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Carts

The Carts module is a robust draft order system. It allows you to build, track, and modify customer shopping sessions before they become final transactions. This tool is essential for taking orders over the phone, creating custom wholesale quotes, or helping customers who are having trouble checking out themselves.

This guide will show you how to create and manage carts to capture more sales.

Location: Orders → Carts

What Is the Carts Module?​

Think of a "Cart" as a draft order. It exists in a limbo state—it contains products and customer info, but no payment has been processed yet.

Common uses:

  • Manual Orders - Creating an order for a customer via phone or WhatsApp.
  • Custom Quotes - Building a cart with special B2B pricing to email to a client.
  • Abandoned Cart Recovery - Seeing what customers left behind and following up to close the sale.
For Store Owners

Use the Carts module to provide "Concierge Service." If a VIP customer wants to buy something, build the cart for them and send them the invoice. It removes friction and makes them feel special.

Carts Dashboard Overview​

The Carts dashboard gives you a high-level view of all active draft sessions.

What You'll See​

When you navigate to Orders → Carts, the table displays:

  • Cart ID - The unique session reference.
  • Market - The regional context (e.g., "Bangladesh" or "USA") which dictates currency and tax.
  • Items - The count of unique products in the cart.
  • Total - The potential revenue value.
  • Created At - Timestamp of when the session started.

Dashboard Data​

The data table aggregates key session metrics to help administrators prioritize high-value drafts or follow up on abandoned sessions.

Column NameTechnical DefinitionUse Case
MarketIndicates the localized storefront and currency context assigned to the cart.Identifies regional shipping rules and tax obligations.
ItemsThe total integer count of unique line items added to the session.Quickly identifies empty sessions vs. bulk orders.
TotalThe aggregate monetary value of the cart, including currency symbols (e.g., BDT, BND, USD).Helps prioritize high-value sessions for recovery or follow-up.
Created AtThe ISO date timestamp marking when the session was initialized.Used for monitoring session age and implementing cleanup protocols.

What You Can Do​

From this page you can:

  • Search: Find carts by ID to locate a specific session.
  • Filter: Isolate carts by Market or date.
  • Edit: Click any row to open and modify the cart contents.
  • Create New: Start a fresh draft order manually.

Quick Start Guide​

To manually create an order for a customer:

  1. Create Cart - Click .
  2. Select Market - Choose the region (e.g., Bangladesh) to set the correct currency.
  3. Add Items - Search for products and add them to the list.
  4. Link Customer - Search for an existing profile or create a new one.
  5. Place Order - Click to finalize it into a real transaction.

For detailed instructions, continue reading below.

How to Create a Manual Cart​

Use this workflow to build an order on behalf of a customer.

Initializing a New Cart​

The Create Cart feature allows administrators to manually build orders for customers. This is essential for processing phone orders, managing wholesale deals, or assisting customers who cannot complete a checkout themselves. To begin, navigate to Orders > Carts and click the Create Cart button.

  1. Navigate to Orders → Carts.
  2. Click .
  3. Market Selection:
    • A modal appears asking for the Market.
    • Select the correct region (e.g., "India").
    • Why? This ensures the customer is charged in the right currency (INR) and tax rates.
    • Click .

Cart Configuration​

Essential steps:

  • Add Items: The products they want to buy.
  • Customer: Who is buying it.
  • Fulfillment: How they will get it.
View All Cart Field Details

Line Items​

Add Item:

  • Click .
  • Search for the product.
  • Select specific variants (e.g., "Red / Medium").
  • Adjust Quantity using + / - buttons.

Discounts:

  • Wholesale: Applies automatically if quantity thresholds are met (based on product settings).
  • Coupon: Enter a code (e.g., SAVE10) and click Apply to manually discount the total.

Customer Details​

Link Profile:

  • Use the Search or create customer bar.
  • Type name, email, or phone.
  • If new, you can create the profile right here without leaving the page.

Addresses:

  • Shipping Address: Click the Pencil Icon to edit. Ensure Country/Region matches the Cart's Market.
  • Billing Address: Click Same as shipping address to copy details instantly.
note

Ensure the country and postal code are accurate, as these directly influence tax calculations in the Cart Summary.

tip

Same as Shipping: For billing addresses, you can toggle a "Same as shipping address" shortcut to save time.

Fulfillment & Delivery​

Method Selection:

  1. Category: Choose Shipping (Courier), Delivery (Local Fleet), or Pickup (In-store).
  2. Service: Select the specific tier (e.g., "Express Delivery" or "Motijheel Outlet").

Payment & Notes​

Payment Method:

  • Select the intended method from the dropdown (e.g., COD - Cash on Delivery).

Notes:

  • Add internal instructions (e.g., "Gift wrap requested").
note

Use the Note field to add internal instructions for the fulfillment team (e.g., "Customer requested gift wrapping").

Quantity and Removal​

  • Adjusting Quantity: Use the + and - buttons to change unit counts. The Cart Summary will update in real-time.
  • Removing Items: Click the Trash Icon to remove an item from the session.

Customer Management and Address Verification​

Linking a customer is mandatory for calculating localized taxes and fulfillment rates.

Editing an Existing Cart​

If a customer abandoned a cart or wants to change their manual order before finalizing:

  1. Click the Cart ID in the dashboard list.
  2. Modify Items:
    • Add new products via Add Item.
    • Remove items using the Trash Icon (🗑️).
    • Update quantities.
  3. Update Customer: Change addresses or contact info if needed.

Finalizing the Order​

Once the draft is ready, you must convert it into a real order to process fulfillment.

  1. Review the Cart Summary (Subtotal, Tax, Total).
  2. Click at the bottom.
  3. Confirmation:
    • A modal appears.
    • Verify the Customer Contact number.
    • Click .
Irreversible Action

Once you click Yes, order, the Cart is permanently converted. It moves from the "Carts" list to the "Orders" list and triggers inventory deductions. You cannot turn it back into a draft.

Administrative Approval (Approved Order)​

Newly placed orders enter the system in a "Pending" state. They require a final manual check before logistical processing begins.

  • Initial Status: Upon placement, the order details will display "Pending" status badges. At this stage, the fulfillment record has not yet been generated.
  • Approval Action: Click the Approved Order button at the top right of the order screen.
  • Confirmation Modal: A "Confirm order" modal will appear, stating that approval will move the order forward for processing. Click Yes.
    • Alternative: If the order is incorrect, click the red Cancel Order button to stop the process.

Transitioning to Order Fulfillment​

Converting a cart into a live order marks the end of the draft stage and the beginning of the logistical lifecycle. Once you finalize the Place Order action, the system migrates all data into the core sales management module.

Automated System Migration​

  • Relocation of Records: The cart record is automatically removed from the Carts > Orders dashboard. It is then re-indexed and moved to the primary Orders list located in the left-hand sidebar.
  • Order ID Generation: The system replaces the temporary Cart ID with a permanent, unique Order ID (e.g., #ORD-000000311012).

Shifting to the Fulfillment Workflow​

The Carts section is strictly for staging; it does not contain the tools necessary for logistics. To complete the fulfillment process including administrative approval, shipping status updates, and delivery confirmation you must switch your workspace to the Orders module.

  • Next Action: Navigate to the Orders menu to find your newly created transaction.
Documentation Reference

For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to approve an order, manage fulfillment events, and update shipping statuses, please refer to the Orders User Guide.

Draft Management Controls​

  • Delete Cart: Available at the bottom of the Cart view. Use this red button to permanently remove a draft session without creating an order record. This requires a "Yes, remove" confirmation and cannot be reversed.
  • Discard/Back: Click the back arrow next to the Cart ID header to exit the editing workspace. Your progress is saved as a draft in the Carts dashboard, allowing you to return and finalize the order at a later time.

Real World Examples​

Example 1: The Phone Order

Scenario: An older customer calls and wants to buy a specific shirt but struggles with the website.

Workflow:

  1. Create Cart: Select "Bangladesh" market.
  2. Add Item: Search "Cotton Shirt" → Select "Large / Blue" → Add.
  3. Customer: Ask for their phone number. Search it. If found, select profile. If not, type details.
  4. Payment: Select "COD".
  5. Finalize: Click Place Order.
  6. Result: The order is live, stock is reserved, and the warehouse team sees it immediately.
Example 2: B2B Wholesale Quote

Scenario: A corporate client wants 50 mugs and needs a special price.

Workflow:

  1. Create Cart: Select Market.
  2. Add Item: Add "Ceramic Mug" → Set Qty to 50.
  3. Discount: Enter a custom coupon code CORP50 (pre-configured for 10% off).
  4. Review: Take a screenshot of the Cart Summary and email it to the client for approval.
  5. Wait: Keep the cart as a draft until they confirm.
  6. Finalize: Once they email back "Approved," click Place Order.

Managing Carts​

Deleting a Cart​

If a draft order is no longer needed (e.g., customer changed their mind):

  1. Open the Cart details.
  2. Scroll to the bottom.
  3. Click .
  4. Confirm the action.
Permanent Action

Deleting a cart is permanent. All customer data and product selections associated with that specific session are lost.

Troubleshooting​

Why can't I find the customer's address?

Possible causes:

  • The customer profile exists but has no saved address.
  • The address is for a different country than the Cart's selected Market.

Solution: Click the Pencil Icon in the address block and manually enter the correct details. Ensure the Country matches the Market.

Tax calculation looks wrong

Possible causes:

  • The Shipping Address postal code or region is incorrect.
  • The customer is tax-exempt but the setting isn't applied.

Solution: Verify the address details. Taxes are calculated dynamically based on the exact location entered.

I clicked "Place Order" but nothing happened

Possible causes:

  • Mandatory fields are missing (e.g., Phone Number).
  • One of the products in the cart is out of stock.

Solution: Check for red error messages near the Customer or Line Item sections. Ensure the contact number field in the confirmation modal is filled.

Why did my cart disappear?

Possible causes:

  • You successfully clicked Place Order.
  • It was converted into a real Order.

Solution: Navigate to Orders → All Orders and search for the customer's name. It should be there as a new order.

Need More Help?

If you're stuck, contact Soppiya support with the Cart ID (if available) or the Customer Name.

Best Practices​

Cart Management Best Practices

Workflow Efficiency

  • Use "Same as Shipping": Always use this toggle for billing addresses to save time and reduce typo errors.
  • Notes are Internal: Use the Notes field for warehouse instructions (e.g., "Check quality before shipping"). Customers usually don't see this.

Sales Recovery

  • Monitor the Dashboard: Check the Carts list daily. High-value carts created "yesterday" are prime targets for a recovery phone call.
  • Clean Up: Delete old carts (older than 30 days) to keep your dashboard clean and focused on active leads.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ❌ Wrong Market: Creating a cart in the "USA" market for a customer in "Bangladesh" will cause payment and address errors. Always check this first.
  • ❌ Ignoring Out of Stock: You can sometimes add out-of-stock items to a draft. Be careful not to finalize an order for items you don't have.
  • ❌ Forgetting Contact Info: Always double-check the phone number before clicking Place Order. This is your only way to contact them for delivery.

Summary​

The Carts module is your manual override for the sales process. It allows you to step in and build orders for customers, ensuring you capture sales that might otherwise be lost due to technical issues or special requirements.

Key takeaways:

  • Carts are Drafts: They don't affect inventory until finalized.
  • Market Matters: Selecting the wrong market breaks tax and currency logic.
  • One-Way Street: Once converted to an Order, a Cart cannot go back.
  • Recovery Tool: Use it to save sales for customers who call or email you.

Try creating a test cart today to familiarize yourself with the manual order flow.