The combine order feature is a specific feature (activated per supplier shop) that allows clients to associate new orders with already existing orders from the same supplier that have not yet been shipped. By doing so the client bypasses Minimum order amounts or quantities or shipping costs as they were met already when the first order was placed.
As a result, this feature makes it easier for clients to add "ad hoc" items to already placed orders, thereby reducing the need for clients to call suppliers to add forgotten items to orders.
Lets take an example:
- As a supplier you have a Minimum order spend of 100 EUR.
- A Kitchen Chef places an order this morning for 150 EUR.
- After placing the order the client realises they need to add two more items to the order.
- Previously, they could not manage this on Astore shop. They had to call the supplier directly and add the items to the order.
- Now, the client can add the two items to my cart and proceed to checkout. On the cart overview page, they will now see an option to "combine order" and it will display the relevant orders (same supplier, not yet delivered) to which they can associate these two items.
- They choose to combine the order, thereby bypassing Minimum order amounts or quantities as they were already met by the order to which I am associating the new order with.
- The result is two purchase orders, but the second order has bypassed the logistics conditions thanks to being associated with an order that has already met the conditions.
What about shipping costs?
If a shopping cost has been incurred by the first order, and the second order that is combined with the first changes the delivery costs, then the delivery costs of the second order will be displayed as 0 on Astore shop. However the supplier will need to recalculate the shipping costs of the total order on their system.
What conditions does an order need to meet in order to be combined?
The function to “combine” an order with another previously placed order will only appear if the following conditions are met :
If the order quantity is lower than the minimum order quantity set by the supplier
OR
If the total order amount is lower than the minimum order amount set by the supplier
OR
If the number of packaging units in the order is lower than the minimum number of packaging units per order set by the supplier
AND
An existing order (for the same delivery date as the new order) with the same supplier shop is already placed that meets the conditions listed above
How to activate the feature
Suppliers should only activate this feature if, in their own logistics set up, they can manage to merge to purchase orders into one delivery. By activating this feature in Astore Shop / Mirakl configuration, suppliers are committing to merge two purchase orders into one delivery.
Considerations & Risks
For suppliers whom manage orders via API we wanted to draw your attention to the following points concerning this new feature:
- A new field will be available in the API call OR11 : “combined order”.
- This field will display the orders associated with it (both for Parent and Child orders)
- “Order_Date” field will be updated on Parent orders when a child order is combined with it
- Alert! Please check that your system does not create new orders when an order date field is updated
- Alert! Please check if your system auto rejects orders that do not meet your minimum order quantities or amounts! If so, then please register to opt out or contact our support teams