Why place a test order before going live?

A test order is a real order that you send through the new operation yourself, before your customers do. It shows whether the entire chain is working correctly: from the moment an order comes in to the package arriving on the doorstep. It is the final check before you switch over.

What a test order checks

• Does the order come into the fulfilment system automatically?
• Are the product details correct, or is there a mismatch in name or number?
• Is the correct item picked, even for variants that look alike?
• Is the packaging correct and does it contain what it should?
• Is the shipping label created correctly, and is the shipment going to the right carrier?
• Does your customer receive the correct status updates?

Why you shouldn't skip this

The errors that pop up during a switch are rarely major or spectacular. It might be a product number that is off by one character, a variant that hasn't been registered separately, or a shipping method that has a different name in your webshop than in the warehouse. These are all small things that you usually only notice when a customer is on the phone.

A test order brings these issues to light at a time when nothing is at stake. Fixing them then takes five minutes.

Test what you actually sell

Don't just pick a random product. Choose your most common order, and additionally one that is tricky: multiple order lines, a variant, a product with special packaging, or an international destination. This way you test the edges of your product range, not just the easy middle.

Test the return process too

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 via your webshop, exactly as a customer would. This also allows you to test your checkout process, shipping options, and confirmation email. Agree beforehand who in the warehouse will keep an eye on things, so any deviation can be checked immediately instead of having to be figured out afterwards.

Switch only after that

If the test order goes well, you’ll switch over the order flow. That’s the final step in the transition. If anything remains unclear, resolve that first. A transition that takes effect a week later is always cheaper than a week of incorrect orders.