Configuring Automatic or Manual Fulfillment in Shopify

When using DecoNetwork (DN) for order fulfillment, the process begins in Shopify, where orders are paid, then transferred to DN for production and shipping.

This article explains how to configure Shopify’s fulfillment setting—whether Shopify automatically marks orders for fulfillment after payment (creates a fulfillment request / sets status to In progress), or leaves them unfulfilled until manually processed by a staff member.

This setting affects:

• Shopify’s fulfillment status
• Customer notifications

It does not control when orders are submitted to production in DN.

Important: Submitting orders to production in DN is managed separately through DN’s workflow settings (e.g., Automatically submit new orders that are ready vs Manual submission).
Configure Shopify here first, then align your DN workflow using the guide in Additional Resources.

In this article

• Prerequisites
• Why choose Automatic vs Manual Fulfillment?
• Configure Fulfillment Settings in Shopify
• Best‑Practice Tips
• Troubleshooting
• FAQs
• Additional Resources

Why choose Automatic vs Manual Fulfillment?

Pick the mode that matches how much control you want before DN sees the order.

• Automatic — Fastest hand‑off from Shopify once payment clears. Best when product mappings are stable and orders are routine. Minimizes staff touches; pair with DN’s Automatically submit new orders that are ready for an end‑to‑end automated flow.
• Manual — Adds a review step in Shopify. Use when you need to check details (e.g., unmapped items, artwork, addresses, tax or payment anomalies) or when operating with edge‑case jobs. Pair with DN’s manual submission for deliberate control.

Configure Fulfillment Settings in Shopify:

1. Log in to your Shopify Admin.
2. Click on Settings in the bottom-left corner of the admin dashboard.
   
3. Select General.
   

   The General settings for your Shopify store will be displayed.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Scroll down the Order Processing section.
   
5. Under the After an order has been paid setting, choose the fulfillment method:

   • Automatic Fulfillment:

     • Select Automatically fulfill the order's line items.
     • Shopify will automatically mark the order fulfillment status as "In progress" and (when integrated) send it to DN for processing as soon as the payment is received.
     • If you want customers to receive a notification when their order is fulfilled, check Notify customers of their shipment via email.

   • Manual Fulfillment:

     • Select Do not automatically fulfill any of the order's line items.
     • This option allows you to manually review the order in Shopify and then push it to DN.

       For instructions on how to manually submit an order to DN, refer to the article titled "Request Order Fulfillment by a DecoNetwork Store in Shopify".

6. Click Save to apply your settings.

Best‑Practice Tips

• Start manual, then move to automatic once you’re confident in product mappings and DN routing.
• Document exceptions (e.g., custom or complex jobs) so staff know when to keep manual review.
• Test with low‑risk orders after changing this setting—verify the order reaches DN as expected.
• Coordinate notifications so customers don’t get duplicate or premature emails.

Troubleshooting

• I don’t see General or the Order processing section.
  Shopify changes UI labels from time to time. Use the Settings search in Shopify for “Order processing” or “After an order has been paid”.
• Paid orders aren’t appearing in DN automatically.
  Confirm Shopify is set to Automatically fulfill the order’s line items and your DN workflow allows automatic submission.
• Customers aren’t receiving shipment emails.
  Ensure Notify customers of their shipment via email is checked, and that DN shipping events are syncing back to Shopify.

FAQs

• Can I switch between Automatic and Manual later?
  Yes. You can change the Shopify setting at any time; just communicate the change to staff and test after updating.
• Does this replace the DN workflow setting?
  No. The Shopify setting affects Shopify’s fulfillment status; DN workflow settings determine how orders enter DN production. Use compatible choices for predictable results.
• I’m on Shopify Starter/Basic—anything special to know?
  Shopify restricts some third‑party app access to customer details on these plans. If DN requires details that aren’t provided automatically, you may need to complete them manually before submission to production in DN.

Additional Resources

• Shopify & DecoNetwork Integration Part 1: Shopify Setup Guide
• Configuring Automatic or Manual Order Workflow for Shopify Orders in DecoNetwork
• Request Order Fulfillment by a DecoNetwork Store in Shopify
• Processing Payment for Shopify Orders
• Configuring Automatic or Manual Fulfillment in Shopify (this article)
• DecoNetwork: Fulfill Shopify Orders (section)