Ciranda
MTN Haus & Ciranda.com –
Transforming B2B Wholesale
eCommerce with Custom
Shopify Solutions
Industry: Food and Beverage
Website: ciranda.com
Services: Migration, Multi Location Shipping, B2B
Ciranda, an employee-owned B2B wholesale supplier of certified organic and non-GMO ingredients, is dedicated to sustainable supply chains and fair trade practices. To enhance their digital presence, Ciranda sought to improve the user experience for ordering smaller product quantities while maintaining strict control over user accounts, pricing visibility, and fulfillment options.
The Challenge
Ciranda needed a robust eCommerce platform that could handle complex B2B wholesale requirements, including:
- A seamless registration process that integrates with their ERP system (**NetSuite**) to manage existing and new customer accounts.
- Enhanced control over customer visibility of pricing and fulfillment options.
- Support for multi-location shipping and fulfillment, optimized by product availability.
- A way to attach and manage detailed **order documentation** directly in customer accounts.
- The ability to manage **expanded product options** beyond Shopify’s native limitations.
These requirements demanded advanced customizations, middleware development, and integrations to bridge Shopify’s capabilities with NetSuite’s ERP system.
A Complex Challenge:
Multi-Address Gifting
MTN Haus leveraged Shopify’s flexibility along with custom middleware and integrations to develop tailored solutions for Ciranda’s unique B2B eCommerce needs.
1. Customer Registration
MTN Haus developed a custom multi-step registration process designed to simplify account creation for Ciranda’s customers:
Existing Customers:
Legacy customers were provided with a streamlined process using their tax ID. During registration, the system’s middleware queries NetSuite to verify the customer’s tax ID. If a match is found, the middleware automatically attaches the corresponding company information to the customer’s Shopify account.
New Customers:
New users submit their registration details, which are passed to NetSuite for admin review and approval. The approval process includes:
- Data flowing from Shopify to NetSuite for admin assessment.
- Once approved in NetSuite, an event triggers the activation of the customer’s Shopify account, granting checkout capabilities under the approved account.
Custom Admin Dashboard:
MTN Haus developed an intuitive admin dashboard to manage account approvals efficiently, improving internal workflows and reducing the time required for customer onboarding.
Enhanced User Experience:
The registration flow was designed to minimize errors and provide a clear, step-by-step process for customers. Automated notifications keep customers informed about the status of their applications, enhancing transparency and trust.
2. Order Documentation
MTN Haus created a middleware application to streamline the management of **supporting order documentation**:
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Documentation is synced between **secure file storage**, **NetSuite**, and **Shopify**.
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Customers can easily access and download the necessary documentation directly from their Shopify accounts, ensuring compliance, transparency, and ease of access.
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The middleware also ensures that documents are securely stored and version-controlled, reducing the risk of outdated or missing files.
3. Multi-Location Shipping and Fulfillment
To optimize fulfillment processes, MTN Haus implemented middleware that:
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Analyzes ordered items, shipping destinations, and item availability across multiple warehouses.
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Dynamically determines the optimal warehouse or combination of warehouses for fulfilling orders.
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Ensures faster, cost-effective shipping and better inventory management.
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The system provides detailed shipping options to customers during checkout, enhancing the overall purchasing experience.
4. Expanded Product Options
Shopify previously limited product variants to three options. MTN Haus overcame this limitation by:
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Developing custom logic to support **more than three product options**, accommodating Ciranda’s diverse product offerings.
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Automating the sync of product data from NetSuite to Shopify, ensuring consistent and accurate product details across platforms.
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Allowing for easy updates to product configurations, reducing the manual effort required for inventory management.
The Results
MTN Haus’s custom Shopify solutions empowered Ciranda to deliver a seamless, efficient, and customer-centric B2B eCommerce experience. Key outcomes included:
Streamlined Customer Onboarding:
The custom registration process made it easy for both legacy and new customers to create accounts while maintaining strict control over account approvals.
Efficient Order Documentation Management:
Customers can now access order-related documents directly from their Shopify accounts, reducing support requests and improving user experience.
Optimized Fulfillment Operations:
Multi-location shipping ensures faster deliveries and more efficient warehouse utilization, saving time and reducing costs.
Enhanced Product Catalog Flexibility:
The ability to manage expanded product options improved Ciranda’s ability to showcase their extensive range of organic ingredients.
Seamless ERP Integration:
Middleware ensured smooth data flow between Shopify and NetSuite, reducing manual effort and ensuring data accuracy.
Improved Administrative Efficiency:
The custom admin dashboard allowed Ciranda’s team to efficiently manage customer accounts and approvals, freeing up resources for other critical tasks.
Conclusion
MTN Haus successfully transformed Ciranda’s B2B eCommerce platform by addressing their complex wholesale requirements with innovative Shopify solutions. By integrating Shopify with NetSuite and leveraging custom middleware, MTN Haus provided Ciranda with a scalable and future-proof eCommerce solution that aligns with their sustainable and customer-focused mission.
Key Takeaway:
MTN Haus’s expertise in Shopify, B2B wholesale workflows, and ERP integration enabled Ciranda to deliver a superior digital experience while optimizing backend operations for long-term growth. With tailored solutions, Ciranda is now better equipped to serve its customers and expand its reach in the B2B wholesale market.
