Complete Guide to Shopify Order Notifications (2026)

You know that feeling when you order something online and then... nothing? No confirmation, no update, just silence. You start refreshing your email. You check your spam folder. You wonder if your card got charged. It's the worst customer experience, and it's completely preventable.

Why This Actually Matters for Your Store

Here's what happens when you don't send order updates. Your customers start doing all the anxious things:

Refreshing their inbox every five minutes
Second-guessing whether they actually completed checkout
Emailing you with "did my order go through?"
Tweeting about how they never got a confirmation (ouch)

The fix is dead simple: keep them in the loop. Stores using Alintro have cut their "where's my order" support tickets by about 40%. That's not marketing fluff—that's real time you get back.

The Messages You Actually Need to Send

Order Confirmation

When: Immediately after purchase

Confirm the order was received and provide order details

Hi {name}! Your order #{order_id} is confirmed. Total: {total}. We'll notify you when it ships!

Shipping Notification

When: When order is fulfilled/shipped

Let customer know their order is on the way with tracking

{name}, your order #{order_id} has shipped! Track it here: {tracking_link}

Out for Delivery

When: Day of delivery (if tracking supports)

Alert customer to expect delivery today

Your {store} order is out for delivery today! Keep an eye out for the delivery person.

Delivered

When: When package is delivered

Confirm delivery and open door for review request

Your {store} order has been delivered! We hope you love it. Questions? Reply to this message.

Setting Up Notifications in Alintro

Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up automated order notifications:

Step 1: Install and Connect

Install Alintro from the Shopify App Store
Connect your SMS gateway (or use built-in options)
Verify your sender ID / phone number

Step 2: Configure Triggers

Navigate to Settings → Notifications and enable each trigger:

Order Created - Fires when payment is completed
Order Fulfilled - Fires when you mark order as fulfilled
Shipment Update - Fires on tracking status changes
Delivery Confirmation - Fires when delivered (if tracking supports)

Step 3: Customize Templates

Use these personalization variables:

{name} - Customer name

{order_id} - Order number

{total} - Order total

{tracking_link} - Tracking URL

{store} - Store name

{items} - Item summary

Best Practices

Keep it Short

SMS should be under 160 characters when possible. Get to the point.

Include Order Number

Always reference the order ID so customers can find their order.

Add Tracking Links

Make it easy to track - one tap should show status.

Brand Your Messages

Include your store name so customers know who's messaging.

Test Before Going Live

Place a test order and verify all notifications work correctly.

SMS vs WhatsApp for Notifications

Both channels work great for order notifications. Here's when to use each:

Use SMS When:

• Customers in US/Canada
• Maximum delivery reliability needed
• Simple text updates

Use WhatsApp When:

• Customers in India, Brazil, Europe
• Want to include product images
• Need interactive buttons

Pro Tip: Smart Fallback

Use Alintro's Smart Fallback to try WhatsApp first, then automatically fall back to SMS. Get the best of both channels with 100% delivery.

Staff Notifications

Don't forget to notify your team! Staff alerts help with:

New order alerts for fulfillment teams
High-value order notifications for VIP handling
Low inventory warnings
Refund/cancellation alerts

Measuring Success

Track these metrics to optimize your notifications:

Delivery Rate - Should be 95%+
Support Ticket Reduction - Track "WISMO" tickets
Customer Satisfaction - Post-purchase surveys
Click Rate - On tracking links