Guided Buying is a customizable shopping feature in the Unimarket Marketplace designed to foster compliant spending by directing buyers toward a community's preferred suppliers through categorized shopping groups.
Functionality and Purpose
Compliant Spending: The feature encourages buyers to use preferred suppliers and incorporates configurable product tags (e.g., Eco-friendly, Local Vendors, Office Supplies, Vendor Diversity).
Visibility: The Guided Buying section is visible in the Marketplace only if collections lists have been defined and assigned. Otherwise, the section will not appear.
Supplier Filtering Logic: When a user selects a collection (e.g., Medical Supplies), the designated suppliers populate. If multiple Supplier Tags are selected within a collection, the search results will use AND logic. Meaning the supplier must have ALL of the chosen tags to be listed.
Administration and Customization
Users with the Community Management, Community Supplier Administrator, or Community Administrator roles can manage Guided Buying groups.
| Action | Navigation Steps | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Create Collection | Administration > Settings > Management tab > Guided Buying tab > +Add Collection | Define the Collection Name. Visible on Marketplace is enabled by default (can be toggled off). Add suppliers using Supplier Tags (tags can be viewed on the Order Export for tracking purposes). |
| Content and Branding | Within the Create Collection screen | Users can insert text and/or a URL (which opens in a new tab) to appear at the top of the screen. An optional Banner Image (max 2MB, JPG or PNG format) can be added to each collection. |
| Edit Collection | Administration > Settings > Management tab > Guided Buying tab > Edit | Access the collection details to make changes, then select Save. |
| Reorder Collections | Administration > Settings > Management tab > Guided Buying tab | Use the up or down arrows next to the collections to change their display order. |
| Delete Collection | Administration > Settings > Management tab > Guided Buying tab > Delete | A confirmation pop-up box will appear; select OK to confirm deletion. |
Creating an RFQ from a Guided Buying Collection
Buyers can select a Guided Buying group of suppliers when creating a Request for Quote (RFQ).
Go to the
Marketplacemodule > selectPurchasing> click Request Quote.
The
Request Quotescreen has 5 sections: Header, Suppliers, Attachments, Email, and Confirm.Suppliers Section: Select
+Add Supplier. Use the Search field, or choose supplier(s) from the Guided Buying Collections field.
Check the box associated with the desired supplier(s) > click
Add> selectContinue.After completing the remaining sections (Header, Attachments, Email, Confirm), select Finish.
The supplier(s) receive an email invitation to submit a quote. Once a supplier submits a quote, the buyer who created the RFQ will receive an email notification for review.
What's Next/Related
- You can also watch a short video on this process: