Order Management
Efficiently process and fulfill orders that include product customizations.
Understanding Order Structure
When a customer completes checkout with customized products, the order contains:
- Main product line items - With customization properties
- Add-on line items - From linked products
- Properties - Metadata showing selections
Viewing Orders
In Shopify Admin
- Go to Orders
- Select an order
- View line items with their properties
- Click on a line item for full details
Order Details Include
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Main product purchased |
| Variant | Selected variant (if any) |
| Properties | Customization selections |
| Add-on Items | Separate line items for linked products |
| Prices | Individual and total pricing |
Line Item Properties
Visible Properties
Properties visible to customers:
- Appear in order confirmation emails
- Shown on packing slips
- Visible in customer's order history
- Display in cart and checkout
Color: Navy Blue
Size: Large
Engraving: "Happy Birthday"
Hidden Properties
Properties starting with underscore are merchant-only:
- Not visible to customers
- Visible in admin order view
- Useful for internal tracking
_uplift_group: color-options
_uplift_linked_product: 12345678
_uplift_option_id: abc123
Fulfillment Workflow
Standard Process
- Review order - Check all customizations
- Prepare main product - Apply customizations
- Gather add-ons - Collect linked products
- Quality check - Verify against order properties
- Pack and ship - Include packing slip with details
- Mark fulfilled - Update order status
Partial Fulfillment
If items ship separately:
- Select specific line items to fulfill
- Enter tracking for that shipment
- Repeat for remaining items
- Order shows partial status until complete
Packing Slips & Invoices
Displaying Customizations
By default, visible properties appear on packing slips. To enhance this:
- Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery
- Edit packing slip template
- Ensure properties are displayed clearly
Template Enhancement
{% for line_item in line_items %}
{{ line_item.title }}
{% for property in line_item.properties %}
{% unless property.first contains '_' %}
{{ property.first }}: {{ property.last }}
{% endunless %}
{% endfor %}
{% endfor %}
Refunds & Cancellations
Full Refund
- Open the order
- Click Refund
- Select all items (including add-ons)
- Process refund
Partial Refund (Add-ons Only)
- Open the order
- Click Refund
- Select only the add-on line items
- Adjust quantity if needed
- Process partial refund
💡 Tip: You can refund individual add-on products without refunding the main product.
Inventory on Refund
- Choose whether to restock items
- Inventory updates for add-on products
- Consider condition of returned items
Editing Orders
What Can Be Edited
- Add or remove add-on line items
- Adjust quantities
- Add new products
- Apply discounts
Limitations
- Cannot change customization properties directly
- To change customizations: cancel/refund and re-order
- Or manually adjust and note changes
Reporting & Analytics
Shopify Reports
Use Shopify's built-in reports for:
- Sales by product (includes add-on products)
- Revenue from add-on products
- Popular product combinations
Tracking Add-on Performance
Key metrics to monitor:
| Metric | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Add-on attachment rate | % of orders with add-ons |
| Average add-on value | Revenue per add-on |
| Most popular add-ons | Top-selling options |
| Add-on revenue | Total from linked products |
Order Automation
Shopify Flow (Plus)
Automate based on customizations:
- Tag orders with specific options
- Route to specialized fulfillment
- Send notifications for custom orders
- Auto-apply discounts
Third-Party Integrations
Uplift data works with:
- Fulfillment services (ShipStation, etc.)
- ERPs and inventory systems
- Print-on-demand services
- Custom webhooks
Troubleshooting
Properties not showing in order
- Verify cart had properties before checkout
- Check theme is passing properties through
- Test with a fresh order
Add-ons missing from order
- Check inventory wasn't depleted during checkout
- Verify product links are correct
- Review cart contents before order
Wrong pricing in order
- Check linked product prices at time of order
- Verify no discount code conflicts
- Review cart calculations
Best Practices
- Clear internal processes - Document how to handle customized orders
- Train your team - Ensure staff understands order structure
- Quality control - Double-check customizations before shipping
- Customer communication - Confirm complex orders if needed
- Track metrics - Monitor add-on performance regularly
Next Steps
- Testing Your Setup - End-to-end order testing
- Troubleshooting Guide - Fix order issues
- Best Practices - Optimization tips