How To Set Woocommerce Orders To Autocomplete

How to Autocomplete WooCommerce Orders: A Beginner’s Guide

Are you tired of manually marking WooCommerce orders as “Completed” even when you’ve already shipped them? Do you want to streamline your order fulfillment process and save precious time? Then, setting your WooCommerce orders to autocomplete might be exactly what you need!

In this guide, we’ll break down what order autocompletion is, why it’s beneficial, and how you can implement it in a simple, newbie-friendly way. No complicated coding knowledge required (although we’ll touch on that too if you’re feeling adventurous!).

What is WooCommerce Order Autocompletion?

Normally, when a customer places an order on your WooCommerce store, the order status starts as “Processing” (or “Pending Payment”). You then have to manually change it to “Completed” after you’ve fulfilled the order – typically after you’ve shipped the product.

Order autocompletion, on the other hand, automatically changes the order status to “Completed” as soon as payment is received. Think of it as a digital assistant handling the mundane task of updating order statuses for you.

Think of it like this: Imagine you sell downloadable digital products like e-books or software. Once a customer pays, they instantly receive their download link. There’s no physical shipping involved. In this scenario, marking each order as “Completed” manually is just extra, unnecessary work.

Why Automate WooCommerce Orders to “Completed”?

There are several compelling reasons to automate your WooCommerce order fulfillment process:

• Save Time and Effort: This is the biggest advantage. By automating the process, you free up your time to focus on more important aspects of your business, like marketing, product development, or customer service. No more repetitive clicking!
• Improve Customer Experience: For digital products, instant completion can improve the customer experience. They receive immediate confirmation that their order is complete and can access their downloads right away.
• Reduce Errors: Human error is inevitable. Automating the process eliminates the risk of forgetting to mark an order as completed.
• Streamline Your Workflow: Autocompletion simplifies your overall order management process, making it more efficient.

When is Autocompletion *NOT* a Good Idea?

Before you jump in, it’s important to consider if autocompletion is right for your business:

• If you sell physical products that require shipping: Autocompletion will likely cause confusion. Customers expect to receive shipping updates and tracking information *before* the order is marked as “Completed.” Autocompleting immediately upon payment will make it look like the order is already delivered, even if it hasn’t even been shipped yet.
• If you have a complex fulfillment process: If your orders require manual processing steps, such as personalization or assembly, autocompletion might not be suitable.

How to Set WooCommerce Orders to Autocomplete: Methods

There are a few ways to achieve WooCommerce order autocompletion. Let’s explore some options:

#### 1. Using a WooCommerce Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)

The easiest and most reliable method for most users is to use a plugin. There are several free and premium plugins available that can handle this task.

Recommended Plugin: “Complete WooCommerce Orders” (Many other similar plugins exist, just do a search in the plugin directory!)

This plugin is straightforward and effective. Here’s how to use it:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for “Complete WooCommerce Orders” (or your chosen autocompletion plugin). Install and activate it.

2. Configure the Plugin (if necessary): Most plugins will have settings under the WooCommerce menu. You might need to specify which order statuses to autocomplete from. Most plugins default to completing orders after payment is confirmed (e.g., marked “Processing”).

3. Test it Out: Place a test order to see if the plugin works as expected.

Example: You sell online courses. You’ve installed the “Complete WooCommerce Orders” plugin. A customer purchases your “Ultimate Marketing Course.” As soon as the payment is processed, the order status automatically changes to “Completed,” and the customer receives an email with instructions on how to access the course.

#### 2. Using Custom Code (For Advanced Users)

If you’re comfortable with PHP and have a developer background, you can use custom code to achieve autocompletion. This method offers more flexibility but requires more technical expertise.

Warning: Making mistakes in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin can break your website. Back up your site before making any code changes.

Here’s a code snippet you can add to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin):

<?php
/**
Auto Complete all WooCommerce orders.
*/
add_action( 'woocommerce_payment_complete', 'woocommerce_auto_complete_order' );
function woocommerce_auto_complete_order( $order_id ) {
if ( ! $order_id ) {
return;
}

$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

$order->update_status( ‘completed’ );

}

?>

Explanation:

• `add_action( ‘woocommerce_payment_complete’, ‘woocommerce_auto_complete_order’ );`: This line tells WordPress to run the `woocommerce_auto_complete_order` function whenever the `woocommerce_payment_complete` action is triggered (which happens when payment is confirmed).
• `function woocommerce_auto_complete_order( $order_id ) { … }`: This defines the function that will actually autocomplete the order.
• `$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );`: This retrieves the order object based on the order ID.
• `$order->update_status( ‘completed’ );`: This updates the order status to “Completed.”

Important Considerations for Custom Code:

• Order Statuses: The `woocommerce_payment_complete` action might not be suitable for all payment gateways. Some gateways might use a different action hook. You might need to adjust the code accordingly. Consider using a more reliable status change trigger like payment received and set the order to complete, but confirm that the payment gateway really receives the payment first.
• Error Handling: It’s a good practice to add error handling to your code to prevent issues if something goes wrong.
• Plugin Conflicts: Custom code can sometimes conflict with plugins. Thoroughly test your code after making any changes.

#### 3. Using Snippet Plugins

Snippet plugins like “Code Snippets” allow you to add and manage custom code snippets without directly modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file. This is a safer and more organized approach than directly editing your theme files. Just copy the code from method #2 into a new snippet, activate it, and you are good to go!

Conclusion: Streamline Your WooCommerce Workflow

Autocompleting WooCommerce orders can be a significant time-saver, especially if you sell digital products or have a simple fulfillment process. Whether you choose to use a plugin or implement custom code, carefully consider your business needs and test your solution thoroughly. By automating this task, you can focus on growing your business and providing even better service to your customers. Good luck!