Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions, each with a link to the article that explains it in full.

#Getting started

What device should I use Wren on?

Wren works in the web browser on your desktop or laptop computer. There is nothing to install: sign in and start. See Welcome to Wren.

How do I connect my supplier account?

On the Suppliers page of the shop, a supplier you have not connected shows Start Connection on its card. Press it, give the account number and a sales contact for each location, and Wren does the rest. See Connect a supplier.

My supplier is not on Wren. Can I still order from them?

Yes. Add them yourself as an external supplier with + Create external connection. Wren keeps them with your other suppliers and emails your purchase orders to their sales contact as a PDF when you submit. See Suppliers not on Wren.

What does Pending mean on a supplier?

PENDING means the connection is still waiting on a step, often the supplier finishing its side of the setup. Once it is live the supplier reads CONNECTED and its catalog and prices are available to you. See Supplier settings.

#Shopping

Can I compare prices across suppliers?

Yes. Your suppliers' catalogs sit together in Wren, with the prices your practice is charged. The same product can be sold by several suppliers, each with its own page, price and stock, so switch supplier at the top of the catalog to compare. See Browse the catalog.

Why is the price different at another location?

Each location buys under its own account with the supplier, so prices and availability belong to that location's account. Change the location at the top of the catalog and the prices follow. See Price history.

How do I buy something that is not in the catalog?

For a supplier that offers it, Punchout opens the supplier's own site and brings what you pick back to your Wren cart. For a supplier you added yourself, you can create a custom product with its own units and prices. See Punchout and Custom products.

Can I order one product for several locations at once?

Yes. On the product's page, Add Shipment Location adds another line, so one product can go to several locations, or in several pack sizes, in a single trip to the cart. See Order for several locations.

Why did my cart turn into several purchase orders?

Each supplier fulfils its part separately, so Wren groups your cart by supplier and location and sends each supplier a purchase order with only its items. You still follow everything as one order under Orders. See The cart.

Can I save a cart for my monthly restock?

Yes. On your cart, the save button beside Order Now keeps a copy under a name you choose, such as Monthly restock. Open it under Saved Carts and press Order Now to order it again. See Saved carts and Auto-Ship.

Can Wren reorder automatically? Will it send orders without my review?

Put a saved cart on Auto-Ship and choose how often it repeats. On each order day Wren creates a draft order from the cart for you to review, so nothing reaches a supplier unseen. See Saved carts and Auto-Ship.

Can I limit a catalog to certain people or locations?

Yes. Account admins can make shorter catalogs from a supplier's full catalog under Manage Catalog and set who can use each one: Everyone, or Restricted to the people and locations you pick. See Catalogs and access.

#Orders & approvals

Why hasn't my order gone to the supplier yet?

An order goes out only once it is sent. A Draft is still being put together, and Pending Review is waiting for the approvals your account asks for. Once approved, Submit Order sends each supplier its purchase order. See Review and send an order.

How do I approve an order?

Open the order from Orders (press Pending Review to see only those waiting), check what is in it, press Approve, then Yes, Approve. Undo Approval takes it back for as long as the order has not been sent. See Approve an order.

Can I approve my own order?

Only if your account allows it. Account admins can switch on Allow Self Approval in Company Settings, which lets order creators approve their own orders. See Set up approvals.

How many approvals does an order need? Can admins skip them?

Account admins choose this in Company Settings: Require Approvals turns sign-off on, and Number of Approved Reviews Needed sets how many approvals an order collects before it goes out. Allow Admins to Bypass Approval lets admins submit without waiting. See Set up approvals.

What do the order statuses mean?

Draft is still being put together, Pending Review waits for approval, Sent to Supplier (Submitted in the list) is on its way, Completed means everything arrived and was paid, and Closed was stopped on purpose. See Order statuses.

Can I close an order, or reopen it?

Yes. Close Order stops an order, with a reason, and Reopen brings a closed order back. See Close or reopen an order.

How do I download or share a purchase order?

Open the purchase order and press Share/Export. Download PDF makes a PDF to attach to an email, and Copy Link (Internal) copies the page address for a colleague with an account. See Purchase orders.

Can I change a purchase order?

Yes. Edit PO lets you lower a quantity, change a unit price, take an item off or add one. Nothing is kept until you press Save changes. See Purchase orders.

#Deliveries & invoices

How do I track a delivery?

Shipments lists every box from every supplier, with its carrier, tracking number and status: In Transit, Delivered or Received. An order's own Shipments tab shows just its boxes. See Track shipments.

Only part of my order arrived. What do I do?

Each supplier ships on its own, so boxes arrive on different days. Receive what came: tick the products that arrived and mark them received, and the rest stays open on the order. See Receive a delivery.

My supplier shipped, but nothing shows in Wren. Can I add the shipment?

Yes. An order that has been sent but has no shipment yet reads Awaiting Shipment. Press Create Shipment, pick the order and the items in the box, and add the carrier and tracking ID. See Add a shipment.

How do I check an invoice before paying it?

Wren keeps the purchase order, the shipments and the invoices on the same order. On the invoice, compare what was requested with what was billed, line by line, and raise any difference with the supplier before you pay. See Check an invoice.

How do I record that an invoice is paid?

Once your accountant has paid it, open the invoice and press Invoice Paid. The invoice reads Closed and no longer counts as open on the order. See Mark an invoice paid.

What is a credit memo?

A credit memo is money a supplier gives back, for example for a damaged box or a wrong item. It is kept on the order's Credit Memos tab and comes off the invoice it was issued against. See Credit memos.

When is an order Completed?

When everything in it has arrived and every invoice for it is paid. There is no button for it: Wren marks the order Completed by itself. See When an order is complete.

#Inventory

How do I see what is running low?

The Inventory card on the dashboard shows whether each item is in stock. On Inventory, press QTY available to put the smallest counts first. See The dashboard and Your inventory.

How do received deliveries get into inventory?

When you mark a delivery received, each item is added to inventory with the lot number, expiry date and quantity you confirm. See Receive a delivery.

How do I record items we used?

Open the item and press Scan out item. Scan the barcode or search for the product, pick the lot and the quantity, and press Checkout. The count drops at once and the log records who took it. See Use items (scan out).

How do I organise rooms and shelves?

Account admins lay out storage nodes under Account Settings, then Inventory: each location holds rooms, cabinets, shelves and bins. See Rooms and shelves.

#Team & account

How do I invite a colleague, and limit what they can do?

On Users, press Add New User, give their email, and choose their role and the locations they can work for. You can change what they may do at any time. See Manage users and Roles and permissions.

Who can see Account Settings?

Account admins see every entry. Anyone else sees only what their permissions allow, for example Users for a person who may invite people. See Roles and permissions.

How do I add or turn off a location? How does it affect billing?

Under Locations, press New Location and start typing the address. A site you close can be disabled instead of deleted, keeping its orders and invoices, and your subscription follows the number of Ship To locations that are on. See Locations and billing.

How do I stop email notifications?

Open the user menu and choose Notifications. Switch off Email for the notifications you do not want, and your choice is saved straight away. See Notifications.

I work for several practices. How do I switch?

Open the user menu and choose Switch Account, then pick the practice. Carts, orders and inventory follow the one you pick. See Switch between practices.

Where can I get help?

The help menu in the sidebar has Message Us to send the Wren team a message, Help Docs, and Tutorial for a guided tour of the app. See Get help.