How can I work with multiple suppliers at my webstore?

Updated on 1/14/16

Most retailers and distributors work with many suppliers.  We are often asked if a Sophio webstore can be integrated to work with many suppliers.  The short answer is YES.  The long answer includes the steps detailed below.

Step 1 - Create a new supplier record, by visiting your control panel, clicking the 'supplies' menu option and then clicking the add button.

Step 2 - Enter the name of the supplier and your user id, password, and 'sup' ID in the fields you see on the form.  If your supplier is using the WHI Nexpart solution enter WHD in the field named 'sup'

Step 3 - Contact your supplier and ask for a product feed.  The product feed should be updated each day at the minimum and the single feed should include pricing and availability.  Visit the 'upload offline inventory' button in your control panel to see the various formats and layouts we support

Step 4 - Edit the 'settings' tags you see carefully.  Here are the minimum possible tags to enter below.  Each 'tag' needs to have a real value in it.  We have placed sample data in it below.

<FTPLOCATION>ftp.supplier.com</FTPLOCATION>
<FTPUSERID>supplier-user-id</FTPUSERID>
<FTPPASSWORD>supplier-password</FTPPASSWORD>
<FTPPORT>supplier-port</FTPPORT>
<FTPSECURE>true or false</FTPSECURE>
<FTPFILE>actual file name on suppiiers ftp site</FTPFILE>
<FTPFILEFORMAT>name of our format found on the inventory tab</FTPFILEFORMAT>
<RETURNADDRESS1>1 Main Street</RETURNADDRESS1>
<RETURNADDRESS2></RETURNADDRESS2>
<RETURNCITY>New York</RETURNCITY>
<RETURNCOMPANYNAME>Seller Name - Account Number for Supplier</RETURNCOMPANYNAME>
<RETURNCONTACTNAME>Returns Department</RETURNCONTACTNAME>
<RETURNEMAIL>support@seller.com</RETURNEMAIL>
<RETURNPOSTAL>supplier-zip-postal-code</RETURNPOSTAL>
<ReturnStateProvince>NY</ReturnStateProvince>
<ORDERDESKPHONE>supplier contact phone</ORDERDESKPHONE>
<ORDERDESKEMAIL>supplier contact email</ORDERDESKEMAIL>
<ORDERDESKCONTACT>supplier contact name</ORDERDESKCONTACT>
<SUPPLIERB2BSITE>http://www.supplier-b2b-site.com</SUPPLIERB2BSITE>
<EXCLUDELINECODES>LINECODE1,LINECODE2,LINECODE3</EXCLUDELINECODES>
<WHMCSCONTACTPK>Ask Sophio for Supplier Id</WHMCSCONTACTPK>


Step 5 - Click the Save button and you have setup the record.

Step 6 - Go back into the record by searching for it on the Supplier Maintenance option

Step 7 - Click the 'get dcf' button (if you need the suppliers DCF)

Step 8 - Click the back button and click the 'Get Inventory' button

If all goes well, the system will download the suppliers inventory feed and import it into your database.  Repeat this process for each supplier.  The Sophio system will import all data from all suppliers into a single feed.  If you plan to sell on eBay, the system will export the least expensive items 'with stock' for each part you have in your aggregated inventory feed.

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