Today we have released B2Bsellers version 0.9.5-beta!
The August release contains the biggest change so far: all plugins have now been merged under a single physical plugin. The new version also adds more features like the closed store login screen, the ability to create orders for customers via admin API and the inside sales order option, which allows sales reps to easily trigger orders for their customers. In addition, we have fixed several bugs and issues.
Learn more in the individual areas:
GENERAL
All B2Bsellers plugins are now one physical plugin
In short, our previous idea was to provide a modular system with a master plugin (B2BsellersCore) and a number of additional plugins that could be installed on top. The problem was that we needed a lot of effort in communicating the differences, because it was not always very clear which plugin contained which functions. In addition, managing and maintaining compatibility with each other was enormously time-consuming and frankly impossible. We already have close to 15 extensions at this point.
This changes with today, as all function plugins are now available under one plugin. All functions can now be clearly activated or deactivated under the new "B2B settings" in the admin
The core-inclusive functions become "features".
Until now, even the functions that were available for free with the CORE license (e.g. the bonus program, product inquiries, variant list or the order lists) were separate Shopware 6 plugins. These are now included directly in the "CORE plugin" and can be easily activated or deactivated in the license settings.
Paid extensions become "add-ons
Every B2B company has different requirements and that's exactly why our paid modular system extensions make sense. So far, these were also own Shopware 6 plugins and with this release they will all be delivered directly with the "B2BsellersCore" in the "CORE plugin". However, licenses are required for these add-ons - they will soon be available for purchase in a separate license store. The license store then also forms a license server, which regulates the authorization whether a paid add-on may be installed.
NEW: License restrictions "Restrictions
We are pursuing our vision of making B2B e-commerce usable. This also means that any medium-sized company that does not currently have the means to enter B2B e-commerce will be given this opportunity through us and will be able to grow further. In addition, with the B2Bsellers Suite, we also want to give large and established companies that want to go completely digital or have thousands of employees the opportunity to enter B2B e-commerce or take the next development steps with a standardized software.
Larger companies that use our software very extensively and profitably need more support and have more requirements for optimization measures. To give these companies the best possible software as well, we have integrated license restrictions.
This includes in the purchase or rental of the normal B2Bsellers Core license a maximum of 5 sales representatives that a store operator can create. The store operator or agency can upgrade the license in increments of 5.
For the developer:
The add-ons are still (like Shopware plugins) Symfony bundles, which are loaded here or not depending on the settings.
Compatibility with Shopware version 6.4.14.0
B2Bsellers Suite version 0.9.5 is compatible with Shopware version 6.4.14.0. Shopware version 6.4.14.0 is now also our recommended version.
Errors may occur for versions prior to 6.4.14.0 for various reasons.
NEW FEATURES
B2B settings are now accessible from the main menu
To provide an overview and quick access to the B2Bsellers Suite B2B settings, we decided to display them in the main admin menu under "B2B Settings". These settings are basically just the configuration for the plugin, but now they are easily accessible from the main navigation in the admin.
For a "closed store" you can now map a login screen
If the store owner sets in the B2B settings that the store should be a closed store where a login is mandatory to get in, then you can now choose between the standard Shopware login/registration page and the B2Bsellers login screen.
The following settings are possible:
Provide an admin API endpoint for easy purchase order creation.
Shopware 6 is completely API-driven, which is brilliant - however, we have made the experience and also received feedback from our partners that external systems have problems creating these orders from third-party systems in Shopware, especially when creating orders. But it is precisely in the B2B sector that companies want all of a customer's orders from all external systems to be displayed in Shopware to the purchasing customer. Thanks to Shopware 6, order items without article assignment are now also possible, so that not every article has to be present in Shopware.
At the request of our partners, we have integrated this extremely simple API endpoint to create orders in Shopware via admin API. As mentioned in our documentation, no UUIDs for e.g. customer number, item number etc. are necessary either. So we make it very easy for external systems to create legacy orders or cross-system orders in Shopware 6.
Conclusion: Creating orders via API is now easier than ever!
More information for developers can be found here:
Quick order as sales representative (internal sales order)
An internal sales representative places a large number of orders every day. Currently still mainly in an ERP system. However, digital companies are moving more and more processes to the "triggered order" in the online store. For this reason, we would like to use this function to give sales staff the opportunity to trigger orders very quickly. Preferably without using the mouse. Regardless of whether the sales employee is on the road or the office staff is sitting at a workstation, the orders should be triggered within the shortest possible time. A special feature to be mentioned is that sales employees often have fewer restrictions than the customers themselves and can therefore also overwrite order information (e.g. the product price or the shipping costs).
With this add-on, we enable sales representatives to easily and quickly fulfill orders on behalf of customers.
Try it out!
BUGS
BCS-765 at sales portal, show net prices no matter what customer group settings + adjustment pricelist with customer specific prices + follow customer group when calculating prices of quotations and SalesRep Fast Order
BCS-759 show category specific property column
BCS-758 Error at category list view - The block 'component_b2blist_box_variants_button_container_buy_form' has already been defined line 144.
BCS-741 Employee role changes
BCS-733 Fixed bug where a sales representative as supervisor could not see all customers
BCS-716 Missing translation for "Release order?" at express-checkout
BCS-704 Fixed fetching order data on open order modal
BCS-690 Express purchase can be closed in the shopping cart
BCS-667 fixed TypeError at ConsumerViewController
BCS-666 Unit price accepts price from user input + improvements on lock state for items
BCS-657 Repeat order at the express checkout
BCS-655 Express Checkout opens twice
BCS-653 Register request mail arrived
BCS-652 Price of accessories item is displayed
BCS-651 Price at which spare parts of an exploded view are displayed
BCS-617 After uninstalling the B2bUrlAuthentication plugin, it is not possible to reinstall
BCS-609 The explosion graphic is played out in the largest possible size
BCS-566 Order releases are now only displayed on a company-specific basis
BCS-519 In the offer plugin, the subtotals are now updated when you mark optional items.
The complete "Release Notes" are available in the documentation => Click here
DEVELOPER NEWS
Migration from 0.9.4 to 0.9.5
Migration from the old plugin structure to the new one is quite simple.
Please take the following steps:
Please take the following steps:
1. development environment
Make the change in a development environment first.
Make a backup of the database and all files in advance!
2. b2bsellers plugins
Uninstall all B2Bsellers plugins via the admin.
Excluded: B2BsellersCore, B2BPlatformTheme and B2bOCI
Remove all app data permanently
At "Remove all app data permanently" select
->
NO, so that all data is retained.
Click on "Uninstall
Important: If you disable or uninstall all plugins via the Console, remember the parameter -keep-user-data
4. uninstalled plugins
After that you should definitely delete these uninstalled plugins. Otherwise this can lead to errors in the frontend.
5. plugin ZIP
Now upload the plugin ZIP file of version 0.9.5 in the admin or exchange the files via console.
We are currently working on the implementation of a "private composer-package". You are welcome to contact us via support@b2b-sellers.com
We are currently working on the implementation of a "private composer-package". You are welcome to contact us via support@b2b-sellers.com
6. update
After that, make the update of the "B2BsellersCore" plugin (blue link).
7. completion
Now the update to version 0.9.5 should be ready.
Configuration of B2B settings (feature/addons)
The B2B settings should now be visible in the main menu.
You can now also enable/disable all features and addons there.
Note: Please reload the admin each time you activate/deactivate, otherwise the entity map stored in VUE.JS will not be regenerated. (We will fix this)
Please go through all configuration options once.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact us at support@b2b-sellers.com
Important: With every activation/deactivation of the addons the Javascript and the CSS must be built afterwards.
Since all addons are "Symfony bundles", it is necessary to execute the following commands after each addon activation/deactivation:
- bin/console b2b:platform:build
- bash bin/build-administration.sh
- bash bin/build-storefront.sh
New columns in B2B platform menu recognize features and add-ons
Three new columns have been added to the "b2b_platform_menu_item" table:
- technical_name
- feature_name
- addon_name
These three columns are the mapping to a feature or add-on, so not all features and add-ons are always immediately displayed in the B2B platform navigation.