Insert Merge Tags in Tracking Notifications

Plans: All plans Platforms: All platforms

Overview

AfterShip Tracking enables you to send personalized delivery notifications to customers via emails, SMS, and Facebook Messenger. You can customize AfterShip Tracking's pre-built notification templates using merge tags, for example, |TRACKING_URL|. Merge Tags are short-codes that you can insert in delivery notification messages to send personalized order updates.

What you'll learn

In this tutorial, we'll discuss:

How do the merge tags work
List of AfterShip merge tags
How to add merge tags in emails
Where can you insert merge tags

How do the merge tags work

Merge tags incorporate essential details such as customer information, order updates, tracking data, and store specifics into the delivery notification for the triggered shipment. You have the flexibility to select the specific information to include in your delivery notifications.

List of AfterShip merge tags

Here is a list of AfterShip's supported merge tags and custom fields along with their descriptions:

Merge tags

Category	Merge tag name	Merge tag	Description	Mock data	Trigger	Email	SMS
ORGANIZATION	Organization name	ORGANIZATION_NAME	Display the organization name from Organization Settings.	{The organization's actual name}	All	YES	YES
	Organization URL	ORGANIZATION_URL	Display the website URL from Organization Settings (e.g., https://organization.automizely.io/settings/general).	{The organization's actual website URL}	All	YES	YES
EMAIL	Emails	EMAILS	Display the customer email addresses, separated by commas (",").	email@example.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	NO
	To email	TO_EMAIL	Display the receiver’s email address for the notification.	email@example.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	NO
	Sent from email	SENT_FROM_EMAIL	Display the "Send info" email address.	{The email template's actual sender email} – "email@example.com"	Shipment status, EDD	YES	NO
SHIPMENT	Title	SHIPMENT_TITLE	Display the tracking title.	ABC123	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Tracking number	TRACKING_NUMBER	Display the tracking number.	TEST9999999001	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Tracking URL	TRACKING_URL	Display the AfterShip branded tracking page URL (e.g., https://example.aftership.com/1Z8E).	The organization's real tracking url of test tracking number	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Tracking link	TRACKING_LINK	Display the tracking URL with hyperlink, used in the email notification (e.g., {{TRACKING_URL}}).	The organisation’s real tracking page url <a href="{https://xxx.aftership.com}/ABC123">{https://xxx.aftership.com}/ABC123</a>	Shipment status, EDD	YES	NO
	Direct tracking URL	DIRECT_TRACKING_URL	Display the courier tracking page URL.	https://example.couriertrackingurl.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Direct tracking link	DIRECT_TRACKING_LINK	Provide a hyperlink to the courier’s tracking page.	<a href="https://example.couriertrackingurl.com" > https://example.couriertrackingurl.com</a>	Shipment status, EDD	YES	NO
	Shipment status	SHIPMENT_STATUS	Display the AfterShip tracking status.	"Shipment status trigger display The flow trigger name" – "In transit"	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Shipment detail status	SHIPMENT_DETAILED_STATUS	Display the shipment status details.	On the Way	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Location 1	SHIPMENT_LATEST_LOCATION	Display the current shipment location.	13th Street, New York, NY, 10011, USA, United States	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Shipment last update time	SHIPMENT_LAST_UPDATE_TIME	Display the checkpoint time.	2024.12.31 12:59 NOTE: change the format based Settings	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Expected delivery	EXPECTED_DELIVERY	Display the expected delivery date.	2024.12.31 12:59 NOTE: change the format based on Settings	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Delivered date	DELIVERED_DATE	Display the actual delivery date.	2024.12.31 12:59 NOTE: change the format based on Settings	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Pickup location	PICKUP_LOCATION	Display the parcel pickup location (merchant-defined value overrides carrier value).	7407 N Oak Trafficway, Mockdata City, 54467, US, United States	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Signed by	SIGNED_BY	Display the recipient’s signature for the parcel.	Steve Young	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Shipment type	SHIPMENT_TYPE	Display the shipment service type (e.g., UPS Express).	FedEx SmartPost	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Note	SHIPMENT_NOTE	Display any additional notes (if available).	Special notes	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Delivery proof URL (Not show in merge tag lists)	DELIVERY_PROOF_URL	Display the proof of delivery image URL.	https://example.deliveryproof.com	Shipment status	YES	YES
CARRIER	Courier	COURIER	Display the courier name for this checkpoint.	FedEx	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Courier contact	COURIER_CONTACT	Display the courier phone number.	12223334444	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Courier redirect URL	COURIER_REDIRECT_URL	Display the official link to modify delivery time.	https://example.courierredirecturl.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Last mile tracking number	LAST_MILE_TRACKING_NUMBER	Display the last-mile tracking number.	TEST9999999001	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Last mile carrier tracking URL	LAST_MILE_CARRIER_TRACKING_URL	Display the last-mile carrier tracking page URL.	https://example.lastmiledirecttrackingurl.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Last mile carrier	LAST_MILE_CARRIER	Display the last-mile carrier name.	UPS	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Last mile carrier contact	LAST_MILE_CARRIER_CONTACT	Display the last-mile carrier phone number.	15550100	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
	Last mile carrier redirect URL	LAST_MILE_CARRIER_REDIRECT_URL	Display the URL to modify the delivery address (last-mile carrier page).	https://example.lastmilecarrierredirecturl.com	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES
ORDER	Order number	ORDER_NUMBER	Display the order number (a unique sequence of numbers and/or letters assigned to each order).	TEST5053002020	All	YES	YES
	Order ID	ORDER_ID	Display the order ID (unique identifier assigned to each order).	6845a095a27a4caeb27487806f0 58add	All	YES	YES
	Order name	ORDER_NAME	Display the order name (descriptive name assigned to the order).	#1000	All	YES	YES
	Order path	ORDER_PATH	Display the order page URL on your Commerce store (Tracking API order_id_path only).	https://example.orderpathofyourstore.com	All	YES	YES
	Order URL	ORDER_URL	Display the order-level branded tracking page URL.	The org’s real tracking page url+{ABC123}. e.g. {https://xxx.aftership.com}/?c_token=Bxc%2BBEMERFFVUUNicUMHU3ZRShgCXwUhDAUBADIAXQ4BCFpZHjF3&tracking-number=ABC123	All	YES	YES
	Order status URL	ORDER_STATUS_URL	Display the Shopify order page URL (Shopify only).	https://example.orderstatusofyourstore.com	All	YES	YES
	Order date	ORDER_DATE	Display the order placement date.	`2024.12.31` `12:59` NOTE: Change the format based on the Settings	All	YES	YES
	Pickup time	PICKUP_TIME	Display the estimated pickup time before items are ready for pickup. Display the pickup deadline after items are ready for pickup.	`2024.12.31` `12:59`	All	YES	YES
	Pickup location name	PICKUP_LOCATION_NAME	Display the in-store pickup location name.	AfterShip pickup store	In-store pickup trigger	YES	YES
	Pickup address	PICKUP_ADDRESS	Display the in-store pickup location address.	13th Street, New York, NY, 10011, USA, United States	In-store pickup trigger	YES	YES
	Pickup location phone number	PICKUP_LOCATION_PHONE_NUMBER	Display the in-store pickup location phone number.	(+)12223334444	In-store pickup trigger	YES	YES
	Pickup opening hours	PICKUP_LOCATION_OPENING_HOUR	Display the in-store pickup location opening hours.		In-store pickup trigger	YES	YES
	Pickup instruction	PICKUP_INSTRUCTION	Display the pickup instructions for the pickup location.	Bring your confirmation email when you come to collect your order.	In-store pickup trigger	YES	YES
CUSTOMER	Customer name	CONTACT_NAME	Display the full name of the notification recipient.	Steve Young	All	YES	YES
	Customer First name	CONTACT_FNAME	Display the first name of the notification recipient.	Steve	All	YES	YES
	Customer Last name	CONTACT_LNAME	Display the last name of the notification recipient.	Young	All	YES	YES
	Ship-to name	SHIP_TO_NAME	Display the name of the order recipient.	John Doe	Shipment status, EDD, pre-shipment trigger, Split order summary	YES	YES

Custom fields

Category	Custom field name	Merge tag	Example	Description	Mock data	Trigger	Email	SMS
SHIPMENT	{custom field name}	Change customer field name character to capital, and enclosed them by bars and asterisks on both sides, with an en dash ( _ ) between each word.		The custom fields that described by users and created via API, CSV or on Admin. You can customize your notification use custom field. - For example, you created "store_name" as one of the custom field in the API or CSV, what you can do is to type "You order purchased in `STORE_NAME` is on the way."	Shipment status, EDD	YES	YES	YES
ORDER	{custom field name}	Change customer field name character to capital, and enclosed them by bars and asterisks on both sides, with an en dash ( _ ) between each word.		The custom fields that described by users and created via Commerce API. You can customize your notification use custom field. - For example, you created "store_name" as one of the custom field in the API or CSV, what you can do is to type "You order purchased in `STORE_NAME` is on the way."	Custom field example	Pre-shipment trigger, In-store pickup trigger, Split order summary	YES	YES

Merge tags should be in uppercase letters and enclosed by bars ( | ) and asterisks ( * ) on both sides, with an en dash ( _ ) between each word.

Example: *|TRACKING_URL|*

How to add merge tags in emails

Navigate to Notifications > Flows in your AfterShip Tracking admin.
Edit the template (Email or SMS) for the events (shipment statuses) you wish to notify customers about.
Customize the sections of the template where merge tags are supported depending upon what information you want to share with your customers.
Save the changes.

Where can you insert merge tags

There are several places in your email where you can insert merge tags to auto-populate relevant customer, order, and shipment related information based on the editor you've selected.

Notification type	Editor type	Editor tab	Section name	Block name	Location
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor	Settings	Email subject		Email subject line
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor	Layers	Header		Organization name and URL
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Image with text		Title, Description, Button text
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Text		Description
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Shipment items		Product and price info > Link product images to URL
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Layout	Image with text	Title, Description, Button text
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor			Text	Description
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Hero	Text	Description
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Product documents		Title, Description, Button text
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Other items in order		Product images destination URL
Tracking Email notification	Basic email editor		Footer		Description
Tracking Email notification	Advanced email editor	Blocks	Elements	Text	Description
Tracking Email notification	Advanced email editor	Blocks	Elements	Accordion	Title, Description
Tracking Email notification	Advanced email editor	Blocks	Elements	Button	Destination URL
Tracking Email notification	Advanced email editor	Blocks	Elements	Image	Destination URL
Tracking Email notification	HTML	Settings	Email subject		Email subject line
Tracking Email notification	HTML	Content	HTML		Email content
Tracking SMS notification					Text content

Additional resources

Configure Merge Tag Fallback Values

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Updated on: 13/02/2026