International tracking in shipping involves international parcel tracking or international package tracking of goods worldwide. International tracking can be done by buyers and sellers and it covers businesses to businesses or business to consumer sales. Any registered parcel or package which is being sent from one destination to another will have tracking capability, and third-party tracking companies - such as Ship24 - are emerging as the best option for international tracking solutions for both individuals and businesses. This is because in most cases, global shipping involves multiple handlers in the journey of a package.

For example, if a buyer in the USA was to order a product from a Chinese marketplace, such as BangGood, it will most likely be handled by a number of different couriers along its journey to the US-based buyer. Firstly, Chinese first-leg logistics and forwarding companies will likely be involved in the pick-up and/or initial dispatch of the product, such as companies like Cainiao, 4PX, or even via China Post EMS. If the parcel does not go directly from China to the US by plane, it may be handled by another carrier along its journey, such as by GEODIS or DHL in Europe, before finally being handed over to a last-leg courier in the US, which will usually be FedEx or UPS or even USPS.

In essence, shipment tracking is having the ability to have visibility over the progress of your shipment from dispatch to delivery. Effective shipment tracking will allow you to know where your parcel is and its current status at any point along its journey.

Shipment tracking is now an expected service and therefore included as part of most couriers' services, especially on more premium and express delivery options.

Shipment tracking is achieved by assigning a unique tracking code to each shipment, which allows it to be identified along its journey. As the shipment passes between the various depots, processing centers, warehouses, stations, post offices, or different courier and logistics company's, it is then scanned, to confirm either its arrival, delivery, or any other number of tracking 'event' updates. These updates are then sent automatically to tracking applications and the information regarding that update is available to view.

Here is an example:

You are a Chinese merchant with an online eCommerce shop based in China selling protective face masks. You receive an order from France for 2 boxes of masks. You accept the order and then proceed to purchase international parcel delivery services with a logistics company, in this case, the ship from China service. Once you have packaged your order and it has been collected by a local courier partner, it will be processed and assigned a unique shipment tracking number. Using this shipment tracking number on the Ship24 website, both the sender and buyer can track the shipment globally, receiving updates on each stage of the parcel's journey towards its final destination. This provides reassurance to both parties on the progress of the parcel. It is also useful for shipment handlers, who are involved with forwarding tens of thousands of shipments daily.