Link guest order to user account by email match

[galbaras]

On shops that allow guest checkout (good for conversion), customers sometimes create an account after they've ordered, particularly if they're ordering again. However, their guest orders remain disconnected from their new user account.

My request is that orders be linked to new user accounts automatically.

This can be done as soon as the account is created by searching for guest orders with a matching email address. Doing it this way allows the system to display those orders and get confirmation from the new user before linking them.

Alternatively, it can be done by a background job, which links users with a "customer" role created since the last job ran with matching orders.

[maddisondesigns]

As a sidenote, Shopify does this automatically for you. If you create an account after you've made an order, it will automatically assign your past orders to your new account.

[zhongruige]

Hi @galbaras,

Thank you for taking the time to share this idea, we really appreciate your help.

While this is clearly a great improvement/idea we won’t be able to tackle it in the upcoming weeks. We’re going to add it to our backlog where it will be considered for future releases.

Stay tuned for updates.

[ashwinncj]

@galbaras This is actually a very good idea.

[theprofessor101]

Yes, this functionality is a necessary improvement for any store that offers the ability to checkout as either a guest or registered user—where a guest wants to register at a later time.

@galbaras - in case you aren't aware, you can manually link orders under:
WooCommerce > Reports > Customers > Customer List > Actions > Link Previous Orders

Thank you @zhongruige for keeping this ticket open and considering this much-needed functionality.

[galbaras]

@theprofessor101 Actually, I can't see "Actions" on the reports page you've specified, and the only customers listed are those who are already users.

A notice on the page recommends using the new Analytics pages, but there's no customer report there and nothing relevant in the settings.

If there was ever a way to link guest posts to users after they register, attaching it to an action, and scheduling it, should be very easy. It just needs to be done.

[theprofessor101]

@galbaras Hmm, interesting that you can't see it. I'm sure you're in the right area, but just by chance make sure you select "WooCommerce > Reports > Customers..." and not "WooCommerce > Customers". The organization is a little bit confusing.

In the screenshot below you'll see 3 icons in the right column. If there are orders to link, there will be a 4th icon for "Link Previous Orders".

[galbaras]

I definitely went to the right place, but there were no linkable orders where I looked. Found it now. Awesome function. I hope it will stay when the reports area is removed...

Also, I still think this should be automatic. I'm happy to check a box once to indicate I want it done automatically, but after that, it should be done automatically, either during registration or in the background.

[John-belt]

Yes. This has become a nightmare since no one creates an account on the first checkout and customer usually create it afterward and their older orders are not linked once he creates it. Would really like it if this basic functionality is included.

[John-belt]

@galbaras I actually use a code snippet to mimic this functionality. I usually create the account for the customer once he checked out and link it. Here is the code snippet for anyone else to use:

``
function wc_register_guests( $order_id ) {
// get all the order data
$order = new WC_Order($order_id);

//get the user email from the order
$order_email = $order->billing_email;
 
$user = get_user_by( 'email', $order_email);	

// if the UID is null, then it's a guest checkout
if( $user == false){
  
  // random password with 12 chars
  $random_password = wp_generate_password();
  
  // create new user with email as username & newly created pw
  $user_id = wp_create_user( $order->billing_first_name, $random_password, $order_email );
  
  //WC guest customer identification
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'guest', 'yes' );

  //user's billing data
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_address_1', $order->billing_address_1 );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_address_2', $order->billing_address_2 );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_city', $order->billing_city );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_company', $order->billing_company );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_country', $order->billing_country );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_email', $order->billing_email );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_first_name', $order->billing_first_name );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_last_name', $order->billing_last_name );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_phone', $order->billing_phone );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_postcode', $order->billing_postcode );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'billing_state', $order->billing_state );

  // user's shipping data
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_address_1', $order->shipping_address_1 );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_address_2', $order->shipping_address_2 );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_city', $order->shipping_city );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_company', $order->shipping_company );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_country', $order->shipping_country );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_first_name', $order->shipping_first_name );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_last_name', $order->shipping_last_name );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_method', $order->shipping_method );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_postcode', $order->shipping_postcode );
  update_user_meta( $user_id, 'shipping_state', $order->shipping_state );
  
  // link past orders to this newly created customer
  wc_update_new_customer_past_orders( $user_id );
}
else{
    wc_update_new_customer_past_orders( $user->ID );
}

}

//add this newly created function to the thank you page
add_action( 'woocommerce_new_order', 'wc_register_guests', 10, 1 );
``

[galbaras]

@John-belt Thank you for this code snippet.

Creating users automatically can be a valuable option, which the WooCommerce team should consider. Personally, I don't want to force customers to become users, but it's good to know about the wc_update_new_customer_past_orders() function.

So the solution should be to have a scheduled task that executes this function for every user found in new orders created since the last run (the first one may be massive, but that's a small price to pay).

WooCommerce Team (@zhongruige), what do you say?

[John-belt]

Yes, it's not a good solution but it gets the work done in the meantime. Personally, I would prefer the order linking once the user wants to create the account as you said. This is very important for repeat customers who come back to your site and then decide to create an account. I have numerous customers complaining to me that they cannot see their past orders after creating account. Hope the woo team will consider this as an important feature.

[zhongruige]

Hi @galbaras!

Thank you for the tag! It requires further feedback from the WooCommerce Core team. I am adding the needs developer feedback label to this issue so that the Core team could take a look.

Please note it may take a few days for them to get to this issue. Thank you for your patience.

[galbaras]

It's been 40 days. Any news?