Mastering Shopify Order Filters: Excluding 'In Progress' for a Seamless Workflow

Hey there, fellow store owners! Let's talk about something that often trips up even seasoned Shopify merchants: getting your order fulfillment queue just right. We all want a crystal-clear view of what needs to be packed and shipped, right? But sometimes, Shopify's default filters can feel a bit… well, broad.

I recently jumped into a really insightful discussion in the Shopify community that resonated with a common pain point. It was about needing to filter out orders that are "In progress" from your "Unfulfilled" list. The original poster, StorySparks, hit the nail on the head, and the subsequent reply from Shawn-Z offered some brilliant workarounds. It's exactly the kind of practical, peer-to-peer advice that makes the Shopify community so valuable.

The Frustration: Why "Unfulfilled" Isn't Always Enough

StorySparks articulated a problem many of us face: when you filter your orders by "Unfulfilled," you're hoping to see only those orders that haven't been touched yet. The reality, however, is that this filter often includes orders already marked as "In progress."

Imagine trying to generate a pick list for truly new orders, only to have ones your team is already working on mixed in. It's inefficient and can lead to confusion! As StorySparks pointed out, Shopify's "Fulfillment status is not" filter lets you exclude many statuses, but "In progress" is conspicuously absent. This makes creating a dedicated view for truly untouched orders surprisingly difficult.

The Community Steps In: Shawn-Z's Savvy Solutions

This is where the power of the community shines! Shawn-Z jumped into the thread, confirming that this indeed feels like a "hole" in the system. They acknowledged that "Unfulfilled in admin is broader than 'nobody has started packing,' so In progress bleeds into the same bucket." While we all hope Shopify eventually adds "In progress" as a first-class filter option (and Shawn-Z rightly upvoted that feature request!), there are some clever workarounds you can implement right now.

Workaround 1: Manual Tagging & Saved Views

This method is accessible to all Shopify plans and gives you precise control. The core idea is to tag an order as soon as someone starts working on it. Then, you create a saved view that specifically excludes those tagged orders.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose a Tag: Pick a clear tag, like packing-started or in-fulfillment.
2. Apply the Tag: When your team begins processing an order (e.g., starts picking items), they should immediately add this tag to the order. If work stops and the order needs to revert to 'not started,' remember to remove the tag.
3. Create Your Saved View: Go to your Shopify Admin > Orders.
4. Apply Filters:
   • Click "Add filter" and select "Fulfillment status", choosing "Unfulfilled."
   • Click "Add filter" again, select "Tag", choose "is not," and type your chosen tag (e.g., packing-started).
5. Save the View: Click "Save view", name it something like "Ready to Pack - Untouched," and save.

Now, your "Ready to Pack - Untouched" view will show only unfulfilled orders that haven't had the packing-started tag applied. Clean and clear!

Workaround 2: Automating with Shopify Flow (The Smart & Scalable Option)

If you're on a Shopify plan that includes Shopify Flow (typically Advanced Shopify or Shopify Plus, but always check your plan!), you can automate this tagging process, making it even more efficient. This lets the system do the heavy lifting, freeing up your team.

Shopify Flow creates automated workflows. For our scenario, Flow will automatically apply the packing-started tag when an order's fulfillment status changes to "In progress."

Step-by-Step Instructions for Flow Automation:

1. Access Shopify Flow: From your Shopify Admin, go to Apps and open Shopify Flow.
2. Create a New Workflow: Click "Create workflow."
3. Set the Trigger: Select "Order fulfillment status updated."
4. Add a Condition: Set the condition to check if "Order fulfillment status" is equal to "In progress."
5. Add an Action: Under the "Yes" branch, select "Add order tags" and enter your chosen tag (e.g., packing-started).
6. (Optional) Remove Tag Action: For maximum precision, you could add another branch to remove the tag if the status reverts (e.g., to "Open"). Shawn-Z mentioned this for robust automation.
7. Turn On Your Workflow: Name your workflow (e.g., "Tag Orders 'Packing Started' when In Progress") and click "Turn on workflow."

With Flow active, the packing-started tag will be applied automatically. You'll then use the same saved view setup as described in Workaround 1 (Unfulfilled + tag is not packing-started) to get your pristine "Ready to Pack" list.

Why This Level of Filtering Matters

Having a clear, actionable fulfillment queue isn't just about tidiness; it's about boosting efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, ensuring happy customers. It reduces errors, boosts team productivity, and provides better insight into your true backlog. As Shawn-Z rightly pointed out, while "export + spreadsheet sorting" works for a one-off, it "falls apart for a daily pick list." These tag-based workarounds, especially with Flow, offer a robust and sustainable solution.

It's great to see the Shopify community come together to solve these kinds of practical challenges. By leveraging these tips from fellow merchants, you can really fine-tune your operations and make your Shopify experience even smoother. Keep an eye on those feature requests – hopefully, Shopify will implement this native filter soon, but until then, you've got the tools to manage your fulfillment like a pro!