Google Wallet can now track your packages

While probably not the most obvious or sensible integration out there, it does sound like a pretty nifty one. Also, we are pretty certain that this is not the first time Google has experimented with package tracking. If memory serves right, the now-retired Google Now (or rather transformed into Google Discover feed) used to offer the very same thing.

Anyway, the idea is simple – Google scans your Gmail inbox and automatically recognizes digital receipts and tracking numbers, then simply uses those to provide parcel tracking info as part of the Google Wallet interface. The UI places any packages arriving soon right on the home screen alongside your payment methods. You can, of course, view more detailed data on tracking as well as dismiss a package once it has arrived. Presumably, the system does that automatically for you at some point as well. Managing the package tracking from Google Wallet does not mess with the package emails in Gmail in any way.

There are a few caveats to testing the new feature, at least for now. It is only available in the US, and while Google says it supports most major retailers and their respective email formats, don’t expect it to work universally for any purchase and package from any smaller store. In order to get it to work, you also have to dig through Gmail settings and ensure that “Google Workspace smart features” are fully enabled.

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