Customize Date and Phone Formats in Email/SMS via Merge Tags
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This guide provides step-by-step instructions on customising date and phone number formats that appear in your shipment and order updates via merge tags. Standardizing these formats ensures clarity and consistency across different communication channels.
Log in to your AfterShip Tracking account.
Go to Settings > Feature settings > Email and SMS.
Click Merge tag formats to customize date and phone number formats.
Under Date and time format, set how date and time will appear in shipment and order updates.
a. The following date-related fields are supported:
Shipment Last Update Time: The most recent update timestamp for the shipment.
Expected Delivery Date: The estimated delivery date.
Order Date: The date when the order was placed.
Delivered Date: The date when the order was successfully delivered.
Pick-up Time: The scheduled pickup time for the order.
b. Click Edit to modify the date and time format.
c. Select the desired date format from the dropdown menu.
d. To include timestamps, check the respective checkbox.
e. Click Save to apply the changes.
Under Phone number format, set how phone numbers will be displayed in shipment and order updates.
a. The following phone-related fields will be displayed:
Carrier contact: The contact number of the shipping carrier.
In-store pickup location: The contact number of the in-store pickup location.
b. Click Edit to modify the phone number format.
c. Select the desired format from the dropdown for carrier contact and in-store pickup locations.
d. Choose from the following phone number formats (examples will also be provided in the dropdown):
E.164 Format: Internationally recognized format (e.g., +12345678901).
International Format: Displays country code and number without symbols (e.g., 1 234 567 8901).
Local Format: Displays numbers in regional formatting (e.g., (234) 567-8901).
e. Click Save to apply the changes.
If your selected date and phone number format is not reflected in the email and SMS notifications, try refreshing the page and ensure that correct merge tags are used in your templates.
If the carrier does not provide a timestamp, AfterShip will display only the shipment date regardless of the selected format.
E.164 format is recommended for international communication.
International format is best if you need a country code.
Local format is ideal for domestic use.
Overview
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on customising date and phone number formats that appear in your shipment and order updates via merge tags. Standardizing these formats ensures clarity and consistency across different communication channels.
Steps to customize date and phone number formats
Log in to your AfterShip Tracking account.
Go to Settings > Feature settings > Email and SMS.
Click Merge tag formats to customize date and phone number formats.
Under Date and time format, set how date and time will appear in shipment and order updates.
a. The following date-related fields are supported:
Shipment Last Update Time: The most recent update timestamp for the shipment.
Expected Delivery Date: The estimated delivery date.
Order Date: The date when the order was placed.
Delivered Date: The date when the order was successfully delivered.
Pick-up Time: The scheduled pickup time for the order.
b. Click Edit to modify the date and time format.
c. Select the desired date format from the dropdown menu.
d. To include timestamps, check the respective checkbox.
e. Click Save to apply the changes.
Under Phone number format, set how phone numbers will be displayed in shipment and order updates.
a. The following phone-related fields will be displayed:
Carrier contact: The contact number of the shipping carrier.
In-store pickup location: The contact number of the in-store pickup location.
b. Click Edit to modify the phone number format.
c. Select the desired format from the dropdown for carrier contact and in-store pickup locations.
d. Choose from the following phone number formats (examples will also be provided in the dropdown):
E.164 Format: Internationally recognized format (e.g., +12345678901).
International Format: Displays country code and number without symbols (e.g., 1 234 567 8901).
Local Format: Displays numbers in regional formatting (e.g., (234) 567-8901).
e. Click Save to apply the changes.
Troubleshooting
If your selected date and phone number format is not reflected in the email and SMS notifications, try refreshing the page and ensure that correct merge tags are used in your templates.
FAQs
Q1. What happens if the carrier does not provide a timestamp for shipment updates?
If the carrier does not provide a timestamp, AfterShip will display only the shipment date regardless of the selected format.
Q2. Which phone number format should I choose?
E.164 format is recommended for international communication.
International format is best if you need a country code.
Local format is ideal for domestic use.
Updated on: 28/03/2025
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