Estimated Delivery Date and Shipment Timeline Display
Plans: All plans Platforms: All platforms
This article explains how AfterShip displays estimated delivery dates (EDDs) and shipment timeline events, including how time zones are handled across platforms and carriers.
The Estimated Delivery Date is shown to end customers on the branded tracking page and email notifications. It provides an expected arrival date based on carrier or merchant data.
Learn more about how EDDs work in this article.
If a carrier provides the EDD in a different timezone, AfterShip converts it to the destination’s local time.
If the carrier doesn’t specify a time or timezone, AfterShip displays the EDD as originally received—without conversion.
The history timeline shows key shipment events. Each event includes a timestamp, and AfterShip uses original values provided by carriers or platforms.
If the carrier or the merchants does not provide a specific time or timezone for a scan, AfterShip will display the original value as it is, without making any conversions. The timestamp will be treated as UTC+0 and displayed alongside all other scans.
End customers can choose to view the shipment timeline in different time zones using the time zone switcher:
If AfterShip does not receive the destination and origin timezone information from the carrier or merchants, end consumers will not have the option to select the destination or origin timezone.
Estimated delivery dates (EDDs) are shown to end customers in the destination’s local timezone.
AfterShip converts EDDs if the carrier provides them in a different timezone; if no timezone is given, the original value is shown.
Shipment history timelines use timestamps directly from e-commerce platforms or carriers without conversion.
When no timezone is provided for scans, AfterShip treats timestamps as UTC+0.
End customers can use the timezone switcher to view shipment events in local scan time, origin timezone, or destination timezone, if that data is available.
Overview
This article explains how AfterShip displays estimated delivery dates (EDDs) and shipment timeline events, including how time zones are handled across platforms and carriers.
Estimated Delivery Date (EDD)
The Estimated Delivery Date is shown to end customers on the branded tracking page and email notifications. It provides an expected arrival date based on carrier or merchant data.
Learn more about how EDDs work in this article.
| Property | Timeline Rule |
|---|---|
| Estimated delivery date | The timezone of the estimated delivery date is the destination location. |
If a carrier provides the EDD in a different timezone, AfterShip converts it to the destination’s local time.
If the carrier doesn’t specify a time or timezone, AfterShip displays the EDD as originally received—without conversion.
Shipment history timeline
The history timeline shows key shipment events. Each event includes a timestamp, and AfterShip uses original values provided by carriers or platforms.
| Property | Timeline Rule |
|---|---|
| Pre-ship history timeline | The original value that AfterShip received from the e-commerce platform (e.g., Shopify) or commerce API without any conversions being made usually is the local time when the order was made by end customers. |
| Shipment history timeline | The original value courier passes to AfterShip without any conversions is being made, usually is the shipment travel activity in local time of the scan. |
If the carrier or the merchants does not provide a specific time or timezone for a scan, AfterShip will display the original value as it is, without making any conversions. The timestamp will be treated as UTC+0 and displayed alongside all other scans.
Timezone switcher in timeline
End customers can choose to view the shipment timeline in different time zones using the time zone switcher:
| Property | Timeline Rule |
|---|---|
| Local Scan Time (default) | To display the shipment travel activity in local time of the scan |
| Destination time zone | To display the shipment travel activity in destination location time of the scan |
| Origin time zone | To display the shipment travel activity in origin location time of the scan |
| Others | To determine the destination time zone for this shipment |
If AfterShip does not receive the destination and origin timezone information from the carrier or merchants, end consumers will not have the option to select the destination or origin timezone.
Key takeaways
Estimated delivery dates (EDDs) are shown to end customers in the destination’s local timezone.
AfterShip converts EDDs if the carrier provides them in a different timezone; if no timezone is given, the original value is shown.
Shipment history timelines use timestamps directly from e-commerce platforms or carriers without conversion.
When no timezone is provided for scans, AfterShip treats timestamps as UTC+0.
End customers can use the timezone switcher to view shipment events in local scan time, origin timezone, or destination timezone, if that data is available.
Updated on: 08/05/2025
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