Google has announced a Gmail update that will allow customers to track scheduled package delivery directly from their inbox in time for the holiday shopping season. The function searches for emails with tracking numbers, uses that information to determine when the order is likely to arrive, and then marks the email in your inbox. Google had previously widely rolled out a unified Gmail interface.
Google updates Gmail with a new package tracking feature
If an email or order contains a tracking number, Gmail will display it directly in the inbox view, just beneath the subject line. This can include the estimated date of arrival as well as updates like “label created,” “arriving tomorrow,” and “delivered today,” which are shown as icons and are coloured green.
When you open the email, you’ll see a summary card with an image preview, the product name, and shipping information. It will also include an order progress timeline with direct links to “Track Package” and “Order Information.” It will be very convenient to be able to swipe between emails and see your card appear consistently.
Users can sign up for package tracking information directly from their inbox or through their Gmail settings. Gmail will then search for order statuses using your tracking numbers and display them in your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time by going to your Gmail settings.
Availability
This update will be available in the coming weeks. Gmail will show you a simple, helpful view of your item tracking and delivery information right in your inbox.
In announcing the feature, Ilya Brown, VP of Product at Gmail, said,
In the coming months, Gmail will help eliminate some of that surprise. It’ll proactively show a delay label and bring the email to the top of your inbox so you don’t miss a beat (or a package).
There’s a lot to keep track of during the holidays. But with these new features, and even more to come in Gmail, we hope to cross at least one of those to-do’s off your list — so you can spend less time waiting by the door and more time celebrating with your loved ones.
