Using Template Variables

Template variables are dynamic placeholders that are automatically replaced with real data when an email, SMS, or document is generated. They allow you to personalise every communication without manual editing. This guide provides a full reference of every available variable.

How Variables Work

Variables use double curly brace syntax: {{variable_name}}. When a message is sent, the system looks up the relevant data and substitutes it in. For example, Hi {{customer_name}} becomes Hi Sarah Johnson.

Customer Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{customer_name}}`	Full name of the customer	Sarah Johnson
`{{customer_email}}`	Customer's email address	sarah@example.com
`{{customer_phone}}`	Customer's phone number	+44 7700 900123

Order Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{order_number}}`	Unique order reference	ORD-2024-001587
`{{order_total}}`	Total order value including tax	£142.50
`{{order_status}}`	Current status of the order	In Production
`{{order_date}}`	Date the order was placed	15 Feb 2026
`{{order_items}}`	Formatted list of items in the order	2x Widget Housing (PLA, White)

Business Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{business_name}}`	Your company name	Acme 3D Printing
`{{business_email}}`	Your business contact email	hello@acme3d.co.uk
`{{business_phone}}`	Your business phone number	0800 123 4567
`{{business_address}}`	Your full business address	12 Maker Lane, Manchester, M1 2AB

Creator / Affiliate Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{creator_name}}`	Name of the referring creator or affiliate	TechReviewer3D
`{{creator_code}}`	The affiliate's unique referral code	TECH20

Discount Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{discount_code}}`	The discount code applied or generated	WELCOME15
`{{discount_value}}`	Value of the discount (percentage or fixed)	15%

Delivery Variables

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{tracking_number}}`	Carrier tracking number	RM1234567890GB
`{{tracking_url}}`	Full URL to track the shipment	https://track.carrier.com/RM1234567890GB
`{{delivery_method}}`	Selected shipping method	Royal Mail Tracked 24

Fallback Behaviour

If a variable has no value available at the time of sending, the system handles it as follows:

The variable placeholder is replaced with an empty string — it will not display the raw {{variable_name}} text to the customer.
For critical variables like {{customer_name}}, consider writing your templates to gracefully handle missing data. For example, use "Hi there" as a fallback greeting rather than relying solely on Hi {{customer_name}}.
The {{order_items}} variable returns a formatted list. If the order has no items (unlikely but possible in edge cases), it will render as empty.

Using Variables in Email vs SMS

Variables work identically in both email and SMS templates. However, keep these differences in mind:

Email: You have more space, so you can use multiple variables freely. The {{order_items}} variable works well in emails where a full item list is appropriate.
SMS: Be selective. Each variable's rendered value counts towards your character limit. Stick to essential variables like {{order_number}} and {{tracking_url}}. Avoid {{order_items}} in SMS as it can produce lengthy output.
Subject lines: Variables can be used in email subject lines. Keep them short — {{order_number}} works well, but {{order_items}} does not.