Runbook: Set Up Transactional Email
Account: VITAG (Vitagen Labs)
Navigation: StoreFronts → [vitag.ultracartstore.com] → Communication → Transactional
When to Use This Runbook
Use when configuring the automated emails UltraCart sends on VITAG's behalf — order confirmations, shipping notifications, subscription billing receipts, and password reset emails. These are distinct from marketing emails (campaigns and flows): transactional emails are triggered by customer actions and are expected by the customer.
Who handles this: Owner or anyone with StoreFronts — Communications access.
Prerequisite: An outbound email provider must be connected. UltraCart supports sending via its built-in mailer or a connected ESP (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, etc.) or direct SMTP. See 09-communications-setup.md for connection setup.
Transactional Emails to Configure
| Trigger | Priority | |
|---|---|---|
| Order Confirmation | Customer places any order | 🔴 Must-have at launch |
| Shipping Confirmation | Order marked as shipped (tracking added) | 🔴 Must-have at launch |
| Auto Order / Subscription Confirmation | Customer enrolls in a subscription | 🔴 Must-have at launch |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enabled | ✅ Yes |
| From Name | Vitagen Labs |
| Token | Inserts |
| Mistake | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Using the default UltraCart email template without branding | Unprofessional appearance; customer may think it's spam | Customize templates before launch |
| Subscription confirmation doesn't mention recurring billing | Chargebacks, customer complaints | Make the recurring nature explicit and prominent |
| Tracking link points to wrong carrier | Confuses customers | Test every carrier's tracking link format |
| Failed billing email goes to spam | Customer never sees it; subscription cancels | Test deliverability with tools like http://mail-tester.com |
| Reply-to goes to an unmonitored address | Customer replies to shipping confirmation expecting help; no one sees it | Set reply-to to your monitored support inbox |