Customer Groups (Advanced) is a licensed add-on module that extends the standard Customer Groups functionality with enterprise features for B2B commerce. This module adds manager roles, reward points management, order approval workflows, budget controls, payment restrictions, and advanced reporting capabilities—ideal for organizations managing employee purchase programs, corporate merchandise, or B2B buyer approval processes.
The Advanced module introduces two distinct manager roles that can be assigned to customer groups:
Customer Group Manager
- Manages reward points for group members
- Views customer accounts and order history
- Impersonates customers to place orders on their behalf
- Imports reward points in bulk via CSV
- Runs reports and exports for their assigned groups
- Cannot approve orders or edit budgets
Purchasing Manager
- Reviews and approves orders placed by group members
- Edits orders before approval (if enabled)
- Manages budgets for customers (if enabled)
- Edits customer profiles (if enabled)
- Monitors order activity and spending
Before assigning managers to customer groups, you must create manager accounts.
1Go to Customers > Add New Manager.
2Complete the manager account information:
- Username - Unique login identifier
- First Name / Last Name - Manager's full name
- Email Address - Manager's email for notifications
- Password - Secure login password
- Address Information - Complete manager contact details
- Status - Set to Active
3Click Save Changes.
4Repeat for each manager role needed. The same person can have multiple manager accounts if managing different groups with different permission levels.
When Customer Groups (Advanced) is enabled, additional configuration options appear in the customer group editor.
1Go to Customers > Manage Customer Groups.
2Create a new group or edit an existing one.
3Configure the standard fields (Name, Code, Sort Order) as described in the Customer Groups (Simple) article.
4Configure the Advanced module settings:
Manager Assignments
- Customer Group Manager - Select the manager who will handle reward points and customer support for this group
- Purchasing Manager - Select the manager who will review and approve orders for this group
Customer Permissions
- Allow Customer to Manage Addresses - Controls whether group members can add/edit their own shipping addresses. Uncheck to restrict deliveries to pre-approved corporate addresses only.
Manager Permissions
- Allow Purchase Manager to Edit Order - Enables the purchasing manager to modify order details during the approval process
- Allow Purchase Manager to Edit Budget - Enables the purchasing manager to adjust customer reward point budgets
- Allow Purchase Manager to Manage Customer Profile - Enables the purchasing manager to edit customer account information
Pricing & Discount Controls
- Auto Applied Discount - Select a discount that automatically applies to all orders from this group
- Minimum Order Amount - Set a minimum order value required before checkout
- Exclude Customer from All Promotions - Check to prevent group members from using site-wide promotions (useful when group pricing already includes discounts)
- Allow Quantity Discounts - Enable or disable quantity-based pricing tiers for this group
Payment Method Restrictions
- Online - Payment Options (Credit Cards Only) - Select which real-time credit card processors are available to group members
- Other Real-Time Payment Options - Select which alternative payment methods (PayPal, etc.) are available
- Offline Custom Payment Options - Select which offline payment methods are available (e.g., payroll deduction, purchase orders, invoicing)
5Configure the Group Custom Socket section if you need custom HTML or messaging specific to this group's checkout experience.
6Click Save Changes.
Reward points function as a currency within customer groups, allowing organizations to provide budget allocations to members for purchasing corporate merchandise or approved products.
How Reward Points Work
Reward points convert to dollar amounts during checkout. Typically, 1 point = $1.00 (or 0.01 point = $0.01). When a customer checks out:
- Available reward points display as a redemption option
- Customer chooses how many points to redeem (up to their available balance)
- Redeemed points apply as a discount to the order total
- Any remaining balance can be paid via allowed payment methods
Assigning Points to Individual Customers
Customer Group Managers can assign reward points through the manager portal:
1Log in to the manager portal with Customer Group Manager credentials.
2Navigate to the customer list for your assigned group.
3Click on a customer to view their account.
4In the reward points section, enter the number of points to add (positive number) or subtract (negative number).
5Save the changes.
Bulk Importing Reward Points
For large organizations, reward points can be imported via CSV file:
1Log in to the manager portal as a Customer Group Manager.
2Navigate to Customer Reward Points Log or the reward points import section.
3Download the import template and review the legend:
- Customer Email - Email address of the customer receiving points
- Reward Points to Adjust - Positive number to add points, negative to subtract
- Clear All Flag - Set to "Yes" to clear existing points before applying adjustment (useful for annual resets)
4Complete the CSV file with your reward point allocations.
5Upload the CSV file and click Import.
6Review the import log to confirm successful imports and identify any errors.
When a Purchasing Manager is assigned to a customer group, orders require approval before fulfillment.
Customer Order Submission
When a customer in a managed group places an order:
- They can redeem available reward points during checkout
- Any remaining balance is paid via allowed payment methods
- The order enters Pending Approval status
- The Purchasing Manager receives notification of the pending order
Purchasing Manager Review Process
1Log in to the manager portal with Purchasing Manager credentials.
2Navigate to the pending orders list for your assigned group(s).
3Review order details including:
- Customer information and order history
- Products ordered and quantities
- Reward points redeemed
- Payment method used for any remaining balance
- Total order value
4If Allow Purchase Manager to Edit Order is enabled, you can modify order details before approval.
5Choose to Approve or Decline the order:
- Approved orders proceed to fulfillment and follow the standard order workflow
- Declined orders are cancelled, and any reward points used are refunded to the customer
Both Customer Group Managers and Purchasing Managers access a specialized portal with role-specific capabilities.
Customer Group Manager Portal
Customer Group Managers can:
- View budget information and reward point allocations (view only—cannot edit unless also assigned as Purchasing Manager)
- View order history for all customers in their assigned groups
- Manage reward points for individual customers or via bulk import
- Impersonate customers to place orders on their behalf or assist with account issues
- Run reports and exports for their assigned groups
- View customer account details and order history
Purchasing Manager Portal
Purchasing Managers can:
- Review pending orders awaiting approval
- Approve or decline orders with optional notes
- Edit orders during review (if enabled)
- View and manage budgets (if enabled)
- Edit customer profiles (if enabled)
- Monitor spending patterns and order quantities
Customer Impersonation
Customer Group Managers can impersonate customers to:
- Place orders on behalf of customers who need assistance
- Test the customer experience with specific reward point balances
- Troubleshoot customer account or checkout issues
- Fulfill special requests or exceptions
Corporate Merchandise Programs
Organizations can provide branded apparel and merchandise to employees:
- Allocate annual reward points to each employee
- Restrict product visibility to organization-specific items
- Allow payroll deduction as the payment method for purchases beyond reward points
- Require manager approval for high-value items or large orders
Employee Recognition Programs
Reward top performers with points that can be redeemed for products:
- Customer Group Manager imports reward point allocations monthly or quarterly
- Employees browse approved products and redeem points
- No approval workflow needed—points serve as the budget control
B2B Purchase Programs with Approval
Corporate buyers place orders that require management approval:
- Department members select products and submit orders
- Purchasing Manager reviews for budget compliance and business need
- Approved orders route to fulfillment and invoicing
- Managers can edit orders to correct quantities or substitutions
Controlled Distribution Channels
Restrict product access and delivery to approved locations:
- Disable customer address management to force corporate delivery only
- Restrict payment methods to corporate accounts or payroll deduction
- Exclude from general promotions while providing group-specific pricing
- Control minimum order amounts to optimize shipping costs
How do I enable Customer Groups (Advanced)?
Customer Groups (Advanced) is a licensed add-on module. Contact Pulse Commerce Support to discuss pricing and enable the feature for your account.
Can one person serve as both Customer Group Manager and Purchasing Manager?
Yes. A single person can be assigned to both roles for one or more customer groups. They will see combined capabilities when logged into the manager portal.
Do I need to assign managers to every group?
No. Customer groups can operate without managers if your workflow doesn't require approval or reward point management. You can mix managed and unmanaged groups within the same site.
Do reward points expire?
Reward point expiration is configured at the site level. Use the bulk import feature with the "Clear All" flag to reset points annually or on a schedule.
Can I change the reward point value?
The reward point to dollar conversion ratio is configured at the site level. Contact Pulse Commerce Support if you need to adjust this ratio.
What happens when a Purchasing Manager declines an order?
Declined orders are cancelled, any payment authorization is voided, and redeemed reward points are refunded to the customer's balance. The customer receives notification and can resubmit a corrected order.
Are all orders from managed groups subject to approval?
Yes. If a customer group has a Purchasing Manager assigned, all orders from that group require approval before proceeding to fulfillment. This applies even if the order is fully paid with reward points.
Does Customer Groups (Advanced) work with standard group pricing?
Yes. All standard Customer Groups (Simple) features—including group pricing and product visibility—work with the Advanced module. The Advanced module adds approval workflows, reward points, and manager capabilities on top of the base features.
Customer Groups (Advanced) is a powerful module with many configuration options. If you need assistance:
- Review the Customer Groups (Simple) article for basic group setup guidance
- Contact Pulse Commerce Support to enable the Advanced module or discuss custom workflows
- Request training for your Customer Group Managers and Purchasing Managers
- Schedule a consultation to design your organization's group structure and approval workflows