What is Draft Orders?
Draft Orders in Shopify are manually created by merchants for special cases like custom or bulk purchases, allowing sales orders without immediate payment.
Explanation
Draft Orders in Shopify are incomplete orders created by store owners or staff. These orders are not yet paid for or processed. Draft Orders can be used to collect and save customer order details before proceeding with payment. Once a Draft Order is confirmed, it can be finalized by applying payment, shipping, and taxes, then converting into a regular order for fulfillment.
Importance
- Flexibility: Draft Orders give merchants the ability to manually create orders for customers who may not be purchasing through the online store.
- Custom Orders: Useful for customers who need special instructions or customizations that can’t be completed directly through the storefront.
- Invoice Generation: Merchants can use Draft Orders to generate invoices for customers before finalizing payment.
- Customer Support: Enables merchants to process orders over the phone or via email when online checkout is not an option.
- Easy Adjustments: Allows merchants to modify product details, discounts, and shipping before the order is finalized.
How It Works
- Creating a Draft Order: Merchants create a Draft Order in Shopify by manually adding products, setting quantities, applying discounts, and selecting a customer.
- Customer Contact: The merchant can then email the draft order to the customer for review, apply payment methods, and address any modifications.
- Payment Processing: The merchant can choose to send a payment link for the customer to pay, or apply a manual payment method like cash or check.
- Converting to a Final Order: Once payment is received, the Draft Order is finalized, and the order is converted into a regular order that can be fulfilled.
- Editing and Updating: Merchants can update Draft Orders before finalization, making changes like modifying products, adjusting quantities, or offering additional discounts.
Benefits
- Ease of Use: Draft Orders simplify the process for merchants who need to manually input orders, such as for phone or in-person sales.
- Flexibility in Payment Methods: Merchants can offer alternative payment methods, like invoicing, checks, or payment plans.
- Personalized Orders: Ideal for custom orders or large quantities, providing a tailored shopping experience.
- Order Tracking: Even though Draft Orders aren’t immediately finalized, they can be tracked within the Shopify system.
- Increased Conversion: Merchants can facilitate sales in scenarios where customers may have difficulty completing the purchase online, ensuring no sale is lost.