The Core Challenges
Limited built-in WooCommerce subscription options — no native way to customize delivery schedules or shipping per subscription
Checkout customization — display subscription products, enable free shipping for subscriptions only, integrate Local Pickup & UPS shipping options
Customer subscription management — allow users to modify preferences, skip deliveries, pause subscriptions, and select subscription periods
Improved retention — auto-renewals and loyalty rewards to reduce churn
How We Built It
1. Custom Subscription Builder Page
Developed a personalized subscription flow allowing users to select:
Coffee type, roast (Light, Medium, Dark), and weight
Billing and shipping frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
Preferred shipment date and shipping method
Used WooCommerce hooks and custom forms to dynamically build and validate subscription options
2. Checkout Page Overhaul
Modified WooCommerce templates to:
Show subscription products distinctly in cart and checkout
Auto-apply free shipping for subscriptions, calculate shipping for other items
Integrate UPS and Local Pickup shipping methods via custom shipping modules
Implemented auto-creation of user accounts upon checkout for seamless dashboard access
3. Subscriber Dashboard
Built a custom dashboard interface for managing subscriptions including:
Updating coffee preferences (roast, grind type)
Changing delivery schedules or pausing subscriptions
Viewing and redeeming loyalty points
Selecting fixed subscription terms (6 or 12 months)
Leveraged WooCommerce API and custom REST endpoints for real-time updates
4. Custom Modules to Enhance Experience
Taste Profile Selector: Allowing customers to pick flavor profiles that inform future shipments
Auto-Renewal System: Automatically generate new subscriptions on expiry
Cancel Anytime: One-click cancellation via the dashboard
5. Loyalty & Retention Automation
Implemented a points-based loyalty system linked to purchases and subscriptions
Developed automated email workflows for subscription renewals, missed shipments, and reminders using WooCommerce hooks and a third-party email service.
Tools & Technologies Used
WooCommerce Subscription plugin (base functionality)
Custom PHP development for hooks, filters, and API endpoints
JavaScript and AJAX for seamless dashboard interactions
Shipping integration APIs (UPS, Local Pickup configurations)
Email automation platform connected via API for notifications
MySQL custom tables to manage loyalty points and subscription metadata
Impact & Takeaways
Provided full subscription customization that WooCommerce couldn’t handle natively
Created a seamless user experience from subscription setup to management
Automated complex shipping rules, reducing manual errors and improving fulfillment speed
Increased subscription retention and customer engagement via loyalty rewards and flexible options
Originally published by the team at Codingkart.
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