• Installing Cart to Quote
• Uninstalling Cart to Quote
• Compatibility
• About Cart to Quote
• Cart to Quote Use
• Notifications

Magento 2 Cart to Quote facilitates negotiations between selected customers and store admins over prices of products in a quotation. Negotiations are implemented in a sequence of consecutive requests for quotations and responds to them followed by various automatic notifications. A quote herein is a temporary state of either a product cart or quote list over the period of price negotiations. 

API documentation link

Installing Cart to Quote

composer require mpdf/mpdf

Command Line Installation

1. Backup your web directory and store database
2. Download the Add Free Product to Cart installation package
3. Upload the contents of the Add Free Product to Cart installation package to your store root directory
4. In the SSH console of your server, navigate to your store root folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

run the following command: :

php bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_Ctq

php bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_CtqGraphQl

then:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade

after:

php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f

    5. Flush store cache; log out from the backend and log in again

Composer Installation

1. If you are installing an extension from Aheadworks for the first time, you need to add our composer repository to your Magento store:

Login to your ssh console and navigate to your store folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

Run the following command:

composer config repositories.aheadworks composer https://dist.aheadworks.com/

On successful execution of the command you will be able to use the composer to install the extensions.

To install the extension:

     2. Login to your ssh console and navigate to your store folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

    3. Run the following command to install the latest version of the extension:

composer require mpdf/mpdf

composer require aheadworks/module-Ctq

if you need to install a specific version, run this command:

composer require aheadworks/module-Ctq:<version>

When prompted, enter Public Key (Username) and Private Key (Password):

Both Public Key (Username) and Private Key (Password) can be found in My Projects and Licenses in your personal account on our site:

Run the following command to install Cart to Quote GraphQl:

composer require aheadworks/module-ctq-graph-ql

     4. Enable the extension:

php -f bin/magento module:enable <Module_Name>

php -f bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_CtqGraphQl

Next, register the extension:

bin/magento setup:upgrade

Recompile your Magento store if you are in the Production mode:

bin/magento setup:di:compile

To verify that the extension is enabled, run this command:

bin/magento module:status

Clean store cache, by running the following command:

bin/magento cache:clean

Log out and Log in the backend again.

To upgrade the extension:

Download the updated extension file from Marketplace or another extension developer. Take note of the module-name and version.

Export the contents to your Magento root.

Run one of the following with the composer:

Update per module name:

composer update aheadworks/module-Ctq

Updater per version:

composer require aheadworks/module-Ctq:<version>

Run the following commands to upgrade, deploy, and clean the cache.

php bin/magento setup:upgrade --keep-generated
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy
php bin/magento cache:clean

    6. Make sure that the Composer finished the installation without errors. Flush store cache, log out and log into the backend again.

Uninstalling Cart to Quote

Since Magento introduced declarative Database you need to be very carefull when uninstalling or disabling the module.

Manual Removal

1. Disable the module by executing the following commands:

php bin/magento module:disable Aheadworks_Ctq 
php bin/magento setup:upgrade

2. Remove the extension files from the following folder:

app/code/Aheadworks/Ctq

Automatic removal

To uninstall the extension, run the following command:

php bin/magento module:uninstall Aheadworks_Ctq

Please note: uninstall script works correctly only if the module was previouslyinstalled via Composer

Compatibility

About Cart to Quote

Business Advantages

The Cart to Quote extension for Magento 2 is to support natural negotiations when customers strive to get the precise and quantifiable product at the lowest possible price, and merchants aim at higher profit, hoping to sell more and sell stuff faster. Furthermore, negotiations let shoppers experience merchants' flexibility, generosity and appreciation of their needs. The module allows clients to easily shape requests for quote (RFQ) while browsing the catalogues and topping-up carts. Admins get able to manage the quotes, suggest counter-offers, set email notifications and react to responses with change of quotation status - to shape an order and close the deal in a mingle of an eye.

What Makes It Different

• Multiple products per quote
• Adding products to an unlocked quote from various pages
• Cart-to-Quote and Quote-List-to-Quote methods of adding products to a quote
• Alternating cession of control over a quote 
• Explicit quote management on backend
• Adaptive discount calculator on backend
• Quote expiration reminder and other notifications
• Various quotation statuses
• RFQ restriction for selected customer groups
• Integration with Company Accounts, Sales Representative, Hide Price

Cart to Quote Use

Customizing the Extension

Start work with the extension customizing the three blocks of settings: General, Email Notifications and File Attachments.

General Settings

To get access to the settings proceed to Stores > Settings > Configuration > Aheadworks Extensions > Cart to Quote.

This is where you can set up the following parameters:

• Enable the "Add to Quote" button and "Quote List" - when enabled, the two elements will appear on the storefront switching the Cart-to-Quote mode to the Quote-List-to-Quote;
• Auto Acceptance of Quote - when enabled, quotes will be automatically assigned the Accepted status;
• Acceptance Comment for Customer (displayed when Auto Acceptance of Quote is enabled) - an automatic comment as sent to the customer to support automatically accepted quotes;
• Extra Block in .doc of Exported Quote - select any static block to be added to the .doc file of an exported quote (the block is added below the quoted products);
• Customer Groups Allowed to Request a Quote - select the groups of customers who will have access to the functionality of the module (Not Logged-In customers can request a quote as well);
• Allow to Request a Quote From the Cart - select hide or show button Request a Quote on the cart page;

• Default Quote Expiration Period (in days) - indicates the default period of quote validity in days (setting to 0 will disable the option);
• Admin User Quote Is Assigned To - choose a store admin to manage quotations;
• Minimum Subtotal for Requesting a Quote - set a minimum amount of subtotal for requesting a quote;
• Message for Minimum Quote Subtotal - input here the text for the message.

How does Auto-Approval of Quotes Work?

With regard to the feature, the following logic is employed within the present version of the extension (1.7.0):

1. A quote receives Accepted status.
2. An automatic comment/notification is sent to the customer (By default, the text is “Thank you for your Quote. Unfortunately, we don’t provide any discounts nowadays. You can buy this Quote at current catalog prices or decline it”). The comment is displayed in the Quote History Log and Quote Comments tab, both on the front- and backend. 
3. Discount negotiations are disabled.
4. The customer is able to either place an order against the quote or decline it.
5. The behavior of the quote on the backend matches the status “Pending Buyer Review”: Admins can only view the quote;
6. “Submit for Approval” is hidden from the Quote page on the frontend.

The Quote Auto-Approval function can be used, for example, during massive sales or promo campaigns - when no further discounts are stipulated for a time being. It is a marketing means to put price negotiations on hold, without taking away the visual functionality of  the module from the storefront.

To finalize the configuration click the Save Config button in the top right, or proceed to the next step.

Email Notifications

This is where you configure how customers and admins are notified on each consecutive act of negotiations over the quotation.

The Email Notifications block provides the following configuration settings:

• Notification Email Sender - Choose one of the roles to feature as an addresser in the email: General Contact, Sales Representative, Customer Support of Custom Email; 
• CC Email Recipients - Type in the recipients of the copies of the notifications (emails separated with comma ',');
• Seller Quote Changes Template - Select a template for the notification on change to the quote, as seen by the seller/admin;
• Buyer Quote Changes Template - Select a template for the notification on change to the quote, as seen by the buyer;
• Seller New Quote Template - Select a template for the notification on a new quote receipt, as seen by the seller;
• Buyer New Quote Template - Select a template for the notification on a new quote receipt, as seen by the seller;
• Send Reminder in X Days Before Quote Expiration (in days) - indicate the number of days to remain before the expiration of the quote for a reminder be sent to the buyer;
• Email Template for Quote Reminder - Select a template for the reminder on quote expiration;
• Quote Admin Change Template - Select a template for the reminder on admin change.

To finalize configuration click the Save Config button in the top right, or proceed to the next step.

File Attachments

The extension allows attaching files to the comments to support the quote. This is where you can configure (see the picture above):

• Max Upload File Size (Mb) - maximum size of the file to upload (in Mb);
• Allow File Extensions - a list of file extensions permitted for uploading.

To finalize the configuration click the Save Config button in the top right, or get back to the steps above.

PDF Options

Set to Yes the Attach Quote in PDF to Email Notifications option to attach a PDF quote automatically to email notifications. The quote in PDF will be attached to email notification automatically when a quote is set to status Waiting for the customer.

Quotations Grid

To get access to all the quotations, past and present, proceed to Sales > Quotes.

Admin can select a store view during the creation of a quote in the admin panel. After clicking on the Add Quote button module suggests to the Admin select a store view for a quote, so a quote can be assigned to a certain store view.

The quote page shows a grid of the following columns:

• ID - the identification number of the quotation;
• Store - the store where the quotation comes from;
• Quote Name - the name of the quotation as indicated by the customer;
• Company (available when the Company Accounts modules is installed);
• Created - the date and time of quotation creation;
• Last Updated - the date and time of most recent updates to the quote;
• Customer Name - the name of the customer who initiated the negotiations (was assigned the quotation to, by the admin);
• Quote Total - the total price of the quotation;
• Quote Total Negotiated - the total cost of the quotation (with the discount negotiated);
• Status - the status of the quotation indicating the progress of the negotiations;
• Quote Owner Name - the name of the admin assigned to the quote;
• Action - the View active link redirecting to the Edit Quotation page.

You can decline quotes individually or in bulk with the help of the Actions drop-box field on the left above the grid. Editing is only possible for each individual quote via the View active link in the correspondent cell of the Action column. To create a quote from the backend click the Add Quote button in the top right of the page.

Create / Edit Quote

To create a quote on the backend click the Add Quote button in the top right of the page. To edit the quote click the View active link in the correspondent cell of the Action column of the Quotes Grid.

Starting a quote on the backend

Once Add Quote is clicked, the module suggests choosing a customer from the Create New Quote for New Customer grid.

The grid lists all customers who fall under the Request for Quote selection, giving information on their contact details and points of sign-up. For user convenience, there is a filter available on the page with value-boxes above each column of the grid. Fill-in the box(es) with some data you are looking for (parts of known data) and click the Search button above the grid. Click on the row of the chosen customer and proceed to creating the quote. You will then be redirected to the Create/Edit Quote page. But first, you’ll need to specify a store view.

If the customer doesn't exist in the database, you can create a profile by clicking the Create New Customer button.

The page is split into 6 sections: Quote and Account Information (if you create a new customer, this section is split into Quote Information and Account Information), Quote Total, Products, Shipping Details, Comments and History, and Quote Totals / Discount Calculator.

Quote and Account Information

The block features the following elements:

• Name - the title of the quotation (* required field);
• Created From - store view where a customer has been added;
• Customer Name - the name of the chosen customer (active link, redirects to the Customer Account page on backend);
• Customer Group - the name of the customer group the customer belongs to;
• Customer Email - the email of the chosen customer (active link, redirects to the mailing system popup);
• Admin User Quote Is Assigned To - the dropbox to select the store user to deal with the quote (by default, the admin selected in the Settings);
• Send CC to - the email addresses of the people, you would like to receive a copy of the present quote (in addition to those entered in the Settings);
• Reminder Date - the date of a reminder to be sent to the customer to prompt action regarding the quote;
• Expiration Date - the date of quotation expiration (the quote will get the Expired status on reaching this date, and will become unavailable for the customer).

Order Total

The block briefs on some financial details of the quote: Subtotal, Shipping and Handling, Tax, and Grand Total. This information, for convenience reason, will appear again at the bottom of the page in the Quote Totals / Discount Calculator.

Export to PDF

To export a quote in a PDF file follow Sales > Quotes > Quote Edit page and click on the Export to PDF button. 

Managing products in the quote

The Product block of the Edit / Create Quote page allows adding products to the quote and removing them from it, changing quantity of products, configuring product parameters, altering the proposed price of each product, browsing the discounts and totals, adding comments to each product.

The grid here is a financial summary of the quotation, split into products, and featuring the grand totals at the bottom. This is where admins can see the price (catalog, cart and proposed), stock availability, quantity of each product on the quote, alongside the discounts, taxes and subtotals.

To alter the quantity of a product on the quote, use the Qty text-box. When done, click the Update Items and Quantities button behind the grid to update the figures in the table. Alternatively, you can use the Configure button below the name of the product. When clicked, it calls out the Configure Product popup.

The Configure Product popup allows selecting a different size, color (for configurable products only) and quantity of the chosen product. When done, click the OK button in the top right corner to call the popup away. The quote summary grid will get updated automatically.

To alter the proposed price of a product (by default - product catalog price), use the Proposed Price text-box. When done, click the Update Items and Quantities button behind the grid to update the figures in the table.

To remove a product from the quote, use the Action dropbox next to the chosen product, select "Remove" and click the Update Items and Quantities button behind the grid.

To add a product to the quote, click the Add Products button on the top right of the grid. The Please Select Products block will appear on the page. The block features a grid and a filter, with filter boxes above each column of the grid:

• id - the identification number of the product;
• Product - the name of the product;
• SKU - the stock keeping unit number of the product;
• Price - the catalog price of the product;
• Select - the select box for bulk action;
• Quantity - the text-box to hold a decimal number of items of the product you want to include in the quote.

Once all target products selected, click the Add Selected Products to Quote button in the top right of the grid. The products will be added to the quote summary grid.

Managing shipping details

The Shipping Information block features the Shipping Address form and Shipping Method radio-button list. Custom Shipping determines the specific shipping rate. When the field is empty, the shipping cost is set to 0.

For convenience reasons, the block is rolled-up by default. To roll it down click the Add/Hide shipping information active link. Shipping address is part of the data stored about a customer, and thereby the form herein will show the default shipping address as indicated in the customer profile. If need be, you may select a different address from the Select from existing customer address dropbox or suggest a new address by filling-in the required fields in the form. 

Discount calculator

This is the block to adjust your discount to the quote. It features all sort of totals: Total Cost, Subtotal, Catalog Total, Total Discount, Quote Total (excluding Tax), Tax Total, as well as shipping - an extended total summary as compared to the Quote Total block.

To figure out your best offer, use either of the three:

• Percentage Discount - a % applied;
• Amount Discount - a numeric rebate; 
• Proposed Price - a new suggested Subtotal.

When a value is entered in one of the fields, the whole Quote Totals block will get updated and the figures recalculated. 

Comments and History

The Comments and History block features two tabs which, in an alternating mode, give access to the comments which support the quotes and the history of changes to the quote.

The Comments tab takes you to where you can support the quote with a cover comment, or send a comment as a separate message. This is also your chatbox for negotiations. 

To leave a comment type it into the Comment text field, attach any files, if need be, and click the Send button (at the bottom of the page). The comment will appear both in your customer's email inbox and in My Account on the store front. Mind the file types allowed for uploading, as configured in the Extension Settings above.

To browse the history of the negotiations opt for the History log tab. This is where all the updates to the status and total price of the quote, alongside the history of commenting, are available. 

When all in the quote seems sorted and looks all right, depending on whether you have created it from scratch or been editing, there are a few ways to finalize it:

• To save the quote, click the Save button on the top right of the page (you will have to save first the new quote, created from the backend, only then apply other actions);
• To discard changes, click Back on the top right (you will be redirected to the Quotes Grid);
• To approve the quote, click Approve (you will remain on the same page, but only the Back button will be available. The control over the quote will pass onto the customer);
• To decline the quote, click Decline (you will remain on the same page, the quote will get available for requoting);
• To requote the quote, click ReQuote (you will get onto the active duplicate of the quotation);
• To sell the quote, click Sell (the quote will get converted into an order, you will be redirected to the order page).

On the Frontend

Cart-to-Quote Mode

The Request a Quote option is available for specified users from Cart. In a usual way customers add products to Cart from wherever they can find an option to do so: catalog page, product page, wish list or search results. Once in Cart, shoppers will find the Request a Quote button, just beneath the Proceed to Checkout one.

Clicking the Request a Quote button will open the New Quote popup. This is where the customer will be asked to type in the name of the request, provide the details as plain text and attach, if necessary, any files.

Click the Send button to forward your request to the admin.

Quote-List-to-Quote Mode

The Quote-List-to-Quote is another mode of arranging products into a quote to substitute the Cart-to-Quote mode should relevant set-up be done on the backend. The module adds the Add to Quote button next to Add to Cart.  In this mode customers are able to add products to a quote either from a catalog or product page. However, the products selected with the Add to Quote button do not get into Cart, but get aggregated into the Quote List. Thus in the Quote-List-to-Quote mode customers are able to populate Cart and Quote in parallel. 

The Quote List comes alike the Shopping Cart. Its icon will be available next to the cart icon in the top right corner of the page. Adding products to a quote will activate a numeric indicator next to the Quote List icon. The indicator will tell the number of products on the quote list.

 Clicking the Quote List icon will open a mini quote list, where customers can browse the details of the products, update product quantities, check prices and delete items.

To update the quantity of the product, click the Qty text-box and enter a new digital number. The Update button will appear next to the text-box. Clicking the button will save the changes, no page reload required.

To update the product on the list, click the pen icon next to the Qty text-box. You will then be redirected to the page of the product, where necessary changes can be done. On completing the new configuration, click Update Quote List to confirm the changes.

To view the product and add its alternatives either to Cart of Quote List, click the name of the product. You will be redirected to the product page, usual functionality ensured.

To view the full Quote List, click the View and Edit Quote List active link at the bottom of the mini Quote List. 

To add a comment, enter the desired text into the designated comment field and then click the Update Quote List button.

This is where customers are able to browse the products on the quote list, update their quantities, delete products from the list, and update products. The functionality of thereof is the same as that of the mini Quote List as described above. 

In addition, the full Quote List page features the Quote Summary. This is where customers can see an estimated price of shipping and tax, alongside the subtotal and total prices. Finally, the Request a Quote button will take you to the New Quote popup (see above) where you will be able to finalize the RFQ. 

If the minimum amount of subtotal for requesting required by the customer is less than the amount set by the Admin, then the customer will see the message "The subtotal is less than required for submitting a quote, please update your quote list". 

Managing quotes

To browse and manage requests for quotes, go to My Account > My Quotes.

The My Quotes grid will give you some vital details of the quotes: Status, Total Price, Name, Dates (created and last updated). Each cell in the Actions column has the View active link, which will redirect you to the Quote Page.

Depending on the status of the quote, the Quote Page will feature various alternatives to proceed with:

	Status: Declined by Buyer Action: ReQuote / Export to .doc Comment: Click the ReQuote button to create a duplicate of the quotation and start negotiations anew.
	Status: Declined by Seller Action: Export to .doc Comment: Click the Export to doc. button to export the quote into doc file.
	Status: Pending Seller Review Action: Export to .doc Comment: Wait until a response arrives from the seller, and the status changes.
	Status: Pending Buyer Review Action: Decline / Buy / Submit for Approval Comment: Click Decline and cancel the quote. Click Buy to convert the quote to Cart and proceed to the checkout. Edit the quote and click Submit for Approval to continue negotiating the price. When declined on the frontend, the quote receives the corresponding status, and gets available for requoting. When bought, the quote is converted into a cart with the negotiated discount applied, ready to be transformed into an order. The application of any discount, including Cart Price Rules, coupons, points, or other rewards, is not permitted to a quota with Negotiated Discount. When submitted for approval, the quote gets 'locked' on the storefront and 'unlocked' on the backend for the admin.
	Status: Accepted Action: Buy / Decline / Export to .doc Comment: The status on auto-acceptance of quotes. In this case the “Submit for Approval” button is hidden on Quote page.
	Status: Ordered Action: ReQuote / Export to .doc Comment: Click the ReQuote button to create a duplicate of the quotation and start negotiations anew. Ordered quotes will feature the number of the corresponding order (active link to the Order Page).

When the status of the quote is either Pending Buyer Review or Accepted, the Quote page allows changing the order of the items in the quote. 

When at least one item is moved along the list, the “Save Items Order” button is displayed above the list on the right side. It is only after clicking on the Save Items Order button, that the new order is saved.

Other features of the My Quotes page will not differ drastically with regard to the quote status. Therefore, let's see the one below as an example.

The Quote Page explicitly tells the following information about the quote: title, status, id, date of creation/expiration, the summary on the products on the list, the comments to the negotiations and the log of the negotiations history. The latter three blocks of information are available via the Products, Comments and History Log tabs.

The Products tab gives access to the short summary of the quote: the products listed in the cart, their prices, quantity, as well as the Subtotal, Negotiated Discount, Tax and Order Total (the sum of the previous three). This is where customers can alter the quantity values of the products, should they wish to renegotiate the quote.

To leave a comment to the Seller, proceed to the Comments tab. The tab opens the negotiation chatbox between the customer and the seller. Read the previous messages, type in the new ones in the Comment text field, attach files and click Send to forward the comments to the admin. The functionality and layout of the tab look the same as the ones on the backend.

To browse the history of the negotiations, refer to the History tab. This is where you will find information on the changes to the status of the quote, as well as the history of messages between the parties. 

In addition to the above, The Quote Page contains a block of buttons and active links. The combination of thereof may change from quote status to quote status (see the beginning of the chapter), but the Export to .doc button/active link remains always on the block.

When a customer clicks on the Export to .doc button, the file in the .doc format is downloaded automatically. 

The following data is exported in the file:

• Quote name
• Quote # (Order # if this Quote has status Ordered)
• Created date
• Expired date
• Products on the quote (as displayed in the Products tab)

Notifications

Any updates to the active quotations, as well as the comments to the ones, will come as email messages both to the customer and admin. Furthermore, the copies of the messages will be forwarded to the address stated in CC in Settings and in Edit / Create Quote.

The message will have the name of the quote, an active link to the corresponding quote page, alongside the comments, change log and quote summary for quick review.

Integrations

Company Accounts

M2 Company Accounts glides into M2 Cart To Quote with few visible changes but a powerful update of the inside core. Now, as multiple users of a corporate account represent one company, they get able to take part in negotiations together. Store admins will receive messages from various users within a company, and will deal with them in a regular way as described above.

Company is a customer attribute in the M2 Company Accounts extension, thereby on integration with Cart To Quote it will be added to the layouts of the Create/Edit Quote page and Quotes grid.

Sales Representative

When M2 Sales Representative is installed on the store alongside M2 Cart To Quote, the Admin gets able to assign Sales Representatives to quotes. Sales representatives can be appointed to quotes automatically in compliance with the customers belonging to a customer group, or manually and individually to each quote. By assigning quotes to sales representatives, that is users created with the help of M2 Sales Representative, the Admin can demarcate access for these users to the data on the quotes. 

M2 Cart to Quote, when used on its own, has an option of assigning sales representatives to quotes. With regard to this fact, M2 Sales Representative is meant to enhance M2 Cart To Quote as follows:

• Sales Representative (Conditions) is added as an option to the dropdown "Admin User Quote is Assigned to" at Stores → Configuration → Aheadworks Extensions → Cart to Quote .

• A hint is added to explain the use of Sales Representative (Conditions) and to give quick access to Stores → Configuration → Aheadworks Extensions → Sales Representatives → Conditions: “If Sales Representative (Conditions) is selected, Default Sales Representative is assigned to a new company according to conditions specified here {link to SR conditions}”.

• Sales Representative (Conditions) is the default value of "Admin User Quote is Assigned to" when M2 Cart To Quote and M2 Sales Representative are installed one after another for the first time on the store. Otherwise, if M2 Cart To Quote has already been in use, and M2 Sales Representatives is added to the store, the default value of "Admin User Quote is Assigned to" remains unchanged. The latter aspect allows quotes which have been created before the installation of M2 Sales Representative to keep on being monitored by the appointed to them earlier sales representatives.
• Automatic emails are sent to users indicated as sales representatives in "Admin User Quote is Assigned to" when quotes are assigned to them.

Hide Price

When the M2 Hide Price extension is installed on the store alongside M2 Cart To Quote, the Admin gets able to hide price, 'Add to Cart' or 'Add to Quote' buttons.

To start working with the Hide Price extension go Catalog > Hide Price by Aheadworks > Rules. Click on Add new rule button to create a new rule. Fill in the 'Rule Information' and set 'Conditions'. In the 'Configuration' section you can select to 'Show', 'Hide' 'Add to Quote' button. Do not forget to click on the 'Save' button to save the rule. 

Product Page