How to recover a missing container number in TikTrake

• The shipping mark on the carton was blurry or torn, so Smart Intake OCR could not read it from the photo.
• The carton was scanned but never matched to a customer, so it sits unassigned in Unknown parcels.
• The parcel record was deleted by mistake and is still waiting in the trash bin.
• The number was scanned on a phone and the outbox hasn't finished syncing it to the desktop yet.
• The search was run in the wrong warehouse account, since every parcel is scoped to its own hosting code.

1. Open the Unknown parcels queue first

   When Smart Intake OCR can't confidently read a carton's shipping mark, the entry goes into Unknown parcels instead of being discarded. Scroll through it, open the carton photo, and link it to the right customer in one tap.

2. Check the trash bin before assuming it's gone

   Deleted parcels are kept in the trash for 3 days, not removed instantly. If a record disappeared after a cleanup pass, look there first and restore it.

3. Re-scan the carton with the camera or gallery

   If the original photo was too blurry for OCR to extract the tracking number, weight and phone, take a clearer photo (or pick a sharper one from the gallery) and let Smart Intake read it again. Duplicate tracking numbers are blocked automatically, so re-scanning a carton that already exists is safe.

4. Give the sync a moment, then check the other device

   A number scanned on a phone travels to the desktop through a retrying outbox. If it isn't showing up yet, wait a minute and refresh the desktop list instead of re-entering it manually.

5. Narrow the search with the carrier prefix and warehouse

   Even a partial number is useful: the carrier is auto-detected from the container owner prefix, which narrows down which list to search. Make sure you're searching inside the correct warehouse account, since parcels don't cross hosting codes. For privacy carriers like SF Express, keep the recipient's last 4 phone digits ready — you'll need them to pull tracking events.

Paste the number into TikTrake's free container tracker. The carrier is detected automatically, the route is drawn leg by leg, and transshipment ports are shown as separate stops.

• Take carton photos in good light and hold the camera steady so Smart Intake OCR can read the shipping mark, tracking number, weight and phone in one pass.
• Check the Unknown parcels queue daily so cartons get linked to a customer while the photo is still easy to match.
• Before deleting a parcel, double-check it — you have 3 days in the trash bin, but it's faster to just leave it linked correctly the first time.

I scanned a carton but its number never appeared on desktop. What happened?

It likely hasn't finished syncing. TikTrake sends scans from phone to desktop through an outbox that retries automatically, so give it a moment and refresh the desktop list before re-entering anything.

Can I just rescan a carton if I'm not sure it was saved?

Yes. TikTrake blocks duplicate entry of the same tracking number, so rescanning a carton that already exists won't create a second record — it's a safe way to double-check.

Why can't I find a parcel I know I entered?

First check that you're in the correct warehouse account, since every parcel is scoped to its own hosting code and won't show up under a different one. If it's still missing, check the trash bin — deleted parcels stay recoverable there for 3 days.