Configuring the advanced B2B direct store (Business Edition)

When you publish the advanced B2B direct starter store, many optional features are enabled. If you do not want them in your store, you can disable those features, and enable others instead, through the Change Flow notebook. In general, you can change the following aspects of the store flow:

To configure the Advanced B2B store:

Customer care

Option Description Implications Enabled by default
Enable Customer Care Provides customers with the option to communicate with a Customer Service Representative in real time by way of a synchronous text interface using the Lotus Sametime server. If you select this option, you must install a Sametime server and configure it to work with WebSphere Commerce. Refer to the WebSphere Commerce Additional Software Guide for more information. No

Collaborative workspaces

Option Description Implications Enabled by default
Enable Collaborative Workspaces Provides customers with the option to If you select this option, you must install and configure LDAP and QuickPlace. Refer to the WebSphere Commerce Additional Software Guide for more information. No

Catalog

Option Description When to use Enabled by default
Include search in the store Provides customers with the option to search the store catalog. The store catalog is large enough that searching the catalog based on keywords would be helpful. Yes
Include quantity selection Adds a quantity selection box to the product, prebuilt kit, or bundle page. To enable customers to select the quantity when adding these items to the shopping cart.

If this field is disabled, customers can change the quantity on the Checkout page.

Yes
Quick order Allows customers to enter a SKU to order an item quickly. The item is added to the shopping cart Use quick order when customers are likely to know the SKU numbers. For example, if the store sends out paper catalogs the customer could simply enter the SKU number, as printed in the catalog, on the Quick Order form. Yes
Include requisition lists Allows registered customers to create a reusable list of items to create orders at a later date. Customers can create requisition lists of items that they reorder frequently and use the requisition list to periodically re-order the items. Use requisition lists in a B2B direct store where customers frequently reorder the same items. Yes
Include requests for quotes Allows buyers to negotiate products specifications and pricing with the seller. Not applicable. Yes

Order

Option Description Enabled by default
Track order status Lets customers track the status of their order. For example, customers can see if an order is still waiting approval, is already processed, or is scheduled to be processed. Yes
Schedule orders Lets customers schedule orders the date on which an order will occur. Yes
Enable available to promise (Always enabled)
The available to promise (ATP) functionality allows you to allocate inventory from existing stock or to backorder from expected inventory. When a customer orders a product that is currently out of stock, the customer has the following options:
  • Ship the entire order when all items are available.
  • Ship the available items now and move back-ordered items to a separate order to be shipped when they become available.
  • Ship the available items now and leave the rest in the shopping cart for purchase at a later date.
Yes

Configurable Store Display

Option Description Implications Enabled by default
Enable Configurable Store Display Provides customers with persistent access to functionality of and information about your store through a collection of portlet-like display elements enabled individually. If you intend to allow access to your store with browsers that do not support Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) - for example, Netscape Communicator 4.x- you must disable this feature. Yes
Current Order
Provides customers with a display element showing the current order. None. Yes
Requisition Lists Provides customers with a display element showing their requisition lists. If you select this option, you must also select Include requisition lists in the Catalog section. No
Orders Awaiting Approval Provides customers with a display element showing their orders awaiting approval. If you select this option, you must also select Track order status in the Order section. No
Order History Provides customers with a display element showing orders which have been previously processed. If you select this option, you must also select Track order status in the Order section. No
Scheduled Orders Provides customers with a display element showing their scheduled orders. If you select this option, you must also select Track order status and Schedule orders in the Order section. No
e-Marketing Spot Provides customers with a display element showing an e-Marketing Spot. Not applicable. Yes

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