What is Consignment Number in India Post. Its benefits, uses

The shipping industry is growing in size every single day and as it grows it's still figuring out a few things like how to bring accuracy in deliveries. The cost of a wrong delivery isn’t just a financial one, it costs businesses their credibility, brand value and can even force them out of existence.

Multichannel Merchant’s research shows that 23% of customers who experienced a product delivery failure choose not to order from that retailer again. Meteor Space’s reports indicate 84% of consumers would not return to an online store after a single poor delivery experience.

As the shipping industry still grapples to find the answer to bring 100% accuracy in product deliveries, it's wise not to reinvent the wheel and instead gain some wisdom by observing the working of behemoths in this industry.

The India Post Success Story

India Post should be a good starting point. The government-owned and operated organization has been delivering parcels across this massive nation for decades. They operate at a stratospheric scale, serve a jaw-dropping massive area, and still maintain higher successful delivery rates.

No doubt India Posts enjoys a tremendously resourceful infrastructure and has a large human workforce to execute their operations, the secret sauce behind their success is a 13 to 20-character unique number called 'consignment number.'

The consignment number system makes it easy for India Post to track the movement of the parcel, update the delivery timeline, and keep the customer happy.

What is the ‘Consignment Number?

A consignment number or the shipment number or tracking number, is a unique identifier assigned to each shipment sent through Indian Post. This number is typically a combination of letters and numbers, ranging from 13 to 20 characters in length.

The consignment number serves as a reference point for tracking shipments, enabling both senders and recipients to monitor the package's progress in real-time. With Indian Post's vast network of post offices and delivery centers, consignment numbers play a vital role in ensuring that shipments don’t get misplaced and reach their intended destinations efficiently.

Decoding the Consignment Number’s Magic

A usual consignment number allotted by India Post has a combination of alphabets and numbers. It looks something like this: EM308914722IN.

These letters and numbers aren’t generated randomly. They follow a certain pattern. If we break down these characters, we can easily obtain a lot of information about the parcel.

How to Track Your Shipments with India Post Consignment Numbers

You can track your shipments with Indian Post with just a few clicks.

1. Go to the official India Post Website. Here you will see the "Track Consignment" tab.

2. You just have to enter your 13-20 character Consignment Number in this field.

3. Once you are done, click on the ‘Track’ button.

4. Now, all the details of your parcel will appear on the screen. You will see the current status and estimated delivery timelines as well.

India Post uses the following terms to provide the most accurate status of your shipment:

Item Booked : India Post has received your shipment and has registered it in the system.
Item Dispatched : Your parcel is in the transit stage. It has been sent to the next post office.
Item Received : This is the stage before the actual delivery phase. Generally, India Post sends parcels to a sorting facility that is closest to the destination pin code. The parcel is dispatched for delivery from here.
Out For Delivery : The final stage of the process. The parcel is sent for delivery and will be delivered most probably on the same day.

Where Can I Locate the Consignment Number?

When we book a shipment through India Post, we receive a shipment booking slip. The consignment number is printed on this slip.

Generally, the consignment number is on the second line of the slip. You can easily identify the number as it's a 13 to 20-digit alpha-numerical unique number.

Benefits of Using Consignment Number

India Post has utilized the system of consignment numbers to enhance its service. What are the advantages of a consignment number? Let's look at a few of them:

Real-Time Tracking :

The obvious benefit of using a consignment number is to offer real-time tracking. Through consignment numbers, it becomes easy to track a consignment. This helps in understanding the current status of the shipment and taking proactive measures if needed to mitigate any unforeseen challenges that might affect the delivery timelines.
Enhanced Transparency :

Consignment numbers offer a clear picture of the status of shipments. This makes it easier for the customer as well as the service provider to communicate with each other. This brings transparency.
Improved Customer Experience :

Customers love it when they know all the updates about their parcels. Offering a consignment number to the customer enables them to track their shipments and get crucial information. This helps in enhancing the overall customer experience.
Reduced Errors :

Consignment numbers minimize the risk of errors, ensuring that shipments are delivered to the correct recipient.

Conclusion

The story of consignment numbers is a fascinating one. Understanding the mechanisms behind it helps us to know how courier delivery can become more efficient through the use of a 13 to 20-digit unique number.

India Post stands tall as a shining example for all players in the market who are aiming to enhance accuracy and offer faster deliveries. By understanding the story of consignment numbers, businesses can work on implementing a similar model and drive better business growth.