Email Invoice Gateway
The Email Invoice gateway allows you to send payment invoices to customers via email directly from WooCommerce POS. This is perfect for situations where customers prefer to pay later or need to complete payment online using your web store's payment methods.
Features
- Email Integration: Send invoices directly from the POS interface
- Customer Management: Auto-populate email from existing customer data or add new email addresses
- Guest Orders: Support for guest customers with optional billing address updates
- Online Payment: Customers receive a "Pay for this order" link to complete payment online
- Flexible Workflow: Complete orders in-store or allow remote payment completion
Installation
Step 1: Download and Install
- Visit the Email Invoice Gateway releases page
- Download the latest woocommerce-pos-email-invoice-gateway.zip file
- In your WordPress admin, go to
Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin - Upload the zip file and activate the plugin
Step 2: Enable in WooCommerce POS
- Go to
WP Admin > WooCommerce POS > Settings > Checkout - Find the WooCommerce POS Invoice Payment Gateway in the list
- Enable the gateway for use in the POS
- Save your settings
This gateway doesn't require additional API keys or external service configuration. It uses your existing WordPress email system and WooCommerce payment methods.
Usage
Sending Invoices
- Add Items: Add products to your cart in the POS
- Select Gateway: Choose "Email Invoice" as the payment method
- Email Address:
- For existing customers: Email is automatically populated from customer data
- For guest orders: Enter the customer's email address manually
- Optional: Check "Save to billing address" to update the customer's billing information
- Send Invoice: Complete the process to send the invoice email
Customer Experience
When you send an invoice, the customer receives an email containing:
- Order Details: Complete breakdown of items, quantities, and prices
- Order Total: Final amount due including taxes and fees
- Payment Link: Direct link to complete payment online
- Order Information: Order number and reference details
Payment Completion
Customers can complete payment in two ways:
- Online Payment: Click the "Pay for this order" link in the email
- In-Store Return: Return to complete payment using other POS payment methods
The "Pay for this order" link takes customers to a dedicated payment page on your website where they can use any of your enabled web payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, etc.).
Email Management
Existing Customers
- Email addresses are automatically retrieved from customer profiles
- Customer billing information is preserved
- Order history is maintained under the customer account
Guest Customers
- Manually enter email addresses for one-time customers
- Option to save email to billing address for future reference
- Guest orders are properly tracked in WooCommerce
Email Templates
The gateway uses WooCommerce's standard email templates:
- Customizable: Modify email appearance through WooCommerce email settings
- Branded: Include your store logo and branding
- Professional: Clean, professional invoice format
- Mobile-Friendly: Responsive design for all devices
Use Cases
Perfect For
- B2B Sales: Business customers who need to process payments through their accounting systems
- Large Orders: High-value transactions that require approval or processing time
- Remote Customers: Customers who need to complete payment after leaving the store
- Account Customers: Regular customers with established payment terms
- Quote-to-Order: Converting quotes or estimates into payable invoices
Workflow Examples
Retail Store
- Customer selects items but needs to get approval for purchase
- Send invoice email with all details
- Customer completes payment online when ready
- Order automatically updates in your system
Service Business
- Complete service work and add items to POS
- Send invoice to customer's accounting department
- Customer pays online using preferred payment method
- Receive payment confirmation and complete order
Requirements
- WooCommerce POS: Free or Pro version installed and activated
- Email System: Working WordPress email configuration
- Web Payment Gateways: At least one online payment method enabled in WooCommerce
- SSL Certificate: HTTPS required for secure payment processing
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Emails Not Sending
- Check WordPress email configuration
- Verify SMTP settings if using custom email service
- Test with WordPress email testing plugins
- Check spam folders for test emails
Payment Links Not Working
- Ensure WooCommerce is properly configured
- Verify at least one payment gateway is enabled for web checkout
- Check that SSL certificate is properly installed
- Confirm order status allows payment
Customer Can't Complete Payment
- Verify web payment gateways are active and configured
- Check that the order hasn't expired or been cancelled
- Ensure customer has sufficient payment method limits
- Test the payment process yourself
Email Delivery
For reliable email delivery, consider:
- SMTP Service: Use services like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES
- Email Plugins: Install WordPress SMTP plugins for better delivery
- Domain Authentication: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
- Monitoring: Track email delivery and open rates
Getting Help
For technical support:
- Visit the GitHub repository to report issues
- Check WooCommerce email documentation for template customization
- Test email functionality with WordPress email testing tools
Screenshots
Screenshots will be added in a future update to show:
- Email address entry interface in the POS
- Professional invoice email template with order details
- Customer payment completion on the web store