What are the new track & trace information and integrations?
The new track & trace information offers more insight into the shipping process. We are transitioning from 200+ scan observations to 25 clear statuses while still sharing all critical details. This makes it easier to identify exceptions and respond quickly to unexpected situations.
Additionally, PostNL is introducing 2 new integration services to access this enhanced track & trace information:
- Tracking Webhook v1: this service delivers real-time status updates (push).
- Shippingstatus API v4: this service allows you to request track & trace information on demand (pull).
Whether you need continuous status updates or occasional information retrieval, these integrations are designed to be fast, secure, and accessible for all our business customers.
What are the benefits?
Ultra-fast updates
Receive real-time status updates and changes through a lightweight webhook. Stay informed as quickly as we are, ensuring a better customer journey together.
Increased efficiency
Get notified only when something actually changes. Subscriptions are free and only need to be set up once, saving you on overhead and implementation time.
Enhanced security
With the latest security standards, you’ll continue to receive information safely, now and in the future.
When will the update be rolled out?
The new track & trace integrations is expected to be available in the second half of 2025. We’ll notify you well in advance to ensure you have enough time to migrate to the new services. Older systems and APIs will be phased out by mid-2026.
Other questions
Speed
Our current APIs are fast, but we can make track & trace information reach you even faster. This depends on the type of integration you currently use and the underlying IT architecture.
Depending on your integration, track & trace information could arrive anywhere from 5 minutes to 6 hours faster in the future. The more real-time the data exchange, the sooner you can inform recipients of relevant changes in the shipment's journey, making delivery more efficient and customer friendly.
Simplicity
We reduce complexity and overhead by replacing outdated, cumbersome methods like API and sFTP with modern, lightweight, and scalable integrations. This makes these integrations an attractive alternative for business customers.
Security
We add an extra layer of security by introducing Multi-Factor Authentication for APIs. Alongside measures like API keys and TLS encryption, this helps ensure that GDPR-sensitive data can be shared securely with customers now and in the future.
For the most part, the functionality between PostNL integrations remains the same. We continue to use both push and pull methods to share track & trace information. Whether or how this changes for your systems depends on how they are set up or which third-party integration services you use.
The new integrations are set up according to modern, globally used standards, making them easy and secure to implement in the vast majority of systems. The IT impact varies depending on how flexible or rigid, how modern or outdated your systems were originally designed. We offer both a push and pull option to meet all possible needs.
Additionally, the IT impact is influenced by the purposes for which the track & trace information is used and how deeply this data is integrated into your systems. If you have built a custom customer service module and also send proactive emails to recipients, the IT impact will be greater than if you only use the data to verify whether a package has been delivered.
If, upon receipt, you have translated the PostNL data into your company’s own “language” (also known as event mapping), the IT impact will be smaller. In that case, you only need to adjust the event mapping. This ensures that all underlying systems continue to communicate in the same language.
The existing track & trace integrations will be phased out by mid-2026. PostNL offers support to ensure a smooth transition. It is important to make the switch in time, as older systems, such as sFTP and outdated APIs, will no longer be supported after the phase-out. This means you will no longer have access to data exchange via these methods.