Tracking
Customers can track an order using its reference and delivery postcode. They do not need a Bottle account.
The reference
Section titled “The reference”Every order has a ten-character tracking reference, such as 7K3M9-QWXZ2. It appears on the order and in relevant customer emails.
Supported orders imported from WooCommerce or Shopify get a Bottle tracking reference too. Their shop order number remains on the order for matching records, but customers use the Bottle reference and delivery postcode to track the delivery. Payment, receipts and invoices still belong to the shop.
Opening the page
Section titled “Opening the page”The email link fills in the reference. The customer enters their delivery postcode. Both must match before any order details are shown.
Repeated unsuccessful attempts are temporarily limited.
What it says
Section titled “What it says”The page shows the order’s current status:
- Awaiting payment.
- Ordered, with the expected delivery date or range.
- Scheduled, with a delivery day and time window when available.
- Out for delivery, with progress through the round.
- Not delivered, delivered or cancelled.
The product list appears without prices.
Once the round is out, its remaining estimates are recalculated from the driver’s latest position and the current time. A traffic delay, longer earlier visit or changed stop order therefore updates the later stops rather than leaving them on the morning’s plan.
The map
Section titled “The map”The map shows the customer’s address. While the driver is out and the stop is pending, it can also show the vehicle’s latest reported position and when it was recorded.
Positions refresh periodically rather than continuously. Other customers’ addresses and the full route are not shown.
Not going to be in?
Section titled “Not going to be in?”Customers can ask the driver not to leave the delivery, to leave it with a named neighbour, or to use a specified safe place.
They can save the preference for that address or apply it only to the current order. The instructions appear on the driver’s stop.
The driver makes the final decision about whether it is safe and appropriate to leave the delivery. If it cannot be left, the office arranges the next step.
Instructions cannot be changed after delivery or cancellation.
In the office
Section titled “In the office”Set default instructions on the customer’s delivery address. Use Copy tracking link on the order to share its tracking page.
For an overview of delivery tracking in Bottle, see Delivery tracking on the Bottle website.