“Where is my order?” If you’re a Shopify store owner, you’re likely all too familiar with this question. These WISMO inquiries can quickly become a significant drain on your time and resources, pulling you away from growing your business. What if you could automate the entire order tracking process, proactively keeping your customers informed and happy?
This is where Shopify order tracking automation comes in. By setting up automated workflows, you can provide customers with real-time tracking information, reduce support tickets, and create a post-purchase experience that builds trust and encourages repeat business. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from leveraging Shopify’s built-in features to using powerful third-party apps and creating advanced automation workflows.
Why Automate Order Tracking in Shopify? (The Benefits)
Automating your order tracking process is more than just a time-saver; it’s a strategic move that can have a significant impact on your bottom line. A study by Baymard Institute found that 17% of online shoppers have abandoned a purchase due to a lack of transparency around shipping. By providing clear and proactive communication, you can not only improve your conversion rate but also reap a host of other benefits.
- Reduce WISMO Inquiries: Proactive tracking updates can reduce WISMO inquiries by up to 40%, freeing up your customer support team to focus on more complex issues. (Source: AfterShip, 2023)
- Improve Customer Experience & Trust: Transparency is key to building trust. When customers can easily track their orders, they feel more confident in your brand, which can lead to higher customer satisfaction and positive reviews.
- Save Time & Manual Effort: Imagine the hours you could save by not having to manually look up and respond to order status questions. This time can be reinvested into marketing, product development, or other high-impact activities.
- Increase Customer Lifetime Value: A positive post-purchase experience is a powerful driver of customer loyalty. Research from McKinsey shows that customers who have a positive experience are 3x more likely to repurchase.
Setting Up Shopify’s Native Order Tracking
Shopify provides a solid foundation for order tracking right out of the box. While not as feature-rich as some third-party apps, the native tools are a great starting point for any merchant.
How Shopify's Order Status Page Works
Every Shopify store has a default order status page that customers can access from their order confirmation email. This page displays the real-time status of their shipment, including the carrier and tracking number. You can customize this page to match your brand by adding your logo, changing the colors, and even adding custom scripts for things like conversion tracking or customer feedback surveys.
Adding Tracking Numbers to Orders (Manually & Automatically)
To enable tracking, you need to add a tracking number to each order. This can be done manually from the “Orders” page in your Shopify admin. However, if you’re using Shopify Shipping, this process is automated. As soon as you purchase a shipping label, the tracking number is automatically added to the order and sent to the customer.
Customizing Your Shipping Notification Emails
Shopify allows you to customize the email templates for all your shipping notifications, including order confirmation, shipping confirmation, and shipping updates. It’s crucial to include the order_status_url Liquid variable in these emails. This variable generates a unique link to the order status page, making it easy for customers to track their purchase.
Top 5 Shopify Apps for Order Tracking Automation
While Shopify’s native features are a good start, third-party apps can take your order tracking to the next level. These apps offer advanced features like branded tracking pages, proactive notifications, and in-depth analytics. Here are five of the best order tracking apps for Shopify:
| App | Key Features | Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AfterShip Order Tracking | Branded tracking page, proactive notifications, analytics | Free plan available. Paid plans start at $11/month. | Merchants looking for a feature-rich, all-in-one solution. |
| Track123 Order Tracking | Branded tracking page, order lookup widget, estimated delivery dates | Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9/month. | Merchants wanting a visually appealing and customizable tracking page. |
| Parcel Panel Order Tracking | All-in-one tracking, estimated delivery dates, product recommendations on tracking page | Free plan available. Paid plans start at $11/month. | Merchants focused on upselling and cross-selling during the tracking experience. |
| Rush - Order Tracking & EDD | Automated shipping notifications, delivery estimates, integrations | Free plan available. Paid plans start at $29/month. | High-volume stores needing robust automation and analytics. |
| Synctrack - PayPal Tracking Sync | Automatically syncs tracking info to PayPal & Stripe | Paid plans start at $9.99/month. | Merchants using PayPal and Stripe who want to reduce holds and disputes. |
Advanced Automation Workflows for Order Tracking
Once you have the right tools in place, you can start creating advanced automation workflows to further enhance the customer experience.
Workflow 1: Automatically Tag Orders Based on Tracking Status
Many tracking apps allow you to automatically tag orders in Shopify based on their tracking status (e.g., “In Transit,” “Out for Delivery,” “Delivered”). You can use these tags to segment your customers and send targeted communications. For example, you could create a segment of customers whose orders have been “Delivered” and send them an email asking for a review.
Workflow 2: Proactive Customer Notifications for Shipping Delays
Shipping delays are inevitable, but they don’t have to result in a negative customer experience. By setting up automated notifications for shipping delays, you can proactively inform customers about the issue and provide them with a new estimated delivery date. This transparency can go a long way in preserving customer trust.
Workflow 3: Triggering Post-Purchase Email Flows
Use the “Delivered” status as a trigger for post-purchase email flows. For example, you could send an email 3 days after delivery asking the customer to review their purchase. Or, you could send a follow-up email a week later with a special offer on their next purchase.
Convi in Action: Automate Your Order Tracking & Customer Support
Meet Sarah, the owner of a growing Shopify store selling handmade jewelry. As her orders increased, so did the number of “Where is my order?” emails. She was spending hours every day manually looking up tracking numbers and replying to customers. This was taking away valuable time that she could have been spending on creating new products and marketing her business.
Then, Sarah discovered Convi. With Convi’s powerful automation features, she was able to set up a completely automated order tracking system in minutes. Now, when a customer places an order, they automatically receive a branded email with a link to a beautiful, real-time tracking page. If there’s a shipping delay, Convi proactively sends an update to the customer, so they’re never left in the dark.
But Convi does more than just track orders. It also acts as an AI-powered customer support agent. When a customer has a question about their order, they can simply ask Convi, and it will instantly provide them with the information they need. This has reduced Sarah’s customer support tickets by over 60%, freeing her up to focus on what she does best: growing her business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best way to automate order tracking on Shopify? The best way depends on your specific needs and budget. For basic tracking, Shopify’s native features may be enough. For more advanced features and automation, a third-party app like AfterShip or Convi is recommended.
2. How do I add a tracking number to a Shopify order? You can add a tracking number manually from the “Orders” page in your Shopify admin. If you use Shopify Shipping, the tracking number is added automatically.
3. Can I customize the order status page in Shopify? Yes, you can customize the order status page to match your brand’s styling. You can add your logo, change the colors, and even add custom messages.
4. How can I reduce “Where is my order?” (WISMO) inquiries? The best way to reduce WISMO inquiries is to be proactive with your communication. Send automated shipping updates, provide a clear and easy-to-use tracking page, and let customers know about any potential delays.
5. What are the benefits of using a third-party order tracking app? Third-party apps offer more advanced features than Shopify’s native tracking, such as branded tracking pages, proactive notifications, delivery estimates, and in-depth analytics.
6. How much does Shopify order tracking automation cost? The cost can range from free (for basic features) to several hundred dollars per month for enterprise-level plans. Many apps offer a free plan or a free trial, so you can test them out before committing.
7. Can I automate order tracking for dropshipping? Yes, many order tracking apps integrate with popular dropshipping platforms like AliExpress and can automatically sync tracking information.
8. How does order tracking automation improve the customer experience? It provides transparency and peace of mind, reduces anxiety, and builds trust in your brand. A positive post-purchase experience can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.
Ready to Automate?
Automating your Shopify order tracking is one of the highest-leverage activities you can undertake as a merchant. It saves you time, reduces support costs, and creates a better experience for your customers. By following the steps in this guide, you can build a robust and automated order tracking system that will pay dividends for years to come.
Ready to automate your order tracking and delight your customers? Try Convi for free today!
Want to learn more about improving your customer service? Read our guide to The Ultimate Guide to Proactive Customer Service.
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Convi Team
Convi Team · AI Commerce & Shopify Experts
Written by the Convi team — building AI-powered support and shopping assistants for Shopify merchants. We share insights from working with hundreds of e-commerce stores.