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3
Oct, 2023

Phone Orders for Woocommerce: Free vs Pro versions

Introduction

If you’re running an online store, you know how important it is to provide a seamless and efficient ordering process for your customers. While many customers prefer to place orders online, there are still those who prefer to order over the phone. That’s where Phone Orders for Woocommerce comes in.

Phone Orders for Woocommerce is a powerful plugin that allows merchants to take orders quickly and easily over the phone. The plugin comes in two versions: Free and Pro. Both versions come with powerful order management features such as order tracking, customer account management, and order notifications. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Phone Orders for Woocommerce can help you take orders quickly and easily over the phone.

When it comes to choosing between the Free and Pro versions of Phone Orders for Woocommerce, there are a few key factors to consider. The Free version is a great option for small businesses or those on a tight budget. It offers basic order management features that can help streamline your phone order process. However, if you’re looking for more advanced features and customization options, the Pro version is the way to go. With the Pro version, you’ll have access to additional features such as advanced reporting, custom order statuses and fields. Moreover, it is an ideal solution for those who want to take their business to the next level.

Advantages of Pro

The Pro version offers an amazing range of features that make it easier to run and manage your business. The table shows the main ones.

Features Free Pro
Separate web page for adding orders (without access to /wp-admin) – +
A lot of UI options to suit different workflows and setups – +
Create new order based on existing order – +
Pause and resume the order – +
Customer search by shipping/billing fields – +
Configure fields and default values while adding new customers – +
Define products that can be sold – +
Support composite/bundled/other complex products – +
Add any additional fees – +
Setup custom fields for the order/customer – +
Extra WooCommerce reports – +
After creating the order, you can “Pay order as customer” – +

Let’s look at what each function is.

Separate web page for adding orders (without access to /wp-admin)

Don’t want your employee to have access to the site’s control panel? Create a separate page for adding orders. This solution will simplify the work of the call operator. And you will be sure that the employee will not make “unnecessary” movements in your online store.

A lot of UI options to suit different workflows and setups

The plugin also has a range of user interface (UI) options that allow businesses to customize their order forms. It allows you to add custom fields and set the required fields for each order, so you can ensure that all the necessary information is collected. In addition, you can hide some fields or rearrange them. With all these UI options, it’s easy to create an order form that looks and works the way you want it to.

Create new order based on existing order

Creating a new order based on an existing order is a great way to streamline the process of fulfilling a customer’s needs. By taking an existing order, you can quickly and easily create a new order that meets the customer’s needs without having to start from scratch. This saves time and energy while ensuring the customer receives the products and services they requested.

Pause and resume the order

Pausing and resuming orders is a great way to manage your orders more efficiently. By pausing an order, you can stop it from being processed and fulfilled, while still keeping all the details of that order on your site. This can be especially helpful if you need to adjust the order details. For example, adding or removing items, or if you need to change shipping methods.

Customer search by shipping/billing fields

By having the ability to search by shipping or billing address, companies can quickly and accurately locate customer information. This information can be used to provide better customer service, process returns or exchanges, and even to provide targeted offers.

Configure fields and default values while adding new customers

Setting a default city in phone orders is very relevant for local businesses, as it allows them to better serve their customers. This will save time for both the customer and the store, as the store won’t have to manually enter the city for each order.

Define products that can be sold

Selling out of stock products is a great way to boost sales and keep customers engaged. It encourages customers to keep checking back to see when the product is back in stock, and makes them feel like they are part of the product’s journey. For retailers, selling out of stock products can increase revenue, as customers may purchase other items while they wait for the product to come back in stock. Additionally, it increases customer loyalty, as customers will know that the retailer is actively trying to get the product back in stock as quickly as possible. Furthermore, it gives the retailer an opportunity to remind customers of the product when it is back in stock, and potentially drive more sales.

Selling out of stock products can also help retailers better understand their customers’ needs and preferences. By tracking which products are selling out quickly and which are not, retailers can gain insight into what their customers are looking for and adjust their product selection accordingly.

Support composite/bundled/other complex products

The pro version of the plugin also makes it easy to support complex products such as composite and bundled products. To do this, activate the plugin for complex products, configure orders at frontend page (see Separate web page for adding orders above), insert the php code (look in our documentation) corresponding to your plugin into the snippet. If you click on the Configure products button, you can configure the bundle.

Add any additional fees

Fees are an important part of any business, as they help to cover the costs of running the business. Fees can cover the costs of rent, supplies, salaries, utilities, taxes, and other expenses associated with running a business. By collecting the right fees, businesses can ensure that their customers are satisfied and that they can remain competitive. In some cases, fees may even act as an incentive for customers to purchase more products or services. For these reasons, fees are becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes.

Setup custom fields for the order/customer

With custom fields, you can create additional fields to better capture relevant information from customers and orders. This information can be used to personalize customer experience, track orders, and increase efficiency in the back-end.

Custom fields can be created for both customers and orders. For customers, you can add fields like gender, age, location, or other demographic information. For orders, you can add custom fields like delivery instructions, order notes, or any other details that customers may need to provide.

Extra WooCommerce reports

The plugin adds 3 new reports to the Reports tab: Sales by Phone, Sales Online, Sales by Phone, per creator. The Sales by Phone provides detailed information about telephone sales, total orders accepted, total sales volume, and total number of items sold. The Sales Online report shows an overview of sales made through the website, including total number of orders, total sales amount, and value of coupons redeemed. The Sales by Phone, per creator report provides information about each author’s sales, such as total sales and total orders. With these new reports, businesses can quickly and easily analyze their sales and identify areas in need of improvement.

After creating the order, you can “Pay order as customer”

If the customer wishes to pay for the order with a credit card immediately then the “Pay order as customer” function is the perfect solution. This allows customers to make payments without having to go through the browser. All your employee needs to do is click on the “Pay order as customer” button and enter customer’s credit card details. Once the details have been confirmed, the order will be processed immediately and a confirmation email will be sent to the customer. This ensures that the customer can pay for the order quickly and easily without any hassle.

Conclusion

Overall, Phone Orders for Woocommerce provides an easy and efficient way to take orders over the phone and process them in your store. Whether you choose the Free or Pro version, you’ll be able to save time and money and streamline your phone ordering process.

15
Nov, 2023

Phone Orders vs Online Ordering: Finding the Perfect Balance for Your WooCommerce Store

What is better Phone Orders or Online Ordering?

When it comes to choosing between phone orders or online ordering for your business, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Both options have benefits and drawbacks that must be weighed depending on the goals and needs of your business.

Phone Orders

Phone orders are a great option for those who prefer to speak directly to a customer service representative. This gives your customers the chance to ask questions, make sure they understand the product they’re ordering, and find out more about the product before they make their purchase. Additionally, phone orders are great for customers who are uncomfortable with online shopping, or who may have difficulty using a computer or navigating websites.

However, phone orders can also be time-consuming and difficult to manage. You’ll need to have staff available to take calls, and you may find that orders take longer to process. Additionally, you’ll likely need to record and store all orders manually, which can be a hassle.

Online Ordering

Online ordering is a great way to streamline the ordering process and make it easier for your customers to purchase from your store. Customers can easily browse through your products, add items to their cart, and then check out quickly and easily. Additionally, online ordering has the potential to reach a wider audience, as customers can access your store from anywhere with an internet connection.

However, online ordering may not be the best option for customers who are unfamiliar with computers or who may not feel comfortable using a website. Additionally, online ordering may require more work on your part to ensure a secure and efficient checkout process.

Here’s a summary table of all the advantages and disadvantages of both methods:

Criteria Online Ordering Phone Orders
Fit every customer? – +
Don’t necessary to train staff? + –
Improve customer satisfaction? – +
Reach a wider audience? + –
Fast ordering process? + +

How to Find the Perfect Balance Between Phone Orders and Online Ordering

The key to finding the perfect balance between phone orders and online orders is to make sure that both are available for customers.

Here are some tips to help you do just that:

  1. Offer Multiple Payment Options: Make sure you offer multiple payment options to your customers. This way, customers can choose the option that works best for them. Many customers will prefer to pay with their credit cards online, but you should also accept payments via phone, such as PayPal or Venmo.

  2. Make the Online Ordering Process Easy and Secure: Make sure your online ordering process is as easy and secure as possible. Make sure the checkout page is intuitive and that you are using secure payment processing.

  3. Provide Clear Instructions: When it comes to phone orders, make sure you provide clear instructions to your customers. Let them know what information they need to provide and clearly explain any additional fees or taxes that may apply.

  4. Train Your Staff: Train your staff to take phone orders as well as handle customer inquiries. Make sure they are knowledgeable about the products and can answer any questions a customer may have.

  5. Monitor Your System: Monitor your system to make sure it is running smoothly and that any orders are processed quickly.

Ultimately, it’s important to keep in mind that both phone orders and online ordering have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to find the perfect balance that will work best for your WooCommerce store. This will help ensure that your customers have an easy and efficient buying experience, no matter how they choose to order.

You have an online store, but would like to receive orders by phone

If you are an online store owner who is looking for ways to expand your business, taking orders by phone can be a great way to do just that.

There are a few steps you should take to ensure that you can effectively manage phone orders.

The first step is to set up a toll-free number where customers can call and place orders. This gives customers the convenience of not having to pay for the call and it also makes it easier for them to remember the number. Then, you will need a customer service representative to answer the phone and take the orders.

To make it easier for customers to place orders over the phone, you should create a script that customer service representatives can use. The script should include all of the information that is needed to place an order. This includes the customer’s name, address, contact information, and payment information. The script should also include any special instructions or questions that the customer may have.

Finally, you should provide customers with a way to track their orders. This can be done by providing customers with a confirmation number or by sending them an email with tracking information. This will make it easier for customers to track their orders and make sure that they arrive on time.

Do you think it is difficult to provide all these points? Just install Phone Orders for WooCommerce plugin!

Phone Orders for WooCommerce not only allows you to enter information about the customer, his order and payment details. Also with it you can:

  • configure default client, state, country

  • set the default product in the cart

  • set default coupon

  • choose the fields that need to be filled in the contact information

  • duplicate order

  • send an invoice

  • create your custom field

  • and others

Start using Phone Orders for WooCommerce today and take control of your WooCommerce store’s orders!

28
Feb, 2024

The Dos and Don’ts of Taking Phone Orders in Your WooCommerce Store

Taking phone orders can be a great way to increase sales and provide convenience for your customers. However, it is important to have a well-organized system in place to ensure that the process runs smoothly and efficiently. In this article, we will discuss the dos and don’ts of taking phone orders in your WooCommerce store.

Dos of Taking Phone Orders

  1. Have a designated phone line or customer service number: The first step in taking phone orders is to have a designated phone line or customer service number for customers to call. This will help to streamline the process and avoid any confusion.
  2. Train your staff: It is important to train your staff on how to take phone orders effectively. They should be knowledgeable about your products and services, as well as any current promotions or discounts. They should also be familiar with your store’s policies and procedures.
  3. Create a script: Having a script or a set of guidelines for taking phone orders can help ensure consistency and accuracy. This will also help your staff to handle any unexpected questions or situations that may arise.
  4. Repeat the order: Once the customer has placed their order, it is essential to repeat it back to them to confirm that all the details are correct. This will help to avoid any mistakes and ensure customer satisfaction.
  1. Offer alternative payment options: Some customers may not be comfortable giving their credit card information over the phone. Therefore, it is important to offer alternative payment options such as PayPal or cash on delivery.

Don’ts of Taking Phone Orders

  1. Don’t rush the customer: Taking phone orders requires patience and attention to detail. It is important not to rush the customer and give them enough time to browse through your products and ask any questions they may have.
  2. Don’t keep customers on hold for too long: While it is understandable to put a customer on hold to check on an item or confirm a price, it is important not to keep them waiting for too long. This can lead to frustration and a negative experience for the customer.
  3. Don’t forget to ask for contact information: In case there are any issues with the order, it is crucial to have the customer’s contact information. This will also allow you to follow up with them and provide updates on their order if needed.
  1. Don’t neglect to update your inventory: It is important to regularly update your inventory to avoid any discrepancies between what is available online and what is available for phone orders. This will help to avoid any disappointments for customers who may have their heart set on a particular item.
  2. Don’t forget to thank the customer: It is essential to thank the customer for their order and for choosing to shop with your store. This will leave a positive impression and make them more likely to return to your store in the future.

Remember to always prioritize customer satisfaction and to continuously review and improve your phone order system for optimal results.

8
Jan, 2024

The Legal Aspects of Phone Orders: Compliance and Regulations for WooCommerce Store Owners

As a WooCommerce store owner, it is crucial to understand and comply with the legal aspects of phone orders. Phone orders, also known as telephone sales, refer to the process of purchasing goods or services over the phone. While phone orders can be a convenient and efficient way for customers to make purchases, they also come with a set of compliance and regulatory requirements that must be followed to avoid legal consequences.

Compliance with Data Protection Laws

One of the main legal aspects of phone orders is compliance with data protection laws. When a customer places an order over the phone, they are providing personal information such as their name, address, and credit card details. As a store owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that this information is handled and stored in a secure manner.

Under data protection laws, you must inform customers about how their data will be used and obtain their consent to use it for the purpose of processing the order. This includes clearly stating the purpose of collecting their personal information, how it will be used, and who it will be shared with. It is also important to have a privacy policy in place that outlines your data protection practices.

To comply with data protection laws, it is recommended to have a secure and encrypted system for storing customer information. This can include using a secure payment gateway and having a secure database for storing customer data. It is also important to regularly review and update your data protection practices to ensure compliance with any changes in regulations.

Compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards

Another important legal aspect of phone orders is compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards. These standards are set by major credit card companies to ensure the security of credit card transactions. As a store owner, you are responsible for ensuring that all credit card information is handled and stored in a secure manner and that your payment processes comply with PCI standards.

To comply with PCI standards, it is recommended to use a secure payment gateway that is PCI compliant. This will ensure that all credit card data is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access. It is also important to regularly review and update your payment processes to ensure compliance with any changes in PCI standards.

Compliance with Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that regulates telemarketing calls and text messages. This law requires businesses to obtain prior express written consent from customers before making telemarketing calls or sending text messages to their phone.

This means that you must obtain consent from customers before contacting them for phone orders. This can be done by having customers provide their phone number and checking a box to give consent to be contacted for marketing purposes. It is important to keep a record of this consent in case of any legal disputes.

State and Local Regulations

In addition to federal laws, there may also be state and local regulations that apply to phone orders. It is important to research and comply with any laws or regulations that may apply to your specific location. This can include licensing requirements or restrictions on telemarketing and automated calls.

It is also recommended to have a written policy in place for phone orders that outlines your compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This can help protect your business in case of any legal disputes.

To stay in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, you need to take these issues seriously. The development of mobile commerce is generating great interest in recent years. As a store owner, it is important to have a good grasp of all relevant regulations and industry practices. In the end, you must stay on top of the latest trends so that you are in compliance with all laws and regulations.

24
Nov, 2023

The Power of Personalization: Enhancing Customer Service through Phone Orders

It is no secret that the customer experience is the key to success for any business. With the rise of technology, customers have become more demanding and expect personalized service. As a result, businesses have to find ways to keep up with customer expectations by providing personalized customer service.

Why personalizing the customer’s experience is important?

Personalizing the customer’s experience is important for a number of reasons. First, it allows you to build relationships with customers and make them feel valued. This can lead to loyalty and repeat purchases.

Second, it can help you differentiate your business from competitors. When customers feel like they’re getting a personalized experience, they’re more likely to choose your business over others.

Third, it can help you better understand your customers. By getting to know them better, you can make more informed decisions about how to improve your products and services.

Finally, personalizing the customer’s experience can help you create a unique brand identity. Customers who feel like they’re being treated as individuals will be more likely to remember your business and refer you to others.

Ways of personalizing the customer’s experience

Personalizing the customer’s experience can be achieved in a variety of ways. One way is to use data to create a more personalized experience. By tracking customer data such as purchase history, interests, or preferences, you can create a tailored experience that speaks directly to the customer. For example, you can use customer data to create personalized product recommendations or send out targeted promotional offers.

Another way to personalize the customer’s experience is by providing a personalized customer service experience. This can be done by having customer service representatives who are familiar with the customer’s needs and preferences, as well as having the ability to anticipate a customer’s needs and provide relevant solutions. It can also be beneficial to offer personalized support options such as live chat, email, or phone support.

Forms of personalizing in phone orders

With phone orders, personalization can take many forms, from asking customers about their order preferences to offering additional services and discounts.

One of the most effective ways to personalize a customer’s phone order experience is by taking the time to ask questions and really get to know the customer. Asking questions such as “What do you usually order?” or “How can I make this order more convenient for you?” helps to create a more personalized experience. This type of personalization allows businesses to better understand the customer’s needs and preferences, thus ensuring that their order is tailored to meet their individual requirements.

Another great way to personalize a customer’s phone order experience is by offering additional services and discounts. For example, businesses can offer free shipping or discounts on certain items for orders placed over the phone. This type of personalization shows customers that the business values their loyalty and wants to reward them for their continued support.

Finally, businesses should also consider offering incentives for repeat customers. By offering loyalty programs or special discounts for frequent customers, businesses can encourage customers to keep coming back. This type of personalization helps to create a more positive customer experience and encourages customers to continue to order from the business in the future.

How to raise a service using a Phone Orders for WooCommerce?

The Phone Orders for WooCommerce plugin is a great way to accept orders from customers via their mobile phones. It is easy to set up, and it even allows customers to pay for their orders using their credit cards. In general, having a free version of the plugin, you can already offer a personalized service to the client. But ask yourself: How can my company differentiate itself from the competition? The answer is simple – build better relationships with clients.

Phone Orders for WooCommerce (Pro) helps solve global problems for a commercial resource:

  1. Sell the product, create the most comfortable conditions for the transaction.

  2. Retain the client, make him a regular buyer, motivate him to make repeat purchases.

  3. Build a stable, loyal relationship with the brand.

Here are some steps to help you raise a service using a Phone Orders for WooCommerce (Pro):

  1. Use data to personalize your call. The plugin stores data about the client’s previous purchases and preferences. This will allow you to offer products that are most likely to interest the client.

  2. Set up automation. Phone Orders for WooCommerce (Pro) automates telephone communications. For example, with its help you no longer need to search for the most popular products. Just add default products in the search bar. Automated transaction processing allows you to focus on important points and increase call productivity, as well as save time and resources.

  3. Offer a gift. The plugin allows you to configure the default product in your cart. Thus, when a client places an order in your store, he receives a gift, for example, a perfume sample.

Personalization is key to providing the best service possible. By taking the time to get to know customers, offering additional services and discounts, and encouraging repeat business, businesses can create a more enjoyable phone ordering experience. This, in turn, can lead to increased customer satisfaction and increased sales.

10
Oct, 2023

Using Phone Orders as a POS system

What is a POS system?

A POS system, or Point of Sale system, is a combination of hardware and software that enables businesses to process transactions quickly and securely. It consists of a computer, a cash register, a printer, a barcode scanner, a credit card reader, and a touchscreen monitor. The POS system allows businesses to keep track of sales, inventory, customer data, and more. It can also provide up-to-date information on customers’ purchasing habits, enabling businesses to tailor their services and products to meet customer demand.

The cash register program must support all trade processes: operations for receiving money, returns, reversals, various types of payments, etc. The possibility of introducing marketing programs is also very important nowadays: discounts, bonuses, promotions, etc. General requirements are also important: protection from unauthorized actions of the cashier, data safety, promptness of system updates.

Phone Orders and POS system: common features

A Point of Sale (POS) system and Phone Orders offer a variety of features that enable businesses to conduct their operations in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. While these two systems have different primary functions, they share several common features that make them essential for managing orders and customer satisfaction:

Both systems have the ability to store customer information, including contact information and order history. This information can be used to quickly identify customers, provide personalized offers, or follow up on orders.

They also allow for easy payment processing, either through integrated payment processing systems or through manually entered payment data. This makes it easy for customers to pay for their orders quickly and securely.

Furthermore, both systems can also be used to generate reports and view sales trends and customer shopping habits.

As you can see, Phone Orders and POS system have a lot in common.

Although the name of the plugin might suggest that its use is limited to Phone Orders, this is not the case. This tool can also be implemented in a physical store.

We will tell you what steps you need to take to implement and configure the plugin as a POS system.

How to use Phone Orders as a POS system?

If you want to set up Phone Orders as POS system, it’s easy to do. First you need to install and configure the plugin. You can read our article about this.

Let’s imagine that we are a company that sells hot dogs for delivery.

We have been listening to our customers and they have repeatedly said that they would love to visit our restaurant if we had one. We have decided that this is the time to take the plunge and open a physical location. Opening a restaurant is a big challenge, but we are confident that our commitment to quality and customer service will make it a success.

We’ve been using Phone Orders on our delivery website for a long time. This is a very convenient plugin that partially automates the order acceptance process (we use the pro version). In addition, the plugin helped us better understand consumer preferences. After tracking order history, we found that the most popular menu item is Hot Dog Classic.

We really enjoyed working in Phone Orders, but we realized it wouldn’t be able to use it in a restaurant. “The plugin is only effective when used online.” – that’s what we thought and we were wrong. After all, it is possible to implement the Phone Orders plugin in an offline location.

There are several ways to to do this. The first option is to use a tablet with a compatible app that can sync with the website. This enables the business to accept orders in an offline setting, such as a restaurant or retail store. The tablet will need to have an internet connection, and the app will need to be able to connect to the website.

Another option is to use a mobile payment processor. This can be done through a variety of apps, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. This is a great way to accept payments in an offline setting, as customers can simply scan their device and make a payment.

With this feature, our company can increase sales and revenue without the need for an expensive POS system!

Now let’s move on to how to enable it in the plugin.

To do this, we need to enable the Run at frontend mod. Go to Settings > Run at frontend and check the Accept orders at frontend page box. Also change Frontend page url to the following format:

http://your-site.com/phone-orders-frontend-page/

Note: This feature is only available in the pro version.

By going to this URL you will see the following window:

The ordering process here is similar to the backend:

  1. Find out the order details.
  1. Fill out a note for it (optional).
  1. Ask the customer for his/her contact information.
  1. Create an order and ask the customer to pay.
  1. Send him/her an invoice by email (optional).

Conclusion

In conclusion, using Phone Orders as a POS system can be a beneficial solution for company that need an efficient and cost-effective way to process orders. It allows businesses to keep their customer orders organized and accessible at all times, which can be especially helpful for those that need to quickly process orders or provide customers with detailed information about products or services. Furthermore, phone orders are an ideal solution for businesses that are looking to save money on POS systems, as they are typically much cheaper than traditional POS systems. Additionally, Phone Orders are also very easy to use and require minimal training, allowing businesses to quickly get up and running with their POS system. All in all, Phone Orders can be a great option for businesses looking to streamline their ordering process and keep costs down.

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