How to send notifications for pending invoices in metered billing?

Problem Statement

You want to know how to send notifications for pending invoices.

Solution

Scope

Notification for pending invoices

Summary

By default, email notifications are trigged event-based for all invoice status except 'Pending' status. Pending invoices are draft invoices that need to be closed by the merchant (either auto close or manual close). Mostly pending invoices are generated for metered billing scenarios where the invoice is sent at the end of the billing cycle. However, as a workaround, you can send 'Custom emails' for invoices in Pending status.

Solution

Invoices in the Pending state are generated only when you have the previous term's unpaid consumption charges (Metered-billing). It will be available in the drafted state to update the charges upon consumption. Only after closing the invoice, the invoice will be generated as (Paid, Payment due, Posted) state depending on the site configuration.

However, we can use 'Custom emails' if you prefer to send emails to customers once the invoice is generated in 'Pending' status.

Navigate from Settings > Configure Chargebee > Email Notifications > Custom Email > Add Notification > Invoice Index Page

Note: the invoice index page can have upto 2 custom emails.

Once you select Invoice Index Page, you will get a notification to add the Invoice name. For example, we have updated the email notification name as 'Pending Invoice - Reminder Notification'.

You can edit the email content using the below 'EDIT' option.

Once the email notification is published, you have to choose the audiences to whom the email has to be sent.

Navigate to Invoice Index Page and click on 'Filter list' and filter the search as 'Invoice Status' > 'is' > 'Pending' > Apply Filter

Note: If you would like to save a particular set of conditions (a filter) to use again at a later time, click on the Save filter option. It allows you to name and store a filter for use at a later time. If you prefer to access this from other Index pages, then select Make this filter accessible to all.

Click on 'More Actions > Email Customers'

Then, you will be directed to a pop-up window that displays the default and custom email list. Choose the 'Custom email' from the list that was recently created then click 'Proceed'.

Further, you will be re-directed to the Custom Email Edit Page.

If you require to add additional content, you can update it from here using the 'Edit' option (or) you can send the email by clicking on the 'Send email' button.