I seem to be tracking packages all the time. Laptops, switches, supplies... you name it, I order and track it. Historically, keeping track of all these shipments was a challenge. Five different carriers meant that I used five different tracking systems. It was about a year and a half ago that I set out on a mission to find the perfect package tracking system which allowed me to consolidate all shipments into one system.
After researching several candidates, I decided to give one of them a try. Not for a day or two, but for the long haul. It turned out to be the right decision, which is why I consider this app to be indispensable to me. Not only does this app track FedEx and UPS packages, but DHL, USPS, OnTrac and a whole host of other US-based and foreign carriers. You can even track Apple and Amazon shipments using your order numbers.
The app I use for keeping an eye on shipments is Junecloud's Delivery Status Touch ($4.99). Initially, it was the user interface & design that sold me on the app. Then, after using it for a day or two, I quickly realized that my level of interest was more than skin-deep. Delivery Status Touch is designed to work on both iPad and iPhone natively. Not only that, but there is also a Mac OS X Dashboard widget. You can use either one of these individually, or together by taking advantage of a free Junecloud account. With a Junecloud account, your package information is automatically synced between all your devices.
Adding a package to track is simple. If you receive an email with the tracking number, simply highlight and copy the tracking number. When you launch Delivery Status Touch, it will detect the tracking number and ask if you want to track the shipment.
You can also enter this information manually. Once the information has been entered, it will be added to your list of packages to track, as well as sync with your (optional) Junecloud account. The list of shipments is in order by scheduled delivery date, making it easy to see at a glance what should arrive on your doorstep next. The items are also color-coded, making it easy to know who the carrier is (brown = UPS, purple = FedEx, etc).
Once a package has been received, you can archive (delete) the item. This will help to keep your list clean, as it will only contain active shipments.
While this may not be the most full-featured package tracking app, it's certainly easy to use, well-designed and has a great syncing back-end to keep you current across all your devices. These are some of the reasons why it won me over. I highly recommend it for those who track packages.
