Before integrating Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform with Marketplacer, here's some additional information to consider and an overview of the set up steps.
Steps to install and configure
To connect SFCC and Marketplacer, you need to download the cartridge, import the cartridge contents and exchange platform credentials. Next, you need to do some configuration tasks in SFCC to prepare for synchronizing data. This includes configuring site preferences, custom objects, catalogs, and jobs.
The cartridge is available for installations on storefronts that support both SFRA and Site Genesis Controller implementations. Here's the key set up steps.
- 1: Install the Salesforce Commerce Cloud Marketplacer cartridge
- 2: Connect Marketplacer to Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- 3: Review site preferences for SFCC integration
- 4: Review custom objects for configuring jobs in SFCC
- 5: Add and update catalogs in SFCC
- 6: Configure catalog import jobs in SFCC
- 7: Update the storefront catalog in SFCC
- 8: Define visibility and searchability of sellers and categories (optional)
- Set up additional variants in SFCC (if required)
- Test the integration
Other considerations
The integration with SFCC adds information and functionality to your storefront, and syncs information back to external parties (sellers) via Marketplacer. With the type of information being exchanged, you might need to make additional changes to ensure your business requirements are met. Here’s some areas to consider.
Custom storefronts
If you have a custom storefront, you might need to make some adjustments to templates in order to allow new information to appear to customers. For example, you have the option to add seller and brand details that are not currently shown or show that particular items are being fulfilled by Marketplacer sellers.
We recommend you work with a SFCC Certified Developer or 3rd party to update your existing site to make this work. Design changes could be required and we recommend a site review after the cartridge is installed and customizations are complete.
Customer details going to sellers
Customer details, which may include address, email and contact number, will be sent to sellers to fulfill orders.
Communication to customers and sellers
Customer communications for orders that go through Marketplacer need to come from your email system (SFCC or other 3rd party apps). By default, customer emails sent from Marketplacer are switched off. You might need to do additional configuration to ensure customer communication functions match your needs.
Typically, Marketplacer sends an update for all line items as they are shipped by the sellers. Your customer communications workflows should be tuned to react to those shipment status changes in the same manner as you do with your first-party product transactions.
Sellers orders are visible in the order management dashboard as well as via APIs.
If a seller uses an order management system or similar technical workflows, they can access order information through the Marketplacer API.
How shipping prices work with the integration
By default, shipping prices that are set in Marketplacer at the product level will flow through to SFCC and add on to the shipping total. To avoid double-charging for shipping, a product level free shipping promotion is added to SFCC for the Marketplacer product category during installation.
Alternatively, you can set up custom shipping options via the Marketplacer API. You will need the help of a technical partner to do one of the following:
- Set shipping rules at variant level in Marketplacer
- Send shipping details from SFCC to Marketplacer
Shipping tax is separated from the shipping price.