Shipping represents an emotionally significant phase in the customer journey. Many retailers face a critical problem: they outsource shipping notifications to third-party carriers after checkout, losing control over communication quality and consistency.
Key Messages in Every Brand's Communication Workflow
Shipping Notifications
Shipping notifications -- also termed shipment or delivery notifications -- provide customers with order status updates. These messages vary depending on product type and brand approach, covering events like dispatch confirmation, delivery updates, and failed delivery notices. Brands can distribute these messages across multiple channels: email, SMS, chatbot platforms, or dedicated order tracking pages.
Delivery Notifications
While "shipping notification" and "delivery notification" are frequently used interchangeably, they technically differ. Shipping notifications cover the period from warehouse departure through delivery. Once an order arrives, subsequent updates qualify as delivery notifications. In practice, many brands use both terms flexibly for any post-purchase communication.
What Updates Do Your Customers Want?
Research reveals compelling consumer preferences:
- 90% of consumers desire brand engagement during delivery
- 56% want immediate alerts when delays occur
- 31% prefer contacting brands rather than checking carrier websites
- 26% value how-to guides related to purchases
- 23% appreciate personalized product recommendations
- 87% expect proactive returns communication
The underlying pattern shows customers prioritize personalized, real-time updates delivered proactively rather than requiring them to search for information independently.
How Shipment Notifications Help Your Business
Brands regaining communication control after checkout experience measurable benefits:
- Reduction in expensive customer service inquiries
- Extended customer engagement throughout the journey
- Increased repeat purchasing and returning traffic
- Higher customer satisfaction scores
- Improved customer lifetime value
parcelLab partners with hundreds of global carriers including DHL, FedEx, and DPD, providing access to real-time delivery data. The platform transforms this information into personalized, branded experiences, enabling companies to create lasting customer relationships during typically transactional moments.
Ready to transform your post-purchase experience?
See how parcelLab can help you turn every delivery and return into a loyalty-building moment.