A few questions about upgrading: from simple Aimeos to b2b & gigacommerce

[ЕвгенияСемихова(ИПСемиховаЕ.А.)]

Hello!

I studied the documentation, the forum, the video (by the way, there are very few of them).

We have been looking at this amazing Aimeos system for a long time. I have install Aimeos on a holiday weekend and was just amazed at the simplicity and speed of the system. I was also very impressed by the detailed documentation.

I decided to do my project on Aimeos. Please answer a few questions that I have not found answers to anywhere.

We have: discrete electronic components (resistors, diodes, microcircuits, transistors...) - there are a lot of them, hundreds of thousands. And considering the different manufacturers, it turns out millions of small and different parts.

The Aims system itself is free - I deployed it on my server, turned on "SHOP_MULTISHOP=true", prescribed routes for level 3 domains (for stores) and that's it. I understand that stores for sellers are created in the "Supplier" section.

Question #1: What exactly is being added thanks to the "Market places and complex B2B/B2C requirements" (aisites) extension? I couldn't find a detailed technical description. It also didn't become clearer after requesting a demo. I would like to see specifically the added functionality and algorithm, preferably in more detail.

Question #2: I previously met on the forum that you can add extensions to an already deployed online store. Do I understand correctly:
you can now start creating stores for sellers, help them place their products (let me remind you, a simple installation of Aimeos without extensions), and configure import from Excel files... - in one word: start developing the "multivendor's store" (at first, sellers are reluctant to place goods, you have to entice them with free placement and add their product lists yourself).
So, after reaching 100 thousand items, will it be possible to install B2B and Gigacommerce extensions without any problems? That's right, without the pitfalls? By simply installing extensions into existing Aimeos directories?

I have read this forum many times, and several times I have received positive answers to my questions, but they were very simple "yes" answers. I would like to try the whole system in action first, install the extensions myself several times, figure out what interacts and how.
Unfortunately, we had the sad experience of launching our project based on the CMS "CS-Cart Multivendor" - 100 thousand products had difficulties in speed. In addition, for 12 thousand dollars a year, we have only grown to 120 sellers. For the second year and optimization it was necessary to pay even more (more than 30 thousand dollars). We just didn't have enough money to continue.
Thank you for reply!

[aimeos]

The Aimeos system itself is free - I deployed it on my server, turned on "SHOP_MULTISHOP=true", prescribed routes for level 3 domains (for stores) and that's it. I understand that stores for sellers are created in the "Supplier" section.

This isn't correct. If you create a SaaS-like setup with "SHOP_MULTISHOP=true" in your .env file, each top level site (Locale > Sites in the admin backend) is an own store. The suppliers are things like brands, distributors, manufacturers or similar giving additional information to the customer without being part of your shop in any other way.

Question #1: What exactly is being added thanks to the "Market places and complex B2B/B2C requirements" (ai-sites) extension? I couldn't find a detailed technical description. It also didn't become clearer after requesting a demo. I would like to see specifically the added functionality and algorithm, preferably in more detail.

The ai-sites extension for marketplaces and/or complext B2B setups allows you to create a tree of sites with aggregation and inheritance, e.g.:

default (marketplace with aggregation of data)
|- vendor 1
|- vendor 2
|- vendor 3

Products and/or prices along with other data is aggregated to the marketplace from the vendor shops.

default (B2B with inheritance of data)
|- country 1
|- country 2
|- country 3

Products and other data is inherited from the default site into country specific shops.

There can also be more complex setups like:

default (marketplace with aggregation of data)
|- segment 1
| |- vendor 1
| |- vendor 2
| |- vendor 3
|-segment 2
| |- vendor 4
| |- vendor 5

Question #2: I previously met on the forum that you can add extensions to an already deployed online store. Do I understand correctly:
you can now start creating stores for sellers, help them place their products (let me remind you, a simple installation of Aimeos without extensions), and configure import from Excel files... - in one word: start developing the "multivendor's store" (at first, sellers are reluctant to place goods, you have to entice them with free placement and add their product lists yourself).
So, after reaching 100 thousand items, will it be possible to install B2B and Gigacommerce extensions without any problems? That's right, without the pitfalls? By simply installing extensions into existing Aimeos directories?

If you install the ai-elastic extension (#gigacommerce), you have to import the products again (if all products should be stored in ElasticSearch only) or you have to reindex the products (if there should be an additional index of products for faster searching and filtering only).

If you start with a SaaS-like setup, switching to a marketplace setup is a bit more difficult because your have to update the siteid field of each record so they are moved to a sub-site of the default site. This is possible but only if you write a custom script.

[ЕвгенияСемихова(ИПСемиховаЕ.А.)]

// I slept and my thoughts came back in order, thank you for your patient answers!

Please pay some more attention to me, I think many users will benefit from these answers when deciding whether to use your system.

First of all, what I have:
1) own store (physical) and own online store (simple CMS)
2) I have good suppliers and warehouses (more of 150) from all of the world – they are great guys and we have a long-term mutually beneficial relationship - I am already being provided with goods for sale with payment in a few months.
3) They have many pcs of good items from many manufacturers – more of 10 millions SKU
4) I need to publish all of them at my new site and set more orders – like dropshipping

I have made mistakes many times when choosing a business strategy and when choosing the basis for a website. In 2009, these were PrestaShop, SimplaCMS, Bitrix, OpenCart and etc.
Now I have extensive experience in providing a wide range of services and supplies of goods, as well as self-administration of servers and websites.

That's why I want to make an informed choice in the management system. I understand that your system is a conditional framework (the skeleton of a huge organism) for large projects.

For the first time, I plan to do all this myself together with my work team - we will update catalogs (according to import files), translate reference books, answer customer questions - in one word: I completely become an intermediary between foreign suppliers and my customers.

My plan:
1) install an Aimeos-based website, first create a large catalog of several hundred thousand products from my suppliers;
2) Create 2 conditional warehouses, where the first warehouse is a foreign one (of my suppliers), and the second warehouse is my physical warehouse in my country.
3) My customer makes an order for 1-3 items - I buy 30-50 pieces each and place the rest in a warehouse in my city - subsequently, other customers will be able to purchase with very fast delivery (delivery within the country takes several days).
4) as soon as the product range expands and the page rendering speed starts to drop, I pay for gigacommerce (the ideal option for paying for integration work to a specialist, i.e. you).
4) Next, I will need to create the possibility of automatic and full-fledged registration of sellers

This isn't correct. If you create a SaaS-like setup with "SHOP_MULTISHOP=true" in your .env file, each top level site (Locale > Sites in the admin backend) is an own store. The suppliers are things like brands, distributors, manufacturers or similar giving additional information to the customer without being part of your shop in any other way.

I didn't quite understand you. I have now launched and made a separate Radiodar store - I added 2 products and placed an order for them


indeed, the order was formed as a result from the Default store

Is that what you meant?
If so, I am satisfied with this at the first stage - let me remind you that I perform all duties on my own.

The ai-sites extension for marketplaces and/or complext B2B setups allows you to create a tree of sites with aggregation and inheritance, e.g.:

I now understand that this is what I need in the end (but I don't have enough money yet)

Question number 3: I am asking about the possibility of creating a simple catalog now - I will fill it by products and my own descriptions according to SEO requirements - the most valuable resource is the formatted address links to the products - I am most interested in them. The question itself is: is it possible to install extensions without losing links (product page addresses) and customer's purchase history?

P.S.: I really like the site https://droppe.com/ - this is a great example of what I need in my project - I would like to reach this level and I will achieve it at any cost.

[ЕвгенияСемихова(ИПСемиховаЕ.А.)]

Question number 3: I am asking about the possibility of creating a simple catalog now - I will fill it by products and my own descriptions according to SEO requirements - the most valuable resource is the formatted address links to the products - I am most interested in them. The question itself is: is it possible to install extensions without losing links (product page addresses) and customer's purchase history?

please consult us: is it better to install B2B&B2C and gigacommerce right away?

or can we first launch only aims and, after reaching the goal (100k products and revenue from sales under the dropshipping scheme), add B2B and gigacommerce without losing links and customer order history?

[aimeos]

Yes, because the URLs will change when you use the #gigacommerce extension and you would have to change the site IDs of all records to move them to different sites

[ЕвгенияСемихова(ИПСемиховаЕ.А.)]

Well, we have decided on this issue thanks to you.

What about the b2b&b2c app? According to my plans, can we start without it?
Let me remind you of my situation: I (my managers) will independently add stores for our suppliers and administer all this on my own.
When we achieve significant growth and promotion of the site (an increase in the number of sellers), we will need a full-fledged registration system and separation of sellers and stores. In this case, will we be able to integrate the "ai-sites" application letter without any problems?

I didn't quite understand you. I have now launched and made a separate Radiodar store - I added 2 products and placed an order for them
Image

indeed, the order was formed as a result from the Default store
Image
Is that what you meant?

did I correctly assume the limitations regarding the implementation of suppliers (sellers) in the regular version?

[ЕвгенияСемихова(ИПСемиховаЕ.А.)]

I have reread your letter with the demonstration data and found at the very end of the letter:

"Alternatively, we also have a demo for a B2B non-marketplace setup if you wish to see that too."

Please send me at email ipsemikhova@gmail.com demo access to the b2b system (preferably in conjunction with gigacommerce).
I would also be grateful if you would send the documentation on b2b and gigacommerce for review and evaluation of the strength of our programmers.

[aimeos]

What about the b2b&b2c app? According to my plans, can we start without it?
Let me remind you of my situation: I (my managers) will independently add stores for our suppliers and administer all this on my own.
When we achieve significant growth and promotion of the site (an increase in the number of sellers), we will need a full-fledged registration system and separation of sellers and stores. In this case, will we be able to integrate the "ai-sites" application letter without any problems?

You can add independent stores without the ai-sites extension but you get exactly that: Independent stores with own URLs not sharing any data and customers need to by at each store separately. According to your explanation, this isn't what you want. If you would like to build a marketplace where customers can buy product from different vendors at one website, than you need the ai-sites extension.