Managing pre-orders effectively can be the key to staying ahead of the curve. Pre-orders not only help retailers gauge demand for upcoming inventory but also enable them to maintain customer satisfaction by offering transparency about product availability.
While both Shopify and HotWax Commerce offer pre-order management capabilities, they differ significantly in the depth and breadth of their functionality.
In this blog, we will compare Shopify pre-order management features with those of HotWax Commerce, and explore why a comprehensive pre-order solution is essential for modern retailers.
Understanding Pre-Order Management
Pre-order management involves handling orders for products that are not yet available in stock but are expected to arrive soon. Retailers often use pre-orders to:
-
Generate early interest and sales for upcoming products
-
Forecast demand and plan inventory more accurately
-
Keep customers engaged and informed about new products.
However, managing pre-orders requires more than just allowing customers to place orders in advance. Effective pre-order management systems must account for Purchase Order (PO) inventory synchronization, promise date communication, payment scheduling, and automated fulfillment once the stock arrives.
Shopify vs HotWax Commerce: A Feature Comparison
Shopify Pre-Order Management
Shopify is a popular platform for eCommerce businesses, offering some basic pre-order functionality. However, it falls short of providing an all-encompassing solution, requiring third-party apps to bridge the gaps. Let’s have a look at the limitations of pre-order management in Shopify.
-
Limited Native Features
Shopify allows retailers to accept pre-orders through its Purchase Option, enabling them to sell products that are not yet available. However, Shopify lacks a built-in feature to clearly differentiate products on pre-orders from regular in-stock items on the Product Detail Page (PDP).
This absence of pre-order labeling can lead to customer confusion, as they may not immediately realize that the item they’re purchasing is on pre-order rather than available for immediate fulfillment.
To address this, retailers are required to use third-party apps to display properly labeled “Pre-Order buttons” and communicate the product’s availability status clearly on the PDP.
-
Lack of Promise Date Management
Promise dates, the expected shipping or delivery dates for pre-orders, are crucial for maintaining transparency with customers. Shopify pre-order management does not provide a native feature to inform customers of promise dates, leaving retailers to rely on third-party apps.
Without clear communication, customers may get frustrated if their pre-orders are delayed or if they are unsure about when to expect their purchases. -
Deferred Payments
One of Shopify’s strengths is its support for deferred payments. Retailers can collect payments at a later time rather than upfront when the order is placed. However, Shopify’s management of deferred payments is not comprehensive. There are no native tools to schedule or automate payment collection, making it cumbersome for retailers to track and manage payment timelines.
-
No Automated Fulfillment Scheduling
When the pre-order inventory finally arrives, retailers need a streamlined process to fulfill those pre-orders efficiently. Unfortunately, Shopify does not offer built-in tools for automating the fulfillment process. Retailers must either fulfill pre-orders manually from Shopify Admin or rely on third-party apps to schedule fulfillment, adding complexity to their operations.
Due to these limitations, retailers on Shopify often turn to external solutions to manage the various aspects of pre-orders, which can lead to fragmented workflows and operational inefficiencies.
Additional Restrictions in Shopify Pre-Order Management
While Shopify does offer a pre-order option, several restrictions limit its flexibility, especially when it comes to customizing the checkout experience and using accelerated payment methods. Let’s explore some of these limitations:
-
Pre-Orders Aren’t Supported with Customized Checkouts: Shopify pre-order management doesn’t allow retailers to use customized checkouts.
-
Restricted Use of Accelerated Payment Methods: Shopify pre-order management doesn’t allow retailers to use customized checkouts.
HotWax Commerce Pre-Order Management
In contrast to Shopify pre-order management, HotWax Commerce offers a complete, end-to-end pre-order management solution. Built with flexibility and automation in mind, HotWax’s approach eliminates the need for third-party apps and ensures that every step of the pre-order process is handled precisely.
-
Synchronize POs from ERP and Offer Enhanced PDP Experience
HotWax Commerce syncs latest POs from the ERP systems like NetSuite, ensuring that pre-order-eligible products are automatically identified and displayed with the appropriate buttons on the PDP. This real-time synchronization makes it easy for retailers to manage pre-orders and backorders simultaneously.
I. Pre-Order and Backorder Buttons: Products eligible for pre-orders are clearly marked with a “Pre-Order” button, and products on backorder are labeled accordingly with a “Backorder” button. This clear distinction helps customers understand the status of each product and what to expect.
II. Promise Dates: HotWax Commerce goes beyond Shopify by providing customers with promise dates directly on the PDP. This ensures that customers are informed of when their pre-order will ship, enhancing transparency and building trust.
-
Pre-Order Fulfillment
In contrast to Shopify pre-order management, HotWax Commerce provides retailers with both automated and manual fulfillment options for pre-orders, offering much-needed flexibility.
I. Automated Pre-Order Fulfillment Process: HotWax Commerce automates the entire pre-order fulfillment process from start to finish. Here’s how it works:
When a customer places a pre-order, HotWax Commerce’s Integration App tags the line items as “Pre-Order.” These tagged orders are automatically moved to the Pre-Order Parking. This queue holds pre-orders until the physical inventory arrives, ensuring that inventory allocation does not occur prematurely.
Once the inventory is received and the promise date is reached, HotWax Commerce automatically releases the pre-orders from the Pre-Order Parking into the Brokering Queue. From there, inventory is allocated, and the order moves forward for fulfillment.
II. Manual Control Option for Pre-Orders: Manual fulfillment is especially useful for retailers who prefer greater control over how inventory is allocated. For example, when inventory from an upcoming PO is received, retailers may want to release some pre-orders right away, while withholding some stock to ensure walk-in customers or in-store sales are adequately fulfilled. In such cases, retailers can opt to manually release specific pre-orders to the Brokering Queue later, based on their priorities.
This level of control allows retailers to fine-tune how and when they allocate their stock, ensuring that inventory is optimized across both online orders and brick-and-mortar stores. Additionally, HotWax Commerce enables retailers to decide which pre-orders should be fulfilled first, allowing them to align fulfillment decisions with their sales strategies or customer preferences.
-
Comprehensive Backorder Management
HotWax Commerce handles backorders with the same efficiency and flexibility as pre-orders. Backordered items are moved to the Backorder Parking until the inventory is replenished. Once the stock is available, HotWax automatically releases the backorders for fulfillment. Similar to pre-orders, retailers have the option to manage this process manually if desired.
* * *
While Shopify pre-order management offers basic functionality, its limitations make it difficult for retailers to manage pre-orders efficiently without relying on third-party apps. The lack of native support for pre-order labeling, displaying promise dates, and automated fulfillment adds complexity to an otherwise straightforward process.
In contrast, HotWax Commerce integrates directly with ERP systems and offers a comprehensive, flexible pre-order management solution. HotWax Commerce covers every aspect, from labeling Pre-Order and Backorder buttons on the PDP to automating the fulfillment process. Whether retailers prefer an automated approach or manual control over releasing pre-orders and inventory, HotWax provides the flexibility to manage pre-orders in a way that best aligns with their operational needs.
In summary, if you're looking for a complete solution to streamline your pre-order and backorder management, HotWax Commerce is the platform that offers the robust tools and features necessary to optimize pre-order management and enhance customer satisfaction.
