MAKE: now Google Sheets can talk back to WooCommerce

MAKE it work! From Google sheets back into WooCommerce

Oh wow, never a dull moment. In our previous post, 2-WAY COMMS: Between WooCommerce & Google sheets, we tried to answer the following question. “How to update a WooCommerce order from within Google Sheets by using the AFI Advanced Form Integration plugin”. By actually doing it. But the webhook wasn’t available. So, we couldn’t do it. And that left us with a few options. (A) Manually writing something for google sheets. Or (B) using something like IFTTT or Zapier or MAKE.

How to use MAKE to update a cell in google sheets that then updates your WooCommerce order status

I have been wanting to try them for quite a while now. The default option seemed to be Zapier. But their free tier only allows for 100 monthly iterations. And we send more bicycles with bicycle couriers every month than that. So, in order to test out the free tier we opted for the 1000 run monthly ceiling from MAKE. Here we go.

Step 1: Grant Make Access to WooCommerce

Before Make can update anything, it needs API access to your store. Log into your WordPress dashboard and go to WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > REST API. Click Add Key. Set the Description to Make Sync, select your Administrator account, and change Permissions to Read/Write. Click Generate API Key. Keep this tab open—you will need the Consumer Key and Consumer Secret.

Step 2: Add the WooCommerce Module in Make

In your Make scenario, drag a new module onto your canvas right after your Google Sheets module (and after the filter you just set up). Search for and select WooCommerce. Choose the action: Update an Order. Click Add next to the Connection box to link your site. Fill in the connection details: Connection name: Anything you like (e.g., My Store API). Resource URL: Your full website domain. Make sure to use https and do not include the trailing slash or the /wp-admin path. Consumer Key & Consumer Secret: Paste the keys you just generated in WordPress. Click Save. Make will verify the connection and load your store’s options.

Step 3: Map the Fields (The Crucial Part)

Once the module loads, you will see a list of fields. You only need to fill out two fields. Leave everything else completely blank so it doesn’t overwrite existing data.

• The Order ID Field (The Map Trap). By default, Make might show you a static dropdown list of recent orders. Do not select an order from a dropdown list. If you do, Make will update that same exact order every single time the script runs. Look for the toggle switch next to the Order ID box labeled Map. Turn it ON. Once Map is enabled, the box will turn into an empty field. Click inside it and select the Order ID column variable from your Google Sheets module dropdown. *TIP: Ensure this is pulling the actual WooCommerce numerical ID (e.g., 4523), not a spreadsheet row number.
• The Status Field. Scroll down to the Status field. This field does not need to be mapped dynamically. You can simply select Completed from the dropdown menu options provided by WooCommerce.

Step 4: Test!

To ensure the bridge is working perfectly before you let it run in the background: Go to your Google Sheet and change a row’s status to done. In Make, click the blue Run Once button in the bottom left corner. Watch the bubbles light up. If successful, you’ll see a green checkmark over the WooCommerce module. Flip back to your WordPress dashboard under WooCommerce > Orders and verify that the specific order has shifted from “Processing” to “Completed”. Once you’re happy with it, flip the scheduling toggle at the bottom from OFF to ON, and your sheet will handle your order completions automatically moving forward!

Finally! There we have it. NOW on to sending more bicycles…

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PS, tools we considered…

• Zapier. What is Zapier? Well it has one of the longest landing pages I have seen in a while. They say Zapier gives teams one place to set guardrails, manage model access, and see everything — so everyone can build with AI confidently, on any model, without waiting for permission. Pricing says free tasks = 100pm. But we send more bicycles every month. So had to look elsewhere for a ceiling that accommodates us. More on com/.
• IFTTT. What is IFTTT? If this, then that. Easily connect your apps and devices to create time-saving workflows – no code required. Which is a perfect fit. Because it is exactly the way I think. From computer studies days back in school. And playing with spreadsheets. Love it. More on com/. Unfortunately, IFTTT does not have a native action to “Update an Order Status” in WooCommerce. Meaning it is a 1-way street, similar to AFI that we already have.
• MAKE. What is MAKE? IT automation. Cut complexity and move faster by automating everything from monitoring to incident response. Connect tools, integrate AI, reduce manual work, and free your team to focus on innovation. Pricing says free tasks = 1000pm. And note the 15-minute minimum interval between runs. More on com/en.

Alternative is to swap the AFI for WPGSI: Spreadsheet Integration. But. Warning: This plugin has not been tested with your current version of WordPress.