How to Provide Estimated Delivery Dates for Your Shipments With AfterShip
After placing an order, customers are eager to know the estimated delivery date (EDD). eCommerce businesses also prefer to share EDD because it reduces WISMO queries and gives a magnificent shopping experience.
AfterShip has developed an AI model to predict EDD for each shipment. Since artificial intelligence is involved, the prediction accuracy is around 91%.
You can also use the Custom EDD feature by setting the transit times manually based on different shipping methods, carriers, and destinations. EDD prediction accuracy will be around 96%.
Upon enabling both AI EDD and Custom EDD, prediction accuracy is likely to be 100%.
Note that this feature is only available for Enterprise plan users for the time being. It will be unlocked for other paid plan users next week.
Go to your AfterShip account settings and click Estimated delivery dates (EDD).
Click Enable and then decide the date format
The accuracy of AI EDD is 91% If you select Single date. However, the accuracy will be increased up to 96% if you select Date range.
Click Save to let AI start predicting EDD for your shipments
Note: Our AI model currently predicts EDD for 43 major worldwide carriers and will support more in the future. If your preferred carriers are missing from the list given below, contact us now
Scroll down and click Enable to activate Custom EDD
Choose the industry type carefully because the formula for calculating the EDD is different
In the Order Cutoff And Processing Times section, click Edit to set a few settings
It indicates the amount of time you need to process an order.
Note: This may impact the EDD (estimated date of delivery) calculation.
Let’s say that you have set 6:00 p.m. as your order cutoff time,
If customers place an order before 6 p.m., e.g. 3 p.m., then you can process the order on the very same day
If customers place an order after 6 p.m., e.g. 10 p.m., then you can only process the order on the next day
It refers to the additional working days required to handle order-related work before the dispatch.
Note: This will affect the EDD (estimated delivery of delivery) calculation.
Example: If you set the order processing time to 1 day, this is how things will work later on
If a customer places an order on Tuesday and before the cutoff time, you can process it on the very same day. But the rest of the procedure will be followed on Wednesday. It means the order will be dispatched on Wednesday, instead of Tuesday.
It represents the days on which you prefer to process orders.
Note: US holidays will be excluded by default. This could also affect the EDD calculation.
Let’s imagine that you have set your working days from Monday to Friday, then orders placed on the weekend will only be processed on the upcoming Monday.
Click Submit to save your changes
In the Transit times section, click Add and set a few settings
This lets you set the countries, regions, or states so that estimated delivery dates can be calculated for your shipments.
Note:
You can set up multiple shipping zones under one organization.
For every shipping zone, you can set up multiple transit times based on different shipping methods.
This setting lets you set the estimated shipping time for an order based on the configured shipping zone and method. The promised delivery date will be calculated based on this setting.
You get two options while setting the shipping time.
Single date: If you select this one, customers will see the exact delivery date after making a purchase
Date range: If you select this one, customers will learn about the timeframe in which they can expect their order
This represents the services at the order checkout page that customers choose to get their orders delivered to their doorsteps.
Once your transit time rules are set, click Save
It will be calculated based on your settings (explained above). Let's say, you have set everything like this:
Industry type: Fast-moving consumer goods industry
Order information is as follows,
Order is placed on 2021-03-01 (1st March 2021), Monday, 10:00 am
Order destination is America and will be delivered via Standard shipping method
Order cutoff time: 6 p.m.
Order processing time: 0 day
Business day: Mon - Fri
Transit time information is as follows,
Shipping Zone - America
Shipping method - Standard
Shipping time - 3-5 days
The general formula of computing custom EDD for the selected industry type is: Order date + Order cutoff & processing time + Transit time
Now, let's insert data according to the formula:
Custom EDD: (1st March 2021) + 0 (no cutoff since the order is placed before 6 pm) + 0 (same-day processing) + (3-5 days transit time) = 2021-03-04 - 2021-03-08 (4th March 2021) - (8th March 2021)
Here's the explanation:
If the order is placed on Monday after 6 p.m., it will be processed on the same day. The transit time configured is 3-5 days. This means either the product will be delivered either on the 3rd day from 1st March 2021, i.e., 4th March 2021 (Thursday), 4th day from 1st March 2021, i.e. 5th March 2021 (Friday), or on the 5th day from 1st March 2021 i.e., 6th March 2021 (Saturday) which is not possible because merchants only process orders from Monday to Friday. Therefore, the product will be delivered on the next working day, i.e., 8th March 2021 (Monday).
Estimated delivery date will be selected according to the priority: Carrier EDD (estimated delivery date provided by the carrier) > AI EDD (estimated delivery date detected by the AfterShip's AI model) > Custom EDD (estimated delivery date calculated according to your settings)
Note: Not all carriers provide EDD. Therefore, it's better to enable both AI EDD and Custom EDD
Your customers will be able to check the EDD via:
Order tracking page
Email notification
Don't worry, we will clearly mention whether it is Carrier EDD, AI EDD, or Custom EDD.
You just need to go to your AfterShip's Shipments section and click on any shipment to see its detail page. After this, look for Promised by to find out which EDD your customers will be looking at.
If you still find it difficult to find your way around the feature? Say hello to our support team now 😄
AfterShip has developed an AI model to predict EDD for each shipment. Since artificial intelligence is involved, the prediction accuracy is around 91%.
You can also use the Custom EDD feature by setting the transit times manually based on different shipping methods, carriers, and destinations. EDD prediction accuracy will be around 96%.
Upon enabling both AI EDD and Custom EDD, prediction accuracy is likely to be 100%.
Note that this feature is only available for Enterprise plan users for the time being. It will be unlocked for other paid plan users next week.
👨💻 Steps to enable the EDD feature of AfterShip
Go to your AfterShip account settings and click Estimated delivery dates (EDD).
1. For AI EDD:
Click Enable and then decide the date format
The accuracy of AI EDD is 91% If you select Single date. However, the accuracy will be increased up to 96% if you select Date range.
Click Save to let AI start predicting EDD for your shipments
Note: Our AI model currently predicts EDD for 43 major worldwide carriers and will support more in the future. If your preferred carriers are missing from the list given below, contact us now
2. For Custom EDD:
Scroll down and click Enable to activate Custom EDD
Choose the industry type carefully because the formula for calculating the EDD is different
In the Order Cutoff And Processing Times section, click Edit to set a few settings
➡️ Order cutoff time
It indicates the amount of time you need to process an order.
Note: This may impact the EDD (estimated date of delivery) calculation.
Let’s say that you have set 6:00 p.m. as your order cutoff time,
If customers place an order before 6 p.m., e.g. 3 p.m., then you can process the order on the very same day
If customers place an order after 6 p.m., e.g. 10 p.m., then you can only process the order on the next day
➡️ Order processing time
It refers to the additional working days required to handle order-related work before the dispatch.
Note: This will affect the EDD (estimated delivery of delivery) calculation.
Example: If you set the order processing time to 1 day, this is how things will work later on
If a customer places an order on Tuesday and before the cutoff time, you can process it on the very same day. But the rest of the procedure will be followed on Wednesday. It means the order will be dispatched on Wednesday, instead of Tuesday.
➡️ Business days (store)
It represents the days on which you prefer to process orders.
Note: US holidays will be excluded by default. This could also affect the EDD calculation.
Let’s imagine that you have set your working days from Monday to Friday, then orders placed on the weekend will only be processed on the upcoming Monday.
Click Submit to save your changes
In the Transit times section, click Add and set a few settings
➡️ Shipping zone
This lets you set the countries, regions, or states so that estimated delivery dates can be calculated for your shipments.
Note:
You can set up multiple shipping zones under one organization.
For every shipping zone, you can set up multiple transit times based on different shipping methods.
➡️ Transit time
This setting lets you set the estimated shipping time for an order based on the configured shipping zone and method. The promised delivery date will be calculated based on this setting.
You get two options while setting the shipping time.
Single date: If you select this one, customers will see the exact delivery date after making a purchase
Date range: If you select this one, customers will learn about the timeframe in which they can expect their order
➡️ Shipping method
This represents the services at the order checkout page that customers choose to get their orders delivered to their doorsteps.
Once your transit time rules are set, click Save
👀 How will the custom EDD be calculated?
It will be calculated based on your settings (explained above). Let's say, you have set everything like this:
Industry type: Fast-moving consumer goods industry
Order information is as follows,
Order is placed on 2021-03-01 (1st March 2021), Monday, 10:00 am
Order destination is America and will be delivered via Standard shipping method
Order cutoff time: 6 p.m.
Order processing time: 0 day
Business day: Mon - Fri
Transit time information is as follows,
Shipping Zone - America
Shipping method - Standard
Shipping time - 3-5 days
The general formula of computing custom EDD for the selected industry type is: Order date + Order cutoff & processing time + Transit time
Now, let's insert data according to the formula:
Custom EDD: (1st March 2021) + 0 (no cutoff since the order is placed before 6 pm) + 0 (same-day processing) + (3-5 days transit time) = 2021-03-04 - 2021-03-08 (4th March 2021) - (8th March 2021)
Here's the explanation:
If the order is placed on Monday after 6 p.m., it will be processed on the same day. The transit time configured is 3-5 days. This means either the product will be delivered either on the 3rd day from 1st March 2021, i.e., 4th March 2021 (Thursday), 4th day from 1st March 2021, i.e. 5th March 2021 (Friday), or on the 5th day from 1st March 2021 i.e., 6th March 2021 (Saturday) which is not possible because merchants only process orders from Monday to Friday. Therefore, the product will be delivered on the next working day, i.e., 8th March 2021 (Monday).
🤔 What will happen when both AI EDD and Custom EDD are enabled?
Estimated delivery date will be selected according to the priority: Carrier EDD (estimated delivery date provided by the carrier) > AI EDD (estimated delivery date detected by the AfterShip's AI model) > Custom EDD (estimated delivery date calculated according to your settings)
Note: Not all carriers provide EDD. Therefore, it's better to enable both AI EDD and Custom EDD
Your customers will be able to check the EDD via:
Order tracking page
Email notification
😬 How would I know which EDD my customers will see?
Don't worry, we will clearly mention whether it is Carrier EDD, AI EDD, or Custom EDD.
You just need to go to your AfterShip's Shipments section and click on any shipment to see its detail page. After this, look for Promised by to find out which EDD your customers will be looking at.
If you still find it difficult to find your way around the feature? Say hello to our support team now 😄
Updated on: 12/10/2022
Thank you!