What Is an AWB Number?

An Air Waybill (AWB) number is a unique identification code issued by a carrier that accompanies goods shipped by an international courier or airline. It serves as a receipt of goods by an airline and as a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier.

How it works

When a shipment is handed over to a carrier (like Blue Dart, FedEx, or Delhivery), the carrier generates an AWB document. This document travels with the shipment from its origin to its destination. The AWB number is the unique string (typically 11 digits) printed on that document and encoded in the shipping label barcode.

At every transit hub, warehouse, and delivery vehicle, the barcode is scanned. This scan logs the AWB number into the carrier's database, updating the tracking status.

Where do you find it?

You can typically find the AWB number:

1. Printed prominently on the physical shipping label attached to the package.
2. In the shipping confirmation email sent by the merchant.
3. In the carrier's manifest documentation provided to the shipper.
4. Programmatically returned by the carrier's API when a label is generated.

AWB vs Tracking Number

While the terms are often used interchangeably in ecommerce, there is a technical distinction:

• AWB Number: Strictly refers to the document tracking code used in air freight and international shipping (Air Waybill). It is a legal contract.
• Tracking Number: A broader term used by ground carriers (like USPS or standard logistics) to track a parcel.

In modern ecommerce software, "Tracking Number" is the generic term, but many logistics providers still refer to it specifically as the AWB.

Why it matters for Ecommerce

If you are shipping hundreds of orders a day, the AWB is your source of truth. Without it, you cannot:

• Prove to a customer that an order was shipped.
• File a claim for a lost or damaged package.
• Reconcile your shipping invoices against the carrier's manifest.

Automating AWB Management

Manually copying AWB numbers from carrier portals into your ecommerce platform (like WooCommerce or Shopify) is a massive operational bottleneck.

Using a multi-carrier platform like RC:Ship, the moment an order is fulfilled, the API automatically generates the AWB, prints the label, and pushes the AWB number directly back to your storefront, triggering the shipping confirmation email to the customer without any manual data entry.