Chain orders allow sales reps to create multiple orders for a set of chain stores at once.

Please note the following considerations:

• Ordering currently supported for non-matrix items only
• Supported for Pepperi for iOS only

This article explains how to:

• Configure the Distributed Order and its "parent" order
• Add the Split Order Workflow Action
• Create a dedicated Activity List for chain orders

To create a chain order on the app, start an order as you normally would for a “parent” Account that has chains beneath it. Make sure you loaded the relevant Accounts with chain stores/multiple locations. For details on this see: Upload Accounts with chain stores / branches.

The quantities ordered for each Account are detailed in a new dedicated Order Center view called “Distributed Grid View” (configurable in the Transaction Order Center views).

This view shows a row for each Account (in the screenshot below note that the Account ID is different while the chain store name is the same) selected from the chains, where quantities are entered for that Account.

The parent order is then “split” (in the shopping cart) and duplicated for all the selected Accounts. The Chain Orders created are presented in a dedicated Activity List in "In Creation" status. The user reviews and submits them from the Activity List. The Details format Activity List View is recommended for the submission of multiple chain orders. 

In chain orders the quantity alerts in the Transaction will be enforced as follows:

• Minimum quantity alert will take effect per each Account quantity
• Inventory alert will take effect on the total amount of each item ordered (not per Account)

How to configure Chain Orders in Pepperi

You must first define 2 Transaction Types in Pepperi:

• Transaction Type that will act as the parent order
• Transaction Type that will be created as the chain orders that result from splitting the parent order

(These Transaction Types have no effect on regular (non-chain) Transaction Types you already have defined in Pepperi for Sales Orders, Quotes, or any other regular “non-chain” orders.)

In the Parent Order, add a "Split Order" action in the Workflow for the New to In Creation status, and select the Transaction Type for the split orders.

Example:

Parent Order Transaction - the parent order that calls the split action

"Split" Workflow Action - creates an order for each Account selected

Chain Order Transaction - is the Transaction Type of the split orders created

You can also create a dedicated Activity List for Chain Orders and navigate to it, so that it will open automatically after the chain orders are created.

Add the navigation to the Activity List in the "Navigate to" option of the Parent Order workflow.

Select the Activity List that will be opened when the split order is submitted. You need to create the Activity List and select which type of view it should be opened in – Table, Card or Master-Details (more details on the new Master-Details format below). For details see How to Create Activity Lists.

Each of the Chain Orders remain in "In Creation" status until they are individually submitted.

The Chain Order workflows will be carried out upon submission of each duplicated chain order. This means that whatever email notifications and inventory updates are defined in the Chain Order (not the parent order), will be carried out. Make sure to configure the workflow accordingly.

The fields duplication of the parent order into multiple chain orders is configured based on the “Duplicate Order for another Account” settings in the Actions tab of the Parent Transaction Type  (for details see: Sales Transaction Types - Actions, Workflows, ePayment and Settings). Via duplication you can pass any order details from the parent order to be displayed on the chain order, such as: total parent order amount, total item count of parent order, remarks from the parent order, and more.