Rules
Rules let you automate part of your workflow. Based on the contents of an order or picklist, Picqer carries out actions automatically. For example, you assign a template to your orders, choose a shipping profile, or add tags to your orders.
On this page
Order rules and picklist rules
Picqer has two types of rules: 'Order rules' and 'Picklist rules'. Which one you choose depends on what you want to automate.
Choosing a type of rule
- Order rules: for actions on the order, such as choosing a template or a warehouse, or adding products to the order.
- Picklist rules: for actions on the picklist, such as choosing a shipping profile, printing the picklist or assigning it to a user.
When rules run
- Order rules: as soon as the order moves to the status 'Processing'.
- Picklist rules: as soon as Picqer creates the picklist.
Conditions and actions
Every rule consists of conditions and actions. A condition determines when the rule runs, an action determines what happens then. A rule can have multiple conditions and actions.
All conditions in a rule must be true. For example, if you choose 'Delivery country is Germany' and 'Weight is more than 500 grams', Picqer runs the rule when both conditions are true. If you want a rule to cover multiple countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, use the option 'is one of'.
Execution order
For every order and picklist, Picqer checks all rules and runs every rule that applies. Even if an earlier rule has already set something, Picqer still runs the next rule.
A later rule can overwrite the action of an earlier rule. With the 'Execution order' you set the order in which your rules run. Let broad, general rules run first, followed by the specific rules that may overwrite settings.
A rule with execution order 1 runs before a rule with execution order 2, so rule 2 can overwrite the action of rule 1.
Create a rule
In Picqer, go to Settings > Rules.
Here you see an overview of the order rules and the picklist rules.
Click 'New rule' for the type of rule you want to add.
Give the rule a name and adjust the execution order if needed. Click 'Save'.
Click 'Choose condition'. You now see the details you can set for this condition.
Fill in the options for this condition and click 'Save'.
The first condition has now been added. You can add as many conditions to a rule as you like.
Choose the action Picqer should carry out when all conditions are true.
Select the option you want and click 'Save'. Add as many actions as you like. Picqer carries them all out.
Log
In the order's log, under 'Comments', you see which rules ran for that order and its picklists. If you think a rule isn't working, you can see there whether it ran and whether another rule undid its actions.
Tips and inspiration
For inspiration, have a look at the commonly used rules.
Multiple fulfilment customers or delivery countries
If a rule applies to multiple delivery countries or fulfilment customers, choose 'is one of' (default) or 'is not one of' in the condition and select multiple countries or fulfilment customers.
EU as a condition
If a rule applies to all countries in the European Union, choose EU in the list for the condition 'Delivery country'. That way you don't have to select each EU country separately.
Condition on an empty field
To check whether a field is empty, use 'is equal to' or 'is not equal to' without entering a value. With 'contains' or 'does not contain', the rule doesn't work correctly.
Conditions with multiple values
For the conditions 'Picklist has product codes' and 'Delivery zip code', you can enter multiple values at once, separated by a comma. Picqer applies the rule as soon as one of those product codes or zip codes is in the order. A rule can hold a maximum of 2048 characters. Count the characters of your zip codes or product codes beforehand, for example in Word or Notepad.
Location as a condition
The picklist condition 'Location' lets you pick one or more locations. Underlying locations are included automatically. If you pick aisle A, the rule also applies to products at A.1 and A.1.15, so you don't need to add every end location separately. With 'all products at', every product on the picklist has to be in those locations. With 'at least one product at', one product is enough.
Tags in rules
You add a tag to an order with an order rule and the action 'Add tag'. A picklist belongs to an order and takes over its tags. That's why you use 'Picklist tags' as the condition in a picklist rule.
The condition 'Product tags' looks at the tags of the products themselves, not those of the order or picklist.
For example, you use order rules to add the tags 'Germany' and 'Heavy' to an order, and a picklist rule to set the shipping profile based on those two tags.
Changed rules and existing picklists
Picqer evaluates a picklist rule when the picklist is created, and an order rule when the order moves to 'Processing'. If you change a rule, it only applies to picklists and orders created after that. Picqer doesn't evaluate existing picklists again, not even when you unsnooze them or add them to a batch.
Adding products to an order
Two actions add products to an order:
- Add product with product code: adds the product at its sale price.
- Add free product with product code: adds the product at a price of €0.00. For shipments outside the EU this can cause problems, because import duties can't be calculated.
These actions always add the product, even if it's out of stock. Picqer then creates a backorder. Because of the extra product, the picklist can't be part of a singles batch.
Want to add a specific product for every ordered product? The best way is a virtual composition, such as a hanging hook for every painting ordered.
