Order Holds
Order holds are designed for merchants who use a fulfillment provider or downstream system that supports tag-based filtering, such as ShipHero, ShipBob, or Jazz. When enabled, Order Editing adds the OE-HOLD tag to every new order and removes it once the editing window closes. Your fulfillment provider reads this tag and knows to wait before processing the order.
This is an Order Editing feature, not a Shopify fulfillment hold. It doesn't change the order's fulfillment status in Shopify or place the order "on hold" at the platform level. Order Editing manages the OE-HOLD tag directly, and your fulfillment provider uses that tag to decide when it's safe to ship.
ℹ️ Note: Most merchants don't need order holds. This setting is only required if your fulfillment provider or warehouse uses Shopify order tags to control when orders are processed. If you're unsure whether you need this, reach out to our support team and we'll help you figure out the right setup.
How It Works
- A customer places an order. Order Editing automatically adds the
OE-HOLDtag to the order in Shopify. - Your fulfillment provider sees the tag and knows not to process the order yet.
- The editing deadline passes, or the customer finishes editing. Order Editing removes the tag.
- Your fulfillment provider picks up the order now that the tag is gone. The order is ready to ship.
Your fulfillment provider needs to be configured to skip orders that carry the OE-HOLD tag. Systems like ShipHero, ShipBob, and Jazz support tag-based filtering out of the box.
💡 Using Shopify Flow? If your store uses Shopify Flow to manage order release, Order Editing has dedicated Flow types for tag-based systems. The ON-HOLD Tag Flow removes the OE-HOLD tag and sets the order to "Unfulfilled" after the editing window. See Shopify Flow and Order Editing for the full setup guide.
Enable Order Holds
- In Order Editing, go to Settings > Order Holds.
- Toggle on Hold orders while they can be edited.
- Click Save.
That's it. Every new order will now receive the OE-HOLD tag automatically. When the editing window closes, Order Editing removes the tag and the order flows through to your fulfillment provider.
💡 Tip: After enabling order holds, place a test order and confirm that the OE-HOLD tag appears on the order in Shopify. Then check that your fulfillment provider is filtering on this tag correctly.
Configure Your Fulfillment Provider
Order holds only work if your fulfillment provider knows to look for the OE-HOLD tag. You'll need to set up a filter or rule in your system so it skips orders that carry this tag.
How you do this depends on your provider:
Fulfillment Provider | Where to Configure |
ShipHero | Add a tag filter in your order import settings to exclude orders with the |
ShipBob | Set up an order hold rule based on the |
Jazz | Configure a tag-based filter in your order sync rules to hold orders with |
Custom / Other WMS | Ask your developer to check for the |
If you're unsure how to set this up with your specific provider, reach out to their support team and let them know you need to filter orders by the OE-HOLD Shopify order tag. You can also contact our support team and we'll walk you through it.
FAQ
Does This Put the Order on Fulfillment Hold in Shopify?
No. Order holds in Order Editing don't change the order's fulfillment status in Shopify. This feature works entirely through the OE-HOLD tag, which is a Shopify order tag managed by Order Editing. It's a separate system designed for fulfillment providers that use tag-based filtering to decide when to process orders.
Do I Need Order Holds?
You only need order holds if your fulfillment provider uses Shopify order tags to control when orders are processed. Providers like ShipHero, ShipBob, and Jazz support this. If you're not sure, reach out to our support team and we'll confirm whether your setup requires it.
What Happens Without Order Holds?
Without order holds, a tag-based fulfillment provider might process an order before the customer finishes editing. This can lead to re-shipments, additional costs, and support tickets that could have been avoided.
How Do Order Holds Improve Coordination?
Order holds ensure your fulfillment provider only receives orders that are finalized and ready to ship. The OE-HOLD tag acts as a gate, nothing gets processed until the customer is done editing and Order Editing removes the tag. This reduces fulfillment errors and support tickets.
Can I Change the Hold Tag Name?
The tag name OE-HOLD is set by Order Editing and can't be customized. If your workflow needs a different tag name, you can use a Shopify Flow to watch for OE-HOLD and add your preferred tag alongside it. See Shopify Flow and Order Editing for more on using Flow with Order Editing.
