Fulfilment exceptions
Fulfilment exceptions need a next action and an owner, not another status ping.
ShopTasks turns fulfilment problems into assigned warehouse or ops tasks linked to the Shopify order, so damage, missing information, and packing holds are worked before the carrier cut-off.
The floor knows there is a problem. The work is still unowned.
A short pick, a damaged unit at pack-out, a failed fulfilment, or an address the carrier will reject is visible in Shopify or in the warehouse. The next action — reprint, recut, email the customer, hold for stock — is discussed in a group chat. Meanwhile the order clock keeps running. Support promises a window that warehouse never received as assigned work.
Exception to warehouse action to close
Log the fulfilment exception as a ShopTasks task on the order. Assign the person who can do the physical or decision step. Set the due date to the ship window. Support and warehouse comment on the same task. Shopify Flow can create the task when a fulfilment fails or when you tag the order `fulfilment-hold`. ShopTasks does not replace your WMS. It owns the human recovery that the WMS still leaves to people.
Fulfilment exception workflow
- 1
The exception appears
Damage, short pick, failed fulfilment, packing hold, or missing shipping information blocks the ship.
- 2
Create an order-linked exception task
Name the action: 'Repack damaged line on order #3310' or 'Collect missing address for #3310'.
- 3
Assign the floor or the unblocking role
Warehouse owns physical recovery. Support owns customer contact. Ops owns the decision when those conflict.
- 4
Confirm the ship or the cancel
Close the task when the order can fulfil, is split, or is cancelled — with a record both teams can see.
Damaged item at pack-out
Trigger → conditions → ShopTasks task → assignee → completion
- When
Fulfilment is attempted or a warehouse tag is applied
- If
Item damaged, or order tagged `fulfilment-hold`.
- Then
Create ShopTasks task: Replace damaged unit before shipping order #3310
Warehouse confirms a sellable replacement. Support is notified on the same task if the ship date will slip.
- Assign
Warehouse lead
- Complete
Replacement packed or customer offered a choice; fulfilment proceeds or the order is updated with the outcome.
What this changes
-
Floor work has a due time
Packing holds are dated against the carrier window, not 'when we get to it'.
-
Support and warehouse share one record
Customer promises and physical actions stay on the same order-linked task.
-
Failed fulfilments can create tasks
Flow or automation policies can open recovery work when fulfilment fails.
-
Managers see blocked ships early
Overdue exception tasks are visible before the customer is already asking.
Who this is useful for
- Warehouse and fulfilment leads
- Ops managers coordinating ship exceptions
- Support teams that promise recovery windows
- Stores with regular damage, short-pick, or address issues
Shopify Flow on fulfilment problems
When a fulfilment fails or an order is tagged for a packing hold, Flow can create a ShopTasks task for warehouse with the order attached. Pair this with unfulfilled follow-up if the blocker is information rather than a floor issue.
Open the Shopify Flow workflow →
Install ShopTasks — Free“Great app! We were looking for an app to manage order workflow tasks across our staff and wanted something that integrated natively with Shopify on the backend. ShopTasks delivered and the level of customization was quite appealing.”
Free to install · Up to 500 active tasks · Unlimited staff & boards
Built specifically for Shopify · Shopify Flow integration
FAQ
Does ShopTasks replace shipping software or a WMS?
No. It coordinates the human exception work between the order and a clean shipment — ownership, deadlines, and handoffs.
What should become a fulfilment task?
Damage, short picks, failed fulfilments, packing holds, missing information, and any warehouse follow-up that needs a named owner before ship.
Can warehouse staff use ShopTasks?
Yes. Assign the people doing the physical follow-up. They get a task with the Shopify order attached.
Is ShopTasks free?
Yes. Free to install, with up to 500 active tasks, unlimited staff, and unlimited boards.