Understanding Draft Orders in Shopify: Unlocking New Sales Opportunities

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What Are Draft Orders in Shopify?
3. Creating Draft Orders in Shopify
4. Adding Discounts and Custom Rates
5. Sending Invoices for Draft Orders
6. Converting Abandoned Checkouts into Draft Orders
7. Draft Orders for B2B Sales
8. Practical Examples of Using Draft Orders
9. Conclusion

Introduction

Imagine a scenario where a valuable sale slips through your fingers simply because a customer preferred a more personalized purchasing experience than what typical checkout processes provide. As e-commerce merchants, we often face situations where our customers want to buy products but require flexibility—whether they’re looking for customized quotes, bulk purchases, or even assistance completing their orders over the phone.

This flexibility is particularly crucial in today's digital-first landscape where online shopping increasingly includes a mix of personalized service and unique customer engagements. We need to adapt and innovate, and that’s where draft orders come into play.

Draft orders enable us to create and manage orders in ways that deviate from standard e-commerce practices. They empower us to finalize transactions manually, send tailored invoices, offer discounts, and even connect with customers through multiple channels. As we navigate this blog post, we'll comprehensively explore what draft orders in Shopify are, their significance, and how to leverage them for our merchant ventures. We're especially excited to share how leveraging Tevello with Shopify not only enhances draft orders but opens the door to managing online courses and digital products—helping us diversify our revenue streams and build captivating online communities.

By the end of this post, we’ll have cultivated a deeper understanding of draft orders and how they can streamline our sales process, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive revenue growth. So, are you ready to unlock the potential of draft orders on Shopify? Let's dive in!

What Are Draft Orders in Shopify?

At its core, a draft order is an order created in the Shopify admin on behalf of a customer. It acts as a flexible tool that allows us, the merchants, to configure an order based on customer needs before finalizing the process. This means we can add customer information, products, discount rates, and more, all while bridging the gap between conventional sales methods and e-commerce transactions.

Why Do Draft Orders Matter?

1. Engagement Across Sales Channels: Draft orders enable us to reach out to customers via various touchpoints, including phone calls and in-person interactions. This versatility ensures that we don’t lose potential sales just because a customer prefers to engage outside the confines of a traditional online store.
2. Customization and Control: Draft orders give us extensive control over the sales process. We can apply custom discounts, recreate existing orders, or even include products that aren't currently part of our inventory. They allow us to offer a more personalized experience, strengthening our customer relationships.
3. Facilitating B2B Transactions: If we cater to business clients, draft orders become instrumental in handling more intricate sales transactions. We can manage specific pricing, payment terms, and other business-related nuances in ways that a conventional online transaction may not easily allow.
4. Recovering Abandoned Checkouts: Customers often leave items in their carts without completing their purchase. Draft orders offer a bridge to convert those abandoned checkouts into finalized sales, enhancing our conversion rates.

Creating Draft Orders in Shopify

Creating a draft order within Shopify is straightforward. Let’s walk through the process step by step, ensuring that every merchant can confidently use this feature to their advantage.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Draft Order

1. Navigate to the Orders Section:
   • From your Shopify admin, go to the "Orders" section in the menu.
   • Click on "Create Order".
2. Add Products:
   • Search for inventory items to include in the order.
   • If selling custom items, input the details and pricing directly.
3. Customize the Order:
   • Input customer details, shipping rates, and any relevant tags.
   • Integrate line item discounts or order-wide discounts to incentivize purchases.
4. Save and Manage the Draft Order:
   • Save the draft order for future reference or finalize it based on your customer interaction.

By following these steps, we create an order that's perfectly tailored to the customer’s needs, which can foster stronger engagement and ultimately lead to increased conversions.

Adding Discounts and Custom Rates

Draft orders in Shopify have the added benefit of allowing us to include custom discounts and set specific shipping rates. This flexibility can serve as a significant competitive advantage, especially when dealing with diverse customer needs.

Adding Discounts

When crafting a draft order, we can apply two types of discounts:

• Fixed Amount Discounts: This involves setting a specific dollar amount to be subtracted from the total order price.
• Percentage Discounts: We can offer a percentage off either individual items or the entire order, thus motivating customers to proceed with their purchase.

Adding Custom Shipping Rates

Custom shipping rates can be crucial for certain orders, especially for heavy or fragile items. Here’s how to handle it:

1. Calculate Shipping Costs: Work with your shipping providers to identify accurate shipping rates based on the product characteristics and delivery location.
2. Integrate the Shipping Rate: Ensure this rate reflects in the draft order so customers see the full picture before completing their purchase.

With these added features, we can enhance the overall purchasing experience, making our offers more attractive to customers and, in turn, increasing our sales.

Sending Invoices for Draft Orders

A key function of draft orders is the ability to send invoices directly to customers. Let's explore how to do this effectively.

Steps to Send an Invoice

1. Go to Drafts Section: In your Shopify admin, navigate to the “Drafts” section under Orders.
2. Select the Draft Order: Click on the specific draft order for which you’d like to send an invoice.
3. Send the Invoice:
   • Scroll down and select the "Send invoice" button.
   • Fill out any necessary invoice details, ensuring they are clear and accurate.
   • Send it directly to your customer.

This capability allows for a seamless transaction process, as customers receive a secure checkout link alongside the invoice, making it easier for them to complete their purchase promptly.

Converting Abandoned Checkouts into Draft Orders

Abandoned carts can represent lost sales opportunities. However, with draft orders, we possess the power to turn those missed connections into completed transactions.

Steps to Convert Abandoned Checkouts:

1. Identify Abandoned Checkouts: Use Shopify’s analytics tools to monitor which customers have left their carts without finalizing their purchase.
2. Convert to Draft Order: Access the admin panel and convert the abandoned checkout into a draft order.
3. Send Invoices or Follow-Up: With the draft order in place, we can either send an invoice directly or follow up with the customer personally, perhaps offering incentives such as a limited-time discount to help close the sale.

Converting abandoned checkouts creates a pathway to a second chance at capturing potential revenue, reinforcing our customer-focused approach.

Draft Orders for B2B Sales

Draft orders play an integral role in B2B sales, where customization, personalized pricing, and specific payment terms are crucial.

Tailoring Draft Orders for B2B

1. Create Customized Orders: For B2B transactions, we can construct draft orders that reflect customer-specific pricing and terms.
2. Manage Flexible Payment Terms: Set up payment plans that cater to individual businesses, allowing payments over varying timeframes.
3. Send Customized Invoices: Utilize the draft invoice feature to send tailored invoices that correspond to the agreements made with the client, including options for local currency invoices.

By leveraging these capabilities for business clients, we enhance the overall sales process and strengthen our merchant-customer relationships.

Practical Examples of Using Draft Orders

To better illustrate the versatility of draft orders, let’s consider a couple of practical examples.

Example 1: Custom Art Sales

An artist who sells unique pieces may use draft orders in the following ways:

• Post-Event Communication: After a local art show, the artist follows up with customers to finalize specifics on their orders.
• Custom Quotes for Shipping: When shipping bulky, fragile items, the artist provides tailored quotes based on customer requests.
• Personalized Invoicing: The artist sends invoices that accurately reflect the agreed-upon pricing and shipping costs, reinforcing professionalism.

Example 2: Wholesale B2B Orders

A small business in wholesale may find draft orders instrumental for:

• Setting Up Bulk Orders: The business coordinates with various retailers, using draft orders to manage bulk pricing effectively.
• Sending Tailored Invoices: Transporting invoicing procedures further by customizing them for each retailer’s needs and preferences.

These examples underline how draft orders can be tailored to diverse business needs, showcasing their multifaceted applications.

Conclusion

Draft orders in Shopify serve as a robust tool that empowers us to manage complex sales transactions, engage with customers on a personal level, and ultimately drive our sales growth. By utilizing the flexibility Draft Orders offer—such as customization, invoicing capabilities, and B2B support—we can enhance our overall merchant strategy.

At Tevello, we recognize the potential of not just utilizing draft orders, but also integrating them into a broader e-commerce strategy that encompasses course creation, digital products, and community engagement. Imagine what we can achieve by marrying these functionalities!

Are you ready to capture new revenue flows and build relationships that keep customers engaged? Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today, and discover how we can help you implement draft orders effectively while also growing your online course offerings.

FAQ

Q1: What are the main benefits of using draft orders in Shopify?
Draft orders allow merchants to customize orders, apply discounts, handle B2B transactions better, and recover abandoned checkouts—all while enhancing the customer experience.

Q2: Can I send invoices in multiple currencies using draft orders?
Yes, when using Shopify Payments, you can send invoices in the customer's local currency as long as the market is configured correctly.

Q3: How can draft orders help recover abandoned checkouts?
By converting abandoned checkouts into draft orders, we can directly reach out to customers with tailored invoices, creating a second chance to close the sale.

Q4: Are draft orders beneficial for B2B transactions?
Absolutely! Draft orders allow for personalized pricing, specific payment agreements, and detailed order specifications tailored to business clients.

Q5: Is it complicated to set up a draft order on Shopify?
Not at all! Creating a draft order is straightforward. It involves a few easy steps in your Shopify admin, allowing us to add products and customize details seamlessly.

By understanding and harnessing the power of draft orders, we not only maximize our operational efficiencies but also create a better shopping experience for our customers. Let’s get started by exploring Tevello today, and transform the way we do business!