When it comes to B2B eCommerce, there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” shopping experience. A corporate manager ordering 500 promotional kits for a trade show needs a vastly different experience—and different purchasing options—than a remote employee logging in to use their company points for a branded hoodie.

If your web store forces every user into the exact same checkout flow, you are missing out on the flexibility required to truly serve complex enterprise clients.

At Antera Software, we believe your technology should adapt to your clients, not the other way around. That is why Aether eCommerce features powerful, flexible User Groups.

Here is a look at how you can use Aether’s User Groups to deliver a distinct, tailored experience for every client.

User Groups Defined

Simply put, a User Group is a categorical bucket that allows you to bundle together specific settings, permissions, and products. Instead of configuring checkout rules or product visibility one by one for hundreds of users, you configure the rules for the group, and then assign users to that group. By strategically assigning users to groups, you can completely customize the shopping journey based on who is logging in, what they are allowed to buy, and how they are permitted to pay.

This approach makes managing massive enterprise stores—like a franchise network with dozens of distinct locations—incredibly efficient.

Customizing the Experience

The moment a user logs in, the system immediately recognizes their assigned User Group (or groups, as users can belong to more than one). This assignment acts as a filter, shaping the store they see and the actions they can take.

Here is a look at the key experiences you can easily customize:

• Targeted Product Visibility
  Does the East Coast sales team need different apparel options than the West Coast team? You can restrict specific product categories or individual items so they are only visible to the designated groups. This ensures buyers only see the products approved for their specific department or location, eliminating confusion and unauthorized purchases.

• Selective Decorations
  Rather than setting up entirely separate web stores for a corporate client with various brands and divisions, you can establish artwork settings via User Groups! Users will only see the decorated product available to the group they have been assigned, allowing your multi-brand corporate client to manage procurement in one single store.

• Specialized Payment Methods
  Not all buyers are allowed to put purchases on a corporate card. With User Groups, you can customize exactly which payment methods are available at checkout. Aether user groups allow managers to check out using a Purchase Order (PO) or Direct Bill and restrict general employees to only checking out using a non-traditional payment method, like an annual allowance of company points or gift cards.

• Mass Update User Groups & Auto Grouping
  Need to adjust settings for an entire corporate division? Don’t spend hours on admin work. Aether allows for easy mass changes via editable CSV uploads. Plus, when new users need to be added, User Groups can be automatically assigned by email domain or by a special code during registration.

• Distinct Shipping Locations
  For large corporations or franchises, you can assign specific shipping locations to User Groups. This ensures that an employee at “Branch A” can only select approved delivery methods or addresses relevant to their location, preventing expensive shipping errors.

• Cost Center Allocation
  For clients that require strict accounting, Aether allows you to build out Cost Centers and assign them to specific User Groups. During checkout, users are forced to select their designated Cost Center, ensuring that when the invoice reaches the client’s accounting team, it is already perfectly categorized for their internal budgets.

• Intelligent Order Approvals
  Perhaps the most powerful feature tied to User Groups is the Order Approval workflow. You can set rules that trigger only when a member of a specific User Group makes a purchase. For example, you can build a rule that says: If anyone in the “General Employee” User Group places an order over $50, it must be routed to the “Management” User Group for approval before the order is booked in Advance.

Build a Store That Understands the Buyer

The modern B2B buyer expects a consumer-like shopping experience combined with enterprise-grade controls. Aether’s User Groups allow you to strike that perfect balance. By delivering a tailored experience that respects the buyer’s internal hierarchy, budgets, and operational rules, you lock in long-term enterprise loyalty.

Ready to see how a tailored shopping experience can win bigger B2B contracts? Schedule a Demo with our Business Analysts today to see Aether eCommerce in action!