Skip to main content

ETA Change Automation

Learn how to create an automated notification system that monitors shipment delivery time changes in the Dockflow logistics platform.

Overview​

The ETA Change automation helps you stay informed about any significant changes to your shipments' Estimated Time of Arrival, allowing for more efficient management of your logistics.

Use cases:

  • Monitor delivery delays that impact warehouse schedules
  • Get early warning of vessels arriving ahead of schedule
  • Track cumulative delays across your supply chain
  • Alert stakeholders when arrival times shift significantly

Setup Steps​

🚀 Step 1: Create a Flag​

Before setting up the automation, you need to create a flag that will mark containers when their ETA changes.

  1. Navigate to Automations from the main menu
  2. Click the Flags tab
  3. Click Create New Flag
  4. Name your flag (e.g., "ETA Changed" or "Delayed")
  5. Choose a color to make it visually distinctive
  6. (Optional) Add a description
  7. Click Save

Tip: Use descriptive names and distinctive colors to quickly identify flagged shipments on your dashboard.

📌 Step 2: Create the Automation​

Now create the automation that will apply your flag when ETA changes occur.

  1. Navigate to Automations > Overview
  2. Click Create New Automation
  3. Give your automation a descriptive name (e.g., "ETA Change Monitor - 48 hours")

⚙️ Step 3: Configure the Trigger​

Set up the conditions that will trigger your automation:

  1. Trigger Type: Select "Milestone Change"
  2. Trigger Variant: Choose "Change"
  3. Milestone: Select "Vessel Arrival in Final POD" (Port of Destination)
  4. Time Threshold: Set your threshold (e.g., 48 hours)

How it works: The automation triggers when "the new ETA must differ from the previously known one" by your defined duration.

Choosing Your Threshold​

ThresholdBest For
24 hoursTime-sensitive cargo, tight delivery windows
48 hoursStandard shipments, balanced alert volume
72+ hoursBulk cargo, flexible delivery schedules

Recommendation: Start with 48 hours to avoid notification fatigue, then adjust based on your needs.

🏗️ Step 4: Add the Flag Action​

Tell the automation what to do when an ETA change is detected:

  1. Click Add Action
  2. Select "Set Flag for Container"
  3. Choose the flag you created in Step 1 (e.g., "ETA Changed")
  4. (Optional) Add additional actions:
    • Send email notification
    • Update a custom field
    • Share with partners

🔌 Step 5: Activate the Automation​

Enable the automation to start monitoring your shipments:

  1. Locate the toggle switch in the upper right corner
  2. Switch it to "Active"
  3. Confirm activation

Your automation is now live! It will continuously monitor all relevant shipments and apply flags when ETA changes exceed your threshold.

What Happens When ETA Changes​

When the automation detects an ETA change that exceeds your threshold:

  1. Flag is applied - The container receives your custom flag
  2. Visible in dashboard - Flagged shipments appear in the "Flagged" view
  3. Partners see it - If sharing is enabled, partners see the flag
  4. Notifications sent - If configured, stakeholders receive email alerts

Monitoring Your Automation​

View Flagged Shipments​

  1. Go to Dashboard
  2. Select the "Flagged" view
  3. Filter by your ETA change flag to see affected shipments

Check Automation Performance​

  1. Navigate to Automations > Overview
  2. Find your ETA change automation
  3. Click to view Statistics:
    • How many times it's triggered
    • Which containers were flagged
    • Average ETA change magnitude

Advanced Configuration​

Multiple Thresholds​

Create separate automations for different severity levels:

  • "Minor Delay" - 24-48 hour changes (yellow flag)
  • "Significant Delay" - 48-72 hour changes (orange flag)
  • "Major Delay" - 72+ hour changes (red flag)

Combine with Notifications​

Enhance your automation by adding email notifications:

  1. Edit your automation
  2. Click Add Action
  3. Select "Send Notification"
  4. Choose recipients
  5. Customize message template

Partner Sharing​

Share ETA change flags with business partners:

  1. Edit your flag settings
  2. Enable "Share with partners"
  3. Select which partners should see the flag
  4. Save changes

Troubleshooting​

Automation Not Triggering​

Check these common issues:

  • ✅ Automation is Active (toggle in upper right)
  • ✅ Threshold is set to a reasonable value (not too high)
  • ✅ Milestone is correctly selected ("Vessel Arrival in Final POD")
  • ✅ Trigger variant is "Change" not "Set"

Too Many Alerts​

Your threshold might be too low:

  • Increase threshold from 24 to 48 or 72 hours
  • Consider using daily summary notifications instead of immediate alerts
  • Adjust filters to exclude certain shipment types

Flag Not Visible​

Check flag configuration:

  • Flag is saved and active
  • Flag color is distinctive enough to see
  • Dashboard columns include flag indicators
  • You're viewing the correct tradeflows (not filtered out)

Best Practices​

1. Start Conservative​

Begin with a higher threshold (48-72 hours) and gradually reduce it based on your team's tolerance for alerts.

2. Use Descriptive Names​

Name automations clearly: "ETA Change - 48hr Threshold - POD Arrival" is better than "ETA Automation 1"

3. Review Regularly​

Monthly review:

  • Are you getting too many/few alerts?
  • Is the threshold still appropriate?
  • Should you add/remove actions?

4. Combine with Other Automations​

Pair ETA monitoring with:

  • Discharge notifications
  • Document checklists
  • Warehouse booking reminders

Next Steps​

  • Learn about other automations - Getting Started with Automations
  • Set up discharge notifications - Get alerted when containers arrive
  • Create daily reports - Consolidate all flags into a single email

Need Help?​

Migrated from: https://support.dockflow.com/eta-change Last updated: January 28, 2026