New more user friendly product/variants logic. Let's discuss

Hi guys,

As some of you already know the roadmap for version 3.10 has the following work item:
"Revise product/product-variant logic. Make it more user-friendly".

This product and variants logic could be quite complex for some store owners. Let's make it simple. I don't like reinventing the wheel and think that the easiest way is to see how other implemented it. I like how it's done in magento:

1. Let's have only products. Forget about product variants. Everything related to a product could be edited on one single page in admin area. This approach is very user-friendly and easy. BTW, it should also improve performance (less tables, less database requests)

2. A store owner will be able to choose a product type: "Simple", "Grouped".

3. "Simple" product is a product (previously it was "a product with one variant")

4. "Grouped" product is a product which could have several "simple" products associated and displayed on one single product details page (previously it was "a product with several variants"). First a store owner will have to create several products with "simple" product type, then he'll create a "grouped" product and will assign these "simple" products to this "grouped" product. In this case we use properties such as price, inventory, etc only for "simple" associated products. For "grouped" products these properties are ignored

What do you think? Your thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

UPDATE (July 7th): Bundle products support added. Please find more info here

sounds good, and i think simple product without the need to get into the variant is much welcome.

i just want to share a thought about single variant vs multi variant.
in my store, all my products are "SIMPLE" as you stated, but i choose to config them as"multi variants" just because one point -
the checkout button is on the side on single products,
and the checkout button is on the buttom on multi variants, and this is what i wanted to get.
so i suggest that whatever method chosen, the place of the checkout button will be configurable.

Thanks,
Shay

And here is the first working version. Please see changeset 2dcb54b7e1ca. There are some work items to be done. It also missed the upgrade script (will be done in the near time).

So please download the latest development version, install from scratch, and play with it.

a.m. wrote:

What is expected release date for 3.10?

Dharmik wrote:
https://www.nopcommerce.com/boards/t/23866/nop-310-release-date.aspx

This sounds a good change, it will be easier to manage.

I wonder do you plan to add something to make product combinations generator for configurable products management easier?

For example, a t-shirt in 10 colors and 6 sizes would mean 60 simple product and 1 configurable product. Its difficult to create 60 simple product all with same contents. So we might need something like, create a configuration options first, and then create a product for all possible combinations.

I worked with one site for jewellery where one ring can have more than 1000 combinations.... something to manage all this that makes it easier is also needed.

Moreover, are all the simple product will be having same  or different product detail page URL? Or it will only available for as single configurable product?

And something to manage its inventory details using bulk edit or something similar?

I don't see a upgrade script yet? - just noticed you're working on it already.

Great

Hello Andrei.

great work and very good decision to remove the variant logic. it was time.

I just downloaded the new release set and will send you feedback after running it.

one thing I truly encourage you to change while you're in the middle of major refactoring and it should not take a lot of time: Please change the payment logic to allow saving payments in a separate table of each order.
this will allow :
1 - Split Payments
2 - multiple payments and installments (with a partial payment status) use generally for those who do COD, pay a portion for committing to the order and the rest at delivery...
3 - down payments and layaway ...

this will add a lot of flexibility to the system and is a huge plus.

thank you considering it and keep up the good work

sch09 wrote:

+1 I agree with you.

Hello Andrei,
I just read your first post, it seems perfect.
Best regards.

jariwalakrunal wrote:
Thanks for suggestion. Please vote here

jariwalakrunal wrote:
Not sure that I got your question. All products have same URL? Each product will have its own URL (no matter simple it or grouped). You can download the latest version and play with it