The Pre-Shipment Timeline feature allows you to display a dynamic order progress timeline from order confirmation to dispatch — even before a tracking number is generated.

This helps you:

• Set clear customer expectations

• Reduce “When will my order ship?” inquiries

• Improve post-purchase transparency

• Create a smoother pre-fulfillment experience

Once the order is fulfilled and a tracking number is added, the pre-shipment timeline is automatically replaced with real-time shipping updates.

AI Timeline Generator

At the top of the page, you can use the AI Generator to quickly create a customized timeline.

How it works:

1. Enter your business type in 2–3 words
   Example: Handmade Jewelry, Print on Demand, Custom Furniture

2. Click Generate

3. The AI will create a suggested order journey from confirmation to dispatch

4. Review and edit the messages as needed

5. Save your timeline

This saves time and ensures your messaging matches your business model.

Order Timeline Section

This section allows you to manually add timeline messages.

Each message represents a stage in your order preparation process (for example):

• Order confirmed

• Processing

• Quality check

• Packaging

• Ready for dispatch

Important Behavior

• Messages are displayed progressively based on time passed since order creation.

• Once the order is fulfilled with a tracking number, shipping details replace the pre-shipment timeline automatically.

Conditions

You can control where the timeline applies.

Product Conditions

Choose whether the timeline should apply:

• To any products – Applies to all orders

• Only to specific products – Select individual products

This is useful if:

• Only certain products have longer processing times

• Custom or made-to-order items require different messaging

Tag Conditions

You can also apply the timeline based on product tags.

Options:

• Apply timeline to any tags

• Only to specific tags

This allows more advanced targeting, such as:

• “Preorder”

• “Made-to-order”

• “Limited edition”

• “Custom”

Skip Weekends Option

You can enable:

Skip Weekends (Saturday & Sunday) in Pre-Shipment Timeline

When enabled:

• Weekend days are excluded from timeline calculations

• Processing time appears more accurate for businesses that don’t operate on weekends

This ensures realistic customer expectations.

How the Timeline Displays to Customers

• The timeline appears on the order tracking page.

• Customers see progress based on elapsed time.

• Once shipping begins, carrier tracking updates take over automatically.

This creates a seamless transition from order confirmation to delivery.

Best Practices

• Keep messaging clear and reassuring.

• Avoid overly long processing stages unless necessary.

• Be transparent about production times.

• Use tags to apply different timelines for different product types.

• Test the timeline using sample orders.

Why Use Pre-Shipment Timeline?

✔ Reduces support tickets
✔ Improves customer trust
✔ Sets realistic expectations
✔ Enhances branded post-purchase experience
✔ Works automatically once configured