How to Add Order Tracking to Shopify: A Complete Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Order Tracking and Its Importance
3. Methods to Add Order Tracking to Shopify
4. Best Practices for Order Tracking
5. Case Studies
6. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that 63% of customers expect to track their orders at any time? In today's competitive e-commerce landscape, providing transparency and timely updates about order statuses is not just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for enhancing customer satisfaction. Clients want to feel informed and empowered, especially when it comes to purchases they've made online. So, how can we as Shopify merchants meet these expectations?

The ability to provide order tracking on our Shopify store can significantly impact the customer experience, helping to reduce inquiries to customer service while increasing trust and reliability on our platform. With the rise of the knowledge economy, where digital products and online learning have become vital revenue streams, managing customer expectations has never been more critical.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to add order tracking to your Shopify store step-by-step. We’ll look at various methods—both built-in and through third-party apps—while emphasizing the importance of user engagement and maintaining meaningful connections with our audience. Tevello is here as your all-in-one solution, allowing us to streamline this process efficiently. So, are you ready to enhance your Shopify store’s order tracking capabilities?

Let's dive in!

Understanding Order Tracking and Its Importance

What Is Order Tracking?

Order tracking refers to the system that allows customers to monitor the status of their purchases from the moment they click "buy" until the product arrives at their doorstep. This process can include updates on shipping stages—such as when an item is dispatched, in transit, and finally delivered.

Why Order Tracking Matters

Here’s why integrating order tracking into our Shopify stores is vital:

1. Customer Satisfaction: Receiving updates helps customers feel informed and reassured about their purchases, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Reduction of Customer Inquiries: When customers can track their orders independently, it significantly reduces the number of queries directed toward customer service.
3. Professionalism: Providing a tracking feature enhances the credibility of our store, making it look more professional.
4. Increased Sales Opportunities: In some cases, order tracking pages can be strategically utilized to introduce upselling opportunities, offering customers relevant products while they wait for their items.

Now that we understand the significance of order tracking, let's explore how we can implement this feature in our Shopify stores.

Methods to Add Order Tracking to Shopify

Built-in Shopify Order Tracking Features

Shopify comes equipped with several built-in features that allow us to offer customers the ability to track their orders effectively.

1. Email Notifications

Shopify automatically sends email notifications that include tracking information when orders are fulfilled. To ensure this feature is functional, follow these steps:

• Navigate to Settings in your Shopify Admin.
• Select Notifications: Here, you can view various email templates.
• Configure the Templates: Make sure that your order confirmation, shipping confirmation, and shipping update templates include the necessary tracking information.

By default, if you haven't customized these templates, a link to the order status page will automatically be included.

2. Adding Tracking Numbers

To enhance the tracking experience, it is essential to add tracking numbers for orders. Here’s how:

• Go to Orders in your Shopify Admin.
• Select the relevant order and click on the "Fulfilled" section.
• Click on Add Tracking: Enter the tracking number provided by the shipping carrier.

This allows the tracking number to be sent to customers via email, keeping them informed on their shipment.

3. Order Status Page

Shopify creates a unique order status page for each order. This page contains all relevant information, including livelinks to track the shipment.

• To customize the visuals and content of this page, navigate to Settings > Checkout in the Shopify Admin.

This gives a cohesive look and builds brand recognition for customers.

Utilizing Third-Party Applications

While Shopify offers various native tracking features, utilizing specialized third-party applications can provide additional conveniences and enhancements.

1. Track Your Order App

This type of app embeds a tracking widget directly into your store. Here’s how to integrate it:

1. Visit the Shopify App Store and search for "Order Tracking Apps."
2. Choose an App that fits your needs; popular choices often include features allowing upselling and tracking page customization.
3. Install the App: Follow the app's integration steps to connect it with your Shopify store.

These apps often allow us to provide numerous carriers' tracking capabilities under one roof, ensuring comprehensive customer coverage.

2. Enhanced Tracking Pages

Some tracking applications help us customize our order tracking pages to provide richer content. This can include:

• Branded Tracking Pages
• Upselling Opportunities: Such as displaying related products on the tracking page.
• Custom Messages and FAQs: Creating a better customer experience.

Benefits of Using Third-Party Apps

1. Advanced Features: Many apps provide essential analytics on tracking page traffic and customer engagement.
2. Customization: Easy to configure options to tailor the experience according to our store branding.
3. Integration with Multiple Carriers: Many apps support a wide range of shipping services, streamlining the fulfillment process.

Best Practices for Order Tracking

Clear Communication

• Always ensure that we communicate clearly with our customers at every stage of the order process. This involves sending emails that are informative, yet concise.

Regularly Test Your Tracking Systems

• Consistently check that the tracking features in our Shopify store are operational. This includes routine tests of email templates and tracking integrations.

Leverage Customer Data

• Use the data collected from tracking visits to improve future offerings—be it through targeted marketing, product recommendations, or even customer service optimizations.

Make It Easy to Find

• Place order tracking features prominently on your website. Whether through a dedicated "Track Your Order" section in the navigation or highlighted in post-purchase emails, make sure it’s accessible.

Case Studies

To provide some real-world context, let's examine a couple of scenarios involving hypothetical Shopify merchants that successfully integrated order tracking.

Example 1: Craft Supplies Store

Imagine a store selling crafting materials. By adding an order tracking feature integrated with email notifications:

• Challenges: Initially facing numerous inquiries about the status of shipments.
• Implementation: They added a tracking feature through a specialized app, including direct links in their confirmation emails.
• Results: They reported a 40% reduction in customer inquiries related to tracking, allowing their customer service team to focus on more complex queries.

Example 2: Online Learning Platform

An online education platform sells courses and accompanying digital downloads. They decided to add:

• Personalized Tracking Pages: Each course purchase generated a unique order status page with additional recommendations for related courses.
• Benefits: This personalization led to a 25% increase in upsell conversions as customers browsed recommendations while waiting for their content.

Conclusion

Adding order tracking to our Shopify store is not just about improving logistics; it is fundamentally about enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. As we've explored, leveraging both Shopify's built-in features and third-party applications can create a seamless tracking process that keeps customers informed and engaged.

At Tevello, we are committed to empowering Shopify merchants to integrate these features effortlessly, fostering meaningful connections with our audience while enabling new revenue streams. Interested in upgrading your Shopify store with order tracking? Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today. Together, let’s elevate your e-commerce strategy.

FAQ

1. How can I set up tracking for third-party shipping services?

Most shipping apps within the Shopify ecosystem have built-in integrations for several third-party carriers. Follow the app’s setup wizard after installation, and it should provide the necessary steps.

2. Can I customize the order tracking emails?

Yes, you can customize the order confirmation and tracking emails in the Notifications settings of Shopify. Just edit the email templates according to your branding.

3. What happens if a customer loses their tracking number?

Instruct customers to check their email for the order confirmation or tracking information. You can re-send tracking details via email or add a "Track My Order" link on your website for easy access.

4. Are there any additional costs to using order tracking apps?

Most third-party order tracking apps come with a nominal fee. It’s essential to analyze your store's needs and choose an option that fits within your budget. Learn more about our transparent, flat-rate pricing.

5. Will adding order tracking improve my conversion rate?

While we can’t guarantee specific results, providing order tracking can enhance customer satisfaction and potentially lead to repeat purchases, thereby improving overall conversion rates. For inspiration, check out how other Shopify merchants have succeeded by reading our success stories.

Now, are you ready to step up your Shopify store with enhanced order tracking? Remember, we can seamlessly assist you through every step of this journey at Tevello.