SDA tracking

Italian express courier subsidiary of Poste Italiane since 1984

SDA (Servizi Doganali Associati) is an Italian express courier specializing in parcel delivery and logistics. Founded in 1984 in Rome, the company became a subsidiary of the Poste Italiane group, the national postal operator in Italy, in 1988. SDA offers a full range of express courier services for individuals and businesses, including the collection, transport, and rapid distribution of parcels throughout Italy and internationally. With its extensive logistics network and integration into Italian postal operations, SDA plays a leading role in the courier sector in Italy. Thanks to its operational efficiency, the company has established itself as a key player, particularly supporting the growth of online commerce with tailored logistics solutions.

Organizational structure

SDA Express Courier is structured as a joint-stock company that is an integral part of the Poste Italiane group. Its headquarters and general management are based in Rome, and the company employs approximately 1,300 people. Following a reorganization effective November 1, 2019, SDA refocused its activities on an internal logistics operator role for Poste Italiane: express courier services have been integrated into the Italian postal portfolio, while SDA manages logistics processes (sorting, routing, and distribution) behind the scenes on behalf of the group. Nevertheless, SDA continues to operate certain specialized services under its own name, such as a secure mail service dedicated to banks, "Extranetwork" services (special deliveries outside the standard postal network), as well as specific offers such as 2ruotExpress (dedicated transport for two-wheelers and bulky items) or PharmaExpress (delivery of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products). This structure allows SDA to maintain sector expertise while integrating into the overall organization of Poste Italiane.

Operational units

SDA relies on a vast network of operational units deployed throughout the territory. Approximately 90 SDA distribution centers and agencies cover Italy, including remote regions and islands, ensuring a local presence for parcel pickup and delivery. This network includes five main sorting centers, strategically positioned, as well as two international platforms (gateways) dedicated to the transit of shipments to and from abroad. SDA's operational units are interconnected by road and air links, allowing for the rapid transport of parcel volumes between different regions. Furthermore, SDA operates a fleet of approximately 5,600 vehicles (trucks, vans, and light vehicles) to ensure daily collections and distributions. This dense logistics infrastructure guarantees fast processing of shipments and the ability to handle a large number of shipments simultaneously on a national scale.

Served areas

SDA serves the entire territory of Italy, including rural areas and remote localities. All Italian departments and regions are covered by its delivery services. In some isolated or low-frequency distribution areas, deliveries may be grouped on certain days of the week rather than a daily service, but SDA ensures to reach each destination with planned regularity. Beyond the national territory, SDA offers international shipping solutions to a very large number of destinations. Thanks to the International Express offer of Poste Italiane managed by SDA, parcels can be shipped to more than 200 countries worldwide. In addition, the RoadEurope service allows the sending of parcels and pallets to major European countries via optimized road transport. For foreign destinations, SDA relies on global logistics partners and the international postal network to ensure final delivery in each served country. Thus, whether it is a local shipment or a shipment to a distant country, the SDA network is capable of handling the parcel and transporting it to its destination.

Service offering

SDA's range of services covers various logistical needs. For domestic shipments in Italy, the courier offers both a standard express service for fast deliveries and a deferred service for less urgent shipments. Time-defined delivery options (for example, guaranteed delivery before a certain time of day) are also available to meet the punctuality requirements of certain clients. Internationally, SDA offers the aforementioned express service for deliveries worldwide as well as economical solutions by land in Europe. In addition to these general offers, SDA has developed specialized services for particular use cases:

• 2ruotExpress: a service dedicated to the secure transport of motorcycles, scooters, sports equipment, or other bulky items. Shipments are placed in suitable transport structures (cages or special pallets) and benefit from special tracking, including real-time geolocation for transported vehicles.
• PharmaExpress: a service designed for the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors, allowing the shipment of medicines, vaccines, samples, or other health products under controlled temperature. Parcels travel in insulated or refrigerated packaging to ensure the cold chain is maintained until final delivery.
• Capi Appesi: a service for delivering clothes on hangers. SDA handles the transport of hanging garments (up to 120 cm in height for standard parcels, and up to 260 cm for special formats), ensuring appropriate handling to preserve the clothes. This service is particularly popular in the fashion sector for transporting collections or items without folding them, ensuring they arrive in perfect condition.
• Round Trip: a service for businesses that combines delivery and simultaneous return. When a parcel is delivered to the recipient, SDA can simultaneously collect another item on-site (for example, a signed document, a used item, or a product to be returned) and send it back to the original sender. This synchronized exchange service optimizes logistical round trips and facilitates return or exchange processes for professional clients.

Thanks to this range of offers, SDA can handle a wide variety of requests: from the small urgent parcel to be delivered without delay, to the logistics of bulky or sensitive items requiring specific precautions.

Solutions for e-commerce

With the rise of e-commerce, SDA has developed specific solutions to meet the needs of online retailers and their customers. The company has invested in advanced IT technologies to ensure precise and real-time tracking of parcels from online orders. Automated logistics systems are implemented in SDA warehouses and sorting centers to optimize order preparation, parcel sorting, and last-mile distribution. SDA offers e-merchants integration tools to facilitate shipment management: for example, online platforms and API interfaces allowing the automation of shipping label creation, parcel tracking, and customer notifications directly from the merchant's site.

To enhance the recipient's experience, SDA offers interactive tracking services and proactive communications. The Smart Alert service sends SMS or email updates on the delivery progress (pickup, in transit, out for delivery, etc.), keeping the recipient informed at each key stage. A digital proof of delivery (Digipod) is also available shortly after the parcel is handed over, with the recipient's electronic signature accessible online the day after distribution. Furthermore, SDA allows recipients to reschedule delivery in case of absence or unforeseen circumstances: via a dedicated portal, they can request a new delivery date, change the delivery address, or opt for an appointment delivery. Specific options such as evening or Saturday delivery are also offered for more flexibility. All these solutions aim to facilitate e-commerce logistics, ensuring reliable, fast, and adaptable deliveries to the constraints of online sellers and buyers.

Logistics partnerships

To expand its capabilities and international footprint, SDA relies on various partnerships in the logistics field. In particular, the company collaborates with major global carriers for the transport of shipments outside Italy. For example, SDA works in conjunction with FedEx and UPS to ensure the continuity of express service on certain intercontinental or specific routes. Thanks to these collaborations, a parcel handled by SDA can be handed over to a partner's network abroad to be distributed locally with the same reliability. Moreover, as a member of the Poste Italiane group, SDA benefits from international agreements between national posts, allowing it to use the universal postal network to deliver in regions where private carriers are less present.

At the national level, SDA also operates through a network of partners and subcontractors to complement its coverage. For example, the Kipoint brand represents a network of franchised service points affiliated with SDA, offering shipping, packaging services, and parcel drop-off and pickup points for customers. This type of local partnership strengthens SDA's proximity to its end users. Furthermore, many major e-commerce players in Italy choose SDA as their preferred delivery provider, demonstrating the established trust between SDA and online sales platforms. These strategic partnerships, whether international or domestic, contribute to improving the quality and reach of services offered by SDA.

Logistics processes

The handling of a shipment by SDA follows a structured process in several successive steps. It all starts with the receipt of the parcel: it is either picked up directly from the sender (upon collection request) or dropped off by the sender at a post office or SDA reception point. Once taken over, the parcel is assigned a unique tracking number and is registered in SDA's computer system. A transport label with a barcode is affixed, allowing the shipment to be identified and tracked throughout its journey. The parcel is then transported to the local SDA operational center, where it undergoes an initial sorting. Automated sorting platforms group shipments by destination: parcels are directed to the appropriate regional or national sorting center based on their final delivery location. In these main sorting centers, a finer sorting takes place, and batches of parcels are loaded into vehicles (trucks or planes) destined for the various distribution agencies in the final area. Throughout this intermediate transport phase (transit), shipments remain tracked in real-time thanks to successive scans performed at each transit point (departure from one center, arrival at another, etc.).

The final delivery phase is handled by the SDA agency closest to the recipient. Once the parcel arrives at the local distribution agency, it is scanned as "arrived at agency" and then integrated into a delivery driver's route. The driver takes charge of a series of parcels to be delivered in the area and proceeds to hand them over to the recipient at the indicated address against signature (unless a delivery to a mailbox or an automatic locker was planned). In case of the recipient's absence during the delivery attempt, the driver leaves a delivery notice, and the parcel is put on hold at the agency or dropped off at the nearby post office. The recipient can then schedule a new delivery attempt via the appropriate online service or come to pick up the parcel at the indicated counter with the delivery notice. Generally, SDA makes several delivery attempts if necessary before considering a return to the sender. When a parcel is on hold, it remains securely stored in SDA's premises for a certain period while awaiting instructions (new scheduled delivery or pickup by the recipient). If the hold period is exceeded or the parcel is refused by the recipient, a return process to the sender is triggered: the parcel is then rerouted in reverse to the original sender, with tracking similar to the outbound journey.

For international shipments, additional steps occur, notably customs clearance. SDA ensures that each shipment to or from a non-European Union country is accompanied by the required customs documents (such as the CN23 declaration, commercial invoices, proofs of origin, etc.). International parcels transit through approved processing centers where customs authorities can inspect the content (postal inspection stage) and calculate any applicable customs duties or import taxes. If import fees are due, SDA or its local partner contacts the recipient to collect these amounts before final delivery. In case of a customs issue (for example, a missing document or non-compliant content), the parcel may be held pending resolution: the tracking status reflects this, and SDA's customer service can assist the sender or recipient in providing the necessary information. Once the formalities are completed and customs clearance is obtained, the shipment resumes its normal course in the distribution network. Throughout this logistics process, from departure to arrival, SDA strives to ensure the traceability and integrity of shipments through secure handling protocols, quality controls, and close coordination between its various operational teams.

Tracking numbers

Each shipment entrusted to SDA is identified by a unique tracking number, also called a tracking code. This tracking number allows online tracking of the parcel's progress step by step. The format of SDA tracking numbers is generally alphanumeric and consists of 13 characters in total. For example, a typical tracking code may be EE123456789IT (starting with two letters, followed by nine digits, and ending with "IT" (country code for Italy)) or take the form of a mixed sequence like 9900024312E79. Regardless of the exact format, the tracking number is indicated on the waybill and communicated to the sender (and the recipient if necessary). By entering this number on the SDA website or via tracking tools, the client accesses real-time location and status information of their shipment.

Online tracking chronologically presents all scans and events related to the parcel. At each important stage (pickup, departure or arrival at a center, out for delivery, possible hold, delivery completed, etc.), the corresponding status is recorded and visible. The tracking platform displays these successive statuses, such as "In transit", "Out for delivery", "Delivered", allowing both the sender and the recipient to know the exact state of the delivery in near real-time. This transparent traceability system is an integral part of SDA's service quality and offers total visibility on the logistics process.

Tracking statuses

Here is the list of the main tracking statuses used by SDA and their meaning in English: