Use a template when the support answer follows a known process. Tracking updates, return instructions, exchange steps, refund timelines, cancellation confirmations, and basic apology emails are all good template candidates.
Write fresh when the customer has a complicated order history, the issue involves a store mistake, the customer is angry, or your policy does not clearly cover the situation. In those cases, a template can still help with structure, but the final wording should show that a real person read the email.
A useful middle ground is to start with a template, add the real Shopify order context, then use the AI tone rewriter if the reply sounds too cold or too long.
This is also where many small teams get the most value from templates. The first draft gives the reply a reliable structure, while the final edit adds the detail that proves the customer's actual order was checked.