Client Overview
Project Overview
Virtina developed a highly customized "My Bags" feature, available to logged-in customers only. This functionality allows users to create, manage, and share multiple shopping bags directly from any page on the site, revolutionizing the purchasing process.
⇨ Key Features
Slide-Out “My Bags” Popup
Accessible for logged-in customers from any page, this slide-out popup enables users to quickly switch between existing bags, create new ones, or view a selected bag. Refer : https://prnt.sc/k9gLgLHqEv6l , https://prnt.sc/2hEG2m5Z-pCA, https://prnt.sc/8IVHyRof6nzH
Add to Bag Functionality
On both category and product pages, logged-in users can directly add items to any chosen bag. A success message confirms the addition, providing immediate feedback.
View and Manage Bags
The "View Bags" page displays all bags created by the user and any shared by colleagues. https://prnt.sc/5WNOOSqlBdHh Customers can -
View products in each bag along with their stock status.
Adjust product quantities and add referral information.
Search for products to add to any bag.
Proceed to checkout directly from a selected bag.
Repeat Purchase and Deletion Options
Users can delete bags when no longer needed or keep them for future purchases, supporting both one-time and repeat transactions.
Share Bags with Colleagues
This feature allows users to share bags with colleagues, facilitating collaborative purchasing for team-based operations.
Unified Access for Linked Accounts: In this setup, all users linked to a parent account have access to shared bags, enabling streamlined collaboration within organizations. This ensures that any user under the parent account can view and manage bags, which is especially beneficial for teams working together on purchasing decisions.
Simplified Team Collaboration: While there isn't a separate UI for sharing specific bags with particular users, the feature supports team access through the parent account linkage. This arrangement is useful for B2B environments where multiple users from the same organization need access to the same set of bags, reducing the need for manual sharing or access permissions.
Results and Impact
1. Facilitates Bulk and Repeat Purchases
B2B customers frequently purchase large quantities of parts and need to reorder the same items regularly. With "My Bags," they can save items and quantities in reusable bags, simplifying the reordering process and saving time.
2. Enables Easy Organization and Management of Orders
B2B customers can create multiple bags for different projects, locations, or teams. This flexibility allows them to organize products according to specific needs, making it easier to track and manage large inventories of parts.
3. Supports Collaborative Buying Processes
The ability to share bags with colleagues is invaluable for businesses with team-based purchasing decisions. Colleagues can view and adjust items, streamlining communication and ensuring that all team members are on the same page regarding what’s being ordered.
4. Improves Inventory Planning and Availability
By displaying stock status for items in each bag, the feature allows B2B users to see product availability at a glance, aiding in inventory planning and reducing the risk of stockouts during critical purchasing periods.
5. Enhances Personalization and Customer Retention
Allowing customers to save and revisit specific bags encourages repeat purchases and strengthens customer loyalty. It gives users a personalized space to manage their order preferences, which is a significant advantage in the B2B sector, where building long-term relationships is crucial.
6. Streamlines Checkout for High-Volume Orders
The direct add-to-cart functionality from within the "My Bags" section enables a quicker transition to checkout, which is beneficial for B2B users managing high-volume orders. This streamlines the purchase process, reducing time and effort on the part of the buyer.
7. Provides Flexibility for Different Purchasing Scenarios
Whether a business needs to purchase items for a one-time project or maintain an ongoing stock of certain SKUs, the "My Bags" feature offers the flexibility to tailor purchasing to various scenarios, making it more adaptable to different B2B requirements.
8. Facilitating Corporate Purchase Approval Workflows
The shared access feature supports approval workflows by enabling teams to collaborate on purchasing decisions while maintaining centralized control over approvals through account management.
⇨ How "My Bags" Differ from Regular Shopping Carts, Shared Carts, Wishlists, and Shared Wishlists
The "My Bags" feature offers a more advanced and flexible solution compared to regular shopping carts and wishlists. While typical shopping carts are designed for single-session purchases, and wishlists focus on saving items for future reference, "My Bags" merges the strengths of both while addressing B2B-specific needs. Unlike shared shopping carts or wishlists, which are often limited to personal or ad-hoc use, "My Bags" offers multi-user access under parent accounts, real-time stock tracking, collaborative purchasing, and easy organization for complex, recurring, and team-based orders. It transforms the shopping experience from transactional to operational, enhancing efficiency for businesses that manage large inventories or require frequent reorders.
⇨ Comparison Table: "My Bags" vs. Shopping Carts, Shared Carts, Wishlists, and Shared Wishlists
Feature | Regular Shopping Cart | Shared Shopping Cart | Wishlist | Shared Wishlist | My Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Purpose | Single-session purchase | Group purchase, single checkout | Group purchase, single checkout | Share saved items for inspiration | Organize, manage, and collaborate on purchases across teams |
Multi-Session Use | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Team Collaboration | No | Limited | No | Limited | Yes, with shared and linked accounts |
Stock Status Visibility | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Direct Add-to-Bag from Product Pages | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Checkout from Saved Items | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Multiple Lists for Different Needs | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, multiple bags for different projects/teams |
Support for Recurring Orders | No | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
Approval Workflows | No | Limited | No | No | Yes, with linked accounts and collaborative access |
Parent-Child Account Linkage | No | No | No | No | Yes |
⇨ Unique Value Proposition
The "My Bags" feature offers a competitive edge by integrating unified access for linked accounts, an uncommon feature among eCommerce platforms. This functionality not only supports collaborative workflows but also simplifies purchasing processes through centralized control under parent accounts.
⇨ Establishing Virtina’s Expertise
Virtina’s deep understanding of B2B eCommerce needs enabled the successful implementation of this custom feature. By anticipating the specific challenges of ForkliftsParts.com’s business buyers, Virtina delivered a tailored solution that enhances productivity, promotes collaboration, and improves customer satisfaction.
Through this partnership, Virtina has transformed ForkliftsParts.com’s purchasing process into a modern, seamless, and efficient experience that meets the evolving needs of B2B customers.
