On August 7, it was reported that Yixun, a comprehensive e-commerce platform under Tencent, revealed today that its mobile client has launched a new feature called "Real-time Parcel Tracking." With this feature, consumers simply need to open the Yixun mobile app to see the real-time location of their parcels on a map, as well as contact information for the delivery courier.
Lin Jie, Vice President of Yixun in charge of logistics operations, disclosed that the purpose of this feature is to help users better manage the delivery time of their parcels. After placing an order on Yixun, consumers can not only view the previous order confirmation and warehouse dispatch processes on the web or mobile app but also track the entire process from when the courier starts delivering the parcel until it is signed for by the customer.
"For example, once a consumer's parcel is assigned to a courier for delivery, real-time tracking can begin. Through the Yixun mobile app, consumers can see the current location of their parcel on the map, the distance from their delivery address, as well as the name and contact details of the courier responsible for delivering the package, making it convenient for users to get in touch if necessary."
According to Lin Jie, when the distance between the consumer’s parcel and the delivery address is less than or equal to 1.5 kilometers, the Yixun mobile app will push a notification to remind the user to prepare for receiving the parcel.
Lin Jie explained that Yixun uses GPS on couriers' handheld devices to locate the real-time positions of both the courier and the parcel, then maps this information onto a visual interface for the consumer. For orders delivered by Yixun's own logistics teams in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, where self-operated logistics services are available, customers can track the real-time location of their parcels.
Lin Jie stated that "real-time parcel tracking" is just the beginning of Yixun's precise logistics service, with more initiatives planned for the future. For instance, the "real-time parcel tracking" feature will be upgraded into an order trajectory viewing system. Consumers will not only be able to see the current location of the courier but also the planned delivery route and the estimated arrival time.
It is understood that Yixun's precise logistics system will later add interactive functions between couriers and users, allowing users to conveniently contact couriers in cases where they temporarily leave or are unable to receive the delivery. Users may also use tools like WeChat 5.0’s street view scanning function to inform couriers of their current location.
Yixun is also planning to integrate the precise logistics tracking system into the web interface and WeChat, using new channels like WeChat to send users more accurate logistics information.