Updating SKUs for existing and future subscription orders

There may be instances where you need to update Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) on your storefront. This guide provides an overview of how SKUs work in Recharge, and how you can update SKUs for future and existing subscriptions.

Before you start

The options for updating SKUs for existing subscription orders in Recharge will differ based on the Recharge platform you are using on Shopify.

Shopify Checkout Integration

• If you are using the Shopify Checkout Integration, refer to Update SKUs for existing subscriptions - Shopify Checkout Integration.

Recharge Checkout on Shopify

• If you are using the Recharge Checkout on Shopify the following options are available:
  
  • • Regenerate SKUs
    • Bulk update SKUs and apply SKU overrides
    • Update SKUs for product listings
    • Use Workflows to automatically update SKUs between two orders
• For merchants using the Recharge Checkout on Shopify, some third-party fulfillment apps can malfunction if there are multiple products with the same SKU. You must remove the SKU from the hidden auto-renew products in Shopify.

Swap SKUs

You can use the swap option to switch to a different subscription product:

1. Click Customers in your merchant portal.
2. Search and select the customer.
3. On the customer details page, click the ellipsis menu on the product you wish to swap. 
4. Choose Swap from the menu.
5. Select the product and click Next.
6. Change the variant if required. Otherwise click Swap product

Refer to Adding or swapping a product or SKU for more information.

Update SKUs on Shopify

1. In your Shopify Admin, click Products.
2. Search and select the product with the SKU you want to update.
3. On the product page:
   1. If the product does not have any variants, locate the Inventory section and add the new SKU in the SKU field.
   2. If the product has variants, locate the Variants section and add the new SKU(s) to the SKU field(s).
4. Click Save.

Update SKUs for existing subscriptions

By default, Recharge uses the SKU that exists on the product in Shopify. When an order is created, Recharge references the current SKU and populates the SKU in the order. If you update the product SKU on Shopify, your existing orders need to be regenerated.

• See instructions for the Shopify Checkout Integration.
• See instructions for the Recharge Checkout on Shopify.

Shopify Checkout Integration

Once the SKU(s) are updated on Shopify, reach out to the Recharge support team with the subject line Regenerate SKU request for the Shopify Checkout Integration. In the email contents, provide an example customer where the SKU is expected to update and both the old SKU and new SKU for confirmation.

Recharge Checkout on Shopify

Method 1 - Regenerate SKUs

Once the SKU(s) are updated on Shopify, reach out to the Recharge support team with the subject line Regenerate SKU request for the Recharge Checkout on Shopify. In the email contents, provide an example customer where the SKU is expected to update and both the old SKU and new SKU for confirmation.

Method 2 - Bulk update SKUs and apply SKU overrides

If you are using the Recharge Checkout on Shopify and have access to the Recharge Bulk Updater Tool, you can use this to apply a SKU override on existing subscriptions, meaning that Recharge will reference this applied SKU and ignore the SKU on the product in Shopify. This method is recommended if you do not want your subscription products in Recharge to have the same SKU as your Shopify products.

The Bulk Updater Tool is currently in open beta. Reach out to the Recharge support team if you want this enabled on your store.

Once you have the Bulk Updater Tool enabled in your store:

1. In the merchant portal, click Apps and select Recharge Bulk Updater.
2. In the Search for all products containing dropdown, select SKU.
3. Enter the SKU in the search filter field and click Find products.
4. In the pop-up, click Export data.
5. In the Property search field, enter the new SKU that will replace the current SKU.
6. Click Process Update.

Update SKUs for product listings

You can update the SKU on Shopify and then resync the product in the Recharge ruleset. This is done to ensure the product in Recharge has the same SKU as the Shopify product, as listed on your storefront.

1. In the merchant portal, click Products.
2. Locate the product and click Actions and choose Sync.

Use Workflows to automatically override SKUs between two orders

You may want to change the SKU between the first order and the second order or change the SKU after a certain number of orders. This can be accomplished using a workflow. Follow these steps to enable Workflows by Recharge:

1. Select Apps from the merchant portal and select Marketplace in the drop-down.
2. Locate Workflows by Recharge, and click Get.
3. Click Create your first workflow to build your desired workflow.

Refer to the following articles for more information on creating Workflows:

• Workflows by Recharge
• Workflows  FAQ
• Common use cases for Workflows

FAQs

Can I bulk update SKUs and apply SKU overrides?

A SKU override ignores the SKU on the product in Shopify and references what is set in Recharge.

If you are using the Recharge Checkout on Shopify and have access to the Recharge Bulk Updater Tool, you can use this to apply a SKU override on existing subscriptions. This method is recommended if you do not want your subscription products in Recharge to have the same SKU as your Shopify products.

Refer to Bulk update SKUs and apply SKU overrides for more information and instructions.