How do you create list groups based on VMP article groups in Easyflor?

What is a VMP and why is this needed?

A VMP (Virtual Market Place) is a virtual stock from a supplier that you can resell. Sometimes you want to subdivide this large VMP into smaller groups (buttons on the webshop) such as "Gerberas", "Plants", "Ornamental grass", etc. The problem is that if a supplier also uses a VMP from another supplier, the underlying information is not sent along. The solution: you create your own list groups based on article groups.

Why use VMP article group matching?

• Organize webshop: You can create different buttons on the webshop
• Overview: Customers don't see one large list but handy categories
• Automatic sorting: Products automatically end up in the right group
• Flexible: You decide which article groups belong together
• Works with VMPs: Even if the supplier uses a VMP from someone else
• Professional webshop: Customers find what they're looking for faster

When do you use this?

Examples:

• You use a VMP from FloraHolland and want to create categories
• Your supplier sends a large list and you want to make it clear
• You want buttons on your webshop like "Gerberas", "Plants" and "Ornamental grass"

---

What do you need to get started?

An Excel list from your supplier

Ask your supplier for an Excel file with:

• ID of the article group (e.g., ArticleGroups/354)
• Name of the article group (e.g., Gerbera/Germini)

Important: You need this list before you can start!

---

The process in 3 steps

Overview:

STEP 1: Create article groups in Easyflor
    ↓
STEP 2: Link VMP article groups to your article groups
    ↓
STEP 3: Create list group for the webshop

---

Step 1: Creating article groups

Step 1A: Go to article groups

1. Click on the "Articles" tile
2. Click on "Article groups"

Step 1B: Create a new article group

There is already an extensive guide for creating article groups: https://support.easyflor.nl/Home/Article/82

Short version:

1. Click on "+New"
2. Give the article group a name (e.g., "Gerbera/Germini")
3. Tip: If you're good with VBN numbers, you only need to do steps 1-4 and save

Repeat for all groups

• Create an article group for each group from the Excel list

---

Step 2: Linking VMP article groups

Step 2A: Go to VMP Article group matching

1. Click on the "Admin" tile
2. Click on "VMP Article group matching"

Step 2B: Create a new match list

1. Click on "+New"
2. Give the list a name
   • Examples: "FloraHolland matches", "VMP Supplier X"

Step 2C: Select the new list

• Click on the list you just created

Step 2D: Go to Match

1. Click on "Match"
2. This is where the links between VMP article groups and your article groups go

Step 2E: Create links

For each row in your Excel do the following:

1. Click on "+New"
2. Enter the ID from the Excel list
   • Example: ArticleGroups/354
3. Select the article group that belongs to this ID
   • Example: Gerbera/Germini
4. Click on "Save"

Repeat for all IDs

• Go through the entire Excel list
• For each ID you create a link

Example of links:

ArticleGroups/354 → Gerbera/Germini
ArticleGroups/2657 → Plants
ArticleGroups/232 → Ornamental grass

---

Step 3: Creating list group for the webshop

What is a list group?

A list group is a button on the webshop that customers can click. For example: a button "Gerberas" that only shows gerberas.

Step 3A: Go to list groups

1. Click on the "Sales" tile
2. Click on "List groups"

Step 3B: Create a new list group

1. Click on "+New"
2. Choose a name for the list group
   • This becomes the name of the button on the webshop!
   • Examples: "Gerberas", "Plants", "Ornamental grass"
3. Click on "Save"

Step 3C: Go to lists

1. Click on "Lists"

Step 3D: Add the VMP

1. Click on "+New"
2. Choose the VMP that contains the article groups

Step 3E: Select article groups (optional)

You have two options:

Option 1: Select specific article groups

• Make a selection of the article groups you want to show in this list group

Option 2: Leave empty

• If you've already made a selection within the article groups, you can skip this

Step 3F: Apply

1. Click on "Apply"
2. Done! The list group is now active on the webshop

Repeat for more list groups

• Want multiple buttons on the webshop?
• Repeat Step 3 for each button you want to create

---

Important tips

Tip 1: Request the list from your supplier

• You really need that Excel list with IDs
• Without IDs you can't link anything

Tip 2: Check if article groups already exist

• First check if an article group already exists
• Don't create unnecessary duplicate groups

Tip 3: Use clear names

• For list groups: use names customers understand
• Good: "Gerberas", "Plants", "Ornamental grass"
• Less good: "Group 1", "VMP list A"

Tip 4: Test on the webshop

• After setting everything up, go to the webshop
• Click on the buttons you created
• Check if the correct products appear

Tip 5: Copy IDs exactly

• Copy the IDs from Excel (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V)
• Don't retype them (chance of typos)

---

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: No Excel list requested

• You start without the Excel list from the supplier
• Solution: First request the list before you start

Mistake 2: ID typed incorrectly

• You type "ArticleGroups/345" instead of "ArticleGroups/354"
• Solution: Copy and paste IDs from Excel

Mistake 3: Article group not created

• You try to link to an article group that doesn't exist
• Solution: First create all article groups

Mistake 4: Wrong VMP chosen

• You choose a different VMP than the one with the article groups
• Solution: Check which VMP you should use

---

Visual overview of the process

PREPARATION:
Request Excel list from supplier with IDs and names
    ↓
STEP 1: Create article groups
    ↓
Articles → Article groups → +New
Create an article group for each group from Excel
    ↓
STEP 2: Create links
    ↓
Admin → VMP Article group matching → +New → Create list
Match → +New → Create a link for each ID
(ID from Excel → Article group from Step 1)
    ↓
STEP 3: Create list groups for webshop
    ↓
Sales → List groups → +New → Give name
Lists → +New → Choose VMP → Select article groups
    ↓
DONE! Buttons on webshop with correct products

---

Summary

To create list groups based on VMP article groups, you first need to request an Excel list from your supplier with two columns: the ID of the article group (e.g., ArticleGroups/354) and the name of the article group (e.g., Gerbera/Germini). This list is essential because the underlying supplier information is not sent along if a supplier also uses a VMP from another supplier.

The process consists of three main steps. In Step 1 you create article groups in Easyflor by going to the Articles tile and then to Article groups where you create a new article group for each group from the Excel list via "+New".

In Step 2 you link the VMP article groups to your created article groups by going to Admin, then to VMP Article group matching, where you click "+New" to create a match list. Select this list, click on "Match" and add a link for each ID from the Excel list by clicking "+New", entering the ID and selecting the corresponding article group. Copy the IDs from Excel instead of retyping them to prevent typos.

In Step 3 you create list groups that appear as buttons on the webshop by going to Sales and then to List groups. Click "+New", give a name that customers understand, click "Save", go to "Lists", click "+New" and choose the VMP from your supplier. Then select the article groups that should appear in this list group, or leave this empty if you've already made a selection within the article groups. Click "Apply" and repeat this process for each button you want on the webshop.