Feature Request for Temporarily Closed Shops: Selective Customer Access (some elite customers can order even if shop is closed)

[stefanmuellerdo]

Issue: Feature Request for Temporarily Closed Shops with Selective Customer Access

(meaning: some elite customers can order even if store is closed switched on!)

Description:

A shop operator has requested a feature to allow specific customers to place orders in a temporarily closed shop.

His shop is generally open only during specific periods, such as around a trade fair, and remains closed at other times.

However, the customer wants to enable certain selected customers to place orders even when the shop is officially closed.

Current Behavior:

Smart Store shops are typically open continuously and can accept orders at all times. There is no out-of-the-box solution to manage a shop that is closed to the public but open to a select group of customers.

Proposed Feature:

Introduce a functionality that allows shop owners to:

1. Temporarily close the shop to the general public. (already possible see screenshot)
2. Grant access to specific registered customers to place orders during the closure period. (see green markings in screenshot above)

Brainstorming Potential Solutions:

1. Granular Permission Management:

   • Enhance the existing permission management system to allow shop owners to specify which customer groups can place orders during a shop closure.
   • This solution may involve creating a new customer status or group that can bypass the shop closure settings.

2. Temporary Access Tokens:

   • Implement a system where shop owners can generate temporary access tokens or codes that can be distributed to select customers. These tokens would allow customers to access the shop and place orders during the closure period.

3. Scheduled Access:

   • Develop a scheduling feature that can automate the opening and closing of the shop for specific customer groups based on predefined criteria or manual settings.

Challenges:

• The current permission system is too complex and error-prone for practical use in this context.
• Ensuring a seamless and secure experience for both shop operators and customers while maintaining the integrity of the shop's closure status.

Conclusion:

This feature would greatly enhance the B2B flexibility of Smartstore shops in such a temporary operating scenario, which is not too uncommon and out of the way as it seems.

Allowing it to better accommodate exceptional situations and special customer requests. Implementing this feature would address a real business need and provide a competitive advantage for Smartstore!

Request:

Please consider this feature request for future development. If feasible, providing an estimated timeline for implementation would be greatly appreciated.