Order Tracking For Small Business

How to Track an Online Order

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One of the most exciting aspects of the digital age is that you can buy almost anything you want online. From groceries and that new sweater you've been eyeing to a new bed for your beloved dog and a new laptop, you can order it all from the comfort of your own home with a computer or mobile device. But in order to make sure those items arrive safely, you'll need to know how to track them. While each shopping experience is different, here's a general idea to help get you started:

Wait for Your Tracking Number

First of all, you can't track an order until you've received a tracking number. When you shop on an ecommerce site, like Amazon, Walmart or Home Depot, you'll receive an email when your items ship that provides you with this information. Often, you can simply click on the number in the email, and it will take you directly to a site (either the ecommerce site or the site of the delivery company) so that you can stay on top of where your package is located at any given time.

Track Directly on the Site

If you can't click on your tracking number, most large national retailers have a way for you to do it via their websites. On Amazon, for example, you can go to the "Your Orders" page, and click on "track package" for each individual item you've ordered. At Walmart.com, there's a "Track Orders" page under your account page. Homedepot.com has a "Track Your Order" page that allows you to enter any tracking number, even if you aren't signed into an account.

Track Via the United States Postal Service

Most American retailers use one of three delivery services to get your packages to you: United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS and FedEx. If your package is coming via USPS, you can track directly on the service's website at Tools.usps.com. Here, you can enter up to 35 tracking numbers at a time. Just be sure to put commas in between them.

Track Via UPS

If you know your package is coming via a UPS delivery, you can track directly on the company's website too. Simply visit UPS.com/track, and enter up to 25 tracking numbers in the appropriate field. Separate each one by starting a new line within the field.

Track Via FedEx

You can also track your package directly on the FedEx website if you know your online order is coming via that delivery service. You can enter your tracking number directly on the homepage at Fedex.com, or you can click on "multiple tracking numbers" and enter up to 30 at a time.