Glossary
AWB number — meaning and use
AWB vs order ID
Two identifiers travel with a typical Indian online order, and confusing them is the most common source of failed tracking attempts:
- Order ID — issued by the merchant (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, etc.). The merchant's app and order page key off this. Do not paste it into a courier site.
- AWB / tracking number — issued by the courier when the shipment is handed over. Appears in the shipping confirmation email and (for many merchants) on the order page once the parcel has been picked. Paste this into the courier site, or any universal multi-carrier tracker, and it resolves.
Where to find your AWB
- Shipping confirmation email from the merchant — the AWB is almost always in the body, often labelled "Tracking ID", "AWB", or "Consignment number".
- Merchant order page after the shipping step (Amazon "Track Package", Flipkart "Track", etc.) — clicking through usually reveals the AWB and the courier name.
- Courier's SMS notification (when configured), which also carries the AWB.
Why universal trackers still need the AWB
Multi-carrier tracking sites (Parcel Monitor, AfterShip, TrackCourier.io) auto-detect the courier from the AWB's format and length. They cannot, however, derive the AWB from your merchant order ID — that mapping lives only in the merchant's shipping email. An inbox-driven tracker (like Zlash One) sidesteps the problem by reading the email directly.