Activity 9: E-Commerce Plugin

What was this all about?

This activity focused on installing and configuring the most popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress (likely WooCommerce), transforming the website into a full online store. The goal was to prove the ability to manage products, pricing, and the entire checkout and payment system.

Backend Configuration and Product Management

The E-commerce project requires significant administrative setup. These screenshots confirm the successful configuration of the plugin.

1. General E-commerce Settings

This image shows the basic setup and naming of the online store.

• Proof of Configuration: The site title has been customized to “Nemsu Shop,” demonstrating control over the basic identity of the store. This is the starting point for all e-commerce functionality.

2. Product Management and Inventory

This is the administrative view where products are defined, priced, and managed.

• Proof of Product Setup: The list shows several digital and physical products (e.g., “UniPro Student Portfolio Template,” “UniCharge High-Speed Braided Cable”) with:
  • Stock: Confirmed to be “In stock.”
  • Pricing: Clearly set (e.g., “₱399.00”).
  • Categories: Organized into groups like “Digital Products” and “Study Gadgets.”
• What I Learned: This confirms I can define product types, set variable pricing, and manage inventory—core skills for any online retailer.

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🛍️ Frontend Functionality and Checkout

Since the Shop Page and Product Page typically look similar to a standard product listing, the best proof of a working E-commerce system is a successful checkout and order process.

1. Completed Checkout Process

These images show the final stages of a customer purchasing products and receiving an order confirmation.

• Proof of Transaction: The “Thank you. Your order has been received” message is displayed, confirming Order Number 1296 was successfully created with a total of ₱599.00.
• Payment Method: The transaction used the “Pay at Pickup/Delivery” method, which is a key setting configured in the backend.
• Order Details: This page confirms the products purchased (e.g., “UniCharge Cable” and “UniColor Pen Set”) and the accurate subtotal/total calculation.
• Billing Address: This confirms the system correctly captured and formatted the customer’s Billing address and contact information during checkout, which is critical for shipping and accounting.

2. Advanced Payment Gateway (Attempted)

• Proof of Gateway Setup: This screenshot shows an attempt to integrate a complex third-party payment gateway, PayPal. Although the account may require further verification, the fact that the setup process reached this stage proves the ability to configure external financial services within the e-commerce plugin.

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What I Took Away From This Activity

Activity 9 was crucial for understanding how to monetize a website and manage customer transactions:

1. Database Complexity: E-commerce moves far beyond simple Guestbook entries. It involves complex database tables for orders, customers, product variations, and shipping zones.
2. Order Fulfillment Logic: I learned the workflow from a customer adding a product to the cart, calculating the total, capturing the billing information, and generating a formal order record (the Order Number).
3. Payment Gateways: I gained insight into how external payment systems (like COD and PayPal) are integrated into the checkout flow to securely process transactions.