Custom Email Notifications

You can let Parcelcraft send your customers a generic email with tracking information or use your own SendGrid account to customize your email templates for customer email notifications.

Copy SendGrid API Key to Parcelcraft

Sign up for Sendgrid at https://sendgrid.com/ (opens in a new tab)
Navigate to the SendGrid API page (opens in a new tab) to see your list of API keys.
If you haven't saved your SendGrid API Key, create a new key and ensure it is a Full Access Key or has access to Design Library, Address Allow List, BCC, Suppressions, Unsubscribe Groups and full access to Email Testing, Mail Send. Copy the API key into a document to make sure you have copied it correctly.
Go to the Parcelcraft Settings page (opens in a new tab), select the Notifications tab and select the Custom email template with SendGrid radio button.
Paste the SendGrid API key into the SendGrid API Key entry box.

Configure SendGrid

In SendGrid, add add a verified Sender, unsubscribe groups and create a dynamic template for a customer Shipping Notification, Canceled Shipment notification, and a return shipment notification

SendGrid dynamic email templates

SendGrid allows you to use a special variables in your emails using handlebars. Variables are encased in brackets like {{my_variable}}. Read about how to use handlebar variables (opens in a new tab) in your Dynamic Email templates.

Compose a SendGrid dynamic template

SendGrid Dynamic Templates

Customer tracking notification sample template

Subject Line

Shipping confirmation from {{#if from_address.company}}{{from_address.company}}{{else}}{{from_address.name}}{{/if}}

Body

 
Hi {{to_address.name}},
 
Good news! Your shipment from 
{{#if from_address.company}}{{from_address.company}}{{else}}{{from_address.name}}{{/if}} 
is on its way.
 
Your tracking number is {{tracking_code}} 
(shipped via {{service_name}}).
 
{{tracking_URL}}
 
{{#if message}}A note was added by the shipper for you:{{/if}}
{{#if message}}{{message}}{{/if}}
 
 
Tracking information may not appear until the shipment is in the carrier's possession.
 
This message was autogenerated on behalf of 
{{#if from_address.company}}{{from_address.company}}{{else}}{{from_address.name}}{{/if}}. 
If you have questions about this shipment please contact them directly.
 
Thank you!
 
Your friendly shipping robot

Test data

You can test your variables in your SendGrid Preview by using this test data. All email notifications will recieve a similar payload to this. In SendGrid on your Template view, click 'Preview' and enter this test data:

Test data

{
    "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10Z",
    "is_return": false,
    "carbon_offset": false,
    "service_name":"UPS Next Day Air",
    "tracking_URL":"http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processRequest?HTMLVersion=5.0&Requester=NES&AgreeToTermsAndConditions=yes&tracknum=",
    "mode": "production",
    "options": {
      "print_custom_1": "printCustom1",
      "print_custom_2": "printCustom2",
      "print_custom_3": "printCustom3",
      "invoice_number": "INVOICE12345",
      "label_size": "4X6",
      "label_format": "PNG",
      "currency": "USD",
      "payment": {
        "type": "SENDER"
      },
      "date_advance": 0
    },
    "reference": null,
    "status": "delivered",
    "tracking_code": "1ZXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:04:22Z",
    
    "batch_id": null,
    "batch_status": null,
    "batch_message": null,
    "customs_info": null,
    "from_address": {
      "id": "adr_391f1136465b11eeba1b3cecef1b359e",
      "object": "Address",
      "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10+00:00",
      "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10+00:00",
      "name": "Clark Kent",
      "company": "Parcelcraft",
      "street1": "123 Kent Lane",
      "street2": null,
      "city": "Smallville",
      "state": "KS",
      "zip": "67524",
      "country": "US",
      "phone": "4153334445",
      "email": "support@easypost.com",
      "mode": "test",
      "carrier_facility": null,
      "residential": null,
      "federal_tax_id": null,
      "state_tax_id": null,
      "verifications": {}
    },
    "insurance": null,
    "order_id": null,
    "parcel": {
      "id": "prcl_05dcf71b0e1d4c3d8bb7515da2201180",
      "object": "Parcel",
      "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10Z",
      "length": 20.2,
      "width": 10.9,
      "height": 5,
      "predefined_package": null,
      "weight": 3.9,
      "mode": "test"
    },
    "postage_label": {
      "object": "PostageLabel",
      "id": "pl_d9c28bb80d334cdab9c61e83c6a81fac",
      "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:12Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:13Z",
      "date_advance": 0,
      "integrated_form": "none",
      "label_date": "2023-08-29T11:00:12Z",
      "label_resolution": 200,
      "label_size": "4x7",
      "label_type": "default",
      "label_file_type": "image/png",
      "label_url": "https://easypost-files.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/postage_label/20230829/e8f4c805339eaf4e4598f10da10fa0a064.png",
      "label_pdf_url": null,
      "label_zpl_url": null,
      "label_epl2_url": null,
      "label_file": null
    },
    "message": "Thank you for your order!",
    "refund_status": null,
    "scan_form": null,
    "selected_rate": {
      "id": "rate_f170b1e31d9b4831b5bb250bd235155b",
      "object": "Rate",
      "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:12Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:12Z",
      "mode": "test",
      "service": "NextDayAir",
      "carrier": "UPSDAP",
      "rate": "50.85",
      "currency": "USD",
      "retail_rate": "130.61",
      "retail_currency": "USD",
      "list_rate": "138.71",
      "list_currency": "USD",
      "billing_type": "easypost",
      "delivery_days": 1,
      "delivery_date": null,
      "delivery_date_guaranteed": true,
      "est_delivery_days": 1,
      "shipment_id": "shp_d0c2d25409af42d982adc7f2a87e3209",
      "carrier_account_id": "ca_35354e128d45462ea1ead3246d558458"
    },
    "to_address": {
      "id": "adr_391c36bd465b11eea97fac1f6bc539ae",
      "object": "Address",
      "created_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10+00:00",
      "updated_at": "2023-08-29T11:00:10+00:00",
      "name": "Lois Lane",
      "company": null,
      "street1": "456 Daily Planet Avenue",
      "street2": null,
      "city": "Metropolis",
      "state": "IL",
      "zip": "62960",
      "country": "US",
      "phone": "8573875756",
      "email": "dr_steve_brule@gmail.com",
      "mode": "test",
      "carrier_facility": null,
      "residential": null,
      "federal_tax_id": null,
      "state_tax_id": null,
      "verifications": {}
    },
    "forms": [],
    "fees": [
      {
        "object": "Fee",
        "type": "LabelFee",
        "amount": "0.01000",
        "charged": true,
        "refunded": false
      },
      {
        "object": "Fee",
        "type": "PostageFee",
        "amount": "50.85000",
        "charged": true,
        "refunded": false
      }
    ],
    "id": "shp_d0c2d25409af42d982adc7f2a87e3209",
    "object": "Shipment"
  }

For example:

SendGrid Dynamic Templates

Now that you've created and tested your Customer Notification email, select that template in your ParcelCraft settings.

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