How to manage products once sold

[Mick25]

Hi, I would like to create a solution whereby a customer buys a bundle made up of 10 services in one go but which he can then use when he prefers, obviously deducting one at a time from the 10 purchased as soon as he uses them. I created the services individually as if they were PRODUCTS then I created a BUNDLE (through the Bundles app) that groups them together but now?
How can I manage the possibility for the customer to use a service when he wants (and consequently have it deducted from the total number of services he has purchased?).

I don't seem to see how to manage the products\services once sold (even via the App), am I wrong?

Thank you very much!

Mick

[DaisyVo]

Hi @Mick25 

I understand you're looking for a way to manage a bundle of services that customers can use one at a time after purchasing. It's a valid concern, and I can see how the current setup with individual products and a bundle might not cover this specific use case. Let's explore some potential solutions.

The Challenge: Tracking Service Usage within a Bundle

You've correctly identified the core issue: tracking the consumption of individual services within the purchased bundle. The standard Shopify product and even the Bundles app primarily focus on the initial sale, not the subsequent usage of individual components within that bundle. This requires a system to link the purchased bundle to the customer and then deduct services as they're used.

Possible Solutions: Workarounds and Apps

Here are a few approaches I'd consider:

• Manual Tracking (Simplest, but Least Scalable): For a small number of customers, you could manually track service usage. After a bundle purchase, create a customer tag or note indicating the 10 services. When a customer uses a service, update the tag/note. I've seen this work for very small businesses, but it quickly becomes cumbersome as you grow.
  
  
• Spreadsheet/CRM Integration: A slightly more organized version of manual tracking involves using a spreadsheet or CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. You could export customer data after a bundle purchase and track service usage there. This is a step up from pure manual tracking, but still requires manual input.
  
  
• Membership/Subscription Apps (Potentially Adaptable): Some membership or subscription apps might offer a way to track usage. While not designed specifically for bundles, they might have features you can adapt. For example, you could create a "membership" for the bundle and then use the app's features to track "credits" or "uses." I’d recommend exploring apps like "Bold Memberships" or similar tools.
  
  
• Custom App Development (Most Robust, but Higher Investment): The most robust solution would be to develop a custom app that integrates with Shopify. This app would be able to link a bundle purchase to a customer account and then provide a way for the customer (or you) to mark services as used. This is the most complex and expensive option but offers the most flexibility. I would only suggest this if your business has a high volume of these bundle sales.
  
  
• "Order Tags" and Automation (A Workaround): You could use order tags to track the remaining services. After a purchase, tag the order with something like "Service Bundle - 10 uses." Then, when a service is used, manually edit the order and update the tag (e.g., "Service Bundle - 9 uses"). You could even explore using Shopify Flow to automate some of this based on certain triggers (like a staff member marking an order as "fulfilled" for a specific service). This is a more scalable manual system.

My Recommendation:

I would start by exploring membership/subscription apps. They might offer a quicker and less expensive solution than custom development. If manual tracking is feasible for your current volume, use that while you investigate app options. I’d advise against jumping straight into custom app development unless you've exhausted other possibilities.

If you need any other assistance, I am willing to help.

Best regards,

Daisy.