Smart Coupons lets you configure a single maximum % off discount (e.g. 20%, 30%, 50%). Instant AI automatically distributes scaled discounts across flows based on shopper intent.

The distribution ensures:

  • Higher discounts for higher-intent flows
  • First-time shoppers automatically receive one level higher than their current flow
  • Discounts are rounded for simplicity and clean presentation

Example:

If you set a max discount of 50% off, Instant AI distributes discounts roughly as follows:

  • Checkout Abandonment: 35% off
  • Cart Abandonment: 25% off
  • Browse Abandonment: 10% off
  • Collection Abandonment: No discount

For first-time shoppers, we automatically move them “one level up” in intent:

  • A first-time shopper in Checkout Abandonment would get 50% off
  • A first-time shopper in Cart Abandonment would get 35% off
  • A first-time shopper in Browse Abandonment would get 25% off
  • A first-time shopper in Collection Abandonment would get no discount

OR

If you set a max discount of 20% off, Smart Coupons would distribute and round the discounts like this:

  • Checkout Abandonment: 15% off
  • Cart Abandonment: 10% off
  • Browse Abandonment: 5% off
  • Collection Abandonment: No discount

For first-time shoppers, we automatically move them “one level up” in intent:

  • A first-time shopper in Checkout Abandonment would get 20% off
  • A first-time shopper in Cart Abandonment would get 15% off
  • A first-time shopper in Browse Abandonment would get 10% off
  • A first-time shopper in Collection Abandonment would get no discount

How rounding works:

To keep offers simple and clean:

  • We round down to the nearest 5% (e.g. 37.5% → 35%)
  • If the discount is 10% or less, we round down to the nearest 0.5%
  • If the discount is 5% or less, we don’t round, we maintain precision
  • No rounding is applied to the max discount
  • If you set a minimum purchase amount, this is supported only if the minimum amount is in the same currency as your store.

When codes expire

Each code works until 11:59 PM on the third day after the last email in the flow. For example, if the last email in the flow sends on Monday, the code works until 11:59 PM on Thursday.

The coupon block in the email shows the last day the code works, for example Valid until 10/20. It shows a date only, not a time. Later emails in the same flow send the same code again and show the same date.

Which timezone is used

  • Instant uses your store’s timezone or the shopper’s timezone, whichever ends the day later.
  • The shopper’s timezone comes from their browser. If that is not available, Instant uses the timezone on their profile.
  • If Instant cannot find the shopper’s timezone, it uses your store’s timezone.
  • Codes from your Welcome flow always use your store’s timezone.

This means no code ends before 11:59 PM in your store’s timezone on the date in the email. A shopper in a timezone behind your store (for example, a shopper in Hawaii for a store in Los Angeles) gets until 11:59 PM in their own timezone.

Note: If a shopper says their code does not work, open the discount in your Shopify admin and check its end date and time. If that time has passed, the code has expired, and you can send the shopper a new code.

Choosing who receives a coupon (Coupon Rules)

By default, every shopper who reaches the coupon’s trigger point in a selected flow gets a code. Coupon Rules let you limit the code to shoppers who match filters you set. Shoppers who do not match still receive the email, without a code.

Setting up Coupon Rules

  1. Go to Configuration > Coupons in your Instant AI dashboard
  2. Click to create a new coupon, or open an existing coupon and click Edit
  3. On the Who should receive this coupon? step, select the flows and the trigger point
  4. Under Who receives the coupon, select Only shoppers who match rules
  5. Choose Send if or Don’t send if for the rule
  6. Select a filter and set its value
  7. Add more filters or groups as needed, and set each join to AND or OR
  8. Save the coupon

To remove all rules, select Everyone in these flows.

Note: Coupon Rules decide who Instant sends a code to. They do not restrict the code at checkout. If a shopper shares their code, Shopify still accepts it.

Available filters

These filters are available for every coupon:

  • Purchased
  • Last Purchased
  • Added to Cart
  • Viewed
  • Active on Site
  • Location
  • Profile Attributes
  • Shopify Tag
  • Customer Insights

Some filters only show when you select a flow that uses them. They check the item or collection that triggered the flow:

  • Carted item (Cart Abandonment, Price Drop and Low Stock flows)
  • Browsed item (Browse Abandonment and Back in Stock flows)
  • Cart items (Checkout Abandonment and Cart Abandonment flows)
  • Order items (Post-Purchase flows, and custom flows that start from an order)
  • Browsed collection (Collection Abandonment flows)

Examples

  • Don’t send if · Shopify Tag is Wholesale: wholesale shoppers get your emails, but no code.
  • Don’t send if · Cart items contain a product from your Clearance collection: shoppers with clearance items in their cart get the email without a code.
  • Send if · Location is Australia: only shoppers in Australia get a code.

Tip: Coupon Rules work with every coupon type, not only Smart Coupons. With Smart Coupons, a shopper must match your rules first. Instant AI then applies the normal scaling and first-time shopper logic to set the discount.

Pausing coupons during a sale

You can pause every Instant coupon for a set time, for example during a sitewide sale, so shoppers don’t get a flow coupon on top of your sale price. Coupons turn back on by themselves when the pause ends.

Pausing your coupons

  1. Go to Configuration > Coupons in your Instant AI dashboard
  2. Click Pause coupons at the top of the page, next to Add coupons
  3. Add a name for the pause if you want one (for example, BFCM Sale). The name shows in the banner at the top of the page.
  4. Set the start date and time
  5. Set the end date and time
  6. Click Pause now to start the pause straight away, or Schedule pause if you set a start time in the future

Times use your store’s timezone.

Changing or ending a pause

When a pause is scheduled or active, a banner at the top of the Coupons page shows its name and dates. From the banner you can:

  • Click Edit to change the name or dates
  • Resume your coupons before the end date
  • Cancel a pause that hasn’t started yet

How pausing works

  • A pause applies to every Instant coupon in every flow, including your Welcome flow. You can’t pause a single coupon or a single flow.
  • Your flows keep sending while coupons are paused. Emails go out without the coupon block or code.
  • While the pause is active, each coupon on the Coupons page shows Paused · resumes and the end date.
  • You can have one pause at a time. The Pause coupons button hides while a pause is scheduled or active.
  • Codes that shoppers already received still work at checkout. A pause only stops Instant adding new codes to emails.

Note: A pause removes the coupon block and code from your emails. It doesn’t remove coupon wording you typed into your own email copy. Check your copy before your sale starts.

Key details:

  • You only need to set the max discount, Instant AI handles scaling and rounding
  • Prioritises first-time shoppers automatically with stronger offers
  • Only supports % off discounts
  • Not compatible with fixed dollar discounts or linking to an existing Shopify discount
  • Instant AI generates all codes automatically:
    • Unique, one-time use per customer
    • Expire at 11:59 PM on the third day after the last email in the flow
    • Included automatically in the second and third emails
  • You can limit codes to shoppers who match Coupon Rules. Shoppers who do not match get the email without a code.
  • You can pause all Instant coupons for a set time from the Coupons page. Coupons turn back on by themselves when the pause ends.

FAQs

How is the discount determined for each flow?

Smart Coupons distributes your max discount across flows based on shopper intent, scaling down by flow type. First-time shoppers always get a stronger offer (one level higher than their current flow).

How does rounding work?

We round discounts down for simplicity:

  • Nearest 5% for discounts over 10%
  • Nearest 0.5% for discounts 5–10%
  • No rounding below 5%

When is rounding skipped?

The max discount itself is never rounded.

Can I use $-off discounts?

No, only % off discounts are supported.

Can I link this to an existing Shopify discount?

No, Smart Coupons generates its own discount codes.

Can I set a minimum purchase amount?

Yes, but only if the amount is in the same currency as your store.

Are discount codes unique?

Yes, every code is single-use and created per shopper interaction.

How long does a code last?

Until 11:59 PM on the third day after the last email in the flow. Instant uses your store’s timezone or the shopper’s timezone, whichever ends the day later.

Why does the email show a date but no time?

The code works for the whole of that date. It ends at 11:59 PM.

Does daylight saving change when a code ends?

No. The end time follows the timezone, so a code still ends at 11:59 PM local time after the clocks change.

When will shoppers see the discount code?

In the second email of the flow and again in the third as a reminder.

What happens to shoppers who do not match my Coupon Rules?

They stay in the flow and receive every email, without a code. Coupon Rules never stop an email from sending.

Can I stop a code going to shoppers with sale or clearance items in their cart?

Yes. Add a Don’t send if rule with the Cart items or Carted item filter, and select the products or collection. These filters only show when the coupon is in a flow that has a cart.

Do Coupon Rules stop a shopper using a shared code?

No. Rules decide who Instant sends a code to. Shopify checks the code at checkout, so anyone with the code can use it within its limits.

What happens if Instant cannot check a rule?

The shopper receives the email without a code. Instant does not send a code unless it can confirm the shopper matches your rules.

Can I give a different coupon to returning shoppers?

No. A flow holds one coupon at a time, so you can withhold a code from returning shoppers (for example, Don’t send if · Purchased), but you cannot send them a second, different coupon in the same flow.

How do I stop coupons sending during a sale, like BFCM?

Go to Configuration > Coupons and click Pause coupons. Set the start and end of your sale. Coupons turn back on by themselves at the end time.

Can I pause one coupon or one flow?

No. A pause applies to every Instant coupon in every flow.

Do my flows stop sending while coupons are paused?

No. Your flows keep sending as normal, without a coupon.

Can I schedule more than one pause?

No. You can have one pause at a time. To pause coupons for a second sale, wait until the first pause ends, or edit its dates.

I paused coupons in a date rule before. Does that pause still work?

Yes. Pauses you set up in a date rule still apply until their end date. You can no longer create new pauses in a rule, so use Pause coupons on the Coupons page for future sales.