This article explains how to connect your Order Desk store to your Gelato account to streamline your print-on-demand order fulfillment. We’ll guide you through the initial setup, adding your Gelato API key, configuring webhooks, and understanding key print parameters.
Connecting Gelato to Order Desk
Before you begin, you'll need an active account with both Order Desk and Gelato. If you haven't already, sign up for Order Desk at orderdesk.com and create your Gelato account at gelato.com.
To connect Gelato to your Order Desk account, follow these steps:
Log in to your Order Desk account.
Navigate to the integrations page and click “Add to Order Desk” on this page to add Gelato.
Follow the steps in Order Desk’s setup guide.
Set up your products, orders, and rules in Order Desk as instructed by Order Desk’s guide.
Configuring Settings in Order Desk
Once you've connected your accounts, there are a few key settings within Order Desk that you need to configure to ensure a smooth order fulfillment process.
Working with Multiple Suppliers
If you collaborate with multiple print providers who use different print_skus, you'll need to set up Product Code Match in Order Desk. This feature allows each supplier to interpret the print_skus correctly without affecting your primary supplier's setup. You can find detailed instructions on how to configure Product Code Match here.
Order Approval Workflow
If your workflow requires order modifications before sending them to print (e.g., incorporating customer-uploaded images), you should disable the “Automatically Approve Submitted Orders” setting. This setting is found on the Settings page for the Gelato integration within your Order Desk account.
Disabling automatic approval ensures that all new orders are created with a "Pending approval" status, allowing you to review and modify them in the Gelato Dashboard before they are sent for production.
Essential Print Parameters in Order Desk
To ensure your orders are processed correctly by Gelato, you need to provide two essential print parameters for each product variant in your Order Desk setup: print_sku and print_url.
print_sku
In the Gelato system, print_sku corresponds to the Product UID. This unique identifier specifies the exact physical product onto which your artwork will be printed.
You can easily find the Product UID on the product page in the Gelato Dashboard. For instance, the Product UID for a 30x40cm vertical poster on premium uncoated paper is flat_product_pf_300x400-mm_pt_200-gsm-uncoated_cl_4-0_ct_none_prt_none_sft_none_set_none_ver, which you can find on this page.
print_url
This parameter provides a direct link to the print file or artwork that you want to be printed on the product.
For a comprehensive understanding of how to structure and manage your print_url, refer to the "3. Preparing Artwork Files" section in Order Desk’s Print On Demand guide.
Setting up Your Gelato API Key for Order Desk
An API key acts as a secure messenger between your Order Desk and Gelato accounts. To generate your Gelato API key, follow the steps outlined in this guide.
Once generated, paste the API key into the designated API key field within your Order Desk Gelato integration settings.
Configuring Webhooks for Real-Time Updates in Order Desk
Webhooks are like instant notifications that update your Order Desk account with the latest status of your orders.
To set up webhooks:
Go to your Order Desk account and locate the Webhook URL. You can find it under the Basic Settings section for the Gelato Integration. Copy this URL.
Log in to your Gelato Dashboard and navigate to the webhook setup. Paste the copied Webhook URL from Order Desk into the appropriate field in your Gelato settings. For detailed instructions on setting up webhooks in Gelato, refer to this guide.
Additional Resources on Order Desk
For a more visual walkthrough of the Order Desk and Gelato integration process, check out these helpful video resources:
Shopify Users: Choosing Between Shopify and Order Desk Integrations
While Gelato offers a dedicated Shopify app that's suitable for most users, Order Desk might be the preferred choice for specific scenarios.
A simple way to decide which integration best suits your needs is to ask yourself: Do I intend to use Gelato for fulfilling this product's orders globally?
If your answer is yes, the Gelato Shopify app is likely the optimal choice. Simply install the app, connect your desired products, and let Gelato handle their fulfillment worldwide. Your other products can continue to be fulfilled by your existing suppliers.
If your answer is no, Order Desk provides the flexibility you need. For instance, you might want Gelato to fulfill orders in certain countries while another supplier handles others. Order Desk allows you to set up rules that automatically route orders to the correct fulfillment provider.