Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Expanding on the Benefits of Draft Orders
- How to Create and Use Draft Orders on Shopify
- Advanced Draft Order Functionality and Apps
- Real-life Scenarios and Success Stories
- Conclusion
- FAQ Section
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how Shopify's draft order feature can enhance the way you manage orders behind the scenes, especially for situations that do not follow the standard direct customer purchase scenario? In a bustling digital marketplace, there's a significant need for flexibility in order handling. Shopify provides a robust solution via its draft order capability. This blog post will unravel the concept of draft orders, its utility in e-commerce transactions, and how to effectively implement them in your Shopify store, thus ensuring you don’t miss out on sales opportunities due to rigid order processing systems.
Several scenarios necessitate the creation of draft orders, from offering bespoke services to handling B2B transactions and processing pre-orders. The draft order feature on Shopify is rich with possibilities, capable of accommodating varied and complex scenarios. By the end of this post, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of draft orders and how they can streamline your sales processes, whether you run a retail shop, a large-scale online business, or anything in-between.
Expanding on the Benefits of Draft Orders
Draft orders on Shopify allow merchants to manually create orders on behalf of their customers. This is particularly useful for orders that are not generated through the usual online customer journey. Let’s dive deeper into the use cases and advantages.
Creating Flexibility for Custom Orders
Sometimes, customers request bespoke products or special terms that are not available through the standard storefront. In such cases, a store owner can create a draft order which includes custom items or services, tailored discounts, and personalized shipping rates.
Selling at Special Rates
Draft orders enable selling products at rates different from those listed online. This is quite beneficial in B2B transactions or wholesale deals where pricing often differs from retail rates.
Pre-Orders and Phone Orders
Occasionally, you might find products being sold before they are officially launched or are temporarily out of stock. Draft orders allow you to accept and manage pre-orders proficiently. Additionally, if a customer places an order via phone, email, or directly in a physical store, you can use the draft order feature to process these sales.
International Sales
For stores that sell internationally, draft orders allow invoicing in the local currency of customers, offering a more personalized and likely more conversion-friendly transaction.
How to Create and Use Draft Orders on Shopify
Creating a draft order in your Shopify admin is a process that merchants can execute with ease. Below are the fundamental steps:
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Initiate a Draft Order: Navigate to the 'Drafts' section within 'Orders' in the Shopify admin panel, and click on 'Create Order'.
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Adding Product Details: You can add one or more items to the draft order, adjusting quantities as necessary.
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Applying Discounts and Taxes: If appropriate, you can apply discounts to individual items or the entire order. Taxes are calculated based on your settings and the customer’s address.
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Setting Shipping Rates: Choose appropriate shipping rates based on preset options or customize according to the needs of the order.
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Customer Information: Add an existing customer from your database or input new customer details, including billing and shipping information.
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Payment and Invoicing: Set payment terms if payment is due at a later date, or share a checkout link with the customer through an invoice allowing them to complete the transaction.
Draft orders also allow merchants to reserve items, which acts as a placeholder to ensure product availability once a draft order is converted into a final order. However, it’s important to note that reserved items are not yet removed from inventory and won't deter other customers from attempting to purchase them, but will halt the final purchase if attempted on the website.
Advanced Draft Order Functionality and Apps
While Shopify covers much of the basic functionality, apps like the Cleverific Order Editor offer enhanced tools for creating and editing draft orders, providing a full suite of edits and payment features. These come in handy when adjusting intricate details like product weights, adding custom fields, or bulk-adding products to orders without impacting customer experience.
Converting abandoned checkouts into draft orders is another sophisticated way to recover sales. Clients will see this proactivity as excellent customer service, reinforcing their likelihood to complete the purchase.
Real-life Scenarios and Success Stories
Real success stories stand as testimony to the effectiveness of draft orders. Brands have streamlined promotions, reduced return costs, and improved their overall customer experience, thanks to the refined control over order processing that draft orders offer.
Businesses who have started using draft orders can improve perfect services like pre-order management, boost cart recovery rates, and overall, process wholesale or custom orders much more effectively, which results in tangible business growth.
Conclusion
In essence, draft orders on Shopify offer a myriad of benefits that can significantly enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction in your e-commerce operations. It allows for flexibility and personalized customer interactions which can directly contribute to a better shopping experience and potentially increased sales.
If you’ve yet to explore draft orders, now’s an excellent time to harness their potential. With a blend of native Shopify capabilities and additional tools from the app's marketplace, creating a smooth transition from draft to final order is within easy reach for any merchant.
Finally, while considering upcoming promotions, sales, or marketing initiatives, give thought to how draft orders could play a role in optimizing these efforts.
FAQ Section
Q: What exactly does "reserving items" mean in Shopify draft orders?
A: "Reserving items" in draft orders allows merchants to earmark specific inventory for a particular customer without taking it out of available stock. Though not removed from inventory immediately, the system prevents other customers from going through with a purchase if the inventory is reserved.
Q: Can you edit a draft order in Shopify?
A: Yes, draft orders are fully editable until the point they are invoiced or paid. Merchants can add or remove products, apply discounts, and even adjust customer details as needed.
Q: Do draft orders work with Shopify Market’s local currencies?
A: Yes, draft orders can be issued in local currencies as determined by the shipping address associated with the customer’s market, thus providing customers with a more localized shopping experience.
Q: How are draft orders different from regular orders on Shopify?
A: Draft orders are intentionally left unfulfilled by the merchant for various reasons like customization requests, delayed payments, wholesale arrangements, and are later finalized. Regular orders are initiated and completed by customers through the standard checkout process on the Shopify store.
Q: Is it possible to set payment terms on draft orders?
A: Yes, Shopify allows the setting of payment terms on draft orders, indicating when payment is expected, which can be especially useful for B2B transactions.
Utilizing draft orders effectively maximizes sales potential and streamlines ordering processes beyond the conventional online shopping cart experience. As with all tools, understanding their application and potential is key to reaping maximum benefits within your sales ecosystem.
