# Complete draft orders automatically

URL: https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/ordering/automation-and-workflows
Applies to: Shopify

Turn SparkLayer draft orders into completed orders in Shopify automatically, and get email alerts for new draft orders with Shopify Flow.

> **Quick summary**
>
> - On Shopify, B2B orders paid with a manual payment method, such as Pay by Invoice or Pay on Account, arrive as draft orders.
> - To have SparkLayer complete them for you, turn on **Auto-complete draft orders** at **Integrations > Platform > Shopify order actions** in the SparkLayer Dashboard ([open](https://app.sparklayer.io/configuration/integrations/platform)), or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Integrations > Platform > Shopify order actions** in the Shopify app.
> - Shopify doesn't notify you about new draft orders, so use [Shopify Flow](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/flow.md) to send email alerts.
> - These automations are for Shopify only.

## How it works

Unless a customer pays by card at checkout (**Card at checkout** in a customer group), SparkLayer creates a [draft order](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-sales-channels/wholesale/channel/orders/process-orders) in Shopify, under **Orders > Drafts**.

Drafts let you make changes before taking payment and fulfilling, such as adjusting quantities or applying a special shipping method. If you don't need that step, automate it.

What happens to an order paid by invoice or on account:

1. **Customer orders**: They choose a manual payment method, such as Pay by Invoice.
2. **Draft order**: SparkLayer creates a draft order in Shopify.
3. **Auto-complete (optional)**: SparkLayer converts the draft to a completed order.
4. **Fulfil**: You process the order like any other.

## Complete a draft order by hand

To approve a draft order and turn it into a completed order, complete it in Shopify:

1. In the Shopify admin, go to **Orders > Drafts** ([open in the Shopify admin](https://admin.shopify.com/draft_orders)) and open the draft order.
2. Make any changes, such as adjusting quantities or shipping.
3. Click **Mark as paid** if the customer has paid. If they pay later, add payment terms such as Net 30 instead, then create the order.

The completed order is a normal Shopify order, ready to fulfil. See Shopify's guide to [accepting payment](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/orders/create-orders#accept-payment). If draft orders are piling up, complete them automatically instead.

Draft orders you create yourself in the Shopify admin, rather than through the SparkLayer checkout, don't show in the customer's My Account. To show them, add the `b2b` tag and the order import metafield: see [Show imported or manual orders in My Account](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/guides/show-imported-orders.md).

## Complete draft orders automatically

1. In SparkLayer, go to **Integrations > Platform** in the SparkLayer Dashboard ([open](https://app.sparklayer.io/configuration/integrations/platform)), or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Integrations > Platform** in the Shopify app.
2. In **Shopify order actions**, turn on **Auto-complete draft orders**.
3. Click **Save**.

The **Shopify order actions** card has 2 switches:

| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Auto-complete draft orders** | Turns draft orders from manual payments into completed orders automatically. |
| **Don't send Shopify's customer invite** | When a sales agent creates a customer in Shopify, Shopify's account invite email isn't sent. See [Order for a customer](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/sales-ordering/order-for-a-customer.md#add-a-new-customer). |

## Get email alerts for new draft orders

Shopify doesn't notify you about new draft orders by default. Send an email to an address of your choice, so someone knows to review the order.

[Shopify Flow](https://apps.shopify.com/flow) is a free Shopify app for automating tasks in your store and across apps. For ready-made templates for email notifications and more, see [Shopify Flow for B2B](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/flow.md).

## FAQs

**Can I use these automations on other platforms?**

No. They're for Shopify, where orders paid with manual payment methods arrive as draft orders.

**Where do I find SparkLayer draft orders in Shopify?**

In the Shopify admin, go to **Orders**, then **Drafts**.

**Why doesn't a draft order I created in Shopify show in My Account?**

My Account only shows orders placed through the SparkLayer checkout. Add the `b2b` tag and set the **B2B - Order Import** metafield to `true` on the order. See [Show imported or manual orders in My Account](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/guides/show-imported-orders.md).

**Can I mark draft orders as paid automatically?**

**Auto-complete draft orders** turns them into completed orders automatically. To mark an order as paid once the customer pays, open it in Shopify and click **Mark as paid**. See [Complete a draft order by hand](#complete-a-draft-order-by-hand). SparkLayer can't mark orders as paid automatically: to do that, use our [ready-made Shopify Flows](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/flow.md#order-workflows).