E-Commerce Settings for the Products to Bring Them Online

E-Commerce Settings for the Products to Bring Them Online

Product Configuration & E-Commerce Settings

If you are responsible for managing products for your online store, it is crucial to establish the products and pricing and configure various parameters according to the business requirements. When adding a new product, it is essential to set up and manage both the cost and retail price. Additionally, you need to add and manage costs and prices based on specific price book zones. Certain attributes, such as category, manufacturer, and brand, must be configured to ensure accurate product representation.
Products can be added manually or imported in bulk by configuring relevant attributes in an Excel file (xlsx). You can include details such as UPC, category, manufacturer, brand, and more while adding and configuring products.

This Knowledge Base (KB) article provides instructions on setting up E-Commerce for your products, enabling them to appear online seamlessly.

1. Reaching "Products" 

There are two ways to reach "Products": 
Step 1: Log into Control Center.
Step 2: Click "Products" from the navigation menu on the left side.

Figure 1.1: "Products"
Step 3: Find "Products" and other important parameters related to the products to be set up.

Figure 1.2: "Products"
OR
Step 1: Log into Control Center.
Step 2: Click "Point of Sale" from the navigation menu on the left side.
Step 3: Click "Pricebook."

Figure 1.3: Point of Sale -> Pricebook
Step 4: By clicking "Products," you will be redirected to the product's listing page.

Figure 1.4: Point of Sale -> Pricebook -> Products

E-Commerce Tools
You can start adding the products one by one manually. You can also import the products along with the images in bulk from Point of Sale -> Pricebook -> E-Commerce -> ECommerce Tools. For that, you need to follow the instructions that are explained there. You need to download the pre-defined Excel (xlsx) file and add the product details and the attributes that are asked in the Excel file.

Figure 1.5: Point of Sale -> Pricebook -> Products
Once the products are managed, added, or already exist with all the mandatory and relevant details, you need to set up E-Commerce for all the products individually. You can see the "E-Commerce" tab on the product details page.
1. The mandatory and important parameters for the products other than the name: UPC | Category | Manufacturer/Brand | Tags | Department | Pricing.
2. When the basic details of the products are set up, you can click the "E-Commerce" tab to start setting up to bring the products online for the e-commerce site.

Figure 1.6: Product Details Page

1.1 Enable E-Commerce

To utilize and set up the E-Commerce features for your products, it is imperative to enable the E-Commerce option in the POS settings. To enable the E-Commerce option,
Step 1: Navigate to Point of Sale -> POS -> Product/General" settings.
Step 2: Locate the Enable E-Commerce option within these settings.
You need to enable this option to utilize the E-Commerce features for each product.
Figure 1.1.1: Enable E-Commerce for Products
Note: If the Enable E-Commerce option is enabled, only then can you set up E-Commerce features for each product individually. As an admin user, you can access the "E-Commerce" tab, allowing you to configure essential settings and import options for selling the product online.

2. Setting Up E-Commerce for Products 

To reach the E-Commerce setting, click the "E-Commerce" tab on the product details page. When you redirect to the "E-Commerce" tab, you will see an option, Available in E-Commerce, which is by default disabled.

Figure 2.1: Enable E-Commerce

To start displaying and selling the products online, the following options must be set to YES (enabled).
1. Available in E-Commerce: Enable this option to make this product available in the online store. By enabling this switch, you can start configuring the online-related setups.
2. Independently Sellable: Enable this option to make this product sellable to customers so they can purchase products online. If this option is disabled, the product can still be sold online, but as a linked or variant product of another product.

Figure 2.2: E-Commerce Settings
3. You need to configure the following settings to display the product details in the way you want to sell the product online:
Basic Settings | Variants | Substitutions | Companions | Images | Videos

2.1 Basic Settings

General e-Commerce settings

Configure the following settings under the "Basic Settings" tab:
Basic Information | Enable Fulfillment Methods | Dimensions | Meta Information (SEO)
1. Online Title: If you want to update the product name so that customers can recognize it easily, enter the product's name that you want to display online. This is not a mandatory field. If this field were left blank, the system would display the product's name online.
2. Allow Fulfillment Methods: Fulfillment methods play a crucial role in providing customers with flexible options to receive their orders. You need to enable fulfillment methods that is/are suitable for your retail store business. 
Store Pickup: Allow customers to place the order using store pickup or the curbside pickup method. So, the customers need to reach out to the store to pick up their orders.
Delivery: Allow customers to place the order using the delivery method. So, the customers can get the order at their doorstep (as per the mentioned address). The order's delivery can be handled by the store's employee. However, if a third-party delivery service like DoorDash is used, the customer's order will be delivered by the Dasher, who is an employee of DoorDash.
Standard Shipping: Allow customers to place the order using standard shipping. The order delivery will be shipped by the third-party shipment provider (i.e., DHL or FedEx).

Figure 2.1.1: E-Commerce Settings

By enabling the fulfillment methods for your e-commerce site, you empower your customers to choose their preferred fulfillment method to place the order with.
Note: When you enable the Available in E-Commerce option, you must select at least one fulfillment method. Only then can the product be seen online.

3. Weight and Dimensions Options
Set up the product's dimensions, such as weight, length, width, and height. The weight and dimensions must be added, as their values will be utilized to calculate the delivery and shipping fees for the orders.
You need to enter the values for them and select the unit for the product.

Figure 2.1.2: Basic Settings - Product Dimensions and Meta Information

4. Meta/SEO information
To boost the product's online visibility, enter the Meta/SEO Information for the following fields:
  1. Meta Title: Enter the title for the product.
    It is displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs) and in browser tabs. Keep it under 60 characters for optimal display on search engines.
  2. Meta Description: Enter the description (details) that provides a brief overview of the content on the page.
    Limit it to around 150-160 characters for effective details and include the relevant keywords.
  3. Meta URL Slug: Enter the URL details. The Meta URL Slug is the part of the URL that identifies the page's content.
    It contributes to SEO and user understanding. Use hyphens to separate words for readability (e.g., "product-category" instead of "productcategory").
  4. Meta Keywords (Comma Separated): Enter the relevant keywords. Meta keywords are used for SEO. Enter a few relevant keywords, separated by commas.
These Meta/SEO information fields collectively contribute to improving the online visibility and search engine ranking of your products. As an admin user, you should carefully populate these fields to enhance the overall SEO performance of the online store.
Once the basic settings are set up, you can save the product settings to bring the current product online.

2.2 Variants

Set up different options for a product to be displayed as variants

Product variants refer to different options of a base product that share similar characteristics but may vary in certain attributes such as color, size, flavor, or weight. These variants allow customers to choose the specific option that best suits their preferences or needs while still considering it part of the same product.

Figure 2.2.1: Variant Mapping
You can select the variant products and map them with the attributes (i.e., color, flavor, size, etc.). You can also sync the settings of the base (current) product to all the selected variant products in one go. You can map the E-Commerce Settings and Dimensions to all the variant products.
For a detailed guide regarding product variants, refer to the Setting Up Product Variants for Online Store KB article.

2.3 Substitutions

Manage other similar products as optional

Setting up Substitute Products offers a seamless solution for providing customers with optional products in the event of stock unavailability or insufficient inventory. As an admin user, you can add possible substitutes to allow customers to choose the preferred substitutes during the purchasing process.
To select the variant products for different attributes, click the "Substitutions" tab. You will find the Allow Substitutions option disabled by default.

Figure 2.3.1: Enable Substitutions to Set Up the Other Available Products
To select the substitute products, enable this option.

You can set up the products for substitution preferences on the cart page, and you can also set up the products to be displayed as similar products on the product details page. 

Figure 2.3.2: Set Up the Products to Be Displayed on the Cart and Details Page

2.4 Companions

Set up "frequently bought together" products for upselling
Leverage the Companions settings to boost sales and enhance the shopping experience for your customers by offering the relevant products on the product details page.
By selecting relevant products as companions here, you can showcase them as "Frequently Bought Together" on the product details page of your e-commerce site.
Ex. You sell the e-cigarette product online. You can showcase a USB charger on the details page of the e-cigarette product. So, you can select the USB charger product in Companions. In a similar way, here's another example: A cigarette pack along with a mouth-freshener product.

Figure 2.4.1
To select any product, click the "Manage" button, and you will get a listing of the products.
Once the products are selected in Companions, save the product settings.
Many of the customers buy products in combos. For example, a cigarette pack along with a mouth freshener product, an e-cigarette along with a USB charger. A companion item(s) can be displayed as “Frequently Bought Together” when the customer navigates to the product detail page.

2.5 Images & Videos 

Upload images and a promo to showcase the product details

In your e-commerce store, showcasing high-quality images and engaging videos is essential for attracting customers and providing them with a detailed view of your products.
Images
To enhance the chances of customers adding items to the cart, upload images of high resolution per product. Showcase different product close-ups, details on the back side of product packages, and an infographic manual on how to use the product, if any. Provide a comprehensive view on the product details page.
To upload images, click the "Images" tab.

Figure 2.5.1
If you have uploaded multiple images, you can assign any of them as Default, so the default one will be displayed in the listing and main image for the product online.

Videos
Upload the videos with a short length and ensure that they cover key features. To upload a video, click the "Videos" tab.

Figure 2.5.2
Once the images and videos are assigned to default, save the product settings. 

2.6 Linked Products 

Add a product to become a bundle offer

The Linked Products feature empowers the retailer to associate an additional product with a main product, ensuring that both items are added to the customer's cart upon selecting the main product for purchase.
You can leverage this linked product feature to create product bundles by grouping related items together or offering a sample product for free alongside the main product during online sales.
Ex. Link a cigar pipe with a tiny cleaning brush to offer customers a comprehensive bundle.

To add the linked product, locate the "Additional Information" button on the product's "Details" tab for which you want to set up linked products. Clicking this button opens the Additional Product Information pop-up.

Figure 2.6.1
In the pop-up, find the Sales Link drop-down field to add the linked product and select the desired linked product. Once the linked product is selected, save the product details to apply the changes.
When customers redirect to the product details page and a sales link for the product is set, it will be prominently displayed as a linked product on your online store. In most cases, sales-link products are priced at $0. However, if the linked product has a retail price, it will be calculated into the cart total.

3. Product Configuration Setup Guides

For a detailed guide regarding products and other settings, refer to the below KB articles:

KB Article 
Link
Other Important Settings of the Product
Product Categories
Product Manufacturers
Product Brands
Product Attribute Type
Product Attributes Set
Product Tags


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