With customer accounts enabled, customers can log in to view their profiles (such as account details, address information, etc.) and orders. Also, when customers log in, the system will automatically fill in their saved account details during checkout, providing a faster and smoother checkout experience.
SHOPLINE offers two versions of customer accounts: Classic Customer Account and New Customer Account. Learn in this article about these two types of accounts and make your choice based on your business needs.
In This Article
- Comparison of the Customer Account Versions
- Managing Customer Account Versions
- Configuring New Customer Account Version for B2B Businesses
- Important Notes
Comparison of the Customer Account Versions
You can choose which version to use in your online store, and this choice will affect most customer account-related links within your store. If you choose to use New Customer Account, then most links to classic customer accounts such as the login page will automatically redirect to new customer accounts.
Refer to the table below to learn more about Classic Customer Account and New Customer Account:
| Classic Customer Account | New Customer Account | |
| Login Options | Supports email and phone login with password only. | Supports only email login with either a verification code or password. |
| Account Creation | Customers accept account invites or register through a signup page. They need to activate their account. | Customer account is automatically created upon first login with no activation required |
| Account Deactivation |
✔️ Supports adding customers to a blacklist. |
✘ Supports deletion of customer profile. But if customers log in again with the same email, then a new customer profile is created. No blacklist option. |
| Landing page post login | ✘ | ✔️ |
| Account Closure by Custmers | ✔️ | ✘ |
| Multipass Support | ✔️ | ✘ |
| Third-party Login Support | ✔️ | ✘ |
| Captcha Support | ✔️ | ✘ |
| B2B Support | ✘ |
✔️ Supports viewing B2B prices and placing B2B orders after login. |
| Order Tracking | Supports B2C order tracking | Supports B2C and B2B order tracking |
| Membership Center Access |
✔️ Available after login |
✘ Not available after login |
Managing Customer Account Versions
You can choose and manage these two customer account versions by going to Settings > Customer account in your SHOPLINE admin panel.
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Classic customer account: Manage registration and login settings and third-party login options.
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New customer account: Manage registration and login settings.
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General Settings: Managing common settings applicable to both Classic and New Customer Accounts.
Configuring New Customer Account for B2B Businesses
B2B customers must log in with a New Customer Account to access a B2B store, view B2B pricing, and create B2B orders. DTC customers can log in with either a Classic or New Customer Account to manage their orders.
| Note: If you select Classic Customer Account as your account type, you can still provide access to the New Customer Account for B2B purposes by sharing a specific login link. For stores serving both B2B and B2C customers, it’s recommended to select Classic Customer Account and embed the New Customer Account login URL as a B2B access point. Alternatively, you may choose to only use New Customer Account to streamline customer information and order management across both customer groups. |
To enable access for B2B customers to New Customer Accounts, you can provide login options to them as follows:
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Set Customer Account Version to New Customer Account:
Navigate to Settings > Customer account, select New customer account, and save. This will redirect most customer account links in your online store to the New Customer Account login page All customers will log in using their email and a verification code, but you can also enable password login as an option. -
Share New Customer Account URL Directly with B2B Customers:
In the New customer account section, copy the login link and share it. This option is helpful if you want to keep DTC customers’ login process unchanged but still want to provide a login entry for B2B customers on store navigation, footers, or other pages by adding the New Customer Account URL labeled as B2B-specific. -
Send B2B Store Access Email:
On the Company, Location, and B2B Customer details pages, you can quickly send a B2B store access email, which includes the New Customer Account login link.
After logging in, B2B customers will enter the New Customer Center, where they can view company location information, including shipping and billing addresses, company customer lists, company orders, and more. Customers with Location Admin permission can also edit this information.
Important Notes
- If you set the customer account version to Classic Customer Account, the New Customer Account link can still be accessed via URL.
- If you set the customer account type to New Customer Account, links pointing to the Classic Customer Account will automatically redirect to the New Customer Account, such as the Classic Customer Account’s login and registration links. This means:
- When a customer clicks the login link on your storefront header or checkout page, they will be redirected to the New Customer Account login link.
- When a customer attempts to access Classic Customer Account-related pages (e.g., login, registration, or profile pages), they will be redirected to the New Customer Account pages.
- After login, customers will be directed to the New Customer Center. Currently, this version only supports the profile and order pages. If you’re also using the Member System app, B2C customers will not have access to the Member Center after logging in.
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