Gmail Adds New Package Tracking Features

Google is adding new package tracking features to Gmail ahead of the holiday season. In the coming weeks, Gmail users will be able to opt-in to allow the app to display package tracking updates for orders with tracking numbers.

“Package tracking will be available across most major U.S. shipping carriers and will provide important details at a glance, such as estimated arrival date and status — like “Label created,” “Arriving tomorrow” or “Delivered today”,” explained Ilya Brown, VP of Product for Gmail.

As reported by The Verge, though, Gmail won’t be able to track packages from Amazon as the company’s emails don’t use the right format. “If a tracking number is not included in the merchant’s order email, the package tracking feature won’t be available,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge.

If you often end up searching for confirmation emails in your inbox to find tracking numbers, Gmail offering automatic package tracking updates should be a welcome addition. This is something that Microsoft’s Outlook app already supports as well, in addition to providing summary cards for travel reservations.

In the coming months, Google plans to add another package tracking experience in Gmail: If the delivery of one of your packages has been delayed, Gmail will notify users about it and bring the associated email right to the top of your inbox.