What is last mile tracking and how does it work?

Benefits & Best Practices

This guide explores what last mile tracking means, what it takes to implement a modern tracking system, and how to build the business case to prove its value.

Consumers no longer settle for "out for delivery." They expect to track packages in real-time, just like a food order or ride-share. This demand for transparency has made real-time last mile tracking essential for a satisfying delivery experience. But how does real-time package tracking work, and what impact does it have on delivery operations?

This guide explores what last mile tracking means, what it takes to implement a modern tracking system, and how to build the business case to prove its value.

What is last mile tracking?

Real-time last mile tracking is a strategic capability for delivery service providers that redefines the delivery experience and drives transformation on the final mile. Transparency, accurate ETAs, and proactive communication turn uncertainty into confidence, making delivery a positive and predictable experience for customers.

But its true value goes beyond customer satisfaction. When fully integrated, last mile tracking becomes the connective tissue that links customer experience, driver performance, and operational efficiency. It enables delivery networks to harmonize productivity with the human experience — creating the foundation for scalable, data-driven excellence in last mile logistics.

The benefits of real-time package tracking for carriers

Own the Customer Experience

Stop the endless "Where Is My Order?" (WISMO) calls. Give customers the advanced delivery experience they now expect and lift NPS scores.

Drive Real Productivity

Accurate and precise delivery predictions empower parcel recipients to plan, ensuring they are ready when your driver arrives. Increase first-attempt success rates and lower average stop times with final mile tracking.

Build an Agile Operation

Real-time data visibility allows you to orchestrate your entire fleet and make strategic decisions on the fly. This is how you build a flexible, scalable operation that is ready for what comes next.

Own the Customer Experience

Stop the endless "Where Is My Order?" (WISMO) calls. Give customers the advanced delivery experience they now expect and lift NPS scores.

How does final mile tracking work?

The most common approach relies on capturing the driver's live GPS location from a device or application like a handscanner or delivery app. This data provides a clear location on a map for the customer. However, this method can be either static—where the system simply shows the driver's location relative to a pre-planned route and a fixed ETA—or dynamic. If it's connected to a system that re-optimizes the route in real-time, the last-mile tracker can intelligently narrow time windows for the recipient as the driver progresses along their route.

An algorithm-driven approach offers an alternative that requires less operational change. Instead of combining GPS tracking with prediction algorithms, this method uses machine learning to analyze live and historical operational data.

This system is also dynamic, recalculating the estimated time of arrival after each event to ensure the predictions stay aligned with what's actually happening. The main advantage is that this algorithmic tracking can be deployed without needing any new applications on the driver's end, which limits the operational impact of integrating a new last-mile tracking solution.

Key features of an advanced package tracking solution

Live Map Tracking

Give customers the transparent delivery experience they love, with live vehicle updates right on their local map.

Customer Notifications

Keep customers informed and reduce "where-is-my-order" inquiries with proactive delivery alerts.

Dynamic ETA predictions

Turn vague, all-day delivery windows into precise, smartly narrowing ETAs that are accurate down to the minute.

Delivery Ratings & Feedback

Close the loop by capturing real-time customer feedback to measure satisfaction rates on route, depot and company level.

Rerouting Options

Empower customers with true last-minute flexibility to redirect parcels on-the-fly and ensure first-attempt success.

Data Visibility

Turn tracking data into actionable insights that help you reduce customer inquiries, improve route efficiency, and prove success.

Live Map Tracking

Give customers the transparent delivery experience they love, with live vehicle updates right on their local map.

How to integrate real-time tracking into your delivery system?

Integration Paths

Integrating a last mile tracking software should be flexible and adapt to your existing systems. The most straightforward method is by sharing your route data through the driver app. For a more seamless experience, carriers can use an API to connect tracking data directly to their TMS or WMS. At the customer-facing level, the tracking experience can be embedded as a widget into an existing app, integrated via API into a custom-built site, or deployed instantly using a customizable URL.

Delivery Tracking Success Stories

Read the Case Studies
GLS Netherlands case study

GLS Netherlands was facing efficiency challenges with fixed delivery windows that were leading to increased customer inquiries. Seeking a solution, they implemented Better Tracking, which provided dynamic delivery windows and real-time updates. The impact was significant: a 10–15% reduction in customer service contacts, improved Trustpilot ratings, and a reduction in low ratings. Better Tracking revolutionized last-mile delivery, increasing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Reliable Live Tracking for Parcels

Our customer service teams experienced a rapid decrease in customer contact volume after we implemented Bettermile's real-time tracking software. Bettermile has positively impacted the overarching triangle of GLS, our recipients, and our customers.

Milo Kars, Managing Director of GLS Netherlands

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About Better Tracking