Shipping Notification
Also known as: Ship Notification, Shipment Confirmation, Tracking Email
Definition
A shipping notification is an automated message—typically email or SMS—that informs customers their order has shipped. It includes tracking information, estimated delivery dates, and links to monitor the shipment’s progress.
Types of Shipping Notifications
Email Notifications
- Most common format
- Detailed information
- Easy to reference later
- Can include images/branding
SMS/Text Notifications
- Immediate attention
- Brief updates
- Higher open rates
- Best for time-sensitive info
Push Notifications
- Mobile app alerts
- Real-time updates
- Requires app installation
- Good engagement rates
In-App Notifications
- Within retailer’s app
- Persistent access
- Order history integration
- Can show more detail
Notification Timeline
| Event | Notification Type |
|---|---|
| Order placed | Order confirmation |
| Order processing | Processing update (optional) |
| Shipped | Shipping notification |
| In transit | Transit updates (optional) |
| Out for delivery | Delivery day alert |
| Delivered | Delivery confirmation |
| Delivery exception | Exception alert |
Essential Shipping Notification Content
Must Include
- Order number
- Tracking number
- Carrier name
- Tracking link
- Estimated delivery date
- Items shipped
Should Include
- Ship date
- Shipping address
- Contact information
- Return policy link
- Support contact
Nice to Have
- Live tracking widget
- Product images
- Cross-sell recommendations
- Social sharing links
Shipping Notification Example
Subject: Your Order Has Shipped! 📦
Hi [Name],
Great news! Your order #12345 is on its way.
TRACKING INFO
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Carrier: UPS Ground
Tracking #: 1Z999AA10123456784
[Track Your Package →]
ESTIMATED DELIVERY
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Friday, February 15, 2026
by end of day
WHAT'S IN THIS SHIPMENT
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
• Blue Widget (Qty: 2)
• Red Gadget (Qty: 1)
SHIPPING TO
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
John Smith
123 Main Street
Anytown, US 12345
Questions? Reply to this email or visit [Help Center]
Best Practices
Timing
- Send immediately when shipped
- Don’t wait for batch sending
- Honor customer time zone
- Consider do-not-disturb hours for SMS
Content
- Clear subject line
- Tracking prominent
- Mobile-friendly design
- Accurate delivery estimate
Personalization
- Customer name
- Order details
- Relevant recommendations
- Purchase history context
Technical
- Verify tracking works before sending
- Test on multiple email clients
- Monitor delivery rates
- Handle bounces appropriately
Multi-Package Notifications
When orders ship in multiple packages:
Option 1: One Email Per Package
- Clear what’s in each
- Multiple emails may annoy
- Separate tracking
Option 2: Combined Email
- All tracking numbers together
- Shows complete picture
- Clearer for customer
Recommended approach:
- One comprehensive email
- List each package with contents
- Clear which tracking is for what
Notification Automation
E-commerce Platforms
- Shopify: Built-in notifications
- WooCommerce: Email customization
- BigCommerce: Order notifications
- Magento: Transactional emails
Third-Party Tools
| Tool | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Klaviyo | Email marketing + transactional |
| AfterShip | Shipping-focused notifications |
| Narvar | Post-purchase experience |
| Omnisend | Multi-channel automation |
Measuring Notification Effectiveness
Key Metrics
- Open rate (aim for 60%+)
- Click rate (tracking links)
- Support inquiries after sending
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Unsubscribe rates (shouldn’t happen for transactional)
Optimization
- A/B test subject lines
- Test send times
- Improve delivery estimates
- Add value with content
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