🕗How to use Date fields and Variables

This overview outlines the logic behind setting up estimated times, which influences both the estimated delivery text and the timeline graphic displayed in your store. It ensures that your customers receive accurate information about when to expect their orders.

To display ETA information and/or timeline graphic on the ETA banner, make sure to turn them on in Appearance > Layout graphic.

Only working days are included in estimated preparation and delivery dates (for more details, refer to the Date and Time section).

Date setup fields

All the days are calculated from the order received date:

• Minimum preparation days: Minimum days from order received to preparation (production, dispatch...). This refers to the shortest possible number of days it takes for an order to start being prepared after it's received. Preparation can include production, packing, and getting the order ready for dispatch.

• Maximum preparation days: Maximum days from order received to preparation (production, dispatch...). Number of days needed to produce, prepare, and ship products. This indicates the longest number of days it could take for an order to start the preparation process after receipt. It sets an upper limit on the time spent before the preparation (like production or dispatch) begins.

• Minimum delivery days: Minimum days from order received to delivery. This is the least number of days from when an order is received to when it's delivered to the customer. It represents the fastest possible delivery scenario.

• Maximum delivery days: Maximum days from order received to delivery. This specifies the maximum number of days it could take from order receipt to delivery to the customer. It defines the longest delivery time frame expected under normal conditions.

• All fields need to be filled in with whole numbers (0, 1, 2, ...). If you enter '0' for 'Minimum preparation days', it means preparation starts right after receiving the order. This principle also applies to other fields.

• To have a reasonable timeline:

  • Maximum preparation days should be equal or greater than minimum preparation days.

  • Minimum delivery days should be equal or greater than minimum preparation days.

  • Maximum delivery days should be equal or greater than maximum preparation days.

  • Maximum delivery days should be equal or greater than minimum preparation days.

  • Minimum delivery days can be lower than maximum preparation days in case delivery can begin earlier than maximum preparation.

• When the minimum value is set equal to the maximum value, it eliminates the date range, resulting in only a single date being displayed for the preparation and delivery stages (see Example Case 2).

Example Case 1

When you receive an order from a customer, your production and dispatch process typically takes approximately 2-4 days. Following this, delivery can begin within 5-7 days from the time the order was received. To show this, your setup should be as follows:

• Minimum preparation days: 2

• Maximum preparation days: 4

• Minimum delivery days: 5

• Maximum delivery days: 7

This will reflect on both estimated text and timeline graphics, ensuring your customers have accurate expectations for when they will receive their orders.

Example Case 2

If you prefer not to use a date range but to show a single, specific date for preparation and delivery, you can set up:

• Minimum preparation days = Maximum preparation days

• Minimum delivery days = Maximum delivery days

Date variables

You can display the estimated date on the ETA banner by adding variables to the estimated text fields. Make sure to type these variables correctly and enclose them in curly brackets { } for accurate display:

• {TimeCountDown}: Countdown timer

• {delivery_min}: Minimum date of delivery

• {delivery_max}: Maximum date of delivery

• {prep_min}: Minimum date of preparation

• {prep_max}: Maximum date of preparation

If you want to change the text style of these variables, like making them bold or changing their colors, ensure you select the entire variable, including the curly brackets, before applying these style changes.

To change date format, go to Appearance > Date appearance.