In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, customization is not a luxury, it's a necessity. One area often overlooked by online store owners is the configuration of order numbers. While Magento 2 offers a solid framework for order management, its default order numbering system may not align with every business's needs. That’s where the Magento 2 custom order number feature becomes indispensable. This guide explores the importance of customizing order numbers, the challenges of the default setup, and how a specialized solution like Amasty's extension can streamline your operations.
Why Customize Order Numbers in Magento 2?
At first glance, order numbers might seem like a trivial aspect of your store. However, they play a vital role in maintaining a professional, secure, and scalable order management system. Here are a few compelling reasons why you might want to use custom order numbers in Magento 2:
1. Security Enhancement
Sequential order numbers make it easier for competitors and fraudsters to estimate your sales volume. Customizing the order numbers with prefixes, suffixes, or random sequences can mask your store’s real order volume, enhancing privacy and data security.
2. Brand Identity
Custom order numbers can reflect your brand’s identity. For example, if your store is named “FashionFit,” your order numbers could start with “FF” (e.g., FF-20250708-001), making the numbers more recognizable and branded.
3. Operational Efficiency
If you operate multiple storefronts or warehouses, having unique identifiers in order numbers (such as location-based prefixes) can significantly improve internal processing, tracking, and reporting.
The Default Magento 2 Order Number System: Limitations
Magento 2 uses an auto-incremental numbering system for orders, invoices, shipments, and credit memos. While functional, it lacks flexibility. Some of the most common limitations include:
- Inability to change the starting number.
- No support for adding custom prefixes or suffixes.
- Same format across all stores and websites.
- No date-based or random formats.
For businesses that require tailored formats or need to follow specific accounting rules, this lack of customization becomes a problem.
Introducing Magento 2 Custom Order Number by Amasty
To overcome these challenges, third-party extensions offer powerful solutions. One of the most reliable and widely used is the Magento 2 custom order number extension by Amasty.
This extension allows store owners to fully personalize the numbering format of orders, invoices, shipments, and credit memos—without needing to write a single line of code.
Key Features of Amasty’s Custom Order Number Extension
Here’s a closer look at what this extension brings to the table:
1. Flexible Numbering Formats
You can customize the format of your order numbers with:
- Prefixes and suffixes
- Current date/time variables
- Random characters
- Custom increment steps
For example, an order number could look like: ORD-2025-07-09-00001
2. Separate Configurations for Multi-Store Setups
Each store view or website in your Magento 2 installation can have its own numbering rules. This is particularly useful if you operate in different regions or currencies.
3. Custom Start Numbers
You can define the starting number for each document type. This helps in scenarios where you’ve migrated from another platform and want continuity in your documentation.
4. No Impact on Internal Functionality
Changing the visible order number doesn’t affect Magento’s internal database relations. The original increment ID remains untouched, which ensures compatibility with other systems and reports.
Use Cases for Magento 2 Custom Order Number
1. Migration Continuity
A business switching from Shopify, WooCommerce, or another platform may want to continue using a similar order number sequence to maintain consistency for their accounting teams.
2. Multi-Channel Integration
If your Magento store is integrated with ERP or accounting software, having custom order numbers helps ensure smooth syncing and prevents data duplication or conflicts.
3. B2B Commerce
B2B companies often deal with bulk and recurring orders. Custom numbers make it easier to categorize and manage these transactions efficiently.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Custom Order Numbers in Magento 2 Using Amasty
Setting up your custom order number format is straightforward with Amasty’s extension:
- Install the Extension
Download and install the extension from Amasty’s official site or via Composer. - Navigate to Configuration
In your Magento Admin Panel, go to:
Stores > Configuration > Amasty Extensions > Custom Order Number - Customize Format
Define your preferred format using variables like {prefix}, {date}, {id}, etc. - Set for All Documents
Apply similar formatting for invoices, shipments, and credit memos if needed. - Save and Test
Create a test order to verify the output and make adjustments if required.
Best Practices When Using Custom Order Numbers
To get the most out of your Magento 2 custom order number setup, follow these tips:
- Use Unique Prefixes: Avoid generic prefixes like “ORD” unless paired with a unique identifier.
- Include Date Stamps: Helps in organizing orders chronologically and speeds up internal searches.
- Keep it Readable: Don't overcomplicate the format make it user-friendly for staff and customers.
- Test Before Going Live: Always test the format in a staging environment before applying it to your live store.
Performance and Compatibility
Amasty’s extension is fully compatible with:
- Magento 2.3.x – 2.4.x
- Multi-store and multilingual setups
- Third-party integrations including ERP and CRM tools
It’s also built with performance in mind, ensuring that your checkout and order creation process remains fast and reliable.
Conclusion
Customizing your order numbers might seem like a minor tweak, but it offers immense benefits in security, branding, and operations. Magento 2, while powerful, does not support this out of the box. That’s why using a dedicated solution like the Magento 2 custom order number extension by Amasty is a smart investment for any growing eCommerce business.
Whether you're a startup looking to appear more professional or a seasoned merchant trying to streamline complex workflows, custom order numbers can add clarity and consistency to your backend processes.
FAQs
- Is it safe to change order numbers in Magento 2?
Yes, using a professional extension like Amasty's ensures that order number formatting changes do not interfere with core Magento functionality or data integrity. - Can I reset the order number sequence every month?
Yes, with Amasty’s extension, you can configure date-based resets such as daily, monthly, or yearly. - Does this extension work with invoice and shipment numbers too?
Absolutely. The extension allows full customization of invoices, shipments, and credit memos in addition to orders. - Will custom order numbers affect my analytics or reports?
No, Magento still retains the original increment ID in the backend, so all reports and integrations remain unaffected.
5. How do I remove the extension if I no longer need it?
You can uninstall the extension via Composer or manually through your Magento file system. Make sure to back up your store before making changes.