How to Import and Export B2B Negotiation Quotes & Companies in Magento 2

If you are going to migrate from one B2B e-commerce website to another, you may face a problem when negotiation quotes and companies cannot be moved with the help of the default Magento 2 tools. Thus, you should run the transfer manually spending recreating the initial data on a new website. But what if there is a more user-friendly way of importing and exporting B2B negotiation quotes and companies to and from Magento 2? Let’s take a look at both features first.

Magento 2 Company Account

You can enable the Company Account configuration under Stores -> Configuration -> General > B2B Features. Set Enable Company to ‘Yes’ – you will enable customers to edit company information at Account Dashboard in the frontend.

Make sure to have Magento 2 B2B extension installed. If you do not have any B2B Features available in your store configuration – you haven’t installed B2B extension properly.

After being accepted by admins, they will be able to create an account in the frontend as well as set up structures and accounts from company members. Note that if a company account is formed by an individual account, the latter cannot use the log-in email on site, a new one should be set.

When an admin email is sent, admin is asked to confirm the new account and create a new password. If a company account is approved and activated, an email is sent to a company admin informing about successful registration.

As a company admin, you can edit the information of the company on a company profile page as well as specify a company structure there. Company users can also be added, modified, or deleted there as well. And don’t forget about the opportunity to create a group of permissions and roles, and assign them to each member of your company.

Magento 2 B2B Negotiation Quote

To enable B2B negotiation quotes in Magento 2, go to Stores -> Configuration -> General > B2B Features. Set the B2B Quote setting to Yes to allow customers to submit negotiable prices. Additionally, you can control and process quote orders at Quotes Grid.

From the perspective of your business clients, this feature lets customers set up negotiable prices in the shopping cart. Next, the corresponding information is saved in My Quotes list at a customer’s Frontend Account Dashboard and a notification is sent to a sales representative of a company. Admin Quotes Grid also displays all Quotes information so that you can always control it.

As a Magento 2 administrator, you can check the corresponding data and process negotiable order prices by sending email to customers as well as send feedbacks to quote submitters and sales representatives. Note that you are not able to amend quotes until a customer does the next action.

In their turn, a customer checks feedback information and responds to admin negotiable prices until the agreement is reached or denied. In the same manner as an admin, a customer cannot send new comments until an admin does the next action.

When a new price is accepted by both sides, a customer can proceed to the checkout. After that moment, no discount is available for a negotiated order. The number of items cannot be edited as well.

If a negotiated price is denied by an administrator or customer, the negotiation process breaks down. After a customer chooses Close Quotes or an admin declines them, neither side can send any feedback.

But what to do with the corresponding data: how to import and export B2B quotes and companies if Magento 2 tools cannot do that? You will find the answer below!

How to Import and Export B2B Negotiation Quotes in Magento 2

You can always rely on third-party modules that extend the default functionality of our favorite e-commerce platform. Meet the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension with B2B Add-On – your number one time saver when it comes to all possible data transfers. Below, we will describe its features in more detail, but let’s provide the promised answer first.

The extension B2B add-on lets you move most Magento 2 entities including B2B negotiation quotes. If you don’t want to spend time on recreating them on your new website manually, give our module a try.

To import Magento 2 B2B negotiation quotes, follow these steps:

• Go to System -> Improved Import / Export -> Import Jobs and hit the ‘Add New Job’ button.
  
  
• Configure General Settings and proceed to the Import Settings section. Here, you can select ‘Negotiable Quote’s in the Entity drop-down.
  
  
• When the job is configured, save it and run the update.

As for the Magento 2 B2B negotiation quotes export, the process is absolutely the same. You can configure it under  System -> Improved Import / Export -> Export Jobs.

If you want to learn how ever extension feature works and look through the workflow – read Improved Import and Export for Magento 2 user Manual.

Firebear team has also composed a fully-featured guide for importing and exporting all Magento 2 B2B entities. There you can find all B2B entity attributes described with samples and find the links to the Google Sheet sample tables you can use as a starting point for migrating Magento 2 B2B entities.

Sample Magento 2 negotiable quote table

How to Import and Export Companies in Magento 2

And the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension with B2B Add-On will help you transfer companies and all associated data to/from your e-commerce website. If you don’t want to spend time on recreating them on your new store manually, give our module a try.

To import Magento 2 companies, follow these steps:

• Go to System -> Improved Import / Export -> Import Jobs and hit the ‘Add New Job’ button.
  
  
• Configure General Settings and proceed to the Import Settings section. Here, you can select ‘Companies’ in the Entity drop-down.
  
  
• When the job is configured, save it and run the update.

As for the Magento 2 companies export, the process is entirely the same. You can configure it under  System -> Improved Import / Export -> Export Jobs.

Get Improved Import & Export Magento 2 Extension

If you want to read more about how Improved Import and Export extension for Magento 2 operates – read the user manual.

For the full-featured guide on how to import Magento 2 Companies – read a dedicated blog article. There we have described every attribute of Magento 2 B2B entities and provided sample files.

Get sample Magento 2 B2B company table

Improved Import & Export Features

Now, when you know how to import and export Magento 2 B2B negotiation quotes and companies, we should also draw your attention to other features of the Improved Import & Export extension. With the help of our module, you will easily automate all data transfers, solve problems caused by different attribute standards, and match external categories to ones used internally. Let’s start the exploration right now discussing the extended connectivity options of the plugin.  

Extended Connectivity Options

The Improved Import & Export plugin dramatically extends the native Magento 2 connectivity standards that are very limited. While the platform lets you import and export information using CSV files only, our extension supports many additional file formats as well as enables you to use other ways of data import/export.

Multiple File Standards

It is not a secret that the Magento platform bounds you to CSV files. As a result, most direct data transfers a prevented since you need to convert files of other formats to the one supported by your sore. And if an external system doesn’t work with CSV, it is necessary to do the same procedure but converting CSV to something else.

Luckily, there is the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension, which entirely solves the problem. Our module dramatically extends the list of supported file formats by adding multiple more standards. In addition to CSV, it offers the ability to use XML, JSON, ODS, and Excel files.

Note that all standards are equally supported allowing you to apply all features of the Improved Import & Export extension to every chosen file format.

Multiple File Sources

To make file transfers more flexible, we’ve introduced multiple file sources that can be easily leveraged when you use Improved Import & Export. Thus, you can exchange information between your e-commerce store and external systems using the following connection points:

• FTP/SFTP. Use a local or remote server to exchange data.
• Dropbox. As for an alternative replacement, it is a Dropbox account that can be utilized for the same purpose.
• URL. When it comes to import processes only, use a direct URL address.

Besides, the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension provides the ability to unpack compressed data automatically. Consequently, it is possible to import file archives right into your store.

Direct API Connections

Although data files transfers are dramatically extended in the Improved Import & Export extensions, they are quite far from being the most flexible way of integration. But our module offers several more forms of data transfers that enable additional opportunities. Instead of file transfers, you can use direct API connections creating a bridge between your Magento 2 store and any external systems that support the same standards. To build a bridge between two systems, you can use REST, SOAP, or GraphQL APIs.  

Intermediary Services

Additionally to files and APIs, the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 module enables you to utilize various intermediary online sheets. If neither API connections nor file transfers are suitable for your unique business case, you can rely on this connection type. Currently, our extension supports the following platforms: Google Sheets, Office 365 Excel, and Zoho Sheet. Below, you can see how to transfer data into Magento 2 from Google Sheets:

Automated Import & Export Processes

Another crucial improvement to the default import/export process is the ability to automate transfers. To improve your daily duties and release some additional free time, the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 module provides two different ways of achieving this goal. Instead of relaunching import and export processes every time a new update is required, you can configure the plugin to do everything for you. There are two ways of automation to choose from: schedules or event-based triggers.

Schedules

Schedules represent the most common way of automation. Being based on cron, they allow you to use its default syntax to create custom update intervals. Alternatively, it is possible to select one of the predefined intervals, which are fully customizable as well.

Create profiles that have no schedules if necessary. Single data transfers and asynchronous updates are usually a reason to do so. You may face the necessity to import data only once. At the same time, your business may require a random order of import or export processes. If you are transferring B2B negotiation quotes and companies to your new Magento 2 store, there is no need to configure a schedule.

And don’t forget about the opportunity to launch every profile manually despite a schedule. If an update is delayed, there is no need to wait until the next planned event. Launch the data transfer manually whenever you want. The following gif image shows how to configure a schedule:

Events

The Improved Import & Export extension allows utilizing event-based triggers along with schedules. Being an alternative way of automating import and export processes, the feature can be used to enable real-time updates. Set a trigger on the basis of a placed order. When a customer completes checkout, it will launch an order data export process providing an external system with the corresponding data.

Note that it is possible to create triggers on top of system events or custom processes with the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension. Choose specific conditions to increase their efficiency. For further information, read this article: How to Run Magento 2 Import or Export After Specific System Event or Process.

Advanced Mapping Features

Mapping features are one of the most essential time-savers introduced in the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension. When you work with external systems, it is usually impossible to transfer data between them and your store since they store data in different forms. But our module effectively solves the problem by providing various instruments discussed below.

Mapping Presets

The most user-friendly way of attributes matching is introduced in Improved Import & Export with mapping preset. If you edit attributes manually, it is necessary to open a data file and change its attributes, which is usually a time-consuming routine. All third-party designations will cause errors or prevent the import process.  

With mapping presets, you get the most straightforward way of solving problems caused by different data standards. They dramatically improve the process reducing it to a single action: select a preset suitable for your particular integration. That’s it! Next, the Improved Import & Export extension will analyze the input data and match all third-party attributes to the corresponding internal ones. You select a scheme, and the module does everything for you:

Matching Interface

If you want to do everything by yourself, we also offer such an opportunity. The Improved Import & Export extension provides a convenient mapping interface that can be used if a preset for a particular integration is absent.

The complicated data file editing is replaced by the ability to select a third-party designation and specifying the appropriate internal one in front of it. Repeat the procedure for every attribute different from the ones used internally. The following gif shows how simple the process is:

You might have noticed that the third column is empty. Let’s focus the attention on it for a while. “Default Value” allows setting a value provided to all items related to the attribute. Thus, you can specify hardcoded attribute values.

Let’s take a look at a small example. You import products related to different store views with the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension, but your website contains only one store view. Instead of editing a data file manually – you won’t be able to import such products without editing – link all products the same store view via the hardcoded value feature.

Attribute Values Mapping

The Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension lets you map not only attributes but also their values. The module utilizes the same principle for modifying them as we’ve just described. Note that sometimes even third-party values prevent import processes, so the ability to map them essentially simplifies your daily duties. That’s why we provide an intuitive interface where you can do everything within a few clicks.

With the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension, you will forever forget about manual data file editing and endless admin modifications. The module allows matching third-party attribute values to their internal designation after the same action has been done for parent attributes. For further information, follow this link: Attribute Values Mapping.

Attribute Values Editing

Values editing is another feature that improves your daily duties in this area. The Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension lets you edit attribute values in bulk using the following rules:

• Add a prefix;
• Add a suffix;
• Split attribute values;
• Merge attribute values.

Combine them and create conditions to increase the efficiency of applied changes. For further information, follow this link: How to Modify Attribute Values During Import and Export in Magento 2.

Category Mapping

Category mapping is another time-saver that is worth your attention. If you import products with a third-party catalog structure, it is necessary to apply changes to each imported product individually from the admin interface after the data is transferred, which is a very time-consuming routine. Instead, you can match the external categories to the ones used internally during the import process with the help of Improved Import & Export. The following gif illustrates the method:

Create new categories on the fly if necessary. Selecting a parent category and specify the name of a new one. Both features are described here: Category Mapping.

Attributes On The Fly

If your data file lacks some attributes, create them on the fly specifying all the necessary parameters via the following general form:

Attribute|attribute_property_name:attribute_property_value|…

More information is available here: Product attributes import.

The following video shows the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension in action:

More guides on how to import and export EVERY Magento 2 entity possible can be found in our Magento 2 Import/Export Guide List.

We have gathered much more information than Magento 2 documentation team has ever had available and written! Check it out!

Final Words

While Magento 2 doesn’t let you import and export B2B negotiation quotes and companies with all the related data, our module does that easily. Follow the link below and contact our support if you have any questions:

Get Improved Import & Export Magento 2 Extension