1. A method performed by at least one apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining data resulting from an optical recording of at least one surface of a packing unit; carrying out a text recognition based on the obtained data for recognizing individual characters; determining a plurality of characteristic values, wherein each characteristic value is a statistical value that is based on another predetermined statistical analysis of the recognized characters; providing the characteristic values as at least one part of an identification of the packing unit for comparison with previously stored characteristic values for the packing unit, wherein the result of the comparison is used for tracking the packing unit; and comparing the determined characteristic values with characteristic values previously determined and stored for packing units to establish differences; and: determining in the case of differences falling short of a predetermined threshold that the particular packing unit has been processed before for reasons of tracking and providing an indication that the particular packing unit has now reached a particular location; and/or determining in the case of differences falling short of a predetermined first threshold and exceeding a predetermined. second threshold that the particular packing unit has been processed before for reasons of tracking and that text on the particular packing unit has been altered in the meantime, and providing a corresponding indication.