Manual Orders: How to handle without automation

Introduction

Manual orders allow you to process sales without automation. This option best suits sellers who prefer full control of each purchase, suppliers that don’t support AutoDS automation, or situations where automation is not recommended.

⚠️ Important: Manual orders are more time-consuming, as product prices and stock may change before you complete the purchase.

For a smoother and safer workflow, we strongly recommend using Auto-Order or Fulfilled by AutoDS whenever possible.

👉 Learn More:

Prerequisites

Check price and stock before buying. In manual flows, the supplier’s price or availability may change between the sale and your purchase. Verify before checkout.
Own the full process. Update order status on your selling channel, communicate with buyers when needed, and handle returns and support.
Share accurate tracking. Provide tracking updates to buyers and consider conversion when your selling channel needs a different format.

👉 Learn More: How to Handle Orders? — Full Guide

Why use AutoDS for manual orders?

Even when you’re processing orders manually, AutoDS adds value by centralizing and simplifying your workflow:

Centralized order management: Track statuses, logs, and history in one place instead of using multiple spreadsheets or tools.
👉 Learn More:
Order logs and tracking updates
Order Status Overview
Multi-store control: Manage orders across different sales channels (Shopify, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.).
Extra tools for manual workflow, such as AutoDS Helper Extension or tracking conversion.
Smooth transition to automation: Manual orders can be a first step. With AutoDS, you’re already set up to switch to Auto-Order or Fulfilled by AutoDS when you’re ready to scale.
Prepared for growth: Even if some suppliers don’t support automation, AutoDS helps you stay organized and ready for expansion.

Step-by-Step Guide

Visit the supplier’s website: Go directly to a site like AliExpress, Amazon, or Walmart and search for the same product your customer ordered.
Place the order: Buy the product manually by entering your customer’s details (name, address, etc.) — just as you would if you were purchasing a gift for a friend. Copy the information from your store order page (Shopify/eBay) or from the AutoDS Orders page using the AutoDS Helper Extension.
Update order details on AutoDS: Keep the AutoDS order accurate. Edit the order if you need to adjust address, product, or supplier; for multiple orders, use bulk actions.
👉 Learn More:
How to Edit Your Order on AutoDS: Address, Product, Supplier & More
Manage Order Status in Bulk — Update, Cancel, or Resend to Automation
Follow the tracking: Get the tracking number from your supplier’s website after placing the order. If your selling channel doesn’t support that tracking number, you may need to convert it to a compatible format or update your buyer manually.
👉 Learn More: How to convert your tracking numbers- the complete guide

Note: Unlike Auto-Order or FBA, this method doesn’t sync automatically with AutoDS. You’ll need to keep track of everything manually — including updating the order status, sending messages to your buyer through your selling channel, dealing with return requests, and more. All these little steps add up, making the process slower and more effort-intensive compared to automated solutions.

👉 Learn More: AutoDS order automation options: FBA and Auto-Order (semi and full automation)

Save time with AutoDS Helper Extension

The AutoDS Helper Extension makes handling manual orders faster and less error-prone. Instead of copying and pasting customer details one by one, the extension allows you to:

Extract product information directly from supplier websites (e.g., AliExpress, Amazon).
Copy customer shipping details from AutoDS into the supplier checkout page with one click.
Simplify tracking updates by retrieving tracking numbers more easily.

⚠️ Note: The Helper Extension does not turn manual orders into automation. It only speeds up certain steps, but you will still need to place and follow up the orders manually.

👉 Learn More: AutoDS Helper (Chrome Extension): One-click importer and buyer address copier for dropshipping

💡 Tip:

We highly recommend using the Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) service to streamline your order management process.

👉 Learn More: A full explanation & FAQ about the 'Fulfilled by AutoDS Service'

Possible Issues & Workarounds

Issue	Workaround
Price or stock changed at the supplier	Place the order as soon as possible after the sale. Before clicking Buy, recheck price and availability. Keep backup suppliers for popular items. Where supported, automation helps mitigate these risks.
Buyer information needs correction	Review each field before purchase. Copy address details in smaller chunks (name, street, city, ZIP) to avoid mistakes. If your channel masks fields, adjust the address directly in that channel’s panel.
Tracking not recognized by the selling channel	Some channels accept only specific carriers/formats. Use tracking conversion to generate a compatible code. 👉 Learn More: How to convert your tracking numbers- the complete guide
High manual workload	Each step (supplier checkout, copying data, status updates, tracking) is manual. To scale safely, consider automation or Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA). 👉 Learn More: A full explanation & FAQ about the 'Fulfilled by AutoDS Service'
Returns handling	Define a clear store return policy, know the supplier’s process, coordinate logistics between the customer and supplier, and apply best practices to reduce returns. 👉 Learn More: How to reduce your business’s return rate and improve customer satisfaction

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can AutoDS help with tracking updates if I place orders manually?
A: Yes. With semi-automation, some suppliers (e.g., Amazon, AliExpress) allow AutoDS to update tracking automatically.

Connect your Buyer Account, enable Auto Tracking Numbers, configure OTP for Amazon when needed, forward tracking emails to your unique tracking email, and keep Auto-Order Credits available.

👉 Learn More: How to Add a Buyer Account for the Automation of Your Orders?

Q: My selling channel doesn’t accept the supplier’s tracking number. What can I do?
A: Use AutoDS tracking conversion to generate a supported format.
👉 Learn More: How to convert your tracking numbers- the complete guide

Q: Can I switch to automation later?
A: Yes. If a product’s supplier is supported for automation now (or becomes supported), you can move that item to automated fulfillment.

Q: Does the AutoDS Helper Extension automate manual orders?
A: The Helper Extension speeds up tasks (importing, copying buyer addresses); the order itself remains manual.
👉 Learn More: AutoDS Helper (Chrome Extension): One-click importer and buyer address copier for dropshipping

Q: Where can I review order history and tracking updates?
A: You can review detailed history within AutoDS.
👉 Learn More: Order logs and tracking updates