Orders Management

The Orders page is where you manage customer orders. You enter what pieces customers need, and GoSmarter helps you figure out how to cut them.

[SCREENSHOT: Orders page with list of customer orders]

Understanding Orders

What You’ll See

The Orders page shows all your customer orders in a table. Each row is one order line item.

Common columns you’ll see:

• Order Number - Unique reference for each order
• Customer - Who placed the order
• Material - What grade of steel they need
• Diameter - Required bar thickness in millimeters
• Length - Required bar length in millimeters
• Quantity - How many pieces needed
• Status - Whether it’s pending, in progress, or complete
• Due Date - When the customer needs it

[SCREENSHOT: Orders table with columns labeled]

Creating Orders

When a customer places a new order, you need to record it in the system.

Adding a Single Order

1. Click the + Add Order button at the top right
2. A form will appear

[SCREENSHOT: Add Order form]

3. Fill in the order details:

   • Order Number - Enter your internal reference number
   • Customer Name - Type the customer’s name
   • Material - Select the steel grade needed
   • Diameter - Enter the required diameter in mm
   • Length - Enter the required length in mm
   • Quantity - How many pieces the customer needs
   • Due Date - When they need delivery
   • Notes (optional) - Any special instructions

4. Click Save to create the order

Important: Make sure the order number is unique so you can track it easily.

Uploading Multiple Orders

If you have many orders to enter at once:

1. Click the Upload button
2. Download the template if you need it
3. Fill in your spreadsheet with order details
4. Upload your completed file
5. Review the preview carefully
6. Click Confirm to create all orders

[SCREENSHOT: Upload orders dialog]

Tip: This is especially useful when receiving orders by email or from your sales system.

Updating Orders

Editing an Order

Things change - quantities, dates, specifications. Here’s how to update:

1. Find the order in your list
2. Click the Edit button (pencil icon)
3. Update the information that’s changed
4. Click Save

[SCREENSHOT: Edit order form]

Common updates:

• Changing quantity based on customer revision
• Updating the due date
• Adding notes about special requirements
• Changing status as work progresses

Changing Order Status

Track progress by updating status:

1. Edit the order
2. Change the Status field:
   • Pending - Not started yet
   • In Progress - Currently working on it
   • Complete - Finished and delivered
3. Save your changes

Tip: Keep status up to date so you always know what needs attention.

Deleting an Order

If an order is cancelled:

1. Find the order in the list
2. Click the Delete button (trash icon)
3. Confirm the deletion
4. The order will be removed

Warning: Only delete orders that are genuinely cancelled. For completed orders, mark them as “Complete” instead.

Searching and Filtering Orders

Finding Specific Orders

Use the search box to find orders quickly:

1. Type in the search box at the top:
   • Order number
   • Customer name
   • Material specification
2. The list filters as you type

[SCREENSHOT: Search orders example]

Using Filters

For more precise searching:

1. Click the Filter button
2. Set your criteria:
   • Status - Show only pending, in progress, or complete
   • Due Date - Find orders due this week or overdue
   • Customer - See all orders from one customer
   • Material - Find all orders for a specific grade
3. Click Apply

[SCREENSHOT: Filter panel for orders]

Common filter uses:

• “Show me all pending orders” - See what needs to be started
• “Show me overdue orders” - Find urgent work
• “Show me this week’s orders” - Plan the week ahead

Sorting Orders

Click column headers to organize your view:

• Sort by Due Date - See what’s most urgent
• Sort by Customer - Group orders together
• Sort by Quantity - See largest orders first
• Sort by Status - Group by workflow stage

[SCREENSHOT: Sorted orders by due date]

Viewing Order Details

To see complete information about an order:

1. Click on any order row
2. A detail panel opens showing:
   • Full specifications
   • All notes and special requirements
   • Status history
   • Related cutting plans (if generated)

[SCREENSHOT: Order detail panel]

Matching Orders to Inventory

Before planning production, you’ll want to see if you have the right material:

1. Look at the order’s material, diameter, and length
2. Go to Inventory
3. Search for matching specifications
4. Check if you have enough quantity

Tip: If you don’t have exact matches, you can often cut longer bars down to the required length using the Cut long products feature.

Video Tutorial: Managing Orders

Video Script:

“Let’s learn how to manage customer orders in GoSmarter.

Click on Orders in the sidebar under Production Planning. You’ll see a table with all your orders.

To add a new order, click Add Order in the top right. A form appears.

Let’s say a customer needs steel bars. Enter the order number - this should be unique, like ‘ORD-2025-101’. Type the customer name. Select the material grade they need from the dropdown. Enter the diameter - let’s say 16 millimeters. Enter the length they want - 6,000 millimeters. Enter the quantity - they need 30 pieces. Set the due date by clicking the calendar. Add any special notes if needed. Click Save.

Your new order appears in the list. You can see all the details clearly.

If something changes - maybe the customer needs more pieces - click the Edit button next to the order. Update the quantity. Click Save. The order is now updated.

To find orders quickly, use the search box. Type a customer name or order number. Or use the Filter button to show only pending orders, or only orders due this week.

You can sort the list by clicking column headers. Click Due Date to see which orders are most urgent.

When an order is in production, edit it and change the Status to In Progress. When it’s finished and shipped, change it to Complete.

This way, you always know what needs to be done and what’s already finished.”

Common Questions

What if a customer changes their mind about the quantity?

Edit the order and update the quantity. The system keeps a record of changes.

Can I see old completed orders?

Yes, use the status filter to show complete orders. They remain in the system for your records.

How do I know if I can fulfill an order with current inventory?

Check the inventory section for matching material, diameter, and length. The Cut long products tool can help plan this.

What if an order needs multiple different items?

Enter each item as a separate order line. Use the same order number with a suffix like ORD-101-A, ORD-101-B.

Next Steps

With your orders recorded:

• Check inventory - Make sure you have the material
• Plan cutting - Create efficient production plans
• Calculate scrap rates - Estimate waste for pricing

Keep your orders updated and you’ll always know exactly what needs to be produced!