Global parcel tracking system is software designed to monitor information and track location of parcels from the biggest (at this moment) US international delivery services.
Solution
Nowadays, most of the large companies provide their customers with access to their API. Delivery companies do it as well. In this project, I applied a minimalistic interface. A user should only specify his tracking code. The created system recognizes which company he uses and sends a request to its API. As a result, user receives full information about his parcel in a convenient and understandable form. Also, for clarity and visibility, the system displays route of a parcel on the map. I used Google Maps API for this task.
To implement the project, I've combined the APIs of the largest US delivery services: FedEx, UPS, USPS.
They respond to API request with following information (it depends on the service):
- order status;
- a current location of the parcel;
- parcel weight;
- transfer and arrival points;
- estimated delivery date;
- etc.
Conclusion
When this application had been finished I suggested that my customer, USA UA, (one of my previous projects) integrate this system into their business. I developed the algorithm that connects information from the logistics centers of the company (USA UA) with the US delivery services. It also predicts the time (without using ML:) it takes for a client to receive their parcel.
The integration of different services into one system made it possible to create a new business value. As a result, the new tracking system helps users easily track parcels at any stage of delivery.
Code
The code (regular expression) for the recognition of the delivery system you can find in the post — The code for recognizing delivery company by tracking number.
Environment
PHP, JS, JQuery, WSDL, XML.
Work with API
FedEx, UPS, USPS, Google maps, Novaposhta.
