Scheduling & Execution
Alfred Launch Scheduler uses Google Cloud Tasks for reliable, on-time execution of your scheduled Shopify store changes. Every action is queued with your specified timezone, executed independently, and tracked with detailed status updates. Email alerts keep your team informed of completions and failures.
Key Concepts
Timezone-Aware Scheduling
Each launch has a timezone setting (e.g., America/New_York, Europe/London). Action times are displayed and scheduled in that timezone. Daylight saving time transitions are handled automatically. You can set a default timezone in Store Settings that pre-fills for new launches.
Execution Engine
Actions are executed via Google Cloud Tasks — the same infrastructure Google uses for its own services. Each action is an independent task, so one failure doesn't affect others. Execution happens within seconds of the scheduled time.
Action Status Lifecycle
Actions flow through: Pending (draft, not yet queued) → Queued (scheduled with Cloud Tasks) → In Progress (currently executing) → Completed (success) or Failed (error recorded). The launch detail page shows real-time status for every action.
Email Alerts
Configure email alerts per launch. Free plan includes launch completion and failure alerts. Starter and Pro add per-action completion alerts and launch scheduled confirmations. Add up to 10 email recipients per launch.
How to Use
Set Your Timezone
When creating a launch, select the timezone. All action times within that launch are interpreted in this timezone. The timezone selector includes all IANA timezones with search/autocomplete.
Set Action Execution Times
When adding an action, pick the date and time for execution. Times are shown in the launch's timezone. Actions can span multiple days — e.g., activate products on Monday, change prices on Wednesday.
Configure Alerts
On the launch detail page, scroll to the Alerts section. Toggle the master alert switch, add email recipients, and choose which alert types to enable. Alert preferences are saved per-launch.
Review & Schedule
Before scheduling, review the action timeline. Verify times are correct for your timezone. Click 'Schedule launch' to queue all actions. You'll receive a confirmation email with the full schedule.
Tips & Best Practices
- ✓Set your default timezone in Store Settings so you don't have to pick it for every launch.
- ✓Add your operations team's email to alerts so they're notified of launches without checking the app.
- ✓Schedule actions with at least 1 minute between them to avoid Shopify API conflicts.
- ✓For global launches across timezones, create separate launches for each region with the appropriate timezone.
- ✓If a launch needs to be rescheduled, cancel it and create a new one — this is faster and safer than editing individual action times.