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Tracking API case studies

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New Zealand Post iPhone/iPad app

Developers all over the country are finding unique ways to use our tracking application programming interface (API) - watch this space for updates as new APIs become available.

Twitterbot

11 September 2010

One for the Twitterers. Follow @nzposttracking on Twitter (which will follow you back automatically). You can then send a direct message like ‘watch JB123456789NZ’ or 'status JB123456789NZ'. If you choose to watch an item you’ll get an update whenever your item changes status (no more repeated queries to our Tracking service).

You can even give your tracking number a name e.g. 'watch JB123456789NZ new shirt'.  Our Twitterbot will then refer to your item by this name each time you get an update. You can choose to stop receiving updates at any time with ‘unwatch’.

An added advantage of this service is that it is available to anybody with access to Twitter including the Twitter website, Twitter desktop and mobile apps, and via text message (free if you’re on the Vodafone network). 

The Twitterbot uses the Tracking API so the information it returns will be accurate. That said, the Twitterbot itself may still have some ragged edges - if it doesn't behave as it should let us know what we need to fix in our feedback forum - or contact us at developer@nzpost.co.nz.

Google spreadsheet example

16 June 2010

We have created a Google spreadsheet template to demonstrate how the API might be used to keep track of your parcels while they’re in transit. We’ve also created a video demonstration (no sound) of how to use the spreadsheet.

We hope the spreadsheet is useful for people who want to submit queries for a number of parcels, and who don't want to have to enter the tracking numbers each time on the tracking page.

But the main aim is to provide a working example, complete with the script required to access the API and process the response. The script can be seen under the "Tools" menu, then select "Scripts" and then "Script editor". You’ll need a Tracking API key to use the spreadsheet.

We’d love to hear your feedback:

Tracking API updated

12 April 2010
Version 0.5 of the Tracking API has been released. This new version provides a number of improvements including:

  • Initial requests should be significantly faster
  • A new REST method which supports multiple tracking numbers
  • JSON can now be returned instead of XML (documentation includes an example of JSONP using jQuery)
  • A new mock service for testing - each call to the mock service progresses a package to the next state.

If you are using the old 0.4 version of the API, this will continue to work as normal, so you don’t have to do anything.

Details for accessing the latest version of the API are in the updated Tracking API documentation (PDF - 523kb)

Tracking integrates with WordPress e-commerce plugin

26 February 2010
With more than 500,000 downloads, Kiwi-made Wordpress e-commerce, a Wordpress Shopping Cart Plugin, is one of the most popular e-commerce frameworks in the world. Now, integrated with New Zealand Post's tracking tool, customers can track the delivery status of their online purchases, so it’s even more convenient to buy things online.

Find out more, visit:

Tracking on iPhone

26 February 2010
Lucid Design's first iPhone application, Parcels, has been developed for small businesses or individuals sending or receiving deliveries with New Zealand Post or CourierPost. Parcels stores your unique Tracking number into your iPhone so you can check back regularly to see the status of your delivery.

Find out more, visit:

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