As an eCommerce entrepreneur, you know that delivering a stellar customer experience is paramount to success. One crucial element of this experience is the post-purchase journey – ensuring your customers feel informed and confident throughout the shipping process. This is where AfterShip, a leading post-purchase experience platform, comes in.
AfterShip empowers eCommerce businesses like yours to build stronger customer relationships, reduce support inquiries, and ultimately drive sales through a suite of powerful apps and integrations. This blog post will dive into the key AfterShip tools available for Shopify merchants, guiding you through everything you need to know to get started and unlock the benefits of this robust platform.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Core AfterShip Apps and Integrations
- How to Get Started with AfterShip on Shopify
- Additional AfterShip Apps and Integrations
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Introduction
In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, shoppers expect transparency and control over their purchases. AfterShip tackles this head-on by providing tools to build trust and loyalty through a seamless post-purchase experience. Whether you’re a seasoned Shopify veteran or just starting out, AfterShip can be a valuable asset in your toolkit, streamlining your operations, and creating a more positive experience for your customers.
Core AfterShip Apps and Integrations
AfterShip offers a range of essential apps designed to optimize different aspects of the post-purchase journey:
AfterShip Tracking
The cornerstone of the AfterShip platform, AfterShip Tracking, provides a comprehensive solution for managing and tracking shipments for your Shopify store. Searching for “aftership shopify,” “aftership shopify app,” “aftership app shopify,” or “aftership shopify integration” will lead you to this powerful tool. Here’s what it offers:
- Real-Time Tracking: Access real-time order tracking information from a wide network of carriers, giving you and your customers accurate delivery updates.
- Centralized Dashboard: Effortlessly manage all your shipments from one centralized dashboard, providing a clear overview of order statuses.
- Branded Tracking Pages: Create custom branded tracking pages for your Shopify store. These pages can include your logo, branding elements, product recommendations, social media links, and more, enhancing the customer experience and showcasing your brand identity.
- Proactive Delivery Notifications: Send automated email and SMS notifications to your customers at each stage of the shipment journey. These notifications provide updates on order confirmation, shipment progress, delivery estimations, and even any potential delays or exceptions, keeping customers informed and reducing unnecessary support inquiries.
- Powerful Analytics: AfterShip Tracking provides detailed analytics reports, offering insights into your shipping performance. You can monitor on-time delivery rates, identify potential WISMO (Where Is My Order) risks, and optimize your shipping strategies based on data-driven insights.
AfterShip Returns
Returning items should be as easy as purchasing them. AfterShip Returns helps you achieve this by simplifying the return process for your customers:
- Branded Returns Portal: Create a branded returns portal where your customers can easily initiate return requests. They can select the items they want to return, provide the reason for return, and choose their preferred resolution method.
- Automated Processing: AfterShip Returns automates the return request processing and RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) generation. This streamlines the return process and reduces manual effort for your team.
- Flexible Return Policy: Configure your return policy within the app to set specific return windows, eligible products, and other parameters, allowing you to control the returns process according to your business needs.
- Discounted Return Labels: AfterShip Returns can generate discounted shipping labels for return shipments, making the return process more convenient for your customers and saving you money.
- Return Analytics: Gain valuable insights into your returns process with comprehensive analytics. Track return rates, common return reasons, and other key metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize your overall returns management.
AfterShip Shipping
AfterShip Shipping provides a streamlined way to create shipping labels and manage your shipping process:
- Simplified Label Generation: Generate shipping labels with tracking numbers directly from the AfterShip Shipping app. You can easily filter orders based on various criteria like order ID, customer name, payment status, and more, making label creation efficient.
- Real-Time Rate Calculation: Calculate shipping rates for different carriers in real-time to compare costs and delivery options.
- Automated Order Fulfillment: With Shopify integration, you can choose to automatically fulfill orders within Shopify once a label is generated. AfterShip Shipping will automatically update the tracking number, carrier name, and tracking URL in your Shopify store, saving you time and effort.
- Domestic and International Shipping: AfterShip Shipping supports both domestic and international shipping. You can easily enter customs information and modify item details before generating labels. The app will automatically generate commercial invoices and other necessary customs documents.
How to Get Started with AfterShip on Shopify
Now that you have a better understanding of the core AfterShip apps, let’s dive into how to set up AfterShip for your Shopify store:
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Getting started with AfterShip is a breeze. Here is a straightforward guide to walk you through the process:
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Create a Free AfterShip Account: If you haven’t already, head over to the AfterShip website and create a free account. This gives you access to a range of features, including the core AfterShip Tracking app, and allows you to start exploring the platform.
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Install the AfterShip App from the Shopify App Store: Log in to your Shopify admin panel and navigate to the Shopify App Store. Search for “AfterShip” and click on the AfterShip Order Tracking app. Click on “Add app” to begin the installation process.
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Connect Your Shopify Store: AfterShip will prompt you to connect your Shopify store to your AfterShip account. You may need to authorize the app to access relevant data from your store.
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Configure App Settings: Once your store is connected, you can begin customizing the app’s settings. This includes:
- Carrier Integration: Select the carriers you commonly use for shipping.
- Tracking Page Design: Customize the appearance of your branded tracking pages by adding your logo, branding elements, and selecting a color scheme that aligns with your brand.
- Notification Settings: Configure the delivery notifications you want to send to your customers via email and SMS.
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Start Using AfterShip’s Core Features: Once your settings are configured, you can begin using the core features of AfterShip Tracking, Returns, and Shipping. The app will automatically import your orders from Shopify and start tracking them.
Choosing the Right AfterShip Plan
AfterShip offers a range of pricing plans to cater to your business needs and shipment volume:
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Free Plan: This plan is ideal for smaller businesses with up to 50 shipments per month. It provides access to the core features of AfterShip Tracking and a basic level of support.
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Essentials Plan: This plan is perfect for growing businesses that handle between 100 and 2,000 shipments per month. It includes all the features of the Free plan, plus:
- Klaviyo integrations for seamless email marketing.
- Basic performance analytics reports for gaining insights into shipping performance.
- Email and SMS notifications for improved customer communication.
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Pro Plan: Designed for mid-sized and larger businesses, the Pro plan handles 2,000-25,000 shipments per month. It includes all the features of the Essentials plan, as well as:
- Product recommendation widget to boost sales and average order value.
- Attentive integrations for powerful SMS marketing campaigns.
- Multilingual tracking pages and emails to cater to a global audience.
- API and webhooks to integrate with your existing systems.
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Premium Plan: For high-volume businesses, the Premium plan caters to 25,000+ shipments per month and offers the most advanced features, including:
- AI-powered product recommendations for personalized experiences.
- Product and checkout page Estimated Delivery Dates (EDDs) for increased customer confidence.
- Advanced analytic reports for in-depth insights.
- Custom domain for your branded tracking page, enhancing brand visibility and professionalism.
Additional AfterShip Apps and Integrations
Beyond the core AfterShip apps, the platform offers a range of additional tools to further enhance your post-purchase experience. These include:
- AfterShip Email: Build automated email marketing campaigns to nurture customer relationships, promote special offers, and drive repeat purchases.
- AfterShip Popups & Forms: Create engaging popups and forms to capture leads, grow your email list, and promote special offers.
- AfterShip Reviews: Collect and display customer reviews on your product pages to build social proof and encourage more sales.
- AfterShip Personalization: Leverage AI-powered product recommendations to personalize the shopping experience and encourage upselling and cross-selling.
- AfterShip Traffic: Expand your customer base by participating in AfterShip’s ad exchange network, allowing you to promote your products on other Shopify stores.
- AfterShip Feed: Effortlessly sync product and order information from your Shopify store to your TikTok Shop or mobile app.
- AfterShip Affiliates: Create and manage an affiliate program to incentivize customer referrals and drive additional sales.
- AfterShip Page Builder: Create stunning landing pages to promote specific products or campaigns, enhance your brand’s presence, and drive conversions.
FAQ
- What are the common use cases for AfterShip on Shopify?
- Improving customer service and satisfaction.
- Reducing support inquiries and WISMO calls.
- Boosting conversion rates by offering a seamless post-purchase experience.
- Optimizing shipping strategies and delivery performance.
- Growing your business through customer referrals and affiliate programs.
- Can I use AfterShip with other eCommerce platforms besides Shopify?
- Yes, AfterShip integrates with many popular platforms, including Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and more.
- How much does AfterShip cost?
- AfterShip offers a free plan for up to 50 shipments per month. There are also paid plans with additional features starting at $11/month.
- What are the benefits of using a custom branded tracking page?
- Builds trust with customers by providing a familiar and branded experience.
- Offers opportunities for cross-selling and upselling with product recommendations.
- Improves brand recognition and loyalty.
Conclusion
AfterShip provides a suite of powerful apps and integrations specifically designed to enhance the post-purchase experience for Shopify merchants. By streamlining your shipping, returns, and marketing efforts, AfterShip empowers you to build stronger customer relationships, optimize operations, and ultimately drive sales.
Give AfterShip a try today and see the positive impact it can have on your Shopify store!