Enable Return Widget on Branded Tracking Page
Plans: Enterprise Standard and Advanced Platforms: All Platforms
AfterShip Tracking enhances the delivery experience by offering customers the convenience of initiating a return directly from their branded tracking page once a shipment has been delivered.
You must follow two key steps to offer your customers the ability to return items directly from the tracking page.
Subscribe to AfterShip Returns: To create and set up a returns page for your store, subscribe to one of the AfterShip Returns plans by visiting AfterShip Returns.
Create a branded returns page: Next, you’ll need to create a branded return page where customers can easily initiate their return process. You can follow our help article for a step-by-step guide on setting up this page.
To offer a seamless return experience, enable the AfterShip Returns widget on your tracking page. This will allow customers to initiate returns from within the tracking page itself.
Log into your AfterShip Tracking account.
Navigate to Tracking pages in the admin dashboard.
Locate the variant of your tracking page that you wish to update.
On the tracking page editor, select the Shipments results page at the top of the editor.
Find the Widgets section and click Add widgets.
From the available options, choose AfterShip Returns and click to add it.
Once added, you can position the return widget in the desired location using the right-hand panel.
You have two options for where you can place the widget:
Text button under the progress bar: You can position the widget as a clickable text button right beneath the progress bar, which typically shows the delivery progress. This button text by default would be set to Request a return.
Banner at the top of the page: Alternatively, you can position the widget as a banner at the top of the page. This is a more prominent option, and the banner text by default would be set to Request a return inviting the customers to initiate the return process.
If you wish to modify your return page, you can do so by clicking the Edit returns page option under the Returns page section on the right-hand panel. You will instantly redirected to the Returns page configuration page in the AfterShip Returns page.
The Return Widget will only appear on the tracking page when the shipment status is marked as Delivered.
Customers can only initiate a return if their order is linked to the same store or API connection that is tied to your AfterShip Returns plan.
When customers land on the tracking page with order details, they will automatically be redirected to the return initiation page without needing to manually input their order information. However, if a customer enters only the tracking number on the tracking page, they will be redirected to a return lookup page where they can enter their order number to initiate a return.
Customers will be automatically redirected to the return initiation page depending on how they accessed the tracking page, including whether they visited via a proxy URL, a custom domain, or the AfterShip domain. The return page will match the domain used.
At the moment, customizing the return initiation button text for customers is not available. However, this feature is planned to be released in the upcoming updates.
Overview
AfterShip Tracking enhances the delivery experience by offering customers the convenience of initiating a return directly from their branded tracking page once a shipment has been delivered.
Setting up the return page
You must follow two key steps to offer your customers the ability to return items directly from the tracking page.
Subscribe to AfterShip Returns: To create and set up a returns page for your store, subscribe to one of the AfterShip Returns plans by visiting AfterShip Returns.
Create a branded returns page: Next, you’ll need to create a branded return page where customers can easily initiate their return process. You can follow our help article for a step-by-step guide on setting up this page.
Enabling the AfterShip Returns widget
To offer a seamless return experience, enable the AfterShip Returns widget on your tracking page. This will allow customers to initiate returns from within the tracking page itself.
How to activate the return widget
Log into your AfterShip Tracking account.
Navigate to Tracking pages in the admin dashboard.
Locate the variant of your tracking page that you wish to update.
On the tracking page editor, select the Shipments results page at the top of the editor.
Find the Widgets section and click Add widgets.
From the available options, choose AfterShip Returns and click to add it.
Once added, you can position the return widget in the desired location using the right-hand panel.
You have two options for where you can place the widget:
Text button under the progress bar: You can position the widget as a clickable text button right beneath the progress bar, which typically shows the delivery progress. This button text by default would be set to Request a return.
Banner at the top of the page: Alternatively, you can position the widget as a banner at the top of the page. This is a more prominent option, and the banner text by default would be set to Request a return inviting the customers to initiate the return process.
If you wish to modify your return page, you can do so by clicking the Edit returns page option under the Returns page section on the right-hand panel. You will instantly redirected to the Returns page configuration page in the AfterShip Returns page.
Eligibility for the return widget
1. Shipment status eligibility
The Return Widget will only appear on the tracking page when the shipment status is marked as Delivered.
2. Return initiation eligibility
Customers can only initiate a return if their order is linked to the same store or API connection that is tied to your AfterShip Returns plan.
When customers land on the tracking page with order details, they will automatically be redirected to the return initiation page without needing to manually input their order information. However, if a customer enters only the tracking number on the tracking page, they will be redirected to a return lookup page where they can enter their order number to initiate a return.
3. Return page redirection
Customers will be automatically redirected to the return initiation page depending on how they accessed the tracking page, including whether they visited via a proxy URL, a custom domain, or the AfterShip domain. The return page will match the domain used.
| URL Types | Description | Tracking Admin Path | Return Page Admin Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proxy URL | A URL provided by AfterShip, used with the Shopify platform to display tracking or returns pages on your store. | Tracking > Tracking Pages > Embedding > Shopify Proxy URLs | Returns > Customizations > Embedded Returns Page > Proxy URL |
| Custom Domain URL | A custom domain you configure for your tracking and returns pages, making them appear more closely tied to your brand. | Tracking > Tracking Pages > URLs and Domains > Custom Domains | Returns > Customizations > Page URLs > Custom Domains |
| AfterShip Domain URL | The default domain provided by AfterShip for tracking and returns pages if you don’t use a custom domain. | Tracking > Tracking Pages > URLs and Domains > Default Domains | Returns > Customizations > Page URLs > Default Domains |
| URL hosted by merchants themselves (iFrame code) | An AfterShip-provided URL, specific to your chosen tracking page, is commonly used with non-Shopify platforms. This URL can be directly embedded into your website using an iframe code to display the tracking or returns page. | Tracking > Tracking Pages > Embedding > Embed using iframe | Returns > Customizations > Page URLs > Default Domains |
FAQs
1. Can I customize the return initiation button text on the branded tracking page?
At the moment, customizing the return initiation button text for customers is not available. However, this feature is planned to be released in the upcoming updates.
Updated on: 26/02/2025
Thank you!