Customizing WooCommerce for Medical Test Orders: Simplifying Customer Data Collection

In a recent Business Bloomer Club discussion, a member sought guidance on handling customer data collection in a WooCommerce store selling medical tests. Unlike a typical eCommerce setup, this store doesn’t require standard order processing or payments.

The challenge was to streamline the checkout page, enabling customers to input information like names and dates of birth for each test purchased, without proceeding through traditional payment or shipping processes. Below, we’ll explore the best approaches to configure WooCommerce for this unique use case.

Solution 1: Use WooCommerce with Product Add-Ons and Custom Fields

Since WooCommerce’s flexibility allows for customized fields at various stages, consider leveraging product add-ons and custom fields in the checkout:

Steps to Implement

1. Set Product Prices to Zero: Since payment isn’t required, set product prices to zero, ensuring customers aren’t prompted to pay.
2. Disable Shipping and Taxes: Adjust WooCommerce settings to disable shipping and tax calculations, keeping the checkout streamlined.
3. Use Product Add-Ons: Plugins like WooCommerce Product Add-Ons or Gravity Forms Product Add-ons can add extra fields directly on the product or checkout page, enabling customers to input specific details like name and date of birth for each test.
4. Customize the Checkout Form: Employ a checkout manager plugin to add fields for each test purchased. This method allows collecting all customer-specific data in one place without complicating product-level configurations.

This approach keeps everything within WooCommerce, offering flexibility if additional details are needed for other products in the future.

Solution 2: Embed a Custom Form in WooCommerce

For a simpler approach, especially if product data is minimal, consider integrating a form plugin like Gravity Forms or Fluent Forms directly within WooCommerce. This lets you add fields at checkout while bypassing payment collection.

Steps to Implement

1. Create a Custom Form: Set up a form with repeatable fields for each test.
2. Integrate into WooCommerce: Place the form on the checkout page or as a product add-on to collect required details.
3. Data Transmission: Configure the form to send the information directly to the business for offline processing, bypassing the need for a WooCommerce order.

This method provides a lightweight alternative, especially if products or customer details are dynamically updated.

Final Thoughts

Both approaches offer a streamlined solution for WooCommerce stores that don’t require payments but need to gather detailed customer data.