How to Manage Orders and Inventory

🧭 Step 1: Log In to Your Vendor Dashboard

1. Visit MadeInNigeria.com.

2. Click “Login” at the top-right corner.

3. Enter your vendor email and password.

4. From the homepage, click “Vendor Dashboard”.

Once you’re in your dashboard, you’ll see key areas like Orders, Products, Earnings, and Reports.

🛒 Managing Orders

When customers make a purchase from your store, all incoming orders will appear in your Orders tab.

🧾 Step 2: View New Orders

1. From your dashboard, click “Orders” in the left-hand menu.

2. You’ll see a list of all orders placed for your products, including:

   • Order ID

   • Date

   • Customer name

   • Order total

   • Payment status

   • Order status (e.g., Pending, Processing, Completed)

✅ Tip: Always check your Orders section daily to avoid shipping delays.

📋 Step 3: Review Order Details

Click on an Order ID to open detailed information such as:

• Products ordered

• Quantity

• Customer name and delivery address

• Payment method

• Shipping cost

• Order notes (if provided by the customer)

Here, you can verify the order information before processing.

✅ Tip: If something looks unclear (e.g., custom size or special request), use the “Add Note” or “Message Customer” button to clarify.

🚚 Step 4: Update Order Status

Once you confirm the order details, update its progress as follows:

To update:

1. Open the order.

2. In the status dropdown, select the appropriate status.

3. Click “Update” or “Save Changes.”

✅ Tip: Always update order status promptly — it keeps your customers informed and improves trust.

✉️ Step 5: Communicate with Customers

From the order details page, you can send direct updates to the customer:

• Private Note: Visible only to you and admin.

• Customer Note: Sends an email update to the buyer.

Use this feature to share updates like:

“Your order has been shipped and should arrive within 3–5 business days.”

✅ Tip: Clear communication reduces cancellations and improves your store ratings.

📦 Step 6: Print Invoices or Packing Slips

If enabled by the platform:

• Click “Print Invoice” or “Print Packing Slip” for each order.

• Attach the invoice to the package before shipping.

Invoices make your store look professional and help with record-keeping.

🚛 Step 7: Handle Shipping and Delivery

Depending on your shipping setup:

1. Prepare the product securely for delivery.

2. Contact your preferred courier (or use Made In Nigeria’s integrated shipping options if available).

3. Add the Tracking ID (if applicable) to the order page.

4. Update the order status to “Shipped” or “Completed” once dispatched.

✅ Tip: Always confirm that the customer has received their item before marking it as “Completed.”

💰 Step 8: Confirm Payments and Earnings

After completing an order:

• Navigate to Dashboard → Earnings or Reports.

• You’ll see your total sales, commissions, and pending withdrawals.

Payment disbursement follows the platform’s payout policy (e.g., weekly or after confirmation of delivery).

📊 Managing Inventory

Keeping your inventory accurate ensures customers don’t order out-of-stock items and helps you restock on time.

🧭 Step 9: Access Your Product List

1. Go to your Vendor Dashboard.

2. Click “Products.”

3. You’ll see a list of all your active and inactive products, with stock levels beside each.

🔢 Step 10: Update Stock Quantity

To adjust inventory:

1. Click “Edit” beside the product.

2. Scroll to the Inventory section.

3. Enable “Manage Stock.”

4. Enter your current stock quantity (e.g., 20).

5. Choose Stock Status:

   • In Stock – available for purchase.

   • Out of Stock – not available.

6. Click “Update” to save changes.

✅ Tip: Update stock levels immediately after receiving or selling products outside the platform to maintain accuracy.

⚠️ Step 11: Set Low Stock Notifications

Some plugins (like MarketKing or WooCommerce) allow you to receive low-stock alerts.
To enable:

1. Go to Settings → Inventory Settings.

2. Turn on Low Stock Notifications.

3. Set your alert quantity (e.g., “Notify me when stock drops below 5”).

This ensures you restock before running out.

🧩 Step 12: Manage Product Variations

For products with variations (like size, color, or style):

1. Go to Products → Edit → Variations.

2. Set stock quantities for each variation individually.
   Example:

   • Red – Size M: 10 units

   • Blue – Size L: 5 units

✅ Tip: Keep variation stock updated to prevent customers from ordering unavailable options.

🛠️ Step 13: Mark Products as Out of Stock or Draft

If a product is unavailable temporarily:

1. Go to Products.

2. Click Quick Edit.

3. Change Stock Status to “Out of Stock.”

4. Or change Product Status to “Draft” to hide it temporarily.

This prevents customer disappointment and refunds.

🧾 Step 14: Review Inventory Reports

MarketKing and WooCommerce provide reports for tracking:

• Top-selling products

• Low-stock items

• Out-of-stock products

• Total stock value

To access:

• Navigate to Reports → Stock Reports in your vendor dashboard.

✅ Tip: Review your inventory weekly to plan restocks and identify your best-performing products.

💡 Best Practices for Order & Inventory Management

• Check your dashboard daily for new orders.

• Always update order status as soon as it changes.

• Use clear communication with customers.

• Keep accurate stock counts to avoid cancellations.

• Set up low-stock alerts to restock early.

• Download and analyze reports monthly to improve sales strategy.

🧾 Quick Reference Table