Creating Your First Order

Ready to create your first custom order in MakeFlow? This guide walks you through the entire process from start to finish.

Prerequisites

Before creating an order, make sure you have:

1. ✅ Set up your studio settings (work hours, currency)
2. ✅ Added at least one product to your catalog
3. ✅ Added the required materials for that product to your inventory

If you haven’t done these yet, check out our Getting Started guide.

Creating an Order

Step 1: Navigate to Orders

Click Orders in the sidebar, then click the New Order button.

Step 2: Select or Create a Customer

You’ll need to associate the order with a customer.

To select an existing customer:

• Start typing their name in the customer field
• Select from the dropdown

To create a new customer:

• Click Add Customer
• Fill in their details (name, email, phone)
• Save

Step 3: Add Products

Click Add Product and select the product(s) for this order.

For each product, you can:

• Adjust the quantity
• See the total cost calculation
• View required materials

Note: MakeFlow automatically calculates material costs and labor based on your product settings.

Step 4: Set a Due Date

Pick the date when this order needs to be completed and delivered.

MakeFlow will automatically calculate:

• Total estimated build time (based on products)
• Whether the timeline is achievable
• Order health status (healthy, at-risk, overdue)

Step 5: Add Order Details (Optional)

• Order Notes: Internal notes about the order
• Customer Notes: Special requests or customizations from the customer
• Priority: Mark orders as high priority if needed

Step 6: Review and Save

Before saving, review:

• ✅ Customer information is correct
• ✅ Products and quantities are accurate
• ✅ Due date is realistic
• ✅ Total cost looks right

Click Create Order to save.

What Happens Next?

Order Status

New orders start with the status Received. This means the order is confirmed but not yet in production.

Material Availability

MakeFlow checks if you have enough materials in stock:

• ✅ Sufficient materials: You can add to build queue
• ⚠️ Insufficient materials: You’ll need to restock before starting production

Order Health

Based on the due date and estimated build time, MakeFlow assigns a health status:

• 🟢 Healthy: Plenty of time to complete
• 🟡 At-Risk: Tight timeline, needs attention
• 🔴 Overdue: Past the due date

Adding to the Build Queue

Once you’re ready to start production:

1. Go to the Build Queue page
2. Click Add to Queue
3. Select the order
4. It will appear in your first workflow stage

Materials for this order are automatically reserved, preventing over-allocation.

Order Actions

From the order detail page, you can:

• Edit: Modify order details, products, or due date
• Add to Queue: Start production
• Update Status: Change from Received → In Queue → In Progress → Finished → Shipped
• Delete: Remove the order (be careful!)

Tips for Success

Realistic Due Dates

Use MakeFlow’s health indicators as a guide. If an order shows as “at-risk” immediately after creation, consider negotiating a later due date with your customer.

Check Materials First

Before accepting an order, verify you have materials in stock or can get them in time.

Use Priority Flags

Mark urgent or high-value orders as high priority. This helps you focus on what matters most.

Track Everything

Add detailed notes about customizations, customer preferences, or special requirements. Your future self will thank you!

Common Scenarios

Rush Orders

If you accept a rush order:

1. Mark it as high priority
2. Add it to the front of your build queue
3. Monitor materials carefully
4. Update the customer if timeline issues arise

Pre-Orders

For items you’ll make in the future:

1. Create the order with the future due date
2. Keep it in “Received” status
3. Add to queue when you’re ready to start

Custom Variations

If a customer wants variations on a standard product:

1. Add order notes explaining the customization
2. Adjust the estimated build time if needed
3. Update material requirements if different

Next Steps

Now that you’ve created your first order:

1. Add the order to your build queue
2. Understand order health tracking
3. Learn about workflow stages

Troubleshooting

Q: Why can’t I add my order to the build queue? A: Check if you have sufficient materials. MakeFlow prevents adding orders without enough stock.

Q: Can I change products after creating the order? A: Yes! Edit the order and modify the products. MakeFlow will recalculate costs and timelines.

Q: What if I don’t have a customer yet? A: Create a placeholder customer (like “Walk-In Customer”) for inquiries that aren’t confirmed yet.

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Need help? Contact support@makeflow.xyz