WhatsApp template: shipment delay notice
The ETA has moved by more than a day, before the customer asks.
A utility template, sent the ETA has moved by more than a day, before the customer asks. Usually sent outside the 24-hour window, so it is charged: ₹0.115 per message in India, before GST.
The template
{{1}}, an update on {{2}}: arrival at {{3}} is now expected {{4}} instead of {{5}}, because of {{6}}. Nothing is needed from you. Reply here if this affects your plans and we will help.Variables
{{1}}— Customer name{{2}}— Booking number{{3}}— Destination{{4}}— New ETA{{5}}— Original ETA{{6}}— Reason, one clause
Filled in
Ramesh, an update on MSK-88120: arrival at Jebel Ali is now expected 9 October instead of 6 October, because of port congestion at Salalah. Nothing is needed from you. Reply here if this affects your plans and we will help.
When to send it, and what gets it rejected
Send it before they find out from the tracking page. The reason should be one honest clause, not a paragraph. "Nothing is needed from you" is the sentence that stops the phone call; leave it out and you will take the call anyway.
Submitting it to Meta
Create it in WhatsApp Manager (or through your tool) with the category Utility, paste the body with the {{n}} variables, and give each variable a sample value from the example above — Meta’s review reads the samples. Approval usually takes minutes to a few hours. If it comes back re-categorised as marketing, a line in the body reads as promotional; remove it rather than argue.
What it costs to send
In India, Meta charges ₹0.115 per delivered message for a utility template, plus 18% GST, when it is sent outside the customer’s 24-hour window. Inside the window it has been charged at the same rate since 1 October 2026. The pricing guide has the full rate card; Linkubit adds nothing to it.
Send it without typing it
In Linkubit this template is a step the assistant sends on its own when the moment arrives — the enquiry lands, the visit is booked, the shipment moves — with the variables filled from the record. Start free and connect your number.
Questions about this template
Is "Delay notice" a utility or a marketing template?
Utility. It is about the customer's own transaction, so it needs no separate opt-in, and it is charged at the utility rate inside and outside the 24-hour window since 1 October 2026.
What does it cost to send "Delay notice" in India?
₹0.115 per delivered message before 18% GST, on Meta's published rate as read on 18 September 2026. It is usually sent outside the window, so it is charged from the first message. Meta bills your own account; nothing is added.
Can I change the wording of "Delay notice"?
Yes. Keep the variables in order and none at the start or end of the body, keep the category honest — no offer, discount or "limited time" line in a utility message — and resubmit; the previous version keeps working until the new one is approved. The template checker tests a draft before you submit it.
More templates for freight & logistics
- Quote request received — The moment an enquiry arrives, before anyone has priced it.
- Quote ready — When pricing has a number and the customer's window has closed.
- Missing details to quote — The enquiry cannot be priced — no volume, no commodity, no Incoterm.
- Booking confirmed — The customer said yes and the booking exists in your system.
- Documents needed — Two working days before cut-off, when something is still missing.
- Shipment departed — The vessel or flight has left.
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