Ever had customers ask, "Where’s my order?"—sometimes more than once? Late deliveries, missing packages or unclear tracking updates can quickly lead to frustration. And when customers don’t get the information they need, trust in your store takes a hit. That means fewer repeat purchases, negative reviews, and lost sales.

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With e-commerce growing fast—Shopify stores in the UK saw a 6% increase in Q4 of 2024—expectations for smooth, transparent order tracking are higher than ever. If your store can provide real-time updates and a hassle-free tracking experience, you’re not just avoiding problems—you’re building a brand customers rely on.

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This article will walk you through how order tracking for Shopify can simplify logistics, keep customers informed, and create a better shopping experience. Because when tracking is effortless, everyone wins.

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Why Delivery Tracking Matters

Managing Shopify order and package delivery is vital for your business. Here's why it matters:

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1. Build Trust with Customers

When customers can track their orders, it shows you’re on top of things. They get peace of mind knowing their package is being handled with care, which helps build trust in your brand. The more they trust you, the more likely they are to return.

2. Improve the Customer Experience

Customers love transparency. Giving them updates on their order’s status at every stage keeps them in the loop and reduces anxiety. It’s a simple way to make their shopping experience feel more personal and smooth, which will lead to better satisfaction.

3. Make Operations Simpler

With tracking in place, you spend less time answering the same questions about when a package will arrive. Your support team can focus on solving more complex problems instead of dealing with order status inquiries. Everything from shipment to delivery runs more smoothly.

4. Cut Down on Cart Abandonment

One reason customers leave carts behind is uncertainty about shipping times or delivery reliability. If you offer clear, reliable tracking upfront, it can ease their doubts and keep them moving through the checkout process. The result? Fewer abandoned carts and a boost to your sales.

5. Foster Loyalty with Proactive Updates

Customers don’t want to be left wondering where their order is, especially if there’s a delay. Proactive communication—like sending updates about shipping or potential delays—shows you care about their experience. When you keep them informed, they’re more likely to stick around for future purchases.

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Are you concerned about customer satisfaction with returns? Return Prime offers your customers a seamless, hassle-free returns experience and builds trust with features such as Wonder Promotions and Wonder Smart Exchange, enabling repeat purchases.

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Now that you understand why delivery tracking is so important let’s take a look at how to track Shopify Order and Package Delivery. 

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How to Enable Shopify Order Tracking

Enabling order tracking in Shopify helps keep customers updated on their purchases and enhances their shopping experience. Here’s how you can set up and automate order tracking for your store.

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1. Enable Order Tracking: In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Checkout. Under the Order processing section, make sure that the Enable order status page option is checked.
2. Custom Order Numbers: Customize the order status page with relevant information like order confirmation, tracking, and delivery updates. Add branding elements and personalized messages to improve the customer experience.

3. Adding a Tracking Number During Fulfillment

If you’re fulfilling an order and need to add a tracking number, follow these steps:

• From your Shopify dashboard, go to Orders and select the order you want to track (it should have a status of Partially fulfilled or Unfulfilled).
• Click Mark as fulfilled. This will take you to a page where you can enter the tracking number in the Tracking Information box.
• Shopify will automatically detect the carrier based on the tracking number format, but you can also select a different shipping carrier from the Shipping carrier dropdown menu.
• If Shopify doesn’t support the carrier you’re using, or if you select Other, just manually enter the tracking number and the tracking URL from the carrier.
• Once everything is filled out, click Fulfill items.

4. How to Add a Tracking Number to a Fulfilled Order

If the order is already marked as Fulfilled, here’s how you can add a tracking number:

• Go to Orders, and select the fulfilled order.
• Click into the order, and you’ll see an Add tracking button. Click on it.
• A box will pop up where you can enter your tracking info.
• Choose the correct shipping carrier from the dropdown list and make sure to add the complete tracking URL.
• Save your changes, and the tracking number will be added to the order.

5. How Customers Can Track Their Orders

If you’ve placed an order on a Shopify store, here’s how you can track it:

• Log in to your account on the Shopify website where you made the purchase.
• Go to your order history or check your order confirmation email to find the tracking number or a direct tracking link.
• Click the tracking number or link, and you’ll be taken to the courier’s website to view the current status of your shipment.

6. Alternative Tracking Solutions

For more comprehensive tracking, you can use third-party apps or websites like Return Prime. These tools support a wide range of couriers and offer features like order status notifications and detailed analytics.

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Do you need optimization insights for your return process? Return Prime provides customize workflows to easily configure specific reasons for returns and exchanges. Guide customers through personalized return and exchange experiences based on those reasons.

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While tracking Shopify orders can be a huge benefit for your business, there are a few challenges to keep in mind. Let’s explore the hurdles you might face.

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The Hurdles of Tracking Shopify Orders

While Shopify offers helpful tracking features, there are some limitations, especially for B2B businesses or large orders. Here are the key challenges:

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1. Customer Experience
   Shopify’s basic tools can make it hard to provide a smooth, unified experience across both online and offline channels, which can impact customer satisfaction.
2. Inventory and Backorder Issues
   Without real-time inventory tracking across channels, businesses may face stock shortages and canceled orders. Shopify also doesn't track restock dates, making it tough to give accurate delivery estimates.
3. Return Management
   Shopify’s return system is basic, relying on manual workflows and inefficient tracking, which can lead to delays in processing refunds.
4. Bulk Order Limitations
   Shopify’s inventory system is geared more toward order fulfillment than managing purchase orders. It lacks features for tracking or editing bulk orders, which can slow down large-scale operations.
5. Limited Automation
   Shopify doesn’t offer extensive automation for tracking updates, which means more manual work and a higher chance of data entry errors when managing a lot of orders.

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Despite the challenges, solutions like Return Prime can make Shopify order and package tracking much smoother. Here's how it simplifies the process.

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How Return Prime Simplifies Shopify Order and Package Tracking

Return Prime, rated 4.9 out of 5 on the Shopify store, is designed to make returns and order tracking as simple as possible for Shopify merchants. It integrates tracking for both orders and returns, providing a smooth and efficient experience for both businesses and customers. Here's how it works:

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• Centralized Return Management: Return Prime brings all return, exchange, and refund processes into one easy-to-use platform. You can track and manage every aspect of the customer journey from the same dashboard, cutting down on time and errors.
• Real-Time Tracking: Customers stay in the loop with real-time updates on both their orders and returns. With accurate tracking info, they're less likely to feel frustrated or confused about the status of their purchases.
• Wonder Bot Automation: Automate returns, exchanges, and refund processes with Wonder Bot. This not only boosts customer satisfaction but also frees up time for your team by reducing manual tasks.
• Smart Exchange Recommendations: Instead of just processing returns, Return Prime encourages customers to make exchanges. The platform's smart algorithms suggest related products, keeping sales and customer satisfaction high.
• Automated Notifications: Keep customers informed at every stage. Return Prime automatically sends updates on returns, exchanges, and refunds, so customers know exactly when to expect their items and what to do next.
• Customizable Return Policies: Tailor return and exchange policies to suit your business needs. Whether you want to set specific rules based on product type or customer behavior, Return Prime helps you create a transparent, smooth process that customers can easily follow.
• Seamless Integration: Connect easily with leading software platforms and logistics providers. With integrations like over 30 apps and custom webhooks, Return Prime ensures that tracking and managing orders and returns is seamless from start to finish.
• Analytics and Reporting: Track the performance of your returns process and understand how it impacts your bottom line. With the ROI feature, you can refine your strategies and measure the effectiveness of your returns and exchanges.
• Multilingual Support: Reach a global audience with Return Prime’s multilingual capabilities. Whether you're managing returns in the US, Europe, or beyond, the platform makes it easy to communicate with customers in their preferred language.

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With Return Prime, managing order tracking and returns becomes simple and efficient. It automates many steps, reduces manual effort, and creates a better overall experience for customers, driving loyalty and satisfaction. Whether you’re handling refunds, exchanges, or tracking, Return Prime gives you the tools to streamline everything in one place.

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Conclusion

Shopify's order and package delivery tracking is essential for e-commerce businesses to simplify returns, provide real-time tracking, and integrate with top courier services. This boosts customer trust, reduces abandoned carts, and enhances satisfaction through clear, proactive updates.

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The improvements Shopify offers in delivery translate to faster and more efficient shipping, helping merchants meet heightened customer expectations and streamline operations. Return Prime, in particular, simplifies returns and improves the customer experience, making your business more efficient.

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Ready to transform your Shopify store's order tracking and return process? Schedule a demo call today and discover how Return Prime can revolutionize your business.