Discovery - Workflows

At Spreetail, there are generally 4 separate roles that interact with item listings (Channel Managers, Vendor Managers, Listing Health, and Pricing). This presents a large communication barrier to resolving conflicts when an item is restricted from certain marketplaces.

With multiple tools already in use, the restrictions get complicated quickly.

So… what if we eliminated the need to communicate, and create a set of rules that guide our process.

Marketplace Restrictions

For the rules to work as intended, they would need to govern by marketplace, by vendor, as well as by internal restrictions (such as inventory and margin).

Within a marketplace, the user can get an overview of the rules effecting items on this channel along side newly useful impactful data.

This is also where a new rule can be built.

Rule Overview

When a rule is selected, the user can view a powerful new set of data including items and GMV effected and weather or not an item is available to sell. The user can also view and edit the conditions which would restrict items, and view the impact the changes might have.

Rule Creation

Many SaaS were reviewed at the start of this initiative, but all required a good deal of technical knowledge and a steep learning curve. For Spreetail, it was important to have a UI that you didn’t need an engineering degree to use effectively.

Setting a hierarchy of clear conditions was essential.

Rule Simulation

Just because anybody could create a rule, doesn’t mean they should. At least not yet. That’s why without permissions, users can still edit and create rules to view the large impacts that small changes can have.

Rules Effecting an Item

Within the item listing view, users can also view the new data from the item side as opposed to the marketplace side.

Users can see which rules and restrictions are effecting this item and see if any steps can be taken to decrease those restrictions to increase sales.

Marketplace Listing

Previously, the items were turned on and off of individual marketplaces manually by different users in different roles. Once we launch our “Rules Engine” each item will have the ability to be listed either according to rules, or be manually toggled. This will allow the listing teams to transition smoothly to the rules engine as it is being built up.

Restrictions Effecting an Item

If an item fails any rules that would restrict it from being listed on an individual marketplace, the user can see what specifically is preventing the item from being listed. Viewing the rules of an inactive marketplace could potentially allow users to make small changes in order to get that item listed.

History and Save States

Borrowing a page from our friends over at Figma, we set out on creating a history with save states. This would greatly cut down on miscommunication by creating an accountability. Save states will also make it quick and easy to keep up to date.