Say a customer placed an order on your online store 3 days ago but has not received any update on it since then. They contact your customer support anxiously, demanding to know where their package is and whether they are even going to receive it.
The package is already on the way to the customer and you tell them that, but they do not believe you and demand that you give them an exact delivery date, and promise a refund if the package is not delivered by then.
Sounds daunting right? But this situation could have been avoided if your online store had just sent them an “in transit” email or message as soon as their order was shipped. If you are wondering what exactly is “in transit” meaning and why it is important for you, keep reading!
What is In Transit Meaning?
Simply put, “In Transit” is a shipment status.
You may have inevitably come across this status update while tracking your shipments. Postal services or courier companies use this status to highlight that a shipment has left the origin location and is on its way to the final receiver or destination.
You see, waiting to receive a status update on a shipment can be an ordeal whether you are the shipper or the receiver. Both parties can cease to worry about their parcel once they are informed that it is on the way and will reach the recipient on time. The only aim of this shipment status update is to reassure both parties.
However, you must keep in mind that just because your package is “in transit” does not mean it is in the final leg of the journey or is ready for last mile delivery. Now that you know in transit meaning, let us discuss more about this in the next section.
In Transit Status vs. Out for Delivery: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to delivery management, “Out for Delivery” is perhaps the one term that “in transit” meaning in delivery is often confused with. But it is important to consider that while both are shipment status updates, they both mean different things. The two terms are used to denote two distinct points in the journey of a shipment from origin to destination.
When a package is “in transit”, the update refers to a package that has been shipped from the origin location and is on its way to the recipient. But a package will also be considered as being “in transit” if it is sitting in a shipment facility or local storage facility waiting to be picked up and delivered to the final recipient.
On the other hand, when your package is “out for delivery”, it suggests that your package has already been picked up from the local storage facility or warehouse, and is already on a vehicle that is on the way to the shipping address or final recipient.
In most cases, you will receive an “in transit” tracking status update before you receive an “out for delivery” update. However, when you are ordering from a brick-and-mortar store in the same location as you, you might even get an “out for delivery” status update directly.
In both cases, an “out for delivery” update is also the last notification you will receive before your item is delivered and you get that final update.
4 Types of Shipping Speeds You Should Know
One of the most pertinent questions your customers will have once their package has been shipped and they get an "in transit" order status is - how long will it be in transit?
While this is a fair question for them to have, you as a shipper, know that the answer to this question is completely subjective. After all, the amount of time your shipment will stay in transit will depend on several factors such as the distance it is going to travel, whether it is domestic or international, and the delivery speed that the customer has selected to name a few.
But the simplest way to measure the transit time of a package that’s going from its origin to a destination is the shipping speed assigned to it. The shipping speed can be classified into four categories for eCommerce companies:
- Standard Shipping: The most common and cost-effective shipping speed that almost every shipment will follow unless specified otherwise is the standard shipping speed. Shipments falling in this category can take a couple of days to a few weeks to reach the destination depending on the distance and mode of transport.
- Expedited Shipping: Most courier companies and eCommerce companies will give you the option to expedite your shipments. The shipments that fall into this category will travel at a faster speed and take off a day or a few days from the standard transit time.
- Same-Day Shipping: This shipping speed refers to shipments that are slated to be delivered on the same day the order is placed. This shipping speed is generally offered by major marketplaces with a large network of warehouses across locations or locally situated eCommerce stores.
- Next-Day Shipping: Very similar to the same-day shipping speed, the next-day shipping refers to a shipment speed that guarantees that the shipment will be delivered to the customer within one working day. This shipping speed and same-day shipping will generally charge customers a premium cost in addition to their order value.
7 Common Challenges You Can Face “In Transit”
By now you know that if you get an update that says that your shipment is “in transit”, you can expect that it is on its way to you. However, you should consider the risk that this might not be the case, or that your package might get stuck at some point in the journey.
Here are some of the major challenges that can cause your shipments to get stuck while they are “in transit” status:
1. Stuck in Customs
If your packages are being shipped to a domestic location, you will not have to deal with too much documentation.
Of course, you would not have to deal with customers either. But when you are dealing with international shipments, you will need to have highly specific and detailed documentation for it and follow the rules required to get your package through customs. Your shipment can get stuck in customs if any of the paperwork is incorrect or missing.
2. Overweight Shipment
Depending on the transport mode you have selected for the shipment, there are weight and dimension-related policies related to fleet management that you will need to abide by. If your shipment is found to be overweight, the shipping company will either charge you for the extra weight or return it to you.
This to-and-fro communication can take a while and prevent your package from moving forward and keep it in transit for a long period.
3. Change in Address
Changing the delivery address on a shipment can happen due to a few reasons. While it may be an error on your end that may warrant an address edit, even customers may request a change of address if they realise they might have provided the wrong one. What seems like a simple edit derails the entire shipping process and can waste a lot of time.
At the very least, you will have a delayed shipment in your hands while you wait for the address change to reflect. The worst-case scenario is the package getting returned, and the sender having to restart the entire process from scratch.
4. Inadequate Packaging
Depending on the policies and processes of the carrier company you have chosen for your shipment, it may get stuck as a result of packaging too.
Most carrier companies will stop the transit as soon as they realise that the shipment may have been damaged as a result of inadequate packaging. This is because they want to prevent the shipment from getting damaged further and incurring any liabilities.
5. Bad Weather or Traffic Conditions
One of the most common reasons behind your shipment getting stuck in transit is because of conditions out of the shipping company’s control.
If the shipping company encounters excessive traffic or bad weather conditions during transit, there is a good chance that your shipment may get delayed. These situations can get especially daunting when your customer has selected an expedited shipping speed and yet their shipment remains in transit status.
6. Additional Security Checks
Depending on the nature of your shipment and the transportation mode you have selected for processing the order, the extensiveness of security checks involved in the process may vary. This process can still be fairly simple and fast when your shipments are in transit within a country.
However, the security checks can get quite extensive and get much more complicated if your shipment is crossing international borders.
7. Peak Season or Demand Surplus
If your eCommerce company has partnered up with a popular courier or 3PL service provider, your shipments are vulnerable to this additional weakness. Certain seasons or periods in the year, especially around festivals or holidays, can get quite overwhelming for these companies.
They have to deal with shipping a large volume of packages and are prone to delays and disruptions in the process. As a result, your shipment can get stuck and delayed for a while.
Concluding Remarks
When it comes to your shipments having the most accurate and real-time status updates like in transit order status updates is valuable to your operations. After all, as an online store, you are answerable for any delays or cancellations to your customers.
That said, it is a good idea to partner up with a good courier company or 3PL service provider that can help you get your shipments to your customers as early as possible. PACK & SEND can help you make the entire process more efficient. Contact us directly or get a quote for your requirements.