eCommerce Checklist: eCommerce Business Logic & Rules

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The Ultimate Guide to eCommerce Business Logic & Rules

What is eCommerce Business Logic?

One of the major aspects of creating your eCommerce business and the website is in the planning – planning your content, integrations, designs, product catalog, profile setup, and generally how the business will work. These plans need to be laid out ahead of time to ensure that the platform you choose can accommodate all your needs. Amongst all your planning component business logic is probably the most vital that must be properly planned.

Properly mapping out your business logic and rules early enough in your business will ensure that you do not hit a snag along the way. In this article, we would take a look at what business logic is and what are the business logic to-dos you should have on your eCommerce checklist.

Business logic simply refers to the underlying business rules that govern how products are sold on your eCommerce website, which customers can buy the products, and when the products can be bought. For instance, you can decide that some products cannot be sold once they are out of stock, you can also decide that some products can be back-ordered, you can as well give a limit to how many units of a certain product (usually high-demand products) that one particular individual can order or purchase. This business logic or rules are programmed into your eCommerce website to ensure the smooth running of the business.

There are three major areas that your business logic and rule should always address: Products, Customers, and Pricing.

Product Rules

Business logic must address the rules concerning the products that you sell on your platform, which customers are eligible to buy the products, and when customers can have access to the products. Everything that has to do with the product and limits to the product must be addressed with business logic and incorporated into your eCommerce site to ensure smooth operations.

Customer Rules

The business logic of your eCommerce site should also address the rules that are about the clients and customers. This could mean what customers are allowed to buy, could also address the customer's credit score, and the number of orders he can place without paying at a particular time. It could also pertain to customers that have been regarded as loyal customers and how they can place orders on your eCommerce website. These are some of the customer-centric business logic or rules that must be incorporated into your website.

Pricing Rules

The goal of every eCommerce business is to build strong and long-lasting relationships with clients and customers. This would mean that there would be many customer-specific pricing and exceptions for certain customers. For instance, if you have a customer that has been buying consistently from your business, you can decide to offer a special price for that customer that is different from others. This can be integrated into your website code to ensure that this special customer enjoys the special offer whenever they log in.

the 3 to-dos of business logic and rules

Automatic Business Processes

Another major aspect that must be incorporated into your business logic is the automation of business processes. This needs to be properly mapped out based on your business rules. Even if you are using the service of a development company, you need to spell your business logic and rules out beforehand.

When it comes to automatic business processes, three areas must be properly addressed for maximum business success. These are called the 3 to-dos of business logic and rules.

  • Account Credit
  • Customer-Specific Pricing
  • Inventory Management

Account Credit

This section is where you determine if new users need to complete a credit check before purchasing their first product, if there are certain limits to customer's purchase based on their credit, and if certain items of a certain price class require certain payment methods. Everything must be stated clearly within your business logic.

Customer-Specific Pricing

As we stated earlier, your eCommerce website must incorporate any specific pricing rule for any customer at any time. There would be a default that would apply to all users that are not classified into a certain pricing class. This is also the point where discount based on volume is addressed, specific pricing for partners is incorporated, and other pricing logic.

Inventory Management

Some products can be back-ordered, while some cannot be sold beyond the product inventory. Make sure that your business logic has all it takes to track your product inventory, manage backorder, real-time inventory stock management, vendor drop-shipping inventory, and multi-warehouse inventory. You need a platform that allows for all this.

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1Three Business Logic and Rules To-Dos Must Be Met

For your business to move forward in an already competitive space, you must follow eCommerce best practices like getting your business logic and rules ready and incorporated into your site. Three important business rules must be kept as earlier discussed:

  • Defining your customer-specific pricing (including default price and partner price)
  • Defining the rules governing account credits
  • Defining rules that govern inventory management

At clarity, our expertise and many years within the eCommerce space has given us the industry-command that has birthed our various eCommerce checklist. Our checklist has helped eCommerce business 101 times out of 100. Our team of business development experts spends quality time with your business to understand the needs and help you define your rules and business logic. For more information on how clarity can help your eCommerce business, give us a call today.

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