Why do you place a test order before going live?

A test order is a real order that you process yourself through the new system before your customers do. It shows whether the entire process works as it should: from the order coming in to the package arriving on the doorstep. It’s the final check before you switch over.

What a test order checks

• Does the order automatically enter the fulfillment system?
• Is the product information correct, or is there a discrepancy in the name or number?
• Will the correct item be picked, even when there are similar variants?
• Is the packaging correct, and does it contain what it's supposed to?
• Is the shipping label created correctly, and is the shipment going to the right carrier?
• Is your customer receiving the correct status information?

Why You Shouldn't Skip This

The errors that crop up during a transition are rarely major or dramatic. It might be a part number that’s off by a single character, a variant that wasn’t listed separately, or a shipping method that’s called something different in your online store than in the warehouse. These are all minor issues that you only notice in practice when a customer is on the phone.

A test order brings them up at a time when nothing is at stake. It takes five minutes to correct it.

Test what you're actually selling

Don’t choose just any item. Instead, select the most common order, as well as one that’s more challenging: one with multiple order lines, a variant, a product with special packaging, or a destination outside the country. That way, you’ll test the extremes of your product range—not just the easy middle ground.

Be sure to test the return as well

Be sure to send the test order back as well. That way, you’ll see how a return is processed, how it’s reviewed, and when the item is back in stock. Returns are often the most complicated part of running an online store, and it’s good to know how the process works before you receive your first actual return.

Who Does What

Place the order yourself through your online store, just as a customer would. That way, you’ll immediately test your checkout process, shipping options, and confirmation email. Agree on who will be monitoring the process from the warehouse side, so that any discrepancies can be checked immediately rather than reconstructed later.

Only then should you switch over

If the test order goes well, you can switch over the order flow. If anything remains unclear, resolve that first. A switch that takes effect a week later is always cheaper than a week of incorrect orders.