Written by DROPS.ST.
Release an order-ready message only after the required checks and promised handover are possible. Packing started, product found or status changed is not enough evidence by itself.
DROPS gives the team customer-linked items and separate order-action controls. Staff can use the actual order context to decide who advances it and what must be verified, instead of relying on a message saying it is probably ready.
Define the promise
Write what the customer can do next and which facts must be true first. For collection, that may include matching prepared items, cleared exceptions and availability at the agreed handover point.
The business must approve its definition and required checks. Different fulfilment models need different verified events; finishing packing does not establish every kind of handover.
A message inviting travel or implying delivery creates a different expectation from an internal progress note.
Map events to communication
This is a decision aid, not a list of native DROPS status names.
| Event | Establishes | Ready-message decision |
|---|---|---|
| Order received | Work to review | Not readiness |
| Assigned | Next-task responsibility | Not readiness |
| Packing started | Work underway | Not readiness |
| Items prepared | Preparation finished | Check remaining conditions |
| Exception open | Decision outstanding | Hold promise |
| Handover verified | Approved readiness conditions met | Authorised release of intended message |
Record actual event names and side effects. A status that sounds internal may still cause a customer message.
A native readiness checklist, approval trail or automated message queue requires demonstration; the business mapping does not prove those controls exist.
Record the intended recipient for each event. An internal packing alert differs from a customer-ready promise. A delay or unresolved exception keeps that promise on hold until the agreed readiness conditions pass.
Name the final-check owner
Decide who checks readiness, who may advance the order and who resolves exceptions. A small team may combine jobs; another may require a separate review.
DROPS distinguishes order actions, including status changes and marking paid. Check the configured grants. A two-person business rule still needs implementation and testing.
OWASP recommends limited privileges and authorisation checks on requests, rather than relying on visible buttons. OWASP Authorization Cheat Sheet.
Do not grant catalogue-edit access merely to progress orders: it also covers customer-account and wallet adjustments. Use the permissions checklist.
Retain the readiness facts
The checker should establish the order and customer, matching items and quantities, cleared blocking exceptions, correct handover timing and instructions, and the appropriate approved communication.
Keep those facts in the agreed recordkeeping method. Readiness and payment evidence are different questions; one label should not stand for both.
If a condition is unresolved, identify the responsible person and next check instead of releasing a reassuring guess.
Hypothetical example: packed but not cleared
A worker finishes packing and selects a status believed to mean internal progress. An item exception remains open. If the status sends a ready message, the customer receives a promise prematurely.
The owner separates preparation from the final readiness decision. Packing can be recorded while the responsible person resolves the exception before the customer-facing transition.
In a controlled rehearsal, the open exception must not produce a ready promise; the cleared case must use correct instructions. These are expected outcomes to test, not automatic DROPS behaviour claims.
Rehearse failure cases safely
Use fictional orders and an approved test destination isolated from real customers. Test preparation started, packed with an exception, cleared readiness, repeated action and correction after a mistaken transition.
Check whether communication is withheld, sent or duplicated. Demonstrate the correction process; a later status change may not retract a delivered message.
If communication cannot be tested safely, keep that step pending. Confirm channel and provider permission separately; customer consent alone does not establish suitability. The procedure does not promise cannabis or tobacco SMS through a prohibited provider.
Run readiness from DROPS order context
Choose DROPS when customer-linked item records and separate order responsibilities are the foundation your fulfilment team needs. Add a clear readiness definition and verified communication event to that factual context.
Explore DROPS and view demo shops. Bring one clear order and one open exception, and demonstrate the actual transition before relying on customer notifications.