NetSuite-ChannelAdvisor
Integration
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This new project extended my initial implementation of the NetSuite-Venda integration in 2012. My client now wanted to expand their channels to eBay UK with aspirations to further expand to eBay US, PLAY.com & Amazon. To facilitate this, the business decided to commission ChannelAdvisor, the multi-channel eCommerce platform which had out-of-the-box capabilities to link directly to eBay and Amazon business accounts.
The main goals for this project:
• GOAL 1: To seamlessly integrate NetSuite ERP to ChannelAdvisor via a standard API supplied by Celigo.
• GOAL 2: To deliver an additional online sales channel to drive additional revenue for the business.
• GOAL 3: To have the ability to extend sales channels to other operators (like Amazon, PLAY.com) using the same solution.
• GOAL 4: To provide a superior user experience for our customers, both through features and services.
Component Interfaces
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The main four components of consideration: NetSuite, ChannelAdvisor, eBay & Celigo. Celigo utilised their ‘out-of-the-box’ ChannelAdvisor connector product to integrate data between the Channel Advisor platform and NetSuite.
Their connector came pre-built with 5 data flows which interacted with ChannelAdvisor & NetSuite APIs. |
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As per my other implementations, my client worked heavily with users to train them how the new processes should be followed. Here are the main areas that needed to be covered:
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High level process design |
UPDATING ORDER FULFILMENT STATUS
START --> Order fulfilment --> Update shipping status --> END
UPLOADING PRODUCTS TO CHANNELADVISOR
START --> Create item record with attached file --> Integrate to CA --> END
Reflection
One of the greatest challenges I encountered was architecting how the integration would differentiate a TEST order and a LIVE order coming from ChannelAdvisor. Regretfully, there was a sandbox limitation on ChannelAdvisor in that it did not use a separate environment to manage user testing. Instead, we had to devise some rules to ensure customer orders would integrate to the appropriate NetSuite account. The main rule was replicating ALL product records with a prefix of 'test', so that the integration would determine the difference.