Is your WooCommerce store feeling sluggish as it grows? Are you worried about handling more orders without compromising performance? If so, there’s an essential upgrade you need to know about: High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS). This powerful feature is designed to make your store faster, more scalable, and ready for the future—without sacrificing the custom features you’ve worked hard to build.
In this post, we’ll explain what HPOS is, why it’s a game-changer for your business, and how it affects any customizations you’ve made to your store. Don’t worry if you’re not a developer—we’ll keep it simple and focus on what matters most: keeping your store running smoothly. And if you need help with the technical side, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
What is High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS)?
HPOS is a feature introduced by WooCommerce to optimize how your store handles orders. In the past, WooCommerce stored order data using WordPress’s standard system (called “posts”), which works fine for smaller stores but can slow things down as your business grows. HPOS changes that by using custom database tables specifically designed for e-commerce, making your store faster and more efficient—especially when handling large volumes of orders.
For store owners, this means:
- Faster checkout and order processing, leading to happier customers.
- Better scalability, so your store can grow without performance issues.
- Reduced server load, which can lower hosting costs over time.
HPOS is now the default for new WooCommerce installations, and it’s highly recommended for existing stores looking to future-proof their setup.
Why Should You Care About HPOS?
If your store is customized—whether it’s through plugins, themes, or custom code—HPOS is especially important. While the upgrade brings significant benefits, it also changes how order data is stored and accessed. This means any custom features that rely on the old system may need updates to stay compatible.
But don’t worry—this post will walk you through what’s affected and how to ensure your store continues to run smoothly. And if you’re not comfortable making these updates yourself, our team is ready to help.
How Does HPOS Affect Your Custom WooCommerce Store?
HPOS shifts order storage from WordPress’s post system to custom tables, which impacts any custom code or plugins that directly interact with order data. If your store has tailored features—like custom order fields, modified checkout flows, or unique reporting—those might need adjustments to work with HPOS.
Here’s a quick overview of what’s affected:
Affected Functions
These are common functions used in custom code that will no longer work for orders with HPOS:
- get_post($order_id) → Use wc_get_order($order_id) instead.
- wp_insert_post($args) → Use WooCommerce’s API to create orders.
- update_post_meta($post_id, $meta_key, $meta_value) → Use $order->update_meta_data($meta_key, $meta_value) and $order->save().
Affected Hooks
Hooks are like triggers that run custom code at specific moments (e.g., when an order is created). With HPOS, these post-related hooks won’t work for orders:
- save_post (for orders) → Use woocommerce_update_order.
- wp_insert_post (for orders) → Use woocommerce_new_order.
- transition_post_status (for orders) → Use woocommerce_order_status_changed.
Don’t worry if this sounds technical—the key takeaway is that some behind-the-scenes changes are needed to keep your custom features working with HPOS.
How to Update Your Customizations for HPOS
To ensure your store’s custom features remain compatible with HPOS, follow these steps:
- Check Your Plugins and Themes
Make sure all your plugins and themes are up to date. Many developers have already added HPOS support, so updating might be all you need. - Declare HPOS Compatibility
If you have custom code, your developer can declare compatibility using a simple hook. This tells WooCommerce that your customizations are ready for HPOS. - Update Custom Code
Replace any post-related functions and hooks with WooCommerce’s order-specific alternatives (as listed above). This ensures your custom features interact correctly with the new storage system. - Test Thoroughly
Before going live, test critical processes like checkout, refunds, and order management in a staging environment. This helps catch any issues early.
If this feels overwhelming, don’t stress—our team specializes in WooCommerce customizations and can handle the entire process for you.
New Features and Hooks in HPOS
WooCommerce has introduced new hooks specifically for HPOS to make the transition smoother. For example:
- woocommerce_before_delete_order and woocommerce_before_trash_order replace old post-deletion hooks, ensuring your custom code still runs when orders are deleted or trashed.
These updates are designed to maintain compatibility while unlocking the performance benefits of HPOS.
Why Make the Switch Now?
Upgrading to HPOS isn’t just about keeping up with the latest features—it’s about setting your store up for long-term success. Here’s why you should consider making the switch:
- Improved Performance: Faster order processing means a better experience for your customers and less strain on your server.
- Future-Proofing: As WooCommerce continues to evolve, HPOS will be the foundation for new features and optimizations.
- Cost Savings: Better performance can reduce hosting costs, especially for stores with high order volumes.
Need Help with Your Upgrade?
We understand that upgrading to HPOS might seem daunting, especially if your store relies on custom features. But you don’t have to do it alone. Our team of WooCommerce experts is here to ensure your store not only stays compatible but also takes full advantage of the speed and scalability HPOS offers.
Whether you need help updating custom code, testing your store, or simply understanding how HPOS will impact your business, we’ve got you covered.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us handle the technical details while you focus on growing your store.