Shipment Traceability Tools: Following Every Carton From Pick to Delivery

Why shipment traceability tools matter for retail fulfillment

Retailers expect vendors to maintain complete visibility into every shipment. They want to know what was picked, how it was packed, which labels were applied, when it shipped, and how the cartons align with the ASN. Shipment traceability tools make this possible. Without them, brands operate on assumptions, discovering issues only when retailers report problems back to them.

Most traceability failures begin with missing data. When pick scans are incomplete, carton builds are not recorded, or labels are generated manually, the shipment becomes unreliable. Retailers detect these gaps instantly through automated scanning.

Retailers enforce traceability because accuracy protects their networks

Large retailers rely on automation to validate every carton entering their facilities. If data does not match the shipment, the system slows down, and the vendor absorbs the cost. Retailers expect vendors to maintain complete traceability for that reason.

Joel Malmquist described the high stakes: "Walmart's pretty intense with their labeling rules. Dick's Sporting Goods is the same; if you don't do it right, you get those massive chargeback." He added, "And Target's got big routing compliance issues." Shipment traceability tools protect brands from these costly outcomes.

Visibility turns traceability into predictable performance

Traceability depends on real-time visibility into warehouse activity. Brands need tools that show where every order stands, how cartons were built, and whether shipments match routing requirements. Without visibility, traceability breaks down.

Maureen Milligan captured the value of this insight: "What these real-time portals provide our customers is 100 percent visibility." With visibility, traceability becomes reliable instead of reactive.

Scanning creates accurate, trustworthy shipment data

Traceability tools only work when warehouse actions are scanned consistently. Every pick, pack, move, and label must be recorded. Without scanning, shipment data becomes guesswork. With scanning, it reflects the truth.

Connor Perkins explained it simply: "You want everything to be scanned in the warehouse, nothing done on paper." He added, "Our clients get best-in-class visibility and transparency. They can see their daily orders, they can see KPIs, and they can see historical transactions." Scanning allows traceability tools to operate with precision.

B2B-ready systems make traceability possible

Shipment traceability requires deep data structure. Systems designed only for D2C cannot support carton logic, pallet structure, label rules, and ASN requirements. B2B workflows demand systems that track inventory from receiving through final shipment.

Bryan Wright illustrated the level of detail required: "A bad WMS system will not track inventory 100 percent as it should." He added: "It shows the product landed on the dock at 8 o'clock. At 8:10, John picked it up and took it to location XYZ, and at 10 o'clock, we picked two items off of that pallet in the location 1, 2, 3, 4, order ABC, and at 11 o'clock, we packed it, we put it in this box and put this label number on it." Shipment traceability tools depend on exactly that level of precision.

Support keeps traceability aligned with retailer expectations

Retailers frequently update their routing guides and ASN rules. When these changes occur, traceability tools and workflows must be updated immediately. Slow support creates compliance failures even when the warehouse is doing everything else correctly.

Joel described the support model required: "Every single account at G10 has a direct point of contact... and the result of that is attention to detail on their account, and a commitment to helping them grow." Traceability tools succeed when supported by responsive experts.

Why brands switch 3PLs when shipment traceability fails

Many brands move to G10 because their previous providers could not offer clear traceability. They dealt with mislabeled cartons, missing ASN data, delayed shipments, and retailer penalties. These issues revealed deeper problems in visibility and process discipline.

Maureen summarized these concerns: "Most of the customers who come to us from another 3PL, their challenges have always been access to their data, order accuracy and efficiency, and basically just meeting the committed requirements." Shipment traceability tools address each of these issues directly.

Shipment traceability becomes a competitive advantage

When traceability tools capture every scan, every movement, and every label, shipments arrive exactly as retailers expect. Compliance improves. Chargebacks shrink. Vendor scorecards rise. Buyers gain confidence in the brand.

With G10's scanning discipline, structured workflows, real-time visibility, and dedicated support, shipment traceability tools become a foundation for scalable, retail-ready performance.