Shopify OCI & cXML PunchOut Plugin

Shopify is an accessible SaaS platform that fully manages technical infrastructure, including hosting and security. The system is particularly suited for business owners who want to launch a professional online store quickly without advanced technical knowledge. With a wide selection of apps and themes, the store can be customized to your requirements and scales easily as sales grow.

Abeta has developed a proprietary Shopify PunchOut integration, allowing you to easily extend an existing store with B2B functionalities. The plugin aligns with the standards of your Shopify environment, enabling you to serve larger corporate clients in no time.

#Why choose the Abeta plugin for Shopify?

Unlike custom-built frameworks like Laravel or platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify is a closed cloud platform. You cannot freely modify the database or the checkout flow. Our plugin is specifically designed to handle this efficiently:

• Direct installation: The plugin links your Shopify environment directly to our middleware, enabling a smooth setup.
• No database modifications required: Shopify's standard database is not designed for the specific data requirements of OCI and cXML protocols. Our plugin captures this data and processes it externally through our middleware. This protects your store’s performance, allowing your regular checkout to function normally alongside your B2B orders.
• Automatically up-to-date: Shopify continuously updates its platform. Because our plugin operates via the Abeta middleware, updates to Shopify or your customer's procurement system will not impact its functionality. This eliminates the need for ongoing maintenance.

In short, the plugin resolves Shopify’s B2B limitations behind the scenes while allowing you to retain full control over your storefront's look and feel. Abeta is, of course, available to assist you with setting up and testing the integration.

#How does the Shopify OCI plugin work?

The plugin connects your online store via the Abeta middleware to your customers' procurement software (such as Coupa, SAP Ariba, AFAS or Spend Cloud). Abeta bridges the gap between the online store and the procurement system. This process is completely transparent to the customer, who experiences it as a direct connection to the store.

This process consists of 3 steps:

#1. Authentication / Login

When a customer wants to log in from their procurement system, the OCI or cXML request is received by Abeta. After verification, the middleware forwards the request to the Shopify plugin, automatically logging the user into the online store.

#2. Cart transfer (PunchOut)

Our plugin ensures that a PunchOut user does not complete the checkout within the online store itself. Instead, the cart data is transferred back to the procurement system via the plugin. Abeta translates this product data into the correct format required by your customer's procurement software.

#3. Purchase order receiving (optional)

The purchase order can be sent directly back to the Shopify store or an underlying ERP system. The middleware ensures that orders from different procurement systems are correctly delivered into your Shopify environment.

#Get started

Would you like to learn more about the capabilities of the OCI and cXML plugin within your Shopify online store? Please contact us. We are happy to demonstrate how your customers can order via OCI and how Abeta can support your business.