Shipping dates and delivery dates are important considerations for any eCommerce business, particularly those using Magento as their platform.
Nonetheless,
Shipping and delivery are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different stages of the transportation process.
Understanding the difference between the two can be important for individuals and businesses that rely on shipping goods.
So this begs the following questions:
What are shipping and delivery dates?
Shipping refers to the process of transporting goods from one location to another, typically by air, land, or sea.
It involves the movement of goods from the point of origin to the destination and may involve multiple modes of transportation.
Shipping may also involve using intermediaries, such as carriers or shipping companies, to facilitate the movement of goods.
The shipping date is when the goods are ready to be shipped and leave the point of origin. This may be the date on which the goods are loaded onto a truck, plane, or ship, or the date on which the shipping company picks up the goods from the sender.
Delivery, on the other hand, refers to the final step in the transportation process, when the goods are delivered to the recipient.
The delivery date is when the goods are expected to be delivered to the recipient’s address.
This date may be affected by a number of factors, including the distance the goods need to travel, the mode of transportation, and any delays or issues that may arise during the shipping process.
Note:
The shipping and delivery dates are not necessarily the same. The shipping date may be earlier or later than the delivery date, depending on the distance the goods need to travel and the mode of transportation used.
For example, if goods are shipped by air, the shipping date may be earlier than the delivery date, as it will take less time for the goods to reach their destination. On the other hand, if goods are shipped by ground, the shipping and delivery dates may be closer together, as it will take longer for the goods to reach their destination.
Image credit: Mageworx Shipping Suite
Magento 2 shipping and delivery date
In Magento 2, there are two main terms that are often used in relation to shipping: shipping date and delivery date, and their meaning entirely overlaps the general notion, i.e.:
The shipping date is the date on which the order is shipped from the merchant’s warehouse or fulfillment center. This is usually the date that the order is packed and handed over to the shipping carrier (such as USPS, FedEx, or UPS).
The shipping date is typically displayed to the customer in the order confirmation or tracking page.
The delivery date is the date on which the order is expected to be delivered to the customer’s address. This date is usually calculated based on the shipping carrier’s estimated transit time and the shipping date. The delivery date is important because it gives the customer an idea of when they can expect to receive their order.
How to set up shipping and delivery dates in Magento 2?
In Magento 2, you can set up both the shipping date and delivery date in the backend of your store. To do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Go to the Magento 2 backend and navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Settings.
- Scroll down to the Delivery Time Options section.
- In the Delivery Time field, enter the number of business days it takes for your orders to be shipped. This will be used to calculate the shipping date.
- In the Delivery Date field, enter the number of business days it takes for the order to be delivered after it has been shipped. This will be used to calculate the delivery date.
- Click Save Config to apply the changes.
After you have set up the shipping and delivery dates in Magento 2, the shipping date and delivery date will be automatically calculated and displayed to the customer in the order confirmation and tracking pages. This allows customers to know when to expect their orders and helps to manage their expectations.
Shipping and delivery date challenge in Magento 2
One of the key challenges for merchants using Magento is the lack of built-in tools for managing shipping and delivery dates.
While Magento does offer basic shipping options, it’s up to merchants to figure out how to manage shipping schedules and delivery expectations. This can be especially difficult for businesses with a large number of orders or for those who are shipping to multiple locations.
So, what’s the solution?
One solution to this problem is to use a third-party extension to manage shipping and delivery dates.
There are many different options available, but Estimated Delivery Date and Time extension from Mageworx is widely regarded as the best available for Magento 2.
This extension provides a range of features that make it easy for merchants to manage delivery schedules, and to communicate clearly with customers about when they can expect their orders to arrive.
One of the key features of Mageworx’s Delivery Date extension is the ability to set custom delivery schedules for different locations. This means that merchants can specify different delivery days and times for different locations, ensuring that orders are shipped and delivered on time no matter where they’re going.
Another useful feature of this extension is the ability to block off dates for delivery. This can be useful for merchants who need to take a break from shipping or who need to manage their shipping schedules more carefully, and more.
In Summary,
The shipping date refers to the date on which the goods leave the point of origin, while the delivery date refers to the date on which the goods are delivered to the recipient. Understanding the difference between these two dates is important for individuals and businesses that rely on shipping goods, as it can help them better plan and coordinate the transportation process.
In Magento 2, you can set up both the shipping date and delivery date in the backend of your store to help manage the shipping and delivery process and provide accurate information to customers.
However, if your business requires more flexibility in managing your shipping and delivery dates, you should consider opting for a third-party extension.
