Table of Contents
- Introduction
- A Closer Look at Shopify Draft Orders
- Sending and Managing Draft Order Invoices
- Shopify Draft Orders: Not Just for the Intermediate Stage
- FAQs on Shopify Draft Orders
- Conclusion
Introduction
Have you ever needed a more flexible way to manage orders in your online store? Something beyond the traditional click-and-buy approach that accommodates special cases such as pre-orders, wholesale transactions, or personalized invoicing? Enter Shopify draft orders - a powerful yet underutilized feature that can vastly improve your customer interactions and operational efficiency. In this post, you'll discover everything you need to know about Shopify draft orders: what they are, how they can benefit your business, and step-by-step instructions on creating and utilizing them efficiently.
A Closer Look at Shopify Draft Orders
At its core, a draft order is essentially an order initiated by a Shopify merchant and not (yet) by a customer. It’s a powerful tool that serves purposes beyond what a straightforward e-commerce transaction can cover. The versatility of draft orders lies in their multiple practical use cases:
- Sending detailed invoices with a secure checkout link.
- Processing payments for telephone, in-person, or pre-orders.
- Accommodating unique customer requests such as bulk orders or discounts.
- Selling merchandise not listed in your standard inventory.
Draft orders are not just mere placeholders. They're proactive, strategic instruments that can convert inquiries into sales, capture undecided customers, and offer tailored customer service that builds loyalty and repeat business.
How to Create Shopify Draft Orders
To set up a draft order in Shopify, navigate to 'Orders' and select 'Create Order', or go directly to 'Drafts' under the same tab. You'll be offered a range of options, such as adding products, customizing discounts, and handling taxes and shipping. At this stage, your draft order can be finely tuned to address the specific needs of your transaction or customer requirement.
Shopify's admin area ultimately operates as a command center for these draft orders, showcasing how to add critical elements like customer details, customized pricing, notes, and payment status.
Utilizing Apps for Enhanced Draft Order Management
Apps like Cleverific Order Editor further extend the flexibility and capability of Shopify draft orders. They enable modifications like bulk product addition, custom fields, and product weight adjustments right within the draft order itself, thereby offering a suite of features for comprehensive order alteration.
Furthermore, the conversion of abandoned checkouts into draft orders is a tactful recovery tool. By sending an invoice with an appealing checkout link, you are providing the customer with an easy gateway back to completing their purchase - a smart twist towards cart recovery.
Sending and Managing Draft Order Invoices
Sending an invoice through a draft order is a game-changer, especially when converted from an abandoned checkout. It has the potential to finalize undecided sales by showing customers their chosen items alongside enticing incentives, such as special rates or discounts. This method demonstrates understanding and accommodation of customer preferences.
When dealing with international customers, Shopify's flexibility shines, allowing you to bill customers in their local currency, thereby offering a personalized shopping experience. Invoking such custom billing options can significantly impact the completion rate of international transactions.
Shopify Payments users should note that invoices adjust automatically to use the customer's local currency, which circumvents the common barriers in global e-commerce scenarios, providing an almost native shopping experience for your global audience.
Shopify Draft Orders: Not Just for the Intermediate Stage
Despite their name, draft orders aren't confined to a limbo of incompletion. They are quite the contrary - proactive elements in your sales toolkit that can transform routine and complex transactions more efficiently.
Consider wholesale orders; using draft orders for wholesale accounts can circumvent typical inventory challenges while streamlining your processes to proffer a more gratifying customer experience.
By wielding draft orders wisely, you sidestep the rudimentary constraints of traditional e-commerce behaviors and venture into a realm of bespoke transactions well-suited for varied business models and customer demands.
FAQs on Shopify Draft Orders
Q: Can draft orders be edited after being created? A: Yes, draft orders can be revised at any stage prior to invoice payment. This makes it simple to adapt to changes in customer preferences or order details.
Q: How do shipping rates and taxes apply to draft orders? A: Just like regular orders, draft orders allow you to set shipping rates and taxes. You have control over these elements before finalizing the transaction.
Q: Are draft orders visible to customers? A: Draft orders are internal until you send an invoice to the customer, thereafter becoming visible in the form of the invoice.
Q: Can discounts be applied to draft orders? A: Absolutely. You can apply discounts either to specific line items or to the entire order, tailoring incentives for purchasers as needed.
Q: Will creating a draft order affect my inventory? A: Draft orders do not initially affect inventory levels. It's only when the draft order progresses to a confirmed purchase that inventory levels are modified, ensuring accurate stock management.
Conclusion
Shopify draft orders are a valuable mechanism for merchants looking to enhance customer service and diversify sales strategies. Whether it's processing pre-orders, managing wholesale transactions, or saving abandoned carts, the draft order functionality elevates Shopify from a mere transactional platform to an adaptable e-commerce solution. By implementing the insights and instructions provided in this guide, you'll be positioned to harness the full potential of Shopify draft orders, customizing your service to the varying needs of your business and customers alike.
