> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vortexiq.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk, AliExpress > Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk for AliExpress stores. Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre. How to read it, why it matters, and how to act on it. **Card class:** [Hero](/nerve-centre/overview#card-classes-explained) • **Category:** [Marketplace](/nerve-centre/connectors#connectors-by-type) ## At a glance > **Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk** flags every paid AliExpress order that is approaching or has already passed its required dispatch deadline before the seller has handed the parcel to Cainiao or AliExpress Standard Shipping. On AliExpress, the clock starts when a buyer pays, and a missed ship-by window pushes up your late-dispatch rate, exposes you to order-level penalties, and gives buyers an easy route into the Dispute Centre. For an owner or operations lead this is the single most time-sensitive operational pulse on the board, because a parcel that is one hour late is still recoverable while one that is a day late often is not. It pairs naturally with `aex_pending_shipment_wait_seller_send_goods` for the upstream queue and `aex_late_dispatch_rate` for the store-level scorecard impact. | | | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **What it counts** | The number of paid orders whose carrier handover deadline is imminent or breached without a scan from Cainiao or AliExpress Standard Shipping. | | **Sample type** | Backend API data from AliExpress, refreshed in near real time as order and logistics states change. | | **Why it matters** | Each late handover raises your late-dispatch rate, can trigger marketplace penalties, and invites buyer-opened disputes that erode store standing. | | **Reading the value** | Treat this as a worklist, not a trend. Any non-zero count is an open task; the goal at every check is zero, with rising numbers signalling a fulfilment backlog. | | **Currency** | Count of orders. | | **Time window** | `RT` | | **Alert trigger** | `any order past ship_deadline` | | **Sentiment key** | `aex_alert_dispatch_sla_miss` | | **Roles** | owner, operations | ## Calculation For each paid order, Vortex IQ compares the AliExpress required dispatch deadline against the latest logistics state and the first carrier scan from Cainiao or AliExpress Standard Shipping. Orders with no handover scan whose deadline is imminent or already passed are surfaced as alert rows. See the At a glance summary above for what the metric tracks and the worked example below for a typical reading. ## Worked example *A representative reading of **Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk** for a typical mid-volume cross-border AliExpress store.* On the morning of 14 Mar 26 the card shows 7 orders at risk, 3 of them already past the ship-by deadline and 4 due within the next two hours. The operations lead opens the list, sees that all 7 share a single SKU that was awaiting restock, ships the four in-stock variants immediately to stop the bleed, and flags the three breached orders for proactive buyer messaging before a dispute is opened. By the afternoon check the card is back to zero. For deeper investigation, use Vortex Mind to trace upstream causes; for natural-language exploration, ask Ask Viq. ## Sibling cards merchants should reference together | Card | Why merchants reach for it | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [`aex_pending_shipment_wait_seller_send_goods`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/aliexpress/pending-shipment-wait-seller-send-goods) | Shows the full queue of paid orders still awaiting dispatch, the upstream pool this alert draws from. | | [`aex_shipping_time_accuracy`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/aliexpress/shipping-time-accuracy-promised-vs-actual) | Compares the delivery time you promised buyers against what actually happened. | | [`aex_dispute_rate`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/aliexpress/dispute-rate) | Late handovers are a leading cause of disputes; this tracks the downstream effect. | | [`aex_detail_rating_summary`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/aliexpress/detailed-seller-ratings-match-comm-ship) | Slow dispatch drags down the shipping axis of your Detailed Seller Ratings. | | [`aex_store_level_tier`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/aliexpress/store-level-tier1goldplatinum) | Sustained late-dispatch rates feed directly into store level and placement. | ## Reconciling against AliExpress Seller Center **Where to look in AliExpress Seller Center:** Open the Orders area and filter to orders awaiting shipment, then cross-check against the performance dashboard that reports your late-dispatch rate and on-time shipping figures. **Why the Vortex IQ value may legitimately differ:** | Reason | Direction | What to do | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Carrier scan lag.** A parcel handed over may not show its first Cainiao scan for some hours. | Variable | Allow for scan delay before treating a flagged order as a true breach. | | **Time-zone framing.** Seller Center counts deadlines in its own zone; the live card uses your configured profile zone. | Marginal | Confirm both views use the same reference zone when comparing. | | **Real-time vs reported.** This card moves order by order while the Seller Center rate is a periodic roll-up. | Variable | Use the card for live action and the dashboard for the official scorecard. | **Cross-connector reconciliation:** If you fulfil from a connected store, compare against your BigCommerce or Shopify fulfilment queue to confirm parcels were actually picked. For divergence investigations, use Vortex Mind. ## Known limitations / merchant FAQs **Q: How often does Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk update?** It refreshes in near real time, re-evaluating order and logistics states continuously so a parcel that is scanned in clears from the list within the next sync. **Q: Why does my AliExpress Seller Center show a different number?** Seller Center reports late dispatch as a periodic rate over a closed window, while this card is a live worklist; period boundaries, the Seller Center time zone, and carrier scan lag all explain short-term gaps. **Q: How does Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk relate to other fulfilment metrics?** It is the live, order-level front of a chain that flows into `aex_shipping_time_accuracy`, `aex_dispute_rate`, and ultimately `aex_store_level_tier`. **Q: Can I customise the alert threshold?** Yes, sensitivity thresholds are configurable per profile in the Sensitivity tab. Adjust to match your business baseline rather than relying on the generic default. *** ### Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre *Late Shipments / Cainiao SLA Risk* is one of hundreds of KPI pulses Vortex IQ tracks across AliExpress and 70+ other ecommerce connectors. Nerve Centre runs the detection layer; Vortex Mind investigates the cause when something moves; Ask Viq lets you interrogate any number in plain English. [Start for free](https://app.vortexiq.ai/login) or [book a demo](https://www.vortexiq.ai/contact-us) to see this metric running on your own data.