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Related Shipments - 'Return to Sender'

Rachel Richardson
Rachel Richardson
Updated

In this article

Table of Contents

What are Related 'Return to Sender' Shipments?
How do Related Shipments work for Convey?
How to locate Related Shipments in Convey
FAQs and Additional Information

What are Related 'Return to Sender' Shipments?

When a parcel shipment is sent to a customer with an express service level (e.g. FedEx 2-Day, UPS 2-Day) and an exception in transit results in a 'Return to Sender' (RTS) status, the parcel shipment is typically returned 1) under a different tracking number, and/or 2) with a lower service level (e.g. FedEx Ground, UPS Ground). This can cause challenges for both retailers and carriers to associate and manage outbound shipments and RTS shipments at scale. 

Please Note: a 'Return to Sender' shipment is different than a 'Return' shipment (see below). The Related Shipments feature specifically supports 'Return to Sender' shipments at this time. 

  • 'Return to Sender' Shipment: This type of shipment typically happens because of an exception encountered in transit. The outbound shipment never reaches the customer and it is automatically sent back (i.e. Returned to Sender).
  • 'Return' Shipment: This type of shipment typically happens after a package has reached the destination and has been delivered to the customer, and then the customer has initiated a return to have the item(s) sent back. 

How do Related Shipments work for Convey?

Convey continually monitors in-flight shipments to identify a multitude of data points, including shipment activity. If Convey detects shipment data in the “return_shipment_info" field of the carrier's Tracking API, Convey will add the tracking number in the Related Shipments section of the Outbound Shipment Details page. This feature eliminates the need for customers to navigate to the carrier website to check for updates on the RTS shipment. Alternatively, a customer can see the original/related Outbound tracking number on the RTS Shipment Details page. 

The Related Shipments section (title and labels) is only visible if there is a related shipment tracking number to display. Additionally, this functionality is currently supported for FedEx and UPS parcel carriers through API tracking only.

How to locate Related Shipments in Convey

All Convey customer accounts/users with access to the Shipment Details page will be able to see Related RTS Shipment information if you have UPS and/or FedEx parcel shipment volume that has been RTS. To locate the Related RTS Shipment information, please follow the steps below.

 

Step 1: Once on the Shipment Details page for any UPS and/or FedEx parcel outbound shipment, select the arrow on the right hand side of the page to expose the Shipment Details flyout. 

RelatedShipments_Step1.png

Step 2: If Related Shipment tracking information is available, it will appear under the 'Related Shipments' section of the Shipment Details flyout. 

RelatedShipments_Step2.png

Step 3: Click the tracking number next to 'Return to Sender' to navigate to the Shipment Details page of the RTS shipment. 

RelatedShipments_Step3.png

Step 4: View Shipment Details, including status updates and current shipment status, on the RTS Shipment Details page. 

mceclip1.png

Alternatively, Convey customers/users can follow the same steps outlined above on the 'Return to Sender' Shipment Details page to navigate to the related/original 'Outbound' Shipment tracking number and associated Shipment Details page. 

Related_Outbound_Shipment.png

 

FAQs and Additional Information

Does this functionality apply to other Related Shipments beyond 'Return to Sender' shipments (e.g. one to many scenarios)? 

The Related Shipments functionality is only applicable to 'Return to Sender' shipments at this time. Convey is working on adding functionality to navigate to the (multiple) Last Mile shipments that are related to a single Truckload shipment using the same Related Shipments functionality (Launch TBD). 

 

Does the All Shipments view have export and/or filter capabilities to export details about Related Shipments?

No, the All Shipments view does not have export and/or filter capability to filter on or export details about Related Shipments. Convey users can only see Related Shipment tracking information on the Shipment Details page for an individual shipment.

 

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