Chapter 72 BigCommerce Connect
BigCommerce Connect makes it easy to connect and share data with the ecommerce solution, BigCommerce. This chapter describes BigCommerce Connect tools and features, which are found in System toolbar and tools. (6948)
BigCommerce Connect is fully customizable, so there are some choices to make. To start, use basic settings to see how it works. Then revise your settings to get the results you want. Support includes unlimited setup help, and we are happy to connect and configure for you.
Registration is the first step. This turns on BigCommerce Connect and its tools. You will receive an email with Registration Code and step-by-step instructions for setup. You may also click Trial to start or end a trial of this option.
Settings is the next step, entering the credentials BigCommerce Connect needs. Open the Company card again and go to the Company Prefs tab and click the on the BigCommerce Settings button. Enter the appropriate settings, choosing Automatic for mappings.
Mappings let you change what goes where, if you need. Go to the BigCommerce tool on the System toolbar. Select a Mapping from the list and make needed changes. Then, click Save As... in the lower right and save your new Mapping ("MyBCOrders").
You can return to Settings in the Company Prefs tab of Company card to select your new Mappings and turn on Auto-Import when settings are complete. Or, go to the BigCommerce tool on the System toolbar to import a batch.
BigCommerce Overview
This Solution describes the Bigcommerce Add-On. (6514)
The Bigcommerce Add-On provides key integration features including:
• importing customers
• importing orders
• updating inventory
When you turn on Auto Import, Big Business Server will automatically get any new customers and orders, and update their status. It will also keep inventory up to date so the items sold in Big Business show low or out of stock in Bigcommerce.
The Bigcommerce iPhone app is a handy way to receive notification of new orders and track status. The Dashboard shows the To Fulfill, the number of Orders that are Awaiting Fulfillment, and To Ship, the number of Orders that are Awaiting Shipment.
BigCommerce Connect
BigCommerce Connect automatically connects Big Business to your BigCommerce store. Fully automatic and fully customizable, BigCommerce Connect lets you get new customers and orders as they come in, or in batches when you are ready to process. With additional setup, you can add and update items and customers, set customer-specific pricing, and more.
This Solution provides details. (6809)
Bigcommerce: Product Categories
Bigcommerce uses Product Categories and requires these be set to create new Products--making them easier for customers to find.
This Solution describes this feature of the Bigcommerce Add-On. (6550)
Big Business shows you the Product Categories available in Bigcommerce.
Click to toggle a Category.
BigCommerce Registration
This Solution describes registering BigCommerce Connect. (6512)
1. go to the System toolbar, to the Company card, and click the Upgrade button
2. click the BigCommerce button and the Registration window will open
3. enter your Registration code
4. click Continue and OK, OK to save changes
5. restart Big Business Client
To start a Trial of BigCommerce Connect:
1. go to the System toolbar, to the Company card, and click the Upgrade button
2. click the BigCommerce button and the Registration window will open
3. click the Trial button and OK to close the confirmation
4. click Continue and OK, OK to save changes
5. restart Big Business Client
Bigcommerce: Account Details
This Solution describes entries for Bigcommerce Settings. (6510)
• Description -- optional. Enter a nickname for the store.
• Code -- optional. Enter a Code to add in front of imported Customer or Order ID's
• B2B -- optional. Click the checkbox to create Customer Groups used for Price Levels.
• Username -- stored securely. Copy from Account Details decribed below.
• API Path used for connecting. Copy from Account Details decribed below.
• API Token -- stored securely. Copy from Account Details decribed below.
In your Big Commerce Control Panel (e.g. mystore.mybigcommerce.com/admin) go to Setup & Tools, choose Legacy API Tools, and create a Legacy API Account. Copy the entries in Account Details to the Bigcommerce Settings window in Big Business.
Bigcommerce Settings
This Solution describes entries for Bigcommerce Settings. (6511)
• Get Order Status - select the Status for Orders you would like to import
• Set Order Status - select the Status to assign to Orders that have been imported
• Customer Import - select the Import for creating and updating Customers
• Order Import - select the Import for Bigcommerce Orders
• Item Export - select the Export for updating Bigcommerce Products
• Notifications To - select the Employee to send Notes with any errors
• Last Update - Bigcommerce Timestamp for last import.
• Auto Import - checkbox to run automatically
The settings pictured will automatically import new Orders thar are Awaiting Fulfillment and change their Status to Awaiting Shipment. Using the Bigcommerce app or site you can change the Status of an Order, for example from Awaiting Payment to Awaiting Fulfillment, when you want it to be imported.
BigCommerce API
BigCommerce Connect allows Big Business to connect and share data with the ecommerce solution, BigCommerce. To connect Big Business needs an API Token which you create in your BigCommerce Dashobard and copy into Big Business.
This Solution describes creating an API Account with BigCommerce. (6947)
1. open your BigCommerce Dashboard
2. choose Advanced Settings
3. select API Accounts
4. click the dropdown for Create API Account
5. choose Create V2/V3 API Token
6. enter a Name like "bigbusiness"
7. copy the API Path like "https://api.bigcommerce.com/stores/abc123/v3/"
paste this into API Path in Big Business, BigCommerce Settings and change "v3" to "v2"
8. set Customer, Orders, and Products to "Modify"
9. click Save and BigCommerce API Creditials will open
10. copy Client ID and paste into Username in BigCommerce Settings
11. copy Access Token and paste into API Token in BigCommerce Settings
12. click Done when you have copied Client ID and Access Token (only)
Bigcommerce: Notifications
This Solution describes Notificiations from the Bigcommerce Add-On. (6513)
In Bigcommerce Settings, on the Preferences tab of the Company Card, for Notifications To choose the Employee you want to receive these Notes.
Notifications can include:
• Errors, such as runtime errors including an error code in brackets
• Alerts, that would normally appear in a dialog, such as pictured failed import
• Elections, that the import choose the first match of several or chose an option
• Warnings, that imported orders, for example, may exceed credit, inventory, etc..
New Fields on Imports
Big Business 9 adds new fields for Imports, including:
To combine separate First Name and Last Name entries:
• Add Billing Name
• Add Shipping Name
• Add Customer Listing
To combine Item Descriptions:
• Add Item Code
• Add Description 1
• Add Description 2
This Solution describes this option. (6516)
Big Business Imports include "Add" fields for mapping the Last Name so it is added. For example, mapping First Name, "John", to Shipping Name and Last Name, "Doe", to Add Shipping Name (at the bottom of the list of import fields), combines them as, "John Doe", in the Shipping Name.
When importing from a vendor price list you may find it convenient to add new entries to your existing Item Code or Descriptions.
Customer and Update Customer Imports include:
• Add Billing Name
• Add Shipping Name
• Add Customer Listing
Sales Order Line Item Import includes:
• Add Shipping Name
Update Item Import includes:
• Add Item Code
• Add Description 1
• Add Description 2
Import Now
The Import window lets you view, edit, and save Import Settings that can be used by automatic imports, connections to external API's, and the built-in Web API, later.
The Import window can also perform an import, now. When you click the Import button, Big Business may display a confimation dialog asking you to confirm that you want to import now.
This Solution provides details. (6552)
The Import window can also Import.
As an example, when mapping the data coming from your web store you might click Save or Save As at the bottom right of the window to save the Import Settings for use by Auto Import or to use the same mapping again.
In this example, if you click Import (OK), Big Business will display the confirmation dialog asking if you want to import now.
If you are only editing a mapping click Don't Import to skip the import. If you want to perform the import click the Import button to have Big Business connect and import from your web store now.
Add Fields
Add Fields are included on Imports where you might need:
To combine separate First Name and Last Name entries:
• Add Billing Name
• Add Shipping Name
• Add Customer Listing
To combine Item Descriptions:
• Add Item Code
• Add Description 1
• Add Description 2
To combine fields used to create unique Customer Codes:
• Add Customer Code
• Add Customer Lookup
This Solution describes this option. (6634)
Big Business Imports include "Add" fields for mapping the Last Name so it is added. For example, mapping First Name, "John", to Shipping Name and Last Name, "Doe", to Add Shipping Name (at the bottom of the list of import fields), combines them as, "John Doe", in the Shipping Name.
When importing from a vendor price list you may find it convenient to add new entries to your existing Item Code or Descriptions.
Customer and Update Customer Imports include:
• Add Billing Name
• Add Shipping Name
• Add Customer Listing
• Add Customer Code
Sales Order Line Item Import includes:
• Add Shipping Name
• Add Customer Lookup
Update Item Import includes:
• Add Item Code
• Add Description 1
• Add Description 2
BigCommerce Error
BigCommerce Connect lets you connect to BigCommerce from Big Business. This can be automatic, such as getting new Orders real-time. It can also be interactive, such getting Categories to put on an new Item that will be uploaded.
If you encounter errors with one part (Orders are coming in but you cannot select a Category for a new Item), you may need to update the program giving you errors (in this example Big Business Client) to ensure its security files are current.
If you receive an error (pictured) it will often be a security or connection error that is unclear. Errors like the one pictured may have codes and decriptions, such as TLS Unknown, which refers to security. Installing an Update will usually fix the problem.
This Solution provides more information. (6811)
If you receive an error (pictured) it will often be a security or connection error that is unclear. Errors like the one pictured may have codes and decriptions, such as TLS Unknown, which refers to security. Installing an Update will usually fix the problem.
Mostly, Big Business relies on its own security and connection from Client to Server. When your administrator installs an Update with new features, this may only update Big Business Server, which automatically sends changes to your Client. However, this does not replace your Client software.
If you encounter an error like TLS Unknown while working in Big Business Client and connecting to BigCommerce, you may need to install the latest update to your Big Business Client software.
BigCommerce Update
Big Business 14 fixes BigCommerce Connect for Upload gets blank BigCommerce ID.
Update Products
Update Products is the Mapping for copying Items in Big Business to Products in BigCommerce.
Once set, you can click Upload on the Items Search to instantly create or update Products in BigCommerce.
This Solution provides details. (6812)
To create a new Mapping:
1. On the System toolbar click the BigCommerce button.
2. On the BigCommerce Mappings window choose Update Products.
3. On the Import window click Save As and provide a name ("createitems")
4. Click Cancel to close the Import window.
To use your new Mapping:
1. Go to Company card, Company Prefs tab, and click the BigCommerce button.
2. On the BigCommerce Setup window for Update Products choose your Mapping ("createitems").
3. Click OK and OK to save.
To Upload Items:
1. Go to the Item toolbar to Items Search.
2. Find the items you want to upload.
3. Click the Upload button.
BigCommerce Order Status
BigCommerce Connect automatically connects Big Business to the ecommerce system, BigCommerce. It uses the Order Status in BigCommerce to find new orders to process. Then, it changes the Order Status in BigCommerce to avoid duplication. For example, a typical setting might be to get new orders that are "Awaiting Fulfillment" and switch them to "Awaiting Shipment" or "Completed".
This Solution lists Order Status descriptions copied from BigCommerce Help. (6859)
Pending — customer started the checkout process but did not complete it. Incomplete orders are assigned a "Pending" status and can be found under the More tab in the View Orders screen.
Awaiting Payment — customer has completed the checkout process, but payment has yet to be confirmed. Authorize only transactions that are not yet captured have this status.
Awaiting Fulfillment — customer has completed the checkout process and payment has been confirmed
Awaiting Shipment — order has been pulled and packaged and is awaiting collection from a shipping provider
Awaiting Pickup — order has been packaged and is awaiting customer pickup from a seller-specified location
Partially Shipped — only some items in the order have been shipped, due to some products being pre-order only or other reasons
Completed — order has been shipped/picked up, and receipt is confirmed; client has paid for their digital product, and their file(s) are available for download
Shipped — order has been shipped, but receipt has not been confirmed; seller has used the Ship Items action. A listing of all orders with a "Shipped" status can be found under the More tab of the View Orders screen.
Cancelled — seller has canceled an order, due to a stock inconsistency or other reasons. Stock levels will automatically update depending on your Inventory Settings. Cancelling an order will not refund the order.
Declined — seller has marked the order as declined for lack of manual payment, or other reasons
Refunded — seller has used the Refund action. A listing of all orders with a "Refunded" status can be found under the More tab of the View Orders screen.
Disputed — customer has initiated a dispute resolution process for the PayPal transaction that paid for the order
Verification Required — order on hold while some aspect (e.g. tax-exempt documentation) needs to be manually confirmed. Orders with this status must be updated manually. Capturing funds or other order actions will not automatically update the status of an order marked Verification Required.
Partially Refunded — seller has partially refunded the order
Ebay Orders
Ebay orders coming through BigCommerce are tricky because are handled as Guest. This means they don't have Customer ID that you can use for Customer Code in Big Business.
This Solution provides options. (6915)
B2B Overview
Business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce presents several challenges such as:
• giving customers access to your web store
• giving customers their pricing
• giving employees access to make changes
This Solution describes B2B Add-On features. (6540)
• giving customers access to your web store
• giving customers their pricing
• giving employees access to make changes
The B2B features in Big Business extend e-commerce integration by making it easy to:
• create and link Customer in your web store
• create and link Products in your web store
• allow Employees access to these tools
Clicking the B2B button on a Contact:
• creates a new Customer
• links an existing Customer
• opens a linked Customer in a browser
B2B Access
Access to business-to business (B2B) e-commerce functions is set on the Employee Card, on the Secure Web tab. Granting access lets the employee use credentials (securely stored API keys) to perform a task, like clicking a button in Big Business to automatically create a Customer in your online store.
This Solution provides details. (6546)
To give an Employee access to B2B tools:
1. Open their Employee Card
2. Go to the Secure Web tab
3. Check the checkbox for Access under Cloud Services
4. Click OK to Save the Employee Card
When the employee signs in again, tools for B2B functions will appear:
• On an Addtional Contact to create or link to a Customer record in your web store
• On an Item Card to create or link to a Product record in your web store
B2B Customers
For business-to business (B2B) e-commerce, Big Business creates and updates Customers in your web store from Additional Contacts in Big Business. This makes it easy to:
• give customers access to your web store from more than one email address
• give customers their pricing
• give employees access to make changes
This Solution provides details. (6542)
To create or link a Customer in your web store:
1. Open a Customer Card
2. Add or Edit an Additional Contact
3. Click the B2B button
4. Click OK to Save the Contact
The B2B button can:
• create a new Customer in your web store using the Email Address and Name provided
• link an existing Customer in your web store using the Email Address provided
• fill in the ID for the Customer in your web store
• open your browser to the Customer in your web store for the listed ID
• display a bullet in the Cloud column for Additional Contacts
B2B Items
For business-to business (B2B) e-commerce, Big Business creates and updates Items in your web store. This makes it easy to:
• enter (or import) Item details once, minimizing errors
• automatically update Items' stock levels, prices, etc. in your web store
• give employees access to make changes to Items' attributes
This Solution provides details. (6542)
To create or link a Product in your web store:
1. Open an Item Card
2. Click the B2B button
3. Click OK to Save the Item Card
The B2B button can (depending on settings):
• create a new Product in your web store using a selected mapping
• link an existing Product in your web store using the Item Code to find a matching SKU
• fill in the ID for the Product in your web store
• open your browser to the Product in your web store for the listed ID
B2B: Custom Fields
The B2B function in Big Business includes 66 additional Custom Fields for Items for uploading to your web store.
This Solution describes their use. (6269)
• appear on 2 addtional Custom Folder tabs of the Item Card
• included a buttom for using the Comment window to enter or check spelling
• appear in the Item Prefs to assign Names to the Custom Fields and Tabs
• are included for use in Searches, Imports, Exports, and Custom Forms