No matter where in the world you want to ship something, or have something shipped to you, it is a possibility today. This is, of course, thanks to the myriad highly efficient courier and parcel service companies that exist worldwide, who transfer boxes, envelopes, and all manners of items, big and small, across countries and continents. Depending on the distance the parcel is going, the modes of transport include trucks, ships (containers are an inexpensive way to get a large amount of stuff sent across), trains, and airplanes.

Just how do courier companies manage to deliver billions of packages each year, and for the most part, do so in a timely fashion? Well, the magic of technology and this includes the world wide web, and mobile communication devices, make it all seem so seamless and easy. We live in a time where we can, and often do, take it for granted that we will order something and not only will it show up at the designated address in the stipulated span of time, we will also have the ability to track is whereabouts as it makes the journey towards us, be that one of a few hundreds or many thousands of miles.

And all this information is made available to you with a sophisticated yet simple system scanners, barcodes, and handheld devices, alongside the internet. It all starts with the barcode assigned to the package, which will be affixed on a label to the actual package, and that barcode gets scanned by the postal worker or courier guy. Wondering what the information is, that is contained on your package’s label, and how a barcode can help you know more about where your package is?

Well, the final destination aka the delivery address, including the zip code, is the primary information that is contained. Furthermore, the courier company will use the barcode to track the package’s travels across cities, states, and countries, from its starting point, tracing its route and stops along the way at different cities and states before it is delivered to its final destination. And, since all that information gets updated in real time, through the handheld scanners that employees use to swipe every item’s barcode at each stop and start point, it means you, the consumer, get a play by play of your precious package.