Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce

by iamgsbala

Description

Running a print shop or custom-product WooCommerce store? Need a WooCommerce custom order workflow for printed apparel, signage, packaging or personalized products?

Stop managing artwork, proofs, approvals and production through separate emails and spreadsheets. Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce keeps the post-order workflow inside WooCommerce.

Collect structured product specifications and artwork uploads, review files, send versioned proofs, record customer approval and move each order item through a clear production workflow. It gives your team a WooCommerce artwork approval and proof approval process that stays connected to the original order.

It is built for printed apparel, signage, packaging, personalized products and other businesses that need a WooCommerce custom order workflow instead of a standard order screen.

The free version includes Jobs, structured specifications, secure artwork and proof files, artwork review, proof approval, workflow events, internal notes, email notifications and WooCommerce custom order statuses. It is designed for print shops, apparel businesses, signage companies, packaging suppliers and personalized-product stores. Advanced pricing, custom workflow builders, Kanban, staff assignment, cloud storage and reporting remain Pro opportunities.

Explore the full product story on the Custom Order Workflow website and read the complete online documentation.

How it works

Configure a WooCommerce product with custom specification fields, artwork upload and customer approval requirements.
The customer enters the product details and uploads artwork with the order.
WooCommerce creates a Job for each eligible order item and stores an immutable specification snapshot.
Staff review the artwork and can accept it, request changes or upload a replacement version.
Staff upload a versioned proof for the customer to review.
The customer approves the proof or submits a change request from My Account > Artwork & Proofs.
After approval, staff move the Job through Approved, In Production, Quality Check, Ready and Completed.

The workflow is tracked per order item, while clear Custom Order Workflow statuses are mirrored on the WooCommerce order for overall fulfilment visibility.

Data retention

Operational data is retained on uninstall by default. The Settings page provides an explicit opt-in to delete custom operation tables and settings during uninstall.

Documentation

The full user guide is included at docs/user-guide.md. It explains setup, the customer proof approval process and the production steps after approval.

Privacy

Deactivation feedback is optional. If submitted, the selected reasons and optional note are sent to iamgsbala@gmail.com using WordPress email. The plugin does not send deactivation feedback to a third-party service.

Installation

Install and activate WooCommerce.
Upload the iamgsbala-custom-order-workflow-for-woocommerce folder to wp-content/plugins/.
Activate Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce from Plugins.
Open Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce in the WordPress admin.

Screenshots

Overview dashboard showing the custom order workflow from specifications and artwork through proof approval and production.
WooCommerce product settings for artwork uploads, customer approval and structured specification fields.
Job details showing the order-item specification snapshot, artwork, proof files, workflow status and activity timeline.
Customer Artwork & Proofs page showing the order ID, proof version, artwork history and approval controls.

Reviews

Changelog

1.0.12

Refined the WordPress.org description around WooCommerce custom order, artwork approval and proof approval search intent.
Updated the short plugin description and screenshot captions to explain the complete workflow more clearly.

1.0.11

Added the Custom Order Workflow product website and online documentation links to the plugin description and Overview screen.
Updated the plugin documentation link to the new, distinctive public URL.

1.0.10

Replaced the WordPress.org banner and icon artwork with the Custom Order Workflow brand.
Updated the readme to use the five supported directory tags.

1.0.9

Fixed admin asset loading for the approved Custom Order Workflow menu slug.
Refined the admin Overview entry point and refreshed search-friendly readme tags.

1.0.8

Improved the visible close control in the optional deactivation feedback modal.
Routed submitted feedback to iamgsbala@gmail.com with the subject Custom Order Workflow Plugin feedbacks.

1.0.7

Added an optional, dismissible deactivation feedback modal with structured reasons and an optional note.
Sends submitted feedback only to the site’s configured administrator through WordPress email.

1.0.6

Renamed the plugin to Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce and requested the iamgsbala-custom-order-workflow-for-woocommerce WordPress.org slug.
Updated the text domain, folders, admin/frontend labels, documentation, website links and branded assets.
Added the by iamgsbala attribution consistently across the public brand presentation.

1.0.4

Moved private artwork storage to a dedicated protected subdirectory resolved through wp_upload_dir().
Refreshed the plugin icon, banner, documentation links and user-facing labels for the previous identity update.

1.0.3

Added WooCommerce order status synchronization for the custom-order workflow.
Added the visible Artwork Approved milestone before proof preparation.
Refreshed the Overview hero and removed redundant system status controls.
Updated translation calls and private upload handling for WordPress.org automated checks.

1.0.2

Renamed the dashboard entry to Overview and replaced the internal Foundation wording with clearer user-facing labels.
Added a direct free documentation link to iamgsbala.com.
Reworked Job activity into a readable timeline and refreshed the customer Artwork & Proofs controls.
Updated the branded WordPress.org banner and icon assets.

1.0.1

Replaced the admin menu icon with a reliable inline workflow icon and refreshed the branded WordPress.org icon and banner assets.
Added protected image previews for artwork and proofs on Jobs, WooCommerce order details and My Account.
Refined Job Details, order panels, customer proof cards and button styling.
Added exact process messaging and iamgsbala attribution to the product branding.
Added Order ID references to the customer Artwork & Proofs area, a right-rail activity view and a dedicated Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce product tab.
Added dashboard documentation guidance and an upcoming Pro product message.

1.0.0

Completed the free V1 workflow from specifications and artwork through proof approval and production.
Added artwork review, replacement versions and protected file access.
Added versioned proofs, customer My Account review, approval and change requests.
Added validated workflow transitions, activity events and internal notes.
Added customer/admin email notifications, dashboard counts and responsive UI styling.
Added configurable artwork extensions and maximum upload size with SVG disabled by default.

0.4.0

Added per-product artwork upload enablement.
Added 25 MB validation for PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPG, TIFF and ZIP artwork.
Added private random-name storage and protected admin downloads.
Added artwork transfer from cart to order item and Job artwork records.

0.3.0

Added per-product specification field builder for text, number, textarea, select, radio and checkbox fields.
Added frontend validation and specification display in cart and checkout.
Added immutable specification snapshots to order items and operational Jobs.

0.2.0

Added the Job entity and repository.
Added one-job-per-eligible-order-item creation from WooCommerce orders.
Added the v1 lifecycle status catalogue and protected admin status updates.
Added paginated Jobs list and Job detail screens.

0.1.0

Added plugin bootstrap and WooCommerce dependency checks.
Added activation/deactivation lifecycle.
Added versioned custom-table schema and migration coordinator.
Added Custom Order Workflow for WooCommerce foundation dashboard and settings.