Gmail will help users track parcels

Gmail makes it easier to keep an overview of the status of parcels in transit. At the top of an e-mail conversation you can see the status at once and there are also handy labels in the mailbox. The function does not yet work in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Track parcels in Gmail

While Santa Claus passes the MOT with his sleigh, the good Saint has his steamer checked. With the holiday season approaching, many families expect packages in the coming weeks. It can be a chore to track the status of those deliveries, which is why Gmail wants to make it more manageable, at least first in the United States, Google announces.

If you have ordered something, a label with information will appear immediately below the confirmation email. You can then see at a glance without opening the email whether the package is ready for shipment or when it is expected. If you then tap on the e-mail, you will receive more information about the shipment in an overview at the top.

Google says this feature was created in conjunction with most major US delivery services. Gmail can itself check the progress of packages based on the tracking codes in the emails. Users must first give Google permission for the function to work. This can be done via a pop-up notification that appears at the top of the mailbox or via the settings of Gmail.

This is how parcel tracking works in Gmail

Availability

It is not known whether and when these features will also work in the Netherlands and Belgium in the long term. Google hasn’t announced anything about it yet. Last month, Google announced further improvements to Gmail and Google Drive, and this summer Gmail got the new Material You design.

Would you find it useful if Gmail lends a hand with following up packages? Let us know in the comments.