What is the Difference Between Sales and Sales Order

Sales

  • A Sale is a completed transaction.
  • It means the product/service has been delivered, and the payment (full or partial) has either been received or is due.
  • In Swipe, it’s typically used when the sale is finalized and you’re generating a bill/invoice.

Example: You sell 10 pens to a customer, give them the items, and maybe collect payment — that’s recorded as a Sale.

Sales Order

  • A Sales Order is more like a commitment or intent to buy, not a finalized transaction yet.
  • The customer places an order, but the items may not have been delivered or invoiced yet.
  • It’s useful for tracking pending or upcoming sales.

Example: A customer says, “I want 10 pens next week.” You enter this as a Sales Order — it’s not a sale yet, just a record of the order.