Google today announced a small but useful update to Gmail, allowing users to quickly track their upcoming package delivery directly from their inbox. The feature works by looking for emails that contain tracking numbers, then using this information to determine the expected delivery date for your order and mark it for you in your inbox.
This means that when you scan your email list in Gmail, you won't have to click on your order confirmation email to see when your package arrives. Instead, this information will be displayed below the email sender's name and subject line in your inbox, showing in a small green label. You will notice a small truck icon followed by text indicating the status of the order, followed by delivery date
Google says that the tag will be updated as the order progresses, including information such as "tag creation", arrival date or delivery date, etc. The feature of
will save online shoppers a lot of extra steps, because usually, consumers must open their order confirmation email and copy and paste the tracking information to the corresponding carrier system, Google, or click on the provided link to start tracking the order, for example. Now all they need to do is look at their Gmail inbox.
If you click to open an order confirmation email, it will now include a summary card at the top, providing more details, including a timeline with a check mark that shows the current order status – the order has been placed, shipped or delivered – and a link to take you to the order details page.
Google says the new feature will be launched in "most major" shipping companies in the U.S. in the coming weeks. People expect this feature to arrive before the holiday shopping season, when it will be the most useful.
To enable package tracking, Gmail will first ask the user whether he wants to choose to receive tracking updates in a pop-up window at the top of the inbox. Users will click "Allow" or "Now", depending on their preferences. This can also be enabled in Gmail's settings.
Of course, the system involves scanning your emails for tracking information, but this is automatic and Google employees are not reading your emails. Some, however, may consider this to be a potential privacy issue, especially if Gmail chooses to use this data to help its various developments in e-commerce and first-party shopping capabilities.
's new additions may impact the adoption of popular third-party parcel tracking apps, including Parcel, Route, AfterShip and Shopify's store apps -- although the latter provides more than tracking features, such as the ability to browse and buy Shopify merchants. Google says it will also expand parcel tracking, proactively updating tags when parcels are delayed, and bringing that email to the top of users’ inboxes to make sure they know.
