What Are Draft Orders In Shopify?

Draft orders in Shopify are incomplete orders that allow merchants to create orders on behalf of their customers, such as phone or email orders or in-person orders.

Draft orders can be made from the Shopify admin or POS, including custom line items, shipping and tax rates, and discounts. Once a draft order is complete, it is converted into a regular order for processing and fulfilment.

This blog will discuss the difference between official and draft orders in shopify, how they can use and create, and their role in Shopify Store building. So let’s Start.

Key Difference Between Draft Order And Official Order

Draft orders in Shopify are different from official orders in that they are unfinished and have yet to process for payment and fulfilment. Merchants typically use draft orders to create orders for customers needing access to the online store, such as phone or email orders or in-person orders.

Official orders are usually created by customers who have purchased through the online store and completed the checkout process. Official charges typically reflect in the store’s inventory, and the payment for the order has been processed.

How Can Draft Orders Be Used?

Draft orders can play a significant role in the sales of Shopify stores. Draft orders are usable in the following ways;

Creating orders for customers who prefer to order over the phone, by email, or in person.
It makes custom orders that may not be available through the online store, such as custom bundles or personalised products.
I am testing the checkout process or experimenting with pricing and discount strategies without affecting inventory or customer records.
It reserves products or inventory for customers who have expressed interest in purchasing but still need to complete the order. It creates invoices for products or services that will pay for later, such as pre-orders or backorders.
We are adjusting the price or shipping rates for a specific customer or order, such as applying a discount or waiving shipping fees.
Create draft orders with custom line items to reference when creating future orders.

Types of Draft Orders

Regular draft orders:

These are designed for individual customers and can include one or more products. You can apply discounts, taxes, and shipping rates to these orders, and once they have been completed, you can send an invoice to the customer for payment. In Shopify, two main draft orders are regular and draft orders created with the Wholesale channel.

Wholesale draft orders:

These are created using the Wholesale channel, which is available on the Shopify Plus plan. Wholesale draft orders are specifically for wholesale customers, and you can set up pricing tiers and minimum order quantities for these orders. You can also create custom pricing for individual wholesale customers.

Both regular and wholesale draft orders can be created and managed using various Shopify apps and integrations.

How You Create a Draft Order

You can create a Draft order in the following ways;

From the Shopify Admin
By POS(Point Of Sale) System
Using Draft Order API

These are the methods through which you can create draft Orders in your Shopify store. In this blog, we will discuss these methods one by one. Let’s start with the First one.

From the Shopify admin panel

Marchants can create Draft Orders from the Shopify Admin by using the steps below;

Log in to your Shopify admin and go to the Orders page.
Click the Create order button in the top right corner of the page.
In the Order details section, enter the customer’s email address or create a new customer record.
In the Products section, please search for the products you want to add to the order. Then Click on Add next to each product to add it to the order.
If you need to add a custom line item to the order, click Add custom item and enter the details for the item, including the name, price, and quantity.
In the Order summary section, you can review the order total and apply any discounts or shipping rates.
If you need to add shipping or tax rates, click Add shipping or Add tax, and enter the relevant details.
Once you have added all the necessary details to the draft order, click Save as draft.

That’s it! It is a basic overview of creating a draft order using the Shopify admin. The process may vary slightly depending on your specific store settings and preferences.

2. Method Of POS

You can also create a draft order through the Point of Sales system. Let’s discuss how it works for your Shopify store.

Open the Shopify POS app on your device and log in to your Shopify account.
In the POS dashboard, tap the Orders button at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Create order button at the top of the screen.
In the Order details section, enter the customer’s name, email address, or phone number.
Products section, search for the products you want to add. And tap Add next to each product.
If you need to add a custom line item to the order, tap the Custom item button and enter the details for the item, including the name, price, and quantity.
In the Order summary section, you can review the order total and apply any discounts or shipping rates.
If you need to add shipping or tax rates, tap the Add shipping or Add tax button and enter the appropriate details.
Once you have added all the necessary details to the draft order, tap Save as draft.

That’s it! It is a basic overview of creating a draft order using the Shopify POS system. The process may vary slightly depending on your specific POS settings and preferences.

3. Using Draft Order API

Another interesting method for Draft Orders is the use of Application programming software. There are multiple apps from which you can choose according to your Shopify store requirements. After the application of your choice, you can apply the following procedure on it.

Create a private app in your Shopify store. It will generate an API key and password that you will need to authenticate your requests.
Use your preferred programming language or tool to make an HTTP POST request to the Draft Order API endpoint.
Include the API key and password in the request headers for authentication.
In the request body, include the details for the draft order, such as the customer’s information, product line items, shipping and tax rates, and any discounts or adjustments.
Send the request to the API endpoint, and wait for a response. The response will contain the ID and status of the draft order and any errors or warnings that may have occurred.
Once you have created the draft order using the API, you can manage it like any other in your Shopify store. You can edit or complete the order later or convert it to a regular order for processing and fulfillment.

That’s it! It is a basic overview of creating a draft order using the Draft Order API in Shopify. The exact steps may vary depending on the programming language or tool you are using and the specific details of the draft order you want to create.

Apps For Draft Orders

Shopify provides a few applications for creating draft orders, which provide different features based on their functionality.

Draft Orders app;

You can create and manage draft orders, apply discounts, and send customer invoices.

Order Manager app;

It offers a dashboard view of your orders and allows you to create and edit draft orders.

The wholesale app;

enables you to develop wholesale-specific draft orders, set up pricing tiers, and manage customer accounts.

In addition to these Shopify-built apps, third-party apps are available for creating and managing draft orders, such as

Order Desk;

You can create and manage draft orders, import orders from multiple sources, and automate order processing with rules and integrations.

Bold Subscriptions;

enable you to create subscription-based draft orders, set up automatic recurring payments, and manage subscriber accounts.

Jetti;

Offers inventory management, order routing, and dropshipping features for creating and managing draft orders.

Advanced Product Options;

Offers advanced product customization features for creating complex draft orders with customizable products and options.

These are just a few examples, and many other third-party apps on the Shopify App Store can assist with creating and managing draft orders

Benefits And Role Of Draft Orders

Draft orders play an essential role in Shopify stores by providing merchants with a flexible way to manage orders and sales. Here are some of the functions that draft orders play in a Shopify store:

Streamlining order management;

Draft orders allow merchants to create and manage orders in one place, including by phone, email, or person. Draft orders make it easier for merchants to track all their sales and manage their inventory.

Offering custom pricing and discounts;

Merchants can use draft orders to create custom pricing and discounts for specific customers or orders. Draft orders can help to increase sales and build customer loyalty.

Testing new products and pricing;

Merchants can use draft orders to test new products and pricing strategies without affecting their live inventory or customer records. Draft orders allow them to experiment with pricing and discount strategies to see what works best for their business.

Creating pre-orders and backorders;

Draft orders can be utilized to develop pre-orders or backorders, allowing merchants to accept payment for unavailable products or services. Draft orders help build buzz and anticipation for new products while generating revenue in advance.

Enhancing the customer experience;

Draft orders allow merchants to offer a more personalized experience to their customers by creating custom orders, applying discounts, or waiving shipping fees. Draft orders can help to build customer loyalty and drive repeat business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Shopify Automatically Process Orders?

Yes, Shopify has an automated order processing feature that allows orders to be processed once customers place them. It means that as soon as a customer completes their purchase, Shopify’s system automatically processes the order and sends out any necessary notifications to the customer, such as order confirmation and shipping updates.

The automated order processing feature helps to streamline the order fulfillment process, which saves time and reduces errors. However, merchants need to configure the automatic order processing settings in their Shopify store to ensure that orders are in process.

Can You Reserve Items on Shopify?

Shopify allows merchants to reserve items on a draft order using the Reserve items feature. This feature helps hold items for customers without creating a finalized order or securing specific inventory for certain customers or orders.

What Is The Point Of Reserve Items On A Draft Order?

The Reserve items feature on a draft order in Shopify allows merchants to reserve certain products for a customer without creating a finalized order. It helps hold items for a customer while making a final decision or ensuring that inventory is set aside for specific customers or orders.

Ending Words

In conclusion, draft orders are a powerful tool in Shopify that can help streamline your sales process and provide more flexibility when managing your orders.

In addition to the built-in draft orders feature in Shopify, several third-party apps can help you create, manage, and automate your draft orders. By leveraging the power of these apps and tools, you can save time, reduce errors, and increase efficiency in your business.

Draft orders can be a valuable addition to your Shopify store and help you offer a better customer experience, increase sales, and grow your business.

What Are Draft Orders In Shopify?