Improving WooCommerce Orders List Load Speed: Best Practices and Tips

Optimizing the WooCommerce orders list in the WordPress admin to load in under one second can be challenging, especially for stores with a large number of orders. Here are some strategies and steps to achieve this:

1. Optimize Database Queries

• Indexes: Ensure your database tables, especially those related to WooCommerce orders (`wp_posts`, `wp_postmeta`, `wp_woocommerce_order_items`, etc.), are properly indexed.
• Custom Queries: Modify the default query to make it more efficient. You might consider using a custom query that only fetches essential data.

2. Reduce Plugin Overhead

• Deactivate Unnecessary Plugins:  Deactivate any plugins that are not essential to the WooCommerce orders page.
• Selective Loading: Ensure that only the necessary scripts and styles are loaded on the orders page.

3. Caching

• Object Caching: Use an object caching plugin like Redis or Memcached to speed up database queries.
• Admin Page Caching: Although this is more challenging for dynamic admin pages, some elements might benefit from caching.

4. Optimize Server Performance

• Upgrade Hosting: Use a high-performance hosting provider optimized for WooCommerce.
• PHP and Database Version: Ensure you are using the latest stable versions of PHP and MySQL/MariaDB for better performance.

5. Optimize WooCommerce Settings

• Order List: Limit the number of orders displayed per page in the admin.
• Batch Processing: If you have bulk actions or cron jobs, ensure they run outside peak admin usage times.

6. Lazy Loading and Pagination

• Lazy Load: Implement lazy loading for elements that can be loaded as the user scrolls.
• Pagination: Ensure pagination is properly set to avoid loading too many orders at once.

7. Custom Code Adjustments

Here’s a sample code snippet to optimize the orders list query:

<?php
function custom_optimize_woocommerce_orders_query($query) {
    global $typenow, $wpdb;

    if ('shop_order' !== $typenow) {
        return;
    }

    // Customize the SQL query to only select necessary fields
    $query->query_from = str_replace('SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS', '', $query->query_from);
    $query->query_fields = 'SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS ' . $wpdb->posts . '.ID';

    // Optional: Add your custom index or conditions here
    // $query->query_where .= " AND your_custom_condition";

    // Remove ordering if not necessary
    if (!isset($_GET['orderby'])) {
        $query->query_orderby = '';
    }
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'custom_optimize_woocommerce_orders_query');
?>

8. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

• CDN: Implement a CDN to serve static assets (images, scripts, styles) faster.

9. Monitor and Analyze Performance

•  Performance Tools: Use tools like Query Monitor or New Relic to identify bottlenecks.
• Logging: Implement logging to track the performance of custom queries and scripts.

10. Advanced Customization

• Custom Admin Page: If necessary, create a custom admin page for orders that uses more efficient queries and a required layout.

Implementation Steps

1. Backup Your Site: Before making any changes, ensure you have a full backup.
2. Test in Staging: Implement and test changes on a staging site first.
3. Measure Performance: Use tools like GTmetrix, Pingdom, or Lighthouse to measure the performance before and after changes.
4. Iterate: Continually monitor and optimize based on real-world usage and feedback.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve the performance of the WooCommerce orders list in the wp-admin area.

Ready to improve your WooCommerce admin experience? Implement these optimization techniques today and enjoy lightning-fast load times for your orders page. Have questions or need expert help? Contact us now to get expert solutions for your WooCommerce store!

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