Workflow by Shopify Operator: Managing Orders for DecoNetwork Fulfillment in Shopify

As a Shopify store operator integrated with DecoNetwork (DN), understanding the daily workflow is essential to maintain smooth operations. This help article outlines the key aspects of managing your DN order workflow in your Shopify store on a day-to-day basis, including submitting orders for fulfillment, handling order statuses, and processing rejections.

In this article

• 1. Order Management Workflow
• 2. Order Status Changes
• 3. Handling Rejections

1. Order Management Workflow

Once your Shopify store is integrated with DN, the order fulfillment process will follow a well-defined workflow to ensure that each order is processed, fulfilled, and delivered accurately and efficiently. Shopify offers flexibility in managing how orders are fulfilled, allowing you to choose between automatic and manual submission methods. By default, Shopify is set up to handle order fulfillment automatically.

a. Order Fulfillment Request in Shopify

Order Submission: When a customer completes a purchase on your Shopify store and the products are set to be fulfilled by DN, the order will be submitted for fulfillment based on your chosen configuration:

• Automatic Submission: If you have configured Shopify for automatic fulfillment, the order details will be automatically transmitted to DN without requiring any further action from you. This seamless integration ensures that orders are promptly processed and sent to DN for fulfillment as soon as they are placed.
• Manual Submission: If you have opted for manual fulfillment, you will need to manually submit a fulfillment request to DN. This involves initiating a request within Shopify to notify DN that the order needs to be processed. This step provides you with an opportunity to review and make any necessary adjustments before the order is sent to DN.

  To ensure you follow the correct procedure for manually submitting an order, refer to the article titled "Request Order Fulfillment by a DN Store in Shopify".

b. Order Processing in DN

• Order Sync: After the order is submitted, whether automatically or manually, it is transmitted to DN through an API connection. This automated synchronization ensures that all pertinent details, including product specifications, quantities, and design files, if specified, are accurately transferred from Shopify to DN.
• Order Review: Once the order details are received in the DN store it needs to be reviewed to confirm production readiness. This review process involves verifying that the correct product has been mapped to the corresponding item in DN and that all associated design files are correctly linked to the ordered products. This step ensures that the order meets all necessary requirements before proceeding to production and fulfillment.

2. Order Status Changes

Throughout the order fulfillment process, the order status in your Shopify store will change to reflect its current stage. Understanding these status changes helps you keep track of orders and communicate with customers effectively.

a. Order Processing

• Unfulfilled: Orders that have not been submitted for fulfillment will have the status "Unfulfilled".
• In progress: Once the order is accepted by DN, the fulfillment status will be updated to "In Progress" in Shopify. This indicates that the order has been sent to the connected DN store for fulfillment.
• Request declined: If the order has been canceled by DN, the fulfillment status of the order will be updated to "Request declined ". This status indicates that the order will not be fulfilled by the connected fulfillment center, as it has been canceled on the DN side. If provided, the reason for the order cancellation will be logged in the order timeline, providing clarity on why the order was declined. This could be due to various reasons such as inventory issues, payment problems, or a manual decision made by the DN operator.

  To review the specific reason and any additional details about the cancellation, navigate to the Order Details page in Shopify. Scroll down to the Order Timeline section, where you'll find a chronological log of all the actions and updates related to the order, including the cancellation. The entry will include a brief explanation for the decline, which helps in understanding the context of the cancellation.

  

b. Order Fulfillment

• Fulfilled: Once DN completes production and ships the order, the status in Shopify is updated to "Fulfilled." This triggers a notification to the customer that their order is on the way.
• Partially Fulfilled: If an order contains multiple items and only some have been shipped, the status will update to "Partially Fulfilled."

3. Handling Order Rejections

Occasionally, an order may be rejected during the fulfillment process. This could happen due to various reasons, such as design file errors, product availability issues, or customer cancellation requests.

a. Rejection Scenarios

• Design File Errors: If the design files associated with a product are corrupted or incompatible, the order may be rejected. You'll need to correct the files and resubmit the order.
• Product Availability: If a product is out of stock or discontinued, the order may be rejected. You'll need to communicate with the customer to offer alternatives or a refund.

b. Managing Rejections

• Notification: When an order is rejected, the order status will update to "Request declined" in Shopify.
• Resolution: Review the rejection reason, make any necessary adjustments, and communicate with the customer to resolve the issue. Once resolved, you may resubmit the order for fulfillment.