Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) measures how often you use valid tracking numbers on your orders. Amazon customers depend on tracking numbers to find out where their orders are and when they can expect to receive them. The Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) is a performance metric that reflects those expectations. Below are the requirements for Valid Tracking Rate:
You can monitor your category level VTR in this dashboard here
To calculate this metric, we take the number of packages you ship with a valid tracking number and divide it by the total number of packages you have shipped and confirmed. VTR is expressed as a percentage. For example, if you confirmed shipment for 200 packages, and 190 of those packages had a valid tracking number, your Valid Tracking Rate would be 95% (190 ÷ 200 = .95 or 95%)
We use promised delivery date to determine which orders are included in the performance metric. Your Valid Tracking Rate has a two-week latency period, which allows the data enough time to be statistically relevant.
The following items are not included in the VTR calculation:
Sellers are encouraged to use carriers from the following lists to ship their packages as these carriers provide real-time tracking status to Amazon. This helps reduce buyer contacts and improve seller feedback ratings. The following carriers are integrated with Amazon: AAA Cooper, ABG, Adrexo, Alljoy, AO, Aolde, Aoluk, Arrow, Arrow UK, AT Post, Australia Post, Belgian Post, Bestbuy, BJS, Bluedart, BRT, Celeritas, Centex, China Post, Chronopost, Cititran, CNE Express, City Link Coliposte, Colissimo, Correos, Correos Express, CTT Express, DBSA, Db-Schenker, Delhivery, Deutsche Post, DHL, DHL Ecommerce, DHL Home Delivery, DHL DE, DHL HB, DHL NL, DHL Parcel, DHL US, DPD, DPD DE, DPD FR, DPD UK, DPGM, DSV, Dtdc, DX Freight, Emirates Post, Energo , Energos, Envialia, Estafeta, Estes Express, Fastway, FDXG, Fedex, Fedex Freight, Firstmile, Furdeco, Gati, Gel, GEL Express, Geodis, GlS, GlS ES, GlS IT, Hermes, Hermes Einrichtungs Service, Hermes UK, Hmshb, Home Logistics, ICC, IDS, India Post, Janio, Japan Post, JCEX, JP Express, Katolec, KNA, Kuehne Nagel, La Poste, MRW, Nexive, Ninjavan, NL Post, Panther, Parcel Force, Pilot Freight, PLTA, Poste Italiane, Q Express, Q Xpress, R+L Carriers, Raben, RBNA, Rhenus, Rieck, Roadrunner, Royal Mail, RPDA, SAIA, SDA, SEFL, Seino, Seur, SF Express, SFC, Singapore Post, Speedex, Startrack, SWA, Teleflora, Tipsa, TNT, TNT IT, TNT NL, TNT UK, TNTA, Tourline Express, Tuffnells, UPS, UPS Freight, USPS, VIR, Vnlin, Wanbang, Watkins, WINIT, XPO, XDP, Yamato, Yanwen, YDH, Yellow Freight, Yodel, Yun Express, Yurtici, 4PX
Using a carrier that is not integrated by Amazon will result in an invalid tracking ID, as Amazon will not receive updated tracking status of the package.
Please allow 72 hours for the report and metric to reflect any updates.
Before the delivery date, you can edit order tracking information.
Allow 72 hours for the report and metric to reflect the changes.
If the ship method receives at least one scan it will be considered valid for the purpose of measuring VTR.
You can ship confirm orders without tracking ID for untracked ship methods and in case you use carriers that are not integrated in Amazon systems. Tracking IDs are required for all orders shipped with a tracked ship method.
Providing valid tracking numbers can have a number of benefits:
No, you will not be able to ship confirm orders without inputting a shipping service provider name and delivery service. Delay in ship confirming orders can impact your Late Shipment Rate (LSR) which may lead to account suspension (find more details here). Also, Amazon will automatically cancel orders when seven days have passed since the expected shipping availability date if you have not yet shipped and confirmed the shipment (find more details here).
You are expected to meet a 95% VTR from April 19, meaning we will review the first 30 days’ delivery performance on May 19, 2021. From May 19, you may receive an email notification if your VTR does not meet 95% at the category level in the last 30 days. The impacted selection may be suspended in the category level if 95% in the last 30 days is not met. To reinstate suspended selection, you will need to submit a plan of action, which will need to be approved.
For example, if you are a UK based seller shipping to customers in the EU, you are not required to provide tracking information unless you are using a tracked ship method. When you select your carrier and ship method, you’ll be prompted to provide the tracking ID if the ship method is tracked.
We successfully integrated the ‘Customer Parcel ID’ (15 digits) on Amazon. The tracking ID that BRT provides on the same day (after the label creation) allows you to input that tracking ID instead of the ‘Shipment reference’ (12 digits) to ship confirm orders, and the customer will be able to see the status of the order. If you already have an automatic process in place and confirm shipment with a BRT tracking ID, and you see your tracking rate is >95%, we suggest you to keep using the current ‘Shipment reference’.
Please refer to the Tracking FAQ in Seller Central.
Please use shipping service provider name as ‘Other’ and provide us the name of your non-integrated shipping service provider and ship method. Please also provide us with the tracking information if available so that customers can still track their orders through the shipping service provider website. Shipments sent through ‘Other’ shipping service providers will not be considered while calculating VTR performance.
If you use an integrated shipping service provider please ensure that you enter tracking number correctly, and that you confirm the order according to the guidelines. Please refer to our Tracking FAQ Help page here for additional details. If you are unable to ship confirm despite entering a correct tracking number, please use ‘Other’ as shipping service provider code (and provide appropriate shipping service provider and ship method name) to ship confirm the order and contact Selling Partner Support for help.
If you do not provide 95% VTR as required by the policy, all Merchant Fulfilled Network offers in the impacted category may be suspended. This will not affect the MFN offers in other categories or your FBA offers. If any of your listings get suspended, you can submit a Plan of Action and apply for reinstatement. If your appeal is approved, your merchant-fulfilled listings in the affected category will be restored.
In case you are using a tracked ship method, we recommend you contact your shipping service provider and provide us the tracking IDs. If you are using an untracked ship method, you are not required to provide us a tracking ID for domestic and cross-border shipments.
Please refer Valid Tracking Rate FAQ Help page for more information.
Please refer to the Tracking FAQ Help page for more information about tracking numbers and tracking IDs.