We are adding a Shopify shop in addition to our shop on Etsy. We build a lot of custom signs that go through a series of design and manufacturing steps. Etsy has the ability to add custom workflow steps in the order process for us to keep track of where each order is in the build flow. For example, the steps might be “Proof Sent”, “Final Edit”, “Cut/Paint/Cure 1”, “Cure 2”, “ Cure 3”. We then move the order from step to step as it is built. See pictures below.
Shopify has a fulfillment status screen that allow only a few “status” option to select from – basically unfulfilled, fulfilled, on-hold. There is no option to add additional status options to the menu. The additional status steps are internal to the store only – they do not get sent to a customer.
What options are there for adding the additional steps to shopify for us to manage and track our shop production process flow?
Unfortunately we came up against a complete brick wall and it’s something
that Shopify doesn’t currently support. We got around it by adding a tag
on the order with our extra processing step. So far it’s working well
We have yet to find a solution and really could use one. It is a standard feature in Etsy and would be so easy for Shopify to implement a similar function. We’ve tried several add in apps but the end result is that you need to update the status in the separate app (which then is updated into shopify) however you still need to manage the normal functions in Shopify. That means a lot of extra work.
We tried the tag option as a solution early on, however that was not viable for a number of reasons and we had to discard that attempt. Tags have pretty broad applications and cannot be suppressed (hidden is not that the same as suppressed) fully both internally to shopify and there are external reaching issues as well.
Hey I’m the owner of KerfCase.com where we make custom wood iphone cases. Since our products are made to order and we manufacture them all - from scratch- in our own woodshop we needed a solution for this. I used to use a whiteboard and our team would manually write in the order numbers, device types, wood species and other information as we processed orders through production. It was a pain. We made mistakes and either didn’t make the right items sometimes or made too many. Then I found the Order Flow App https://apps.shopify.com/order-flow which essentially solved all our problems with order management in manufacturing. We were able to set up custom actions and decisions that we make to move items through. The orders are automatically synced to Shopify. It’s seamless. I have not found any other apps like it.
The easiest fix is an app called Ultimate Custom Order Status. It adds unlimited custom stages inside Shopify: “Proof Sent”, “Cut/Paint”, “Cure 3”, whatever you need. So you can move each order through your exact workflow. One-click install, no code.
After install, just name your stages and set your orders along; the dashboard updates instantly and you can keep steps internal or notify the customer when it makes sense.
It allows Shopify merchants to create their own internal production stages such as Proof Sent, Final Edit, Cut/Paint/Cure 1, Cure 2, Cure 3, Ready to Ship, and move each order through those stages as production progresses.
The app also provides table and Kanban views, product and customization details, production due dates, internal notes, bulk actions, overdue tracking, and printable production sheets.
It keeps the manufacturing workflow separate from Shopify’s standard fulfillment statuses, so production steps do not have to be forced into Fulfilled/Unfulfilled.
