Real-Time Tracking vs. Static Updates: Why the Difference Matters

Real-time tracking is significantly different from static updates. It’s all about the frequency of information updates shared with customers.

Giving customers an update in real-time of the delivery driver’s GPS location might seem insignificant and overkill, but customers want this.

Real-time tracking is the next level of precision that modern online shoppers are demanding.

Let’s look at the differences and why it matters to have real-time tracking instead of static updates.

What Are Static Updates?

Static updates are updates on the delivery or shipment status or specific milestones during the journey.

It’s a message sent to customers when a specific action in the logistics journey has been completed.

Here are the types of messages customers might receive during static updates.

• Order Received
• Order Shipped
• Out for Delivery
• Delivered

While these messages are helpful to some extent, they do not provide customers with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) or live tracking link to determine when the driver will arrive.

What Is Real-Time Tracking?

Live tracking provides customers with continuous live updates of the delivery location. It’s displayed on a map and is consistently updated to keep it accurate.

Live tracking helps to improve the accuracy of delivery status and gives better insight through data of when a person can expect a parcel to arrive. This boosts customer confidence and satisfaction.

Tracking in real-time provides a continuous, live update of the delivery’s location, typically displayed on a map, allowing users to monitor its movement in real-time.

What Makes Real-Time Tracking Important For Any Online Business?

Real-time tracking is important for any online business selling a product and delivering it to their customer’s front door. Whether you are using third-party logistics or your own fleet, it’s important to keep the customer posted on where their parcel is.

Here are some of the characteristics of tracking in real-time:

• Consistent Updates: Live tracking provides up-to-the-minute location updates, making it easier for the customer to follow and plan their day.

• GPS Integration: Live tracking software relies on GPS to provide live data on where the parcel is heading.

• Immediate Accuracy: The software updates instantly as the vehicle or delivery moves, giving a real-time view. This gives customers a broader picture of where they are in the delivery queue.

• Enhanced Transparency: Transparency creates trust. With live tracking software, customers know exactly where their package is. It can estimate delivery time down to the minute, making it super efficient for customers.

• Proactive Notifications: The software can also alert customers or businesses about delays, traffic, or route changes.

Are Static Updates Insufficient?

Static updates give customers limited information that can change and leave customers confused and frustrated.

Let me explain:

Delivery Information Delayed

Static updates are not live. This means there may be significant delays between status changes.

Let’s say your customer has been sent a static update that their parcel is out for delivery at 14:00, but a massive accident on the road is delaying the driver. This means the customer is eagerly waiting for their parcel, believing it will arrive in the next hour or so.

But in reality, the parcel only arrived four hours later. This could have been avoided if a real-time tracker link was sent to the customer, with an accurate ETA.

Human Error of Delivery Status

Static updates often rely on scanning packages at hubs or driver check-ins. This system can often lead to human error and delays.

When a parcel is in transit, a live tracking link helps to determine its current location and gives more accurate information about where it is heading and at what time.

Real-time tracker software is constantly updated, considering the weather and traffic, making the automated process more accurate and error-protected.

Transparency Is Limited

When a static update is sent to the customer, they only know the broad progress of the delivery. They can’t see the exact location of the driver’s heading.

While tracking a parcel in real-time is more accurate, it also gives logistics managers and customers a broader picture of the vehicle’s location, routes followed, and driver performance.

Choosing Between Static Updates and Real-Time Updates

Here’s what you need to know about the difference between static updates and real-time updates.

Frequency: Static updates are periodic, while the real-time tracker is live and continues. Higher frequency helps the business to make faster decisions to improve customer satisfaction.

Accuracy: Static updates help to point out general milestones in the delivery process, whereas real-time tracking gives more accurate and exact, to-the-minute location updates. This way, customers can prepare for a smoother handover of the items and cut down the delivery times.

Example: You ordered food from your favorite restaurant. With a live tracking link, the customer can determine exactly when the driver will be outside and can go to the front porch to make the handover faster. This way, the driver can reach more customers faster.

Technology: Real-time tracker software uses the exact location by tracking the GPS location of the vehicle or person. As it changes, the data is updated and shared with managers or customers.

When it comes to static updates, the inputs are made manually, unlike the automated process with the software. This leaves room for mistakes.

Transparency: Transparency is limited when it comes to static updates. Real-time updates provide logistics managers and customers with a broader picture of the delivery status and can determine the precise location.

Notifications: Live tracking software allows businesses to provide customers with an ETA, making it easier for them to plan their day. It also narrows the delivery window, making it more accurate and precise.

Static updates are sending basic and limited communication to customers. This can still create confusion and result in customers complaining.

Which is Better? Static Updates or Real Time Tracking?

If your business operates in a less time-sensitive delivery environment, then static updates will be enough. It will give customers the basic information that they need to help them determine when to expect the delivery.

This could be for large deliveries like machines or other bulky items to factories. When time is not a determining factor, static updates will be sufficient.

However, most online companies want to give their customers a faster and better experience. That’s why live tracking links are ideal for e-commerce, food delivery, or last-mile logistics. It takes the guesswork out of the process.

Customers are demanding more transparency, and real-time tracking is ideal for this. 

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