1. Installation and Activation
↑ Back to topHow to get started with the leading WooCommerce Pre-Order plugin.
- Navigate to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Choose the
smart-pre-order-manager.zipfile. - Click Install Now and then Activate.
2. Global Configuration
↑ Back to topSettings are located at WooCommerce → Settings → Smart Pre-Order Manager.
General Tab
↑ Back to top- Enable Pre-Orders Globally: Forces all products into pre-order mode (default: no).
- Out of Stock Pre-Orders: Automatically enables pre-orders when inventory hits zero.
- Default Button/Badge Text: Define the starting labels for your store.
- Default Availability Message: Use the
{date}placeholder to automatically display the scheduled launch date.
Display Tab
↑ Back to top- Badge Position: Choose from Before Title, After Title, or On Product Image.
- Badge Style: Select Rounded or Square.
- Savings Display: Enable/Disable the automatic “Save X%” badge and customize colors.
- Countdown Timer: Select from Simple, Boxes, or Circular visual styles.
Inventory Tab
↑ Back to top- Mixed Cart: Allow or block pre-order items from being purchased alongside regular stock.
- Shipments: Configure if the entire order should be held until the pre-order is ready.
3. Setting Up a Pre-Order Product
↑ Back to topInside the WooCommerce Product Edit screen, look for the Smart Pre-Order Manager tab.
- Enable Pre-Order: Toggle this to activate pre-order features for this specific item.
- Date To Be Announced (TBA): Use this if you don’t have a firm launch date.
- Availability Date: Select the exact second of your release. The plugin uses a
datetime-localpicker for precision. - Pricing Settings:
- Pre-Order Price: Set a specific price for the pre-order period.
- Discount Type: Choose None, Percentage (%), or Fixed Amount.
- Discount Value: Enter the amount to subtract from the regular price.
- Quantity Limit: Enter the maximum number of pre-orders allowed. Use
-1for unlimited. - Quantity Sold: A read-only field showing how many pre-orders have been processed by the system.
4. Bulk Category Management
↑ Back to topNavigate to the Categories tab in the main settings to activate pre-orders for entire collections.
- Select multiple categories using the enhanced multi-select field.
- Products in these categories will inherit pre-order status automatically.
5. Automated Lifecycles & Automation
↑ Back to topThe plugin manages the customer journey through a series of automated triggers.
Email Notifications
↑ Back to top- Confirmation: Sent upon
processingorcompletedorder status. - Availability Reminder: Sent X days before launch (configured in Email settings, 1-30 days).
- Ready to Ship: Sent automatically when the product is converted to regular stock.
- Delay Notification: Sent if you update the availability date after orders have been placed.
Internal Automation (Cron Jobs)
↑ Back to top- Daily Check (Midnight): Converts products to regular status and sends “Ready to Ship” alerts.
- Hourly Check: Processes the queue for “Availability Reminders.”
- Weekly Cleanup (Sunday 2 AM): Optimizes the database by clearing old transients and cache.
6. Developer & Admin Features
↑ Back to top- Admin Columns: View “Active/Inactive” status and release dates directly in the All Products list.
- Quick Edit: Quickly enable or disable pre-orders without opening the full product editor.
- HPOS Support: Built on the latest
wc_get_ordersarchitecture for maximum speed.
How do I install and configure the WooCommerce Smart Pre-Order Manager?
Installation is straightforward: upload the plugin ZIP via the WordPress Plugins menu and activate it. Once active, go to WooCommerce → Settings → Smart Pre-Order Manager to configure your default button text, badge styles, and email triggers. Follow our
Setup Guide for a complete step-by-step walkthrough.
Where are the global settings for the Smart Pre-Order Manager?
All global configurations, including mixed cart behavior, countdown timer styles, and automatic email settings, are located under the WooCommerce Settings panel. Navigate to the “Smart Pre-Order Manager” tab to manage your entire pre-launch strategy from a single dashboard.
How do I activate pre-orders for individual WooCommerce items?
To enable pre-orders for a specific product, open the Product Edit screen and click the “Smart Pre-Order Manager” tab in the Product Data panel. Simply check the “Enable Pre-Order” box, set an availability date, and (optional) enter a special pre-order price or discount. See our Product Setup section for more details.
What automated emails does this pre-order plugin send?
This plugin automates the entire customer journey with four key email triggers: Order Confirmation, Availability Reminders (sent X days before launch), Ready to Ship notifications (sent on launch day), and Delay Alerts. All emails are fully compatible with WooCommerce templates and can be enabled/disabled in the Email settings tab.
Can I enable pre-orders for entire WooCommerce categories at once?
Yes! Use our powerful Bulk Category Activation feature found in the Categories tab of the plugin settings. This allows you to select multiple categories from an enhanced multi-select list, instantly applying pre-order status to all assigned products without editing them individually.
