🗺️ Shipping zone
A region you deliver to, like "Delhi NCR" or "Rest of India."
Get paid, ship it, and keep in touch with your customers
Part 3 of 3. Payment gateways, shipping, SMS and WhatsApp notifications, and coupons that bring customers back.
What's inside 💳
Tap any card to jump straight there.
💳 Stop 1
How customers pay: payment options
A payment gateway is the secure bridge between your customer's bank and your bank account.
WooCommerce includes simple offline options, and you add a gateway plugin for online payments. For an Indian store, that usually means UPI, cards and net banking through a gateway such as Razorpay.
| Option | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Cash on delivery | Built in. Customer pays the courier | Customers who don't trust online payment yet |
| Direct bank transfer | Built in. Customer transfers money manually | Small or B2B orders |
| Gateway plugin (Razorpay and similar) | Customer pays by UPI, card or net banking on the checkout | Most online stores |
🧠 Think of it like...
The card machine or QR code at a shop counter. You don't handle anyone's bank details yourself. The gateway handles the money safely and tells your shop, "Payment received."
⚠️
Cash on delivery has a catch. Some COD orders get refused at the door, and you pay for shipping both ways. Many shops offer it but encourage online payment with a small discount.
🔌 Stop 2
Setting up a payment gateway (Razorpay example)
Razorpay has an official WooCommerce plugin. Other gateways (Cashfree, PayU and so on) follow the same pattern: account, keys, plugin, test.
1
Create a Razorpay account
Sign up at razorpay.com. You can explore in Test Mode straight away. Going live needs business details and KYC approval, which can take a few days.
2
Generate test API keys
In the Razorpay dashboard, switch to Test Mode and open Account & Settings → API Keys. Click "Generate Key." You get a Key ID and a Key Secret.
3
Install the plugin
In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New, search "Razorpay for WooCommerce" (by Razorpay), then Install and Activate.
4
Open the payment settings
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments, find Razorpay, and click "Manage" or "Set up."
5
Enable and paste the keys
Tick Enable, give it a friendly title like "UPI / Cards / Net Banking," then paste the Key ID and Key Secret. Save changes.
6
Place a test order
Add a product to the cart and go to checkout. Pay using Razorpay's test card or UPI details (listed in their docs). Check the order appears in WooCommerce → Orders as Processing.
7
Switch to live keys
Once Razorpay approves your account, generate Live keys in Live Mode, replace the test keys in the plugin, and save.
Also switch on cash on delivery
In WooCommerce → Settings → Payments, toggle "Cash on delivery" on, set its title and instructions, and save.
🔐
Keep your Key Secret private. Never post it in a chat, a screenshot or a public page. If it leaks, regenerate it straight away. Also follow any webhook instructions the plugin shows, since they help orders update correctly.
🚚 Stop 3
Setting up shipping
Shipping in WooCommerce works in zones: you choose where you deliver, then how much it costs there.
📮 Shipping method
The rule for that zone: Flat rate, Free shipping, or Local pickup.
1
Open the Shipping tab
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping, then click "Add zone."
2
Name the zone and pick regions
Call it "Delhi NCR," then choose the states or PIN codes it covers. Click "Add shipping method."
3
Add a Flat rate
Choose "Flat rate," then set the cost, for example ₹50. Everyone in that zone pays the same.
4
Add Free shipping above an amount
Add the "Free shipping" method, open its settings, and choose "A minimum order amount." Enter ₹999, for example. This nudges customers to add one more item.
5
Create a second zone
Add "Rest of India" with a higher flat rate. Zones are matched from top to bottom, so put the most specific one first.
6
Test it at checkout
Enter different addresses at checkout and confirm the right rate appears each time.
📦
Using a courier aggregator? Services like Shiprocket offer WooCommerce plugins that sync orders, compare courier rates and print labels. Start with flat rate and zones, then add one once orders grow.
🏷️ Stop 4
Creating coupons
A coupon is a code customers type at checkout to get a discount. It's one of the simplest ways to bring people back.
| Discount type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Percentage discount | Takes a % off the cart, like 10% off |
| Fixed cart discount | Takes a fixed amount off the whole cart, like ₹200 off |
| Fixed product discount | Takes a fixed amount off specific products only |
1
Open the Coupons screen
Go to Marketing → Coupons (under WooCommerce in some versions) and click "Add coupon."
2
Write the code
Choose something easy to type, like WELCOME10. Add a short description for yourself.
3
Choose the type and amount
In the General tab, pick the discount type and enter the amount. Tick "Allow free shipping" if the coupon should also remove shipping.
4
Set an expiry date
Choose an end date so the offer doesn't run forever by accident.
5
Set usage restrictions
In the Usage restriction tab, set a minimum spend (for example ₹499). Tick "Individual use only" so it can't combine with other coupons, and consider excluding sale items.
6
Set usage limits
In the Usage limits tab, set how many times the coupon can be used in total, and a limit of 1 use per user for welcome codes.
7
Publish and test
Click "Publish," add a product to your cart, and apply the code at checkout to see the discount.
🧮
Do the maths first. A 20% coupon on a product with a 15% margin means you lose money on every sale. Check the numbers with your client before launching a discount.
🔔 Stop 5
Keeping customers updated: how notifications work
Customers hate silence after paying. A quick message at each stage builds trust and cuts "where is my order?" calls.
Order placed→Payment confirmed→Packed→Shipped→Delivered
Each of these stages is an order status in WooCommerce. A notification plugin watches for a status change and sends a message. WooCommerce already emails; SMS and WhatsApp are extras.
| SMS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Built into WooCommerce? | Yes | No, needs a provider and plugin | No, needs the WhatsApp Cloud API and plugin |
| Setup effort | Low | Medium (India requires DLT registration) | Medium to high (Meta account and template approval) |
| Read rate | Often ignored | Good | Very good in India |
| Cost | Free | Per-message fee | Per-message fee from Meta, plus the plugin or provider |
✅
Always get permission. Add a checkout checkbox like "Send me order updates on WhatsApp/SMS." Messaging people who haven't agreed can get your number blocked, and it may break privacy rules.
💬 Stop 6
Connecting SMS notifications
An SMS provider gives you an API key, a plugin uses that key to send texts when an order changes status.
In India, businesses sending transactional SMS must register on a DLT platform. You register your business, a sender ID (the name shown instead of a number), and every message template. Providers such as MSG91 or Fast2SMS guide you through this. Rules and fees change, so check your provider's current instructions.
1
Choose an SMS provider
Pick one that supports Indian transactional SMS and has a WooCommerce plugin or a ready API. Compare per-SMS cost.
2
Complete DLT registration
Register your business, sender ID and message templates, with your provider's help. Approval can take a few days.
3
Write your templates
For example: Hi {name}, your order #{order_id} has been shipped. Track it here: {link}. Variables in braces are filled automatically.
4
Install an SMS plugin
Use your provider's own WooCommerce plugin, or a well-reviewed SMS notification plugin that supports your provider. Check its reviews and last update date first.
5
Add your credentials
Paste the provider's API key (auth key), sender ID and DLT template IDs into the plugin's settings.
6
Map messages to order statuses
Choose which template goes with "Processing," "Shipped" (or "Completed"), and "Cancelled."
7
Send a test order
Place an order with your own number, change its status in WooCommerce → Orders, and check the SMS arrives.
📲 Stop 7
Connecting WhatsApp for order updates
The WhatsApp Cloud API is Meta's official way for a store to send automatic messages from its own business number.
This is different from the WhatsApp button in Phase Three, which only starts a chat. The API sends messages automatically, but with strict rules. Automated messages to customers must use pre-approved templates, and customers must have opted in.
1
Set up a Meta business account
Create a Meta Business account and a developer account at developers.facebook.com. Create an app and add the "WhatsApp" product to it.
2
Add a business phone number
Register the number customers will see. It generally needs to be a number not already in use on regular WhatsApp. Check Meta's current rules before choosing.
3
Collect your credentials
Note the Phone Number ID, the WhatsApp Business Account ID, and an access token. For a store, create a permanent token (via a system user) rather than the temporary test token.
4
Create message templates
In WhatsApp Manager, write templates for order confirmed, shipped and delivered. Use the "Utility" category for order updates, with variables for name and order number. Meta reviews them, usually quickly.
5
Install a WhatsApp notification plugin
Choose one that connects to the Cloud API (for example, WooCommerce's own "Order Notifications on WhatsApp" extension, or a service from an Indian provider such as Wati, Interakt or AiSensy). Compare pricing and reviews.
6
Paste your credentials
Enter the Phone Number ID, account ID and token in the plugin settings, then select your approved templates.
7
Add an opt-in checkbox
Make sure checkout has a clear "Send me order updates on WhatsApp" box. Many plugins add this for you.
8
Test with your own number
Place a test order, change its status, and confirm the right template arrives on your phone.
💸
It isn't free. Meta charges for template messages, and plugin or provider fees are extra. Pricing and rules change often, so check Meta's current pricing page and keep your client informed.
🕘
Outside a conversation, only templates work. You can't send free-form promotional messages to anyone who hasn't recently messaged you. Keep every automatic message useful: a status update, never spam.
🚀 Stop 8
The final test before you launch
Place real orders on your own store before any customer does.
1
Order as a customer
In a private window, add a product to the cart, apply a coupon, and check out with a delivery address.
2
Check shipping and tax
Confirm the right shipping rate and GST show up before payment.
3
Pay with a test payment
Use the gateway's test mode, then confirm the order shows as Processing in WooCommerce → Orders.
4
Check the messages
Confirm the customer gets the order email and the SMS or WhatsApp update, and that you get the new-order email.
5
Change the order status
Mark it Completed, and check the "shipped" or "delivered" message is sent.
6
Test COD and a refund
Place a cash-on-delivery order, and practice a refund from the order screen so you know how it works.
7
Go live
Switch the payment gateway to live keys, delete your test orders, and click "Launch your store" on the WooCommerce Home screen.
📚
Don't forget the policy pages. Before launch, make sure your store has pages for shipping, refund & returns, and privacy, and link them in the footer you built in Phase Two.