If you are waiting for a parcel that has been sent by courier or even certain services within the Royal Mail then you will probably receive a tracking number from the sender. This allows you to log on to their website or call them up and track where your parcel is.

All couriers have different tracking methods. Some will only give you limited information as to when it has left the depot etc whereas others will tell you what time you can expect your parcel and even the name of the driver.

This is a great service for business sending and receiving mail as it means that they can not only give their customers accurate information regarding deliveries but can also see when supplies they have ordered should arrive.

Tracking is usually quite curate but often is only updated when the delivery driver or depot inputs the details, although this is becoming more automated when parcels are scanned in and out.