What is an order number on a package or shipping label?

On a shipping label, the order number is the buyer's or seller's commercial reference for the purchase — distinct from the carrier's tracking number or consignment barcode, which identifies the physical package in the carrier's system. Both references appear on freight labels for the same consignment. The order number connects the package to the purchase record; the tracking reference connects it to the carrier's delivery system. They identify the same goods from two different reference systems.

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What Is an Order Number?