Asendia tracking

International transport and logistics for electronic commerce

Asendia is an international transport company specializing in cross-border mail and e-commerce logistics. Created in 2012, it is a joint venture formed by La Poste (France) and Swiss Post. Asendia's headquarters are shared between Paris in France and Bern in Switzerland, reflecting the dual origin of its founders. The company operates as an SAS and remains equally owned by the two historical postal groups.

From its foundation, Asendia's mission has been to offer international shipping solutions to e-merchants and companies sending mail. The group handles the shipment of goods, postage, international transport, customs clearance, and final distribution of parcels and documents. In a decade, Asendia has established itself as one of the major players in global B2C logistics, experiencing continuous growth. In 2021, its annual revenue exceeded 2 billion euros, reflecting the rise of international online commerce. Furthermore, Asendia emphasizes sustainable development: since 2022, the company fully offsets its carbon emissions related to transport and boasts 100% carbon-neutral logistics.

Geographical presence

Asendia has a global presence through subsidiaries and joint ventures spread across four continents. The group is directly established in 16 to 17 countries (2022 figure), notably in Europe (France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Nordic countries…), in Asia (China/Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea), in Oceania (Australia), as well as in North America (United States). Thanks to this international network, Asendia is able to deliver shipments to over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Each local establishment generally bears the name Asendia followed by the concerned country (for example Asendia USA, Asendia UK, Asendia Singapore…), with dedicated teams and logistics infrastructures adapted to the local market.

Asendia's geographical presence often relies on partnerships with national postal operators. For example, in France, Asendia uses the services of the La Poste group (such as Colissimo) to ensure last-mile delivery. Similarly, in the United States, the Asendia USA subsidiary works closely with the USPS postal service for the final delivery of parcels on American soil. This model of local collaboration allows Asendia to benefit from the expertise and existing network of each country to efficiently deliver international shipments.

Some strategic markets serve as hubs for Asendia. The group's largest subsidiary is Asendia USA, which operates several mail and parcel processing centers in North America. Regional sorting centers also exist in Europe (notably in France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) to consolidate shipments, as well as in Asia (for example in Hong Kong, Singapore) for the Asia-Pacific region. This geographical organization in sorting centers allows for the pooling of international transport and optimization of delivery times to each target region.

Logistics services offered

Asendia offers a complete range of logistics services for the international shipment of mail and parcels. Its offer is mainly aimed at e-commerce sites, mail-order companies, and businesses wishing to ship goods or mail abroad. To meet different needs in terms of speed and budget, Asendia has developed a range of parcel shipping solutions called e-PAQ. This range, specially designed for online commerce, includes four distinct service levels ranging from the economical option to premium express delivery.

The e-PAQ Standard service is the basic offer for sending small, low-value parcels. It is an economical solution covering most global destinations, with handling of shipments up to 2 kg. Final delivery is ensured by the postal service of the destination country, via a standard postal shipment. This service does not necessarily include full tracking but offers reliable international postage at a lower cost for non-urgent shipments.

The e-PAQ Plus service is an intermediate formula that adds the peace of mind of tracking at a controlled rate. Also intended for parcels up to 2 kg, e-PAQ Plus uses the public postal network of the destination country while providing tracking at key stages (entry and exit of the country, distribution). This event-based tracking allows shippers and recipients to know where the parcel is at the main milestones of its journey. In short, e-PAQ Plus aims to reconcile reduced costs and tracking information for light shipments.

e-PAQ Select represents Asendia's flagship offer for international e-commerce. It is a "premium" localized solution, offering more features for delivery in the destination country. Parcels (up to 30 kg) are handled end-to-end with full tracking and faster transit than standard postal services. Final distribution is entrusted to specialized parcel partners in each country, often providing options such as delivery against signature, home delivery, or delivery to a pickup point, with the possibility of detailed tracking throughout the journey. e-PAQ Select is generally preferred for moderately valuable shipments requiring reliability and visibility until delivery.

Finally, e-PAQ Elite is Asendia's high-end express offer. Intended for urgent, higher-value, or bulkier international shipments, this formula handles parcels up to 30 kg with the highest level of service. International transit is accelerated, and final delivery is ensured by express partner carriers, specialized in the rapid distribution of parcels. e-PAQ Elite guarantees the shortest possible delivery times and complete traceability, meeting the needs of e-merchants for whom delivery speed is a crucial issue.

In addition to parcel transport, Asendia also offers logistics and e-commerce support services such as returns management and fulfillment (order preparation). For example, the e-PAQ Returns solution allows end customers to easily return their goods via a network of local return points, with Asendia then handling the international repatriation of returned items. Moreover, the group has invested in digital solutions (such as the eShopWorld platform acquired by Asendia in 2021) to offer its clients online tools for managing international payments, tax calculations, and optimizing the user experience abroad.

Historically, Asendia draws its expertise from the traditional postal sector. Thus, alongside parcels, the company continues to manage the shipment of international mail and printed matter. Its services cover, for example, the sending of advertising mail (mail marketing), catalogs, magazines, and newspapers abroad, as well as business mail (invoices, administrative mail) to international destinations. These services rely on the postal networks of La Poste and Swiss Post, allowing them to reach mailboxes worldwide. The combination of postal and parcel expertise enables Asendia to offer a comprehensive range encompassing all types of light shipments on a global scale.

Parcel processing and tracking process

The journey of an Asendia parcel from the sender to the final recipient involves several successive steps, each accompanied by a tracking scan. It all starts with the preparation of the shipment by the sender (usually an online merchant): an Asendia transport label is generated, and the shipment data is transmitted to Asendia (order creation in the system). The parcel is then entrusted to Asendia either via a drop-off at a partner post office or through a direct collection organized by Asendia. Once taken over, the package is registered in the Asendia network and directed to the first sorting center.

At the origin sorting center, the parcel is processed and grouped with other shipments destined for the same geographical area. Asendia performs an initial sort ("workshop sort" or "factory sort" in postal jargon depending on the type of center) to prepare the parcel for international shipment. The parcel is then placed in a container (postal bag or cage) and transported to the departure platform. An exit scan is performed ("departure from Asendia") indicating that the parcel is leaving the origin logistics center. Transport to the destination country is carried out by air or land depending on the destination and the chosen service offer.

Upon arrival in the destination country, the parcel enters the local postal or distribution network, often via an international exchange office. This step triggers an arrival status in the destination. If the parcel needs to go through customs (notably for shipments outside the European Union), Asendia or its partner transmits the electronic customs data to the authorities of the concerned country in advance. The parcel is then presented to the customs services: it may be held in customs for inspection or payment of any duties and taxes. Once customs formalities are completed and the parcel is cleared, it is released for further delivery.

After customs clearance, the parcel is taken over by the local network for the final phase. Depending on the organization in place, it is either delivered to an Asendia regional distribution center or directly transferred to a partner (for example, the national postal service) for last-mile delivery. The parcel is then transported to the final distribution agency or local post office that will serve the recipient's address. Finally, the local delivery person performs the distribution: the parcel is either handed over in person to the recipient, deposited in their mailbox, or made available at a pickup point or post office if the recipient is absent. Once delivery is completed, a final "delivered" scan closes the parcel tracking.

Throughout this process, the parcel is closely monitored through a series of scans and status updates. Each time the package changes location or status (pickup, sorting, departure, arrival, customs clearance, etc.), a tracking line is added to Asendia's computer system. This tracking information is then made accessible to the client via the online tracking portal. This allows both the sender and the recipient to know in near real-time the progress of the delivery and the current location of the parcel in the transport chain.

Organization in regional units

Although Asendia is a global entity, its operational functioning is decentralized into several regional units. Each region of the world has local Asendia entities that manage activities in their territory while applying the group's standards and strategy. For example, Asendia USA oversees operations for North America, while in Europe, national entities exist in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, etc. In Asia, Asendia relies on offices in the Far East (Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea) to coordinate flows in this area, and in Oceania, a presence in Australia covers the Pacific region. This organization in regional subsidiaries offers better responsiveness and a fine understanding of local particularities (customs regulations, delivery habits, partner postal networks).

Each regional unit of Asendia operates with a certain autonomy to adapt services to the needs of the local market while benefiting from the support and expertise of the group. Local subsidiaries maintain close relationships with the country's carriers: for example, Asendia UK works with Royal Mail and other British couriers for its deliveries, while Asendia Benelux coordinates with the Belgian and Dutch posts. Asendia's regional operational centers also allow for the pooling of logistical resources: warehouses, sorting centers, and local teams process shipments as close as possible to their origin or destination, thus optimizing costs and lead times.

As Asendia has grown, it has strengthened its regional presence through strategic acquisitions. The group, for example, acquired the American company Globegistics to expand its presence and network in the United States and acquired the British company wnDirect to consolidate its delivery services to the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Asendia's participation in the Irish startup eShopWorld (specializing in cross-border e-commerce solutions) demonstrates the group's desire to integrate local and technological expertise into its organization. These integrations allow each regional unit of Asendia to offer an enriched range of services while relying on the group's global resources.

Operation of the tracking system

Asendia provides its clients with an online tracking system to trace each shipment. Through the tracking web portal accessible from Asendia's official website, the sender or recipient can enter their tracking number and view the status history of their parcel. The interface supports the simultaneous search of multiple tracking numbers and provides updates as soon as new information is available. Tracking is available in several languages, including French, and reflects the different stages the parcel has gone through, from pickup to final delivery.

Technically, Asendia's tracking system aggregates scans and data from all involved carriers. When Asendia manages a parcel end-to-end, its own logistics centers feed the tracking at each scan. If a partner takes over for the final portion (for example, a local post or courier), Asendia generally integrates the partner's information into its tracking. Thus, a client does not need to change sites to track their parcel: even when it is handed over to a third-party operator, the statuses continue to display on Asendia's tracking. In some cases, a new local tracking number may be associated (for example, a USPS number for a parcel arriving in the United States), but Asendia ensures the link is made and keeps the client informed via its own interface.

Asendia's tracking operates with standardized statuses, each corresponding to a specific event in the journey. These statuses are generally updated automatically in real-time or near-real-time. In case of delay or anomaly, the tracking system can help identify at which stage the parcel is. It also allows estimating the remaining time, although no guaranteed time is displayed to avoid any perishable information. For any questions related to tracking, Asendia offers customer support, but in most cases, the online tracking already provides sufficient visibility on the parcel's journey.

The importance of the tracking number

The tracking number (or tracking code) is a unique identifier assigned to each shipment, essential for using Asendia's traceability system. This number is communicated by the sender at the time of shipment (often transmitted to the recipient by email upon confirmation of their order's shipment). It allows querying the tracking database and retrieving all information related to the parcel. Without this code, neither the sender nor the recipient can track the delivery progress. It is therefore crucial to keep the tracking number safe until the parcel is effectively received.

Tracking number formats at Asendia may vary in length and structure depending on the origin of the shipment and the service used. In general, an Asendia tracking number consists of 13 to 20 alphanumeric characters. Many shipments follow the international postal format with two initial letters, nine digits, then two final letters corresponding to the country of origin) for example LZ527233135FR for a parcel shipped from France. Other formats exist: some numbers are purely numeric (for example YT2320321266028592) while others combine letters and numbers in a specific way (e.g., ASDE10001719013511 for a shipment handled by Asendia Germany). Each code is unique and allows identifying the parcel and its itinerary. It is important to enter the number correctly, without error, to obtain tracking: in case of an incorrect or unknown number, the system will display a status of "item not found" indicating the absence of corresponding data.

Asendia tracking statuses

The Asendia tracking platform uses standard status titles to inform about the progress of parcels. Below is a table summarizing the main known tracking statuses in the Asendia network, along with their meaning in English: