I agree that real-time tracking has made it much easier to stay informed about deliveries and journeys. The combination of GPS, servers, and databases allows tracking systems to provide useful updates without requiring users to contact the courier or transport company directly.
For example, I recently worked on TCS Tracking (tcstrack.com), a free tool that helps users check the status of their TCS parcels online. It is interesting to see how the same real-time tracking concept can be applied to courier shipments, where users mainly want quick and clear information about where their parcel is and what its current status is.