Efficiently managing your production workflow is crucial to running a successful print-on-demand business. In DecoNetwork’s Business Hub, the Processing section brings together the tools you need to handle every stage of order fulfillment—from purchasing blanks and approving artwork to tracking production status and shipping.
This article outlines the full workflow covered in the video, with annotations, best practices, and key tips to help you get the most out of DecoNetwork.
In this article
- Prerequisites
- Overview of the Processing section
- Order status vs production status
- Workflow steps
- Tips for managing roles
- Additional tools
- Additional resources
Prerequisites
- Access to Processing in Business Hub (and relevant staff roles).
- Configured production statuses matched to your decoration processes.
- (For purchasing) Supplier accounts set up; Smart PO enabled if available.
- (For shipping) Optional ShipStation integration connected and carrier accounts set.
- Defined artwork approval workflow and production-ready files.
- (Recommended) Inventory visibility and rules for handling short/over deliveries.
Overview of the Processing Section
The Processing tab in Business Hub provides a comprehensive overview of all active orders and their progress through the fulfillment pipeline.
Production Order Status – View orders grouped by On Hold, Pending, Awaiting PO, Awaiting Stock, Awaiting Artwork, Awaiting Processing, Awaiting Shipping, Shipped or Canceled.
Order Status vs Production Status
| Order Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Payment Terms Met | Payment is required before production starts. |
| Blanks Ordered | Blanks are either ordered or pulled from stock. |
| Blanks Received | The arrival of blank goods is recorded. |
| Artwork Approved | Artwork has been prepared and approved. |
| Production Complete | Production has been finalized. |
| Shipped / Pickup Ready | The order is ready to be delivered or collected. |
Workflow Steps
1. Raise a Purchase by Supplier
To start production, blanks must be either ordered or pulled from inventory.
Method 1: Bulk PO by Supplier
- Navigate to Processing > Purchase Orders
- Click Create Purchase Order
- Choose a supplier (e.g., SanMar, S&S Activewear)
- Select all required blanks for open orders
- Click Save
New Purchase Order – Start a new PO by selecting your supplier.
Auto-Populated Line Items – Shows all items needed from this supplier.
Method 2: PO from Individual Order
Open a specific order and click Raise Purchase Order to create a PO just for that order’s blanks.
Smart Purchase Ordering Integration
For supported suppliers, enable Smart PO to:
- View live inventory
- Order directly from within DecoNetwork
- Reduce entry errors (size, color, quantity)
Purchase Order from Order – Raise an automatic PO from an order.
2. Receive Stock
Once blanks arrive:
- Go to Processing > Purchase Orders
- Click Receive Stock
- Enter received quantities
- Click Save
This moves orders to the Awaiting Production queue if artwork is approved.
1 Quantity Received – Enter how many units arrived.
2 Short Items – Track items still in transit or missing.
3 Save – Finalize receipt and update stock.
3. Approve Artwork
Go to Processing > Artwork Approvals to:
- Download and check uploaded artwork
- Replace or modify files (vectorize, digitize, recolor)
- Upload final artwork file
- Mark as Approved
1 Original Artwork – Review what the customer submitted.
2 Final Version – Replace with production-ready version.
3 Approve or Send to Customer – Get customer sign-off or approve internally.
4. Manage Production
There are two main views under Production:
List View
Orders are sorted into:
- Not Ready for Production: Waiting for artwork or blanks.
- Awaiting Production: All items and artwork are ready.
- Completed Orders
1 Production Status – See where each order is in the workflow.
2 Assigned Staff – Check who’s working on each order.
3 Bulk Actions – Update statuses or assign in bulk.
Calendar View
Visualize production across days or weeks. Filter by:
- Status
- Decoration Process
- Assigned Staff
Calendar View – Manage production schedule for orders
5. Print Production Worksheets
Keep production organized by downloading worksheets grouped by purchase order.
- Filter orders by supplier PO number
- Select all orders in that PO
- Click Download Selected Worksheets
Production Worksheets include product info, colors, sizes, and decoration details.
1 PO Number – Filter orders by supplier purchase order.
2 Select Orders – Choose all relevant orders.
3 Download – Print one PDF for the whole PO.
6. Update Production Status
Inside an order or from the Production list, you can:
- Update the production status
- Assign staff
- Record waste (automatically triggers reorder for lost items)
- Set production date
- Mark as Production Complete
Production Bulk Actions.
7. Shipping the Order
After marking production as complete:
- Order moves to the Shipping queue
- If integrated with ShipStation:
- Print shipping labels
- Automatically notify customers
- Mark order as complete
- Store tracking in the order history
Tips for Managing Roles
Assign appropriate access levels using staff roles. For example:
- Purchasing role: Only sees Purchase Orders
- Art department: Access to Artwork Approvals
- Production staff: Access to Production tab
Additional Tools
From within any order, you can also:
- View and apply payments
- Issue refunds
- View full history notes
- Communicate with customers (email, notes, attachments)
Additional Resources
- Raising Purchase Orders in DecoNetwork
- Understanding Production Statuses
- Using the Production Calendar
- How to Enable Supplier Purchase Order Integration
Still have questions? Use the Search Tool at the top of the page to find more related guides. Need help? Click the icon to submit a support ticket—our Client Services team is ready to assist!
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