🚚 Vendor Shipment Plugin Overview

The Vendor Shipment Plugin is a powerful tool designed for multi-vendor nopCommerce stores, enabling vendors to manage their own shipping operations independently. Vendors can configure warehouses, shipping methods, and country restrictions, while the store admin retains full control over permissions and access.

🔧 Functional Overview

1.  Vendor Management by Admin

The store Admin has full control over vendor-related operations:

• Create Vendor Accounts
  Easily create vendor profiles from the admin dashboard.
• Assign Products to Vendors
  Link specific products to vendors, ensuring they can manage only their assigned products.
• Control Vendor Permissions
  Use nopCommerce's ACL (Access Control List) to:
  • Grant or restrict access to shipment management
  • Enable/disable shipping method configuration
  • Control warehouse creation privileges

2. Vendor Warehouse Management

Vendors can manage their own warehouses from the vendor dashboard:

• Create Multiple Warehouses
  Useful for vendors with stock in different locations.
• Map Warehouses to Products
  Assign specific products to designated warehouses to ensure accurate inventory and shipping source.

3. Shipping Method Configuration

Vendors can set up and customize shipping methods based on their logistics strategy:

• Create Custom Shipping Methods such as:
  • Standard Delivery
  • Next Day Shipping
  • In-store Pickup
• Configure Shipping Settings
  Define:
  • Shipping cost
  • Estimated delivery time
  • Delivery zones or regions

4. Country Selection & Restrictions

Vendors can tailor shipping availability by country:

• Select Supported Countries
  Choose where products can be shipped.
• Restrict Specific Countries
  Block shipping to certain locations due to legal, logistical, or cost-related issues.

5. Shipment Permissions (nopCommerce 4.80+)

In versions 4.80 and above, shipment permissions are not granted by default. The admin must assign these manually via the ACL settings:

• Required Permissions:
  • Create Shipments (generate shipments for orders)
  • View Shipments (see existing shipment details)
  • Update Shipments (edit shipment info like tracking numbers)
  • Delete Shipments (remove shipments when necessary)

Summary

The Vendor Shipment Plugin is essential for scaling multi-vendor nopCommerce stores. It offers:

• Independent shipping configurations for each vendor
• Warehouse management and product mapping
• Shipping method flexibility
• Country-specific shipping control
• Centralized permission control for secure operations

This plugin empowers vendors while giving admins the tools to maintain consistency, control, and efficiency across the store.