{% hint style="info" %} Subscriptions is in 'beta' mode, meaning it's a new feature that may still have some glitches. Please contact us with any feedback about what works, what needs improving or how it could be better explained. {% endhint %}
Subscriptions are recurring or standing orders that can be set up for the customers of any Enterprise with a shopfront. Once set up, these orders will be automatically processed at defined intervals (eg. weekly, fortnightly, monthly).
{% hint style="success" %} Subscriptions are convenient for customers, as they can know that their order will be processed without needing to remember to place their order. {% endhint %}
{% hint style="success" %} Subscriptions are also a good way for an Enterprise to boost customer loyalty and make their order volumes are
more predictable. {% endhint %}
Features of Subscriptions
- Customers can choose to have their 'usual order' placed automatically.
- Customers can set up an automatic credit card payment (using Stripe) for their subscription
- Enterprises and/or customers can pause, cancel and/or add/remove products from their standard subscription order.
Configuration: this page describes the steps to make your enterprise 'Subscription Ready'
- Enable Subscriptions in your Enterprise Settings.
- Make sure you have Shipping and Payment methods setup for customers.
- Gather information from your customers, including their contact details, which items they'd like in their subscription and which shipping and payment methods they'll use.
- Add your subscription customers to your Customers list, and then ask them to signup to OFN.
- Setup Schedules, which will dictate how frequently subscriptions are processed.
Creating and Managing Orders: this page describes the steps involved in actually creating a new subscription and subsequently processing the order.
- Create subscriptions for each customer.
- Edit, pause and delete subscriptions.
- Understand How subscriptions are processed (ie how they appear in your 'order list')
Customer Set Up: this page describes a customer's perspective of subscriptions.
{% hint style="success" %} It can be useful to write a 'subscriptions guide' for your customers to help them through the process. You can see an example of a great subscriptions guide written by Tamar Valley Food Hub on their website here. {% endhint %}
{% hint style="info" %} If you struggle with any aspect of setting up subscriptions for your enterprise you may like to have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. {% endhint %}