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Overview
This document provides a comprehensive guide to managing your stores and related configurations. Whether you're setting up a new store, customizing its settings, integrating with various channels and plugins, or fine-tuning your notification preferences, this document covers all the essential aspects of store management.
Accessing the Stores Page
To access the orders page, click the "Stores" button located in the left-hand menu.
Creating a New Store
To establish a store, initiate the process by selecting the "+ Add" button located in the upper right corner of your screen. This action will redirect you to a fresh page where you can input the requisite details for your new store, as detailed below:
- Name: You have the freedom to choose any name for your store. However, it's essential to ensure that the name is both meaningful and descriptive.
- Replace Order Line Items with Kit Items:
- Enabling this option means that when a customer places an order for individual products that are also part of a kit, the platform will automatically replace the individual items with the corresponding kit.
- A "kit" is a predefined collection of products that are bundled together and sold as a single unit.
- For example, a camera kit might include a camera body, lens, memory card, and a bag. If a customer orders a camera body, a lens, and a memory card, and you have a "Camera Kit" defined, enabling this option would replace the individual items in the order with the "Camera Kit."
- It simplifies the order and inventory management process because the kit is treated as a single item rather than multiple individual items.
- Auto Deduct Not Synced Orders:
- Enabling it means that your platform will automatically reduce the available inventory quantity for a product whenever an order is placed, even if the order has yet to be fully processed, ensuring that you don't oversell a product.
- This option is a feature designed to help manage your inventory and orders across various sales channels, especially if you sell products through multiple platforms like your own website, Amazon, eBay, etc.
- This feature is particularly useful when orders are synchronised or integrated with your inventory management system, and it helps prevent overselling, which can lead to customer dissatisfaction and potential issues with order fulfillment.
- For example, let's say you have ten units of a product in stock. If two customers place orders for the same product at the same time, the system will deduct two units from your inventory, even if both orders are not yet processed at your warehouse. This way, you won't accidentally sell more products than you have in stock.
After providing the necessary information, click the "Save" button to complete the store creation process.
Editing a Store
To modify a store, click on the pen icon located within the actions tab on the far right side of the store entry. It will redirect you to the editing screen, where you can incorporate a variety of features into your store.
Channels
You can use the channels tab to actively install any sales channel you prefer for integration with your platform. You have the flexibility to install as many channels as you desire for a store. It empowers you to actively manage your orders and inventory, ensuring synchronization among the sales channels you've established. This active approach makes it easier for you to actively track your business operations.
You can locate the installation guides for each channel within our dedicated documentation section here. These documents will provide step-by-step guidance on how to acquire API credentials and install them on your store.
Plugins
In the plugins tab, you gain the power to integrate third-party logistics (3PL) services into your e-commerce store, enhancing its capabilities. This integration complements the range of sales channels you can readily configure. It empowers you to transmit essential order information to the platforms you establish via the plugins section, improving the efficiency of your order fulfilment process.
Account Channel
In the accounting channel tab, you can integrate accounting solutions such as Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage with your store. This integration automates the transfer of transaction information for orders to the connected accounting channels, ensuring that your store maintains well-organized and accurate records of order transactions, making it more convenient for you to manage your accounting processes.
Webhooks
Web applications rely on the exchange of data through API calls and the immediate notifications triggered by webhooks. Unlike periodic data polling associated with API calls, webhooks provide real-time event updates. When configuring a webhook via the webhooks tab, you have the opportunity to establish your notification system, receiving timely updates whenever changes occur within the channels you've integrated.
Let's break down the options for configuring your webhook:
- Event: In this section, you can specify the particular events for which you want to receive notifications from the application. Options include:
- channels.products.updated: This event triggers a webhook notification when there are updates or changes made to the products within your integrated channels. For example, if a product's price or description is modified, you will receive a notification.
- confirmation.orders.received: Selecting this event will notify you when new orders are received and confirmed within your integrated channels. It's particularly useful to keep track of incoming orders that require confirmation.
- orders.fulfilment.created: When an order's fulfilment process is initiated, this event is triggered. It can be useful for monitoring the progress of order fulfilment in real time.
- orders.fulfilment.updated: This event notifies you when there are updates or changes to the fulfilment status of an order. For example, if an order's shipping status is updated, you will receive a notification.
- invoices.received: This event is relevant for financial tracking. It informs you when invoices are received, providing visibility into your financial transactions as they occur.
- invoices.updated: Similar to the "invoices.received" event, this one is triggered when there are updates or modifications to existing invoices.
- orders.excluded: When orders are excluded or removed from the system, this event is triggered. It's useful for tracking when orders are no longer in the active workflow.
- orders.on_hold: Selecting this event will notify you when orders are placed on hold, possibly due to specific circumstances that require attention or resolution.
- orders.received: This event keeps you informed about the arrival of new orders in real-time. It's a valuable event for tracking the influx of orders as they are received.
- orders.updated: This event notifies you whenever there are updates or changes to existing orders. It can include modifications to order details, shipping information, or order status changes.
- products.updated: This event is triggered when there are modifications, updates, or changes made to the product listings in your integrated channels. It provides real-time information about product catalogue changes.
- Method: Choose the HTTP request method for your webhook, typically either PUT or POST. Most webhooks utilize POST to transmit data.
- Interval: Define how often the webhook should trigger, specifying the time interval in minutes.
- Number of items to be sent: This field lets you determine how many entries should be transmitted within a single webhook trigger.
- URL: To set up the webhook, input the URL to which the Channels API should deliver its requests. Obtain this webhook URL from the destination application where you wish to send data.
- Requires Authorisation: This is an optional feature that enables you to include additional headers, along with an authentication key if the target application demands it.
Store Notifications
Within this tab, you have the flexibility to input email addresses and choose to receive email notifications via these accounts. You also have the option to define the frequency of these notifications in minutes for each trigger individually. You can enable notifications for the following triggers:
- Pending Orders: Receive notifications for orders that are currently pending and require your attention.
- Hold Orders: Get notified about orders that are on hold, possibly due to specific circumstances that need resolution.
- Pending Stock Updates: Stay informed about pending stock updates, ensuring you're aware of inventory changes.
- Pending Products: Receive notifications when there are products in the pending status, potentially awaiting review or action.
- Plugin Stock Levels Not Updated: If plugin stock levels remain unchanged for a specified period, this trigger will notify you to ensure accurate stock management.
Once you've personalised the configuration to your preferences, remember to click the "Update" button to save the changes you've made.
Shared Companies
Within this tab, you have the option to input the "Company UUID (Universally Unique Identifier)" of another company that you own on Channels. This feature enables you to establish connections between multiple stores across different companies that you, or someone else have created. By linking these stores, you can efficiently manage and coordinate your operations across multiple business entities, enhancing your ability to oversee and organize your diverse business ventures.
To locate your current Company UUID, navigate to the settings page. For a comprehensive guide on accessing settings and detailed instructions on reaching the settings page, please refer to the dedicated documentation provided on this page. This documentation will offer a step-by-step walkthrough to assist you in finding the essential Company UUID information you need.
Store Settings
The "Store Settings" tab offers you the same options available when you created your store. You have the flexibility to update the store's name and adjust its configuration whenever the need arises. It means that you can make modifications to your store's settings as your requirements evolve, ensuring your store remains aligned with your evolving business needs.
Deleting a Store
To remove a store from your account, locate the trash bin icon under the "Actions" section and click on it. This action triggers a pop-up window that requests confirmation. This two-step process is designed to safeguard your data against accidental deletion. After confirming the deletion, be aware that all store data and configurations will be permanently erased, ensuring a thorough cleanup of the store's information.