authenticity and reliability.
3. Generate Dummy Tracking Numbers for Testing (Ethically)
During the initial setup or while experimenting with your processes, you might need to create placeholder tracking numbers. Although these aren’t “valid” for actual shipments, they can be useful for internal testing purposes. Only use these when there’s no risk of misleading customers.
How to create dummy tracking codes:
- Select a courier service you plan to use (e.g., USPS, FedEx).
- Research their tracking number format.
- Generate random codes following the format they use. For example, for USPS, you can create a 20-digit string like “9400110200884021957681”.
Important note: Never provide these codes to customers, as they cannot be used to track a package in transit.
4. Work with Fulfillment Services
Fulfillment services are third-party companies specializing in packing, shipping, and tracking products for e-commerce businesses. Popular services like ShipBob or Fulfillman often include automated tracking generation as part of their plans.
How to implement this:
- Sign up with a fulfillment service compatible with your dropshipping business.
- They will ensure products are shipped with verified tracking information.
- The fulfillment platform provides the tracking code, which you can share with your customers.
Best Practices for Using Tracking Numbers
1. Always Test Tracking Numbers
Once you’ve obtained a tracking number, check it using the courier’s website or other online trackers to confirm it is working. This ensures that the customer can follow their package’s progress without issues.
2. Provide Regular Updates
Modern e-commerce platforms allow setting up automated email triggers or messages at significant points, such as:
- When the order is shipped.
- When delivery is en route.
- When delivery is completed.
These notifications give customers confidence and reduce the chances of disputes or refund requests.
3. Be Transparent About Delivery Timelines
Sometimes, supplier shipping timelines for dropshipping can be unpredictable, especially when using international suppliers. Inform your customers about expected delivery times beforehand. Clearly communicating this can alleviate potential frustrations, even if there’s a slight delay.
4. Avoid Fake Tracking Numbers
Resist any temptation to give customers fake tracking numbers. Not only is this unethical, but it can also lead to serious reputational damage to your business. Customers trust you to deliver on your promises, and fake tracking information compromises this relationship.
Challenges You Might Encounter
Despite best efforts, generating valid tracking numbers for dropshipping does come with challenges. Here are a few and tips to address them:
1. Supplier Delays
Sometimes suppliers might delay providing tracking updates. One way to mitigate this is by maintaining good communication with your suppliers and explaining the importance of timely updates for your business model.
2. Compatibility Issues
It’s possible that some tools or platforms don’t sync seamlessly with specific couriers. To counter this, choose dropshipping platforms that support multiple integrations and offer universal tracking solutions.
3. Managing Customer Expectations
Even with perfect tracking systems in place, some customers might still experience anxiety over delayed packages or incomplete progress on tracking websites. Always be proactive in responding to customer inquiries and offer solutions when things go awry.
What to Do in Case of Tracking Errors
No system is error-proof, so understanding how to handle issues with tracking numbers is essential. Here are a few steps:
- Verify the accuracy of the tracking number entered.
- Contact your supplier or courier service for clarification.
- If the shipment is delayed, communicate with the customer preemptively and offer updates.
Handling tracking issues professionally can turn a potentially dissatisfied customer into a loyal one.
Tools to Simplify Tracking Number Management
Modern e-commerce has paved the way for sophisticated tools that make managing tracking numbers effortless. Here are some you can explore:
- AfterShip: An all-in-one tool to track, communicate, and manage order tracking seamlessly.
- TrackiPal: Syncs tracking information from PayPal to your e-commerce dashboard for faster payment clearing.
- Oberlo: Easily integrates with Shopify stores and automatically updates tracking information from AliExpress.
By utilizing these tools, you can focus more on scaling your business and less on manually handling tracking logistics.
Final Thoughts
Providing valid tracking numbers is a non-negotiable aspect of running a successful dropshipping business. It not only improves customer trust but also establishes your credibility in a competitive market. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can effectively generate valid tracking numbers for dropshipping while maintaining ethical and transparent practices. Invest in the right tools, choose your suppliers carefully, and prioritize customer communication for a streamlined process. With consistency and dedication, your dropshipping business is bound to flourish!
