If you’ve ever worked in a business where clients keep asking, “Any update on my order?”, then you’ll understand exactly why I built this.

I’ve spent a good chunk of time around service-based businesses — from small manufacturers to repair shops and custom studios. One thing they all struggle with? Keeping customers in the loop during multi-stage projects. Whether it’s building furniture, tailoring a suit, or assembling industrial parts, the actual process can take days or even weeks. And during that time, communication becomes a real pain point.

So, I created Order Progress Tracker — a lightweight, self-hosted solution that helps businesses keep clients informed at every stage of the order process.

The Problem I Saw Again and Again

A lot of smaller businesses rely on email threads, phone calls, or even sticky notes to manage orders. When a client calls for an update, someone has to dig through messages or walk across the shop to ask a colleague.

And let’s be honest: nobody loves answering the same “Is it ready yet?” question five times a day.

There are big platforms out there for order tracking, but most are built for e-commerce or involve monthly subscriptions and vendor lock-in. They’re just not made for hands-on businesses with specific workflows and a desire for full control.

My Solution: Order Progress Tracker

I wanted something that was:

  • ✅ Easy to use
  • ✅ Self-hosted — you install it on your server or VPS
  • ✅ Customizable to fit different industries
  • ✅ Simple enough for clients to check their order status without logging into a full portal

With Order Progress Tracker, businesses can manually add orders, update their status across clearly defined stages, and let clients view progress via a simple link. It’s ideal for teams who deal with made-to-order items or service workflows with multiple steps.

It’s not SaaS. There’s no user data being siphoned off. You buy it once, install it, and you’re in control.

Who It’s For

This isn’t for high-volume online stores. It’s for businesses where each order matters.

Think:

  • Custom manufacturing
  • Boat or vehicle repairs
  • Tailor shops and fashion ateliers
  • Print and signage studios
  • Electronics or instrument servicing
  • Any B2B workflow with multiple stages

If you want to reduce emails, save time, and look more professional to your customers, it’s worth checking out.

What’s Next

Right now, I’m focused on improving the core functionality and onboarding early adopters. If you’re a developer or business owner who sees potential in this, I’d love to hear your feedback.

You can learn more about the software here: Order Progress Tracker

And if you’re curious about how I built it — tech stack, challenges, and what’s coming next — let me know. I might share a behind-the-scenes post soon.