How to Create Draft Orders in Shopify.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Draft Orders
3. Creating Draft Orders in Shopify
4. Getting Paid for Draft Orders
5. Best Practices for Using Draft Orders
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine a scenario where a customer calls you to place an order over the phone. They want to ensure that everything is set correctly before finalizing their purchase. How do you handle such situations in a seamless manner? This is where Shopify's draft orders come into play. Draft orders are a valuable feature that allows merchants to create orders on behalf of customers, making it easier to manage sales that occur outside of the online store.

In today's competitive e-commerce landscape, providing exceptional customer service can differentiate your business from others. With draft orders, you can cater to customers who prefer to place orders through personal interaction, whether over the phone, via email, or in person. This blog post will guide you through the process of creating draft orders in Shopify, illustrating its significance and the various functionalities it offers.

As we navigate through this topic, you'll learn how to create a draft order, add products, apply discounts, set payment terms, and manage customer details. Additionally, we will explore how Praella's services can help you enhance your Shopify experience, ensuring that you provide a top-notch user experience for your customers.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to create draft orders in Shopify and the full range of features available at your disposal, including:

• The importance of draft orders for your business.
• Step-by-step instructions on creating draft orders across different platforms (desktop and mobile).
• How to manage discounts, shipping, and payment options for draft orders.
• Best practices for using draft orders in a B2B context.
• How Praella can support your Shopify journey with tailored solutions.

Understanding Draft Orders

Before diving into the specifics of creating draft orders, it’s essential to understand what they are and their potential impact on your business.

What are Draft Orders?

Draft orders in Shopify allow you to create orders on behalf of your customers. This is particularly useful for transactions that occur outside your online store, such as those made via phone, chat, or email. Draft orders enable you to:

• Send Invoices: You can send invoices to customers which include secure checkout links for easy payment.
• Customize Orders: Draft orders can include custom items, discounts, and specific shipping rates.
• Manage Payments: You can set payment terms, collect payments immediately, or allow customers to pay later.

Why Use Draft Orders?

Draft orders serve multiple purposes:

1. Enhanced Customer Experience: They allow you to provide personalized service to customers who prefer to place orders directly with you.
2. Flexibility: You can create orders with various configurations, such as different shipping methods, discounts, and payment options.
3. Efficient Order Management: You can keep track of pending orders that need confirmation or payment, ensuring no opportunity is missed.

Now that we’ve established the importance of draft orders, let’s walk through the process of creating them.

Creating Draft Orders in Shopify

Creating a draft order in Shopify is a straightforward process that you can accomplish through the Shopify admin panel or mobile app. Below are detailed instructions for both desktop and mobile platforms.

Step-by-Step Guide for Desktop

1. Access Your Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel.

2. Navigate to Orders: Click on "Orders" from the left-hand menu.

3. Select Drafts: Click on "Drafts" to access the draft orders page.

4. Create a New Draft Order: Click on the "Create Order" button.

5. Add Products: In the products section, you can:

   • Search for products in your store.
   • Add custom items by clicking "Add custom item".
   • Specify quantities for each product.

6. Customize the Order:

   • Add a Customer: Select an existing customer or create a new one.
   • Apply Discounts: If applicable, add discount codes or set a custom discount amount.
   • Shipping Rates: Choose a shipping method or create a custom rate.
   • Set Taxes: Decide if taxes should be applied based on your store's settings.

7. Save or Send: Once you've entered all necessary information, you can either:

   • Send an invoice directly to the customer.
   • Save the order as a draft for later updates.

8. Finalize the Order: Once payment is received or the customer confirms the order, you can create a finalized order from the draft.

Step-by-Step Guide for Mobile

Creating a draft order on the Shopify mobile app is equally simple:

1. Open the Shopify App: Log into your account on the app.
2. Go to Orders: Tap on "Orders" at the bottom of the screen.
3. Drafts Section: Tap on "Drafts" to view existing draft orders.
4. Add New Draft Order: Tap the "+" button to create a new order.
5. Input Products and Details: Similar to the desktop process, add products, customer details, discounts, and shipping options.
6. Finalize or Save: Choose whether to send the invoice immediately or save it as a draft for later.

Adding Discounts to Draft Orders

Applying discounts to draft orders can encourage customer purchases and incentivize larger orders. You can add discounts in several ways:

• Existing Discount Codes: Include any applicable discount codes that customers can apply.
• Custom Discounts: Specify a custom discount amount for either the entire order or individual line items.

Sending Invoices for Draft Orders

Once your draft order is complete, you can send an invoice to your customer. The invoice will include a secure checkout link enabling them to complete their purchase effortlessly. This feature is vital for maintaining a smooth transaction process, especially for B2B sales.

Getting Paid for Draft Orders

Managing payments for draft orders can be done in several ways:

1. Immediate Payment: You can directly collect payment from the customer when creating the draft order.
2. Payment Terms: Set specific payment terms, such as “due on receipt” or “net terms” for later payments.
3. Accepting Deposits: If you require a deposit, you can specify a percentage that needs to be paid upfront.

By using these methods, you can tailor the payment process to suit your customer's needs while ensuring efficient cash flow for your business.

Best Practices for Using Draft Orders

To maximize the benefits of draft orders, consider the following best practices:

Customize Your Workflow

• Use Tags: Implement tags in your draft orders for better organization, making it easier to filter and locate orders later.
• Standardize Payment Terms: If you frequently deal with B2B customers, develop standard payment terms to streamline transactions.

Monitor Draft Orders

Keep an eye on your draft orders to ensure that no payment opportunities slip through the cracks. Regularly check for pending orders that require follow-up or confirmation.

Leverage Praella’s Services

At this point, you might be wondering how to elevate your Shopify store's capabilities. Praella offers a variety of services that can enhance your e-commerce experience:

• User Experience & Design: Praella provides design and data-driven user experience solutions that prioritize customers, delivering unforgettable, branded experiences. Learn more about these services at Praella Solutions.

• Web & App Development: With Praella's scalable and innovative web and mobile app development solutions, you can elevate your brand and realize your vision. Explore the details at Praella Solutions.

• Strategy, Continuity, and Growth: Collaborate with Praella to develop data-driven strategies focused on enhancing page speed, data harvesting, technical SEO, and accessibility. Find out more about this service at Praella Solutions.

• Consultation: Let Praella guide your brand on an exponential growth journey, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make transformative choices. Discover more at Praella Solutions.

Conclusion

Creating draft orders in Shopify is an invaluable tool for enhancing customer service and managing sales effectively. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can streamline your order management process, offer personalized service, and ensure that your customers feel valued.

Remember, the ability to create draft orders not only improves your operational efficiency but also builds stronger relationships with your customers. As you continue to explore the features of Shopify, consider integrating Praella’s services into your strategy for an even more robust e-commerce experience.

By leveraging draft orders and the right strategic partnerships, you can navigate the complexities of e-commerce with confidence and ease.

FAQ

1. What types of payments can I accept for draft orders?

You can accept various payment methods, including credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders. Additionally, you can set specific payment terms for later payments.

2. Can I apply discounts to draft orders?

Yes, you can apply existing discount codes, custom discounts, and other promotional offers to draft orders, making it easy to incentivize your customers.

3. How do I manage multiple draft orders?

You can use tags to categorize and filter draft orders, making it easier to track and manage them in the Shopify admin.

4. Can draft orders be used for B2B transactions?

Absolutely! Draft orders are particularly useful for B2B transactions where customers may prefer to place orders directly through personal communication.

5. How can Praella assist me in optimizing my Shopify store?

Praella offers tailored solutions for user experience design, web development, growth strategies, and consultations that can help you enhance your Shopify store's capabilities and performance.