Follow one order all the way through
Order placed → confirmed → dispatched → delivered or returned → remittance reconciled. Each event answers a different question. A sales total cannot tell you whether the courier has paid the business.
Give every record a common key
Connect the store order ID with the courier tracking number. Keep the delivery status, COD amount, fees, remittance reference and settlement date together so mismatches can be investigated.
Use an exception queue
Separate unresolved deliveries, returned parcels, missing remittances and fee differences. Assign each exception an owner and a next action. Review the queue until the issue is closed, rather than repeatedly exporting the same report.
Compare the same cohort
A dispatch cohort needs time to reach a final outcome. Comparing yesterday’s new dispatches with older completed deliveries can create misleading rates. State the time window and whether pending orders are included.
Close the loop
Use recurring return reasons to review confirmation calls, address collection, product expectations and courier choice. Document what the evidence supports before changing the process.