Enabling package tracking for your customers enhances their shopping experience and increases the likelihood of repeat purchases.
Fortunately, implementing shipment tracking is a straightforward process. Through our experience assisting WooCommerce store owners, we have identified the simplest method to set up tracking effectively.
Regardless of whether you fulfill a few orders each week or manage hundreds daily, the right tracking solution can significantly enhance the post-purchase experience for your customers.
In this comprehensive guide, we will provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for incorporating shipment tracking into your WooCommerce store.
💡Quick Answer: How to Enable Shipment Tracking in WooCommerce
The simplest way to implement shipment tracking in WooCommerce is by using the free Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin.
This plugin works with numerous shipping carriers and automatically includes tracking information in customer emails and account pages. Here are the essential steps we will discuss:
- Install and set up the plugin.
- Select your preferred shipping carriers.
- Input tracking information for your orders.
- Verify the email notifications.
What Are the Benefits of Adding Shipment Tracking to WooCommerce?
Implementing shipment tracking in WooCommerce enhances customer satisfaction by assuring them that their package is on its way safely.
This builds trust in your business, replacing any concerns or doubts customers may have.
As a store owner, having access to shipment tracking within your WooCommerce order details allows you to monitor the precise location of packages at any time.
In case of any issues or delays, you can promptly contact the shipping company and update your customers, which improves your customer service.
In summary, WooCommerce shipment tracking is an effective way to keep everyone informed, enhancing customer happiness and positively influencing your sales.
Now, let’s explore how to integrate tracking information into your WooCommerce site. Here’s a brief overview of the steps we will discuss in this tutorial:
- Step 1: Install the Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin for WooCommerce
- Step 2: Set up the General Settings of the Plugin
- Step 3: Add Your Shipping Carriers
- Step 4: Input Tracking Information for Individual Orders
- Step 5: Optionally Bulk Import Shipment Tracking Data
- Step 6: Test Your Order Tracking Emails
- Bonus Tip: Enhancing the Entire Customer Journey
Step 1: Install the Advanced Shipment Tracking Plugin for WooCommerce
In this guide, we will utilize the Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin for WooCommerce. This highly-rated plugin allows you to seamlessly add tracking numbers to your customers’ account pages and order confirmation emails.
Additionally, this free plugin offers built-in support for over 300 shipping carriers, including FedEx, DHL, and USPS, along with international services like DPD, Canada Post, and Australia Post.
Begin by installing and activating the Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin for WooCommerce. For detailed instructions, refer to our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Step 2: Set Up the Plugin’s General Settings
Next, we will set up the settings for the WooCommerce shipment tracking plugin.
You will now notice a ‘Shipment Tracking’ option in your WooCommerce menu. Click on it to access the plugin’s settings page.
On this page, there are several sections that you will need to configure.
This tab includes various settings to personalize your WooCommerce order tracking experience, starting with the ‘General Settings’.
In the ‘Add Tracking Order Action’ section, you can choose which order statuses to display on your WooCommerce Order page.
With the ‘Order Emails Display’ option, you can select which order status emails will include a tracking URL for customers. The tracking details will also be accessible on the customer’s View Order or My Account page.
For Pro users, there is an option to create custom order statuses.
Scroll down to find ‘Order Statuses & Notifications.’ Many store owners prefer to change the status label from ‘Completed’ to ‘Shipped,’ as it provides clearer communication to customers.
You can also click the gear icon to personalize the design and content of your shipping email templates.
You will then be directed to the ‘Email Customizer,’ which resembles the WordPress Theme Customizer.
Here, you can adjust the design and content of the WooCommerce order and shipping email templates.
Next, you’ll find the ‘Shipment Tracking API.’
This feature allows you to update tracking numbers from third-party services and manage orders from external systems. It also enables you to modify the shipping date format when tracking information is received from other platforms.
Under this setting, you will see the ‘Usage Tracking’ menu.
In this section, you can opt to receive email notifications regarding security updates and new features, as well as share basic information about your WordPress environment with the plugin’s developers.
If you are not connecting your store to an external system like warehouse management software, you can safely disregard the ‘Shipment Tracking API’ and ‘Usage Tracking’ settings, as these are intended for more advanced scenarios.
At the bottom of the settings, you can enable PayPal order tracking by upgrading to the Pro version of the Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin.
This feature will automatically send the order tracking number and status from WooCommerce to PayPal when orders are marked as ‘Shipped’ or ‘Completed’.
After you have finished configuring each shipment tracking setting, simply click the ‘Save & Close’ button.
Step 3: Add Your Shipping Carriers
Next, navigate to the ‘Shipping Carriers’ tab. Here, you can find over 300 shipping providers that have partnered with the Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin.
To add a shipping service to WooCommerce, click on ‘Add Shipping Carriers’.
A window will pop up. You can enter the name of your shipping carrier in the search bar and click ‘Add’ to include them in your active list.
By adding all your shipping carriers here, the plugin can automatically create the correct tracking links for your customers, which saves you valuable time.
At this point, it’s wise to integrate a shipping calculator into your WordPress site. This feature enables visitors to easily estimate the shipping costs for their orders.
If you provide a free shipping option, consider implementing a free shipping bar on your WooCommerce site. This informs potential customers about the special offer available.
Step 4: Input Tracking Information for Individual Orders
Once you have configured all the plugin settings, it’s time to start adding shipment tracking information to your WooCommerce orders.
This manual approach is perfect for beginners or those managing a small number of orders each day. To get started, navigate to WooCommerce » Orders.
You will now notice ‘Status’ and ‘Shipment Tracking’ columns in your orders list. Select an order to input the tracking number. For this example, we will use order #101.
Alternatively, you can click the ‘Add Order’ button at the top if you are entering a customer order manually.
Next, you will find a ‘Shipment Tracking’ section on the right side of the order page. Click on ‘Add Tracking Info’ to proceed.button.
A window will appear on the right side of the order page where you can enter the Tracking number, Shipping Provider, and Date shipped details.
If the order has been shipped, check the ‘Completed’ or ‘Shipped’ box. If not, you can leave it unchecked.
That’s all! Now, simply click the ‘Fulfill Order’ button.
If you checked the ‘Completed’ or ‘Shipped’ box, clicking the ‘Fulfill Order’ button will automatically send an email notification to the customer, which includes a tracking link.
Sometimes, you may choose not to check the ‘Completed’ or ‘Shipped’ box if the package has not yet been sent.
In that situation, if you wish to notify the customer that their order has been delivered, return to the same order.
Then, in the ‘Order # details’ section, click on the ‘Status’ dropdown menu and change it to ‘Completed’ or ‘Shipped’. After that, click the ‘Update’ button in the ‘Order actions’ section.
Step 5: Bulk Import Shipment Tracking Data (Optional)
For stores processing numerous daily orders, using a CSV file to bulk import tracking information significantly saves time. This approach eliminates the need to enter tracking details individually.
Before proceeding, ensure that your CSV file contains the following shipping tracking details:
- Order ID
- Shipping service
- Tracking number
- Order delivery date
- Shipping status, where 1 indicates the order has been shipped, and 0 indicates it has not (consider 1 as ‘yes’ and 0 as ‘no’).
Here is a sample CSV file provided by the plugin for its users:
To import a CSV file into the plugin, go to WooCommerce »Shipment Tracking.
Next, switch to the ‘CSV Import’ tab.
Here, click the ‘Choose File’button to select your spreadsheet. Then, choose a date format.
If you wish to overwrite the existing tracking details for all orders, check the ‘Replace tracking information?’ box.
Otherwise, you can leave this option unchecked. The plugin will append the new tracking information alongside the existing data on the order tracking page.
Once finished, click the ‘Continue’button to begin importing the file.
Once the upload is finished, you will receive a notification similar to the one shown below.
If any imports fail, you can revert to the previous method of adding order tracking information manually.
Step 6: Test Your Order Tracking Emails
To ensure that the shipment tracking operates correctly, it’s advisable to preview and test your WooCommerce emails to confirm that the plugin is functioning properly.
To do this, visit your online store and place an order as a regular customer would. Use your own email address to see how the email notification appears.
Expert Tip:Emails sent directly from WordPress can be inconsistent. They may sometimes be lost or end up in your customers’ spam folders.
This is where WP Mail SMTP comes into play. It utilizes the Standard Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to ensure that your emails reach your customers’ inboxes.
To begin this process, refer to our guides on resolving the WordPress email sending issue and fixing WooCommerce order email delivery problems.
Next, return to your WordPress admin panel, locate your test order, and input fictitious tracking information by following the instructions in Step 3. You can use random numbers such as ‘123456789’.
Setting the order status to ‘Completed’ or ‘Shipped’ means your tracking is active, especially if you receive an email containing your order tracking link.
This is an example of what the email should look like. Clicking the ‘Track Your Order’ button will direct you to the shipping provider’s website.
Interested in sending different types of notifications through WooCommerce? Explore our guide on setting up abandoned cart emails and sending Twilio SMS notifications.
Bonus Tip: Enhance the Entire Customer Experience
After enhancing the post-purchase experience with shipment tracking, the next step is to optimize your entire store.
A well-structured storefront allows customers to easily find and purchase products, encouraging repeat visits.
This is where SeedProd comes into play. It’s the top WordPress page and website builder that enables you to create custom designs for your product pages, checkout process, and more, all without any coding skills.
For a detailed guide, check out our tutorial on editing WooCommerce pages without needing to code.
We trust this guide has assisted you in configuring shipment tracking for your WooCommerce store. Additionally, check out our curated list of top WooCommerce plugins and our tutorial on creating effective WooCommerce popups to enhance your sales.
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