How To Add Manual Order In Woocommerce Backend

# How to Add a Manual Order in Your WooCommerce Backend: A Beginner’s Guide

Adding a manual order in WooCommerce might seem daunting at first, but it’s a surprisingly straightforward process. This guide will walk you through it step-by-step, using real-life examples and clear explanations, perfect for WooCommerce newbies. Knowing how to do this is crucial for handling special situations, like bulk orders, offline sales, or correcting errors.

Why Add a Manual Order?

Sometimes, the standard WooCommerce checkout process isn’t suitable. Here are a few scenarios where adding a manual order is necessary:

• Phone orders: A customer places an order over the phone.
• Trade shows: You take orders directly at a trade show or event.
• Wholesale orders: You’re managing large bulk orders from a wholesale client.
• Order corrections: You need to fix an existing order’s details.
• Special promotions: You offer a unique deal not processed through the standard checkout.

Let’s say you have a customer, “Sarah,” who ordered 10 widgets over the phone. You can’t use the standard checkout for this; you need to manually add her order to your WooCommerce store.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding a Manual Order

Here’s how to add a manual order in your WooCommerce backend:

1. Log into your WordPress Dashboard: Access your website’s admin area.

2. Navigate to Orders: In the left-hand sidebar, click on WooCommerce > Orders.

3. Add New Order: Click on the “Add New” button at the top of the screen. This opens a new order form.

4. Fill in the Order Details: This is where you’ll input all the necessary information.

• Customer Details: Enter Sarah’s name, email address, and shipping address. You can create a new customer or select an existing one if she’s already in your system.
• Billing Address: If it differs from the shipping address, enter Sarah’s billing address.
• Order Items: Add the products Sarah ordered. Use the search bar to find the “Widget” product. Specify the quantity (10 in this case).
• Order Notes: Add any relevant notes, such as “Phone order,” or special instructions. This is crucial for tracking and understanding the order context.
• Payment Method: Select the payment method Sarah used (e.g., “Cash on Delivery,” “Bank Transfer,” “Check”). Choosing the right payment method is critical for accurate accounting.
• Shipping Method: Specify the shipping method used and the shipping cost, if any.

5. Review and Save: Before saving, double-check all the details to ensure accuracy. Once everything looks good, click on the “Publish” button at the top right.

That’s it! You’ve successfully added a manual order to your WooCommerce system. Sarah’s order will now appear in your order list, allowing you to manage it like any other order.

Important Considerations

• Accurate Information: Always ensure the information you enter is accurate and complete. Incorrect details can lead to problems with fulfillment, shipping, and accounting.
• Order Status: After creating the order, consider updating the order status to reflect its progress (e.g., “Processing,” “Completed,” “On Hold”).
• Payment Handling: If the payment method is not automatically handled by WooCommerce (like cash on delivery), make sure you manually mark the order as paid once the payment is received.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues, remember to check your WooCommerce settings and ensure that all necessary plugins are up-to-date. If problems persist, consult WooCommerce’s documentation or their support forums.

This guide provides a basic understanding of adding manual orders in WooCommerce. While it doesn’t delve into advanced techniques or code modifications, it provides a solid foundation for managing orders efficiently, especially for beginners. Remember, accurate data is key to a smooth operation!