Why Would I Create Additional Status Columns?

Most shops can be run using a single status, and you team may be used to using a platform that only allows you to apply a single status to an order. However, some shops find they are able to stay more organized and efficient by using multiple status columns to track different processes at the same time. For example, on most orders we need to track the status of garments (whether they have been ordered or received), and the status of preproduction (have files been digitized or screens been burned)

Please note additional status columns can only be created on the Standard Plan and above.

Let's look at the 2 ways we can accomplish this:

Tracking The Entire Process With a Single Status Column

In this example, we are going to use one status column. Every important action for that order should be represented by a status label. Here's an example we looked at before for screen printing:

Because we have only one status column, we can only perform one step at a time.

• First, you Order Blanks
• Second, you Burn Screens
• Now, the order is Ready to Print
• After the order is printed, it is Complete
• Once the order is picked up or shipped out, it is now Shipped, and the workflow is done.

This setup works great if you or another team member always completes these steps in the same order, but what happens when you have multiple team members doing different processes for a single order? It can become important to track each process independently.

Tracking Different Processes Using Multiple Status Columns

In this example, we are going to use two status columns: Blanks Status and Production Status. This allows to be a little more flexible.

Now with two columns, we can track or move these processes along independently. This can be especially helpful if one person is in charge of burning screens and a different person is in charge of ordering blanks.

Remember, in our single status column setup, we had to order blanks first. If we skip straight to burning in screens, there's no system in place to remind us to order blanks. Now, our production team can focus on their process without waiting on blanks to be ordered.

The blanks team can order and count in blanks, without worrying about the production status.

Once the production team sees green for both statuses: Screens Ready and Blanks Ready, they know the order is ready to print!

How Do I Use Multiple Statuses for Different Decoration Methods or Job Types?

We've already seen how we can separate different aspects of an order into multiple statuses. But what if you have even more departments for different decoration methods? Let's look at how we can setup statuses to handle these departments. In this scenario, we are going to have three columns:

• Screen Print
• Embroidery
• Blanks
  

Again, we can track each department independently.

For screen printing orders, we can use the screen print status, and leave the embroidery status blank. The blank status tells our embroidery team that this order doesn't get embroidery. Some people also prefer to call this status N/A.

For embroidery orders, we can use the embroidery status and leave the screen print status blank.

If an order gets both screen printing and embroidery, we can use all of the statuses!

There's no limit to the number of status columns or status labels that you can add to DecoGro, but as always, we recommend starting with the simplest setup that works for you shop. You can always add to your workflows as needed, but it can get confusing if you add too many status options.

User also use status columns to track:

• Artwork and Design
• Separations
• Transfers and Heat Press
• Shipping
• Outsourced Orders and Promotional Products
• Any Other Process in Their Shop