Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a platform for multivendor marketplace portal. The present invention deals with helping the buyer in selecting a product from a catalogue of products available from multiple vendors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional single-seller e-commerce models, the platform owner is solely responsible for managing all aspects of the business, including inventory, order fulfilment, pricing, and customer service. This centralized approach limits the variety of products available to consumers and restricts opportunities for other sellers to participate in the marketplace. As a result, growth becomes more challenging and dependent on the resources and capabilities of a single entity. Moreover, traditional single-seller platforms often struggle with scalability. Expanding product lines and services requires significant investments in infrastructure, logistics, and personnel, which may not be sustainable or efficient. These platforms also tend to lack adaptability to diverse market demands and offer limited customization for buyers or potential business collaborators.
The present invention addresses these shortcomings by enabling multiple independent vendors to register on a single platform.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a scalable multivendor marketplace portal enabling multiple independent sellers to manage their own storefronts within a single platform.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to enhance the consumer experience by offering a wide variety of products and competitive pricing.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a platform for multivendor marketplace portal. The platform includes an ecommerce cloud server, an admin device, a vendor device and an end user device. The ecommerce cloud server deploys the computer readable instructions which is created by admin and used by admin, vendor and user. The ecommerce cloud server includes an ecommerce cloud database and an ecommerce cloud server processor. The ecommerce cloud database stores the computer readable instructions, credentials of user and vendor and information about products of vendors. The ecommerce cloud server processor executes the computer readable instructions and carry out all the functions of the platform. The admin device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the admin to manage all the functioning of the platform. The admin device includes an admin database and an admin device processor. The admin database stores the computer readable instructions and has all the data required by the admin to effectively manage the platform like information related to users, vendors, products sold by vendors. The admin device processor runs computer readable instructions to perform functions of the admin. The vendor device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the vendor to manage and sell their product. The vendor device includes a vendor database and a vendor device processor. The vendor database stores the computer readable instructions, products sold by the vendor, shipment details of the products, categories and attributes of the products. The vendor device processor runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for the vendor and enable the vendor to manage the shipping and delivery of the products. The end user device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the user to browse and buy products sold by the vendors. The end user device includes an end user database and an end user processor. The end user database stores the computer readable instructions, the user addresses, user payment details, products added to cart by user, products bought by user and shipment details of the products. The end user processor runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for user and help the user in browsing the product the user wishes for. The admin is responsible to totally manage platform through the backend and front-end. The admin can add or edit or delete vendors, manage users, product categories, products, offers and feedbacks. The platform list the products from multiple independent vendors in the common product catalogue and enable the users to shop for them at a single web store with the products supplied by hundreds of different vendors from all over the world.
The main advantage of the present invention is that the present invention enables multiple independent vendors to sell products on a single, unified platform, increasing product variety and choice for consumers.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention improves customer experience by offering competitive pricing, diverse products, and faster order fulfilment.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification to provide a further understanding of the invention. The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Fig.1 illustrates a block diagram of the overview of the invention.
Fig.2 illustrates a flow chart showing process of becoming a vendor.
Fig.3 illustrates a flow chart showing process of addition and update in products by the vendor.
Fig.4 illustrates a flow chart showing process of order lifecycle.
Fig.5 illustrates a flow chart showing process of transactions between user, admin and vendor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definition
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two as or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting of” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended. The term “comprising” is used interchangeably used by the terms “having” or “containing”.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, and “yet another embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics are combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
As used herein, the term "one or more" generally refers to, but not limited to, singular as well as the plural form of the term.
The drawings featured in the figures are to illustrate certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as a limitation to that. The term "means" preceding a present participle of an operation indicates the desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term "means" is not intended to be limiting.
Fig.1 illustrates a block diagram of a platform (100) for multivendor marketplace portal. The platform (100) includes an ecommerce cloud server (120), an admin device (102), a vendor device (108) and an end user device (114). The ecommerce cloud server (120) includes an ecommerce cloud database (122) and an ecommerce cloud server processor (124). The admin device (102) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120). The admin device (102) includes an admin database (104) and an admin device processor (106). The vendor device (108) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120). The vendor device (108) includes a vendor database (110) and a vendor device processor (112). The end user device (114) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120). The end user device (114) includes an end user database (116) and an end user processor (118).
Fig.2 illustrates a flow chart showing process of becoming a vendor. The vendor submits his application to the admin to be able to become a vendor and sell product on the platform (100) created and owned by admin. The admin applies some moderation to the application of vendor and products requested by the vendor to sell on the platform (100) of admin. If admin approves the application of vendor then an account panel and a resource panel is created for the vendor by the admin on the platform (100) to enable the vendor to sell his products on the platform (100).

Fig.3 illustrates a flow chart showing process of addition and update in products by the vendor. The vendor performs addition or an update to the products listed by the vendor on the platform (100). If any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor does not require admin approval then the product added or updated automatically goes live on the platform (100) and if any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor requires admin approval then only after moderation performed by the admin to the product and product approved by the admin can the product go live on the platform (100).
Fig.4 illustrates a flow chart showing process of order lifecycle. The user selects the desired product after browsing from the catalogue of products using the end user device (114). The user adds the desired product to the cart and places the order request. The admin approves the order request placed by the user using the admin device (102) and calculates the commission according to the product selected by the user. The vendor places the order requested by the user and approved by the vendor using the vendor device (108). If the vendor has the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor generates the invoice of the order placed. If the vendor does not have the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor requests the admin to generate the invoice of the product after which the admin generates the invoice for the product. After the invoice has been generated the vendor is required to ship the product whose order has been placed for which the vendor requires the admin approval. If admin approves the shipment by the vendor then the vendor generates the shipment of the product to complete the order and deliver the product to the user. If admin disapproves the shipment by the vendor then the admin generates the shipment of the product after which the order is completed and the product is successfully delivered to the user.
Fig.5 illustrates a flow chart showing process of transactions between user, admin and vendor. The vendor provides beneficiary details and the preferred payment options in both offline and online mode to the admin. The admin initiates the transaction using the admin device (102). If the order has not been completed the transaction is stopped by the admin. If the order has been completed the admin proceeds to pay the vendor. The vendor virtual account is managed by the admin using the admin device (102) where the admin can list the transactions, view the transactions, export the transactions or view the earned amount. If the order is not refunded the transaction process is completed. If the order is refunded the admin can debit the payment amount given to the vendor previously for completing the order by managing the vendor virtual account using the admin device (102).
The present invention relates to a platform for multivendor marketplace portal. The platform includes an ecommerce cloud server, an admin device, a vendor device and an end user device. In an embodiment, the platform supports easy navigation, multilingual support, multiple payment options, multicurrency support and easy checkout. The ecommerce cloud server deploys the computer readable instructions which is created by admin and used by admin, vendor and user. The ecommerce cloud server includes an ecommerce cloud database and an ecommerce cloud server processor. The ecommerce cloud database stores the computer readable instructions, credentials of user and vendor and information about products of vendors. The ecommerce cloud server processor executes the computer readable instructions and carries out all the functions of the platform. The admin device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the admin to manage all the functioning of the platform. The admin device includes an admin database and an admin device processor. The admin database stores the computer readable instructions and has all the data required by the admin to effectively manage the platform like information related to users, vendors, products sold by vendors. The admin device processor runs computer readable instructions to perform functions of the admin. The vendor device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the vendor to manage and sell their product. The vendor device includes a vendor database and a vendor device processor. The vendor database stores the computer readable instructions, products sold by the vendor, shipment details of the products, categories and attributes of the products. The vendor device processor runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for the vendor and enable the vendor to manage the shipping and delivery of the products. The end user device which is connected to the ecommerce cloud server is used by the user to browse and buy products sold by the vendors. The end user device includes an end user database and an end user processor. The end user database stores the computer readable instructions, the user addresses, user payment details, products added to cart by user, products bought by user and shipment details of the products. The end user processor runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for user and help the user in browsing the product the user wishes for. The admin is responsible to totally manage platform through the backend and front-end. The admin can add or edit or delete vendors, manage users, product categories, products, offers and feedbacks. The platform list the products from multiple independent vendors in the common product catalogue and enable the users to shop for them at a single web store with the products supplied by hundreds of different vendors from all over the world.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for multivendor marketplace portal by using the platform, the method includes:
the vendor requests admin to feature the product of the vendor on the platform created and owned by the admin;
the admin may reject or accept the request from the vendor;
upon accepting the request of the vendor, the product of the vendor gets featured on the platform and is visible to the user who is looking to buy the product from the vendor;
the user selects a particular product from a catalogue of products and completes the payment of the product through the selected payment option and receives the product from the vendor after the shipment is generated.
In an embodiment a method for vendor registration process by using the platform, the method includes:
the vendor submits his application to the admin to be able to become a vendor and sell product on the platform created and owned by admin;
the admin applies some moderation to the application of vendor and products requested by the vendor to sell on the platform of admin;
if admin approves the application of vendor then an account panel and a resource panel is created for the vendor by the admin on the platform to enable the vendor to sell his products on the platform;
the account panel is accessible by the vendor using the vendor device which the vendor can access to manage their profile, products, sales, reports, settings and many more according to their group settings and membership plans; and
the resource panel of the vendor is accessible by the vendor using the vendor device which the vendor can access to view a snapshot of their total pending amount, total earned amount, total orders placed, total products sold, sales analytics, products status and latest orders.
In an embodiment, the admin enables the auto approval option for the vendor in which case every new vendor will get approved automatically but admin has the authority to disapprove a vendor at any time using the admin device and the admin has the authority to provide permissions of different modules to vendors.
In an embodiment, a method for management of catalogue of products by using the platform, the method includes:
the vendor performs addition or an update to the products listed by the vendor on the platform;
if any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor does not require admin approval then the product added or updated automatically goes live on the platform; and
if any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor requires admin approval then only after moderation performed by the admin to the product and product approved by the admin can the product go live on the platform.
In an embodiment, vendors add or edit or list or delete product's attributes, add or edit or list or delete products, order or view or cancel shipment for their products, add their bank detail and also view the commission and statistics of sales, rating and review for their products, every approved vendor has an account panel to manage their profile, products, sales, reports, settings and many more according to their group settings and membership plans, the vendor adds or updates the product only after the permission of the admin, the vendor has the ability to create all the types of products from the vendor device which are all the types of products that the admin can create from the admin device, the vendor creates an attribute from the vendor device from the attribute set provided to him by the admin for the products that the vendor wants to sell, vendor can assign the products to the available categories created by the store admin through which way the products of vendor will get listed according to the categories available in the platform.
In an embodiment, the admin can add or edit or block or unblock the user, seller and any category or sub-category of products, can add discounts to the products being sold by the vendor and manage blogs on the front end of the platform, can view and manage orders placed in the portal by getting notified via auto email features when any user places an order.
In an embodiment, a method for placing an order on the platform by using the platform, the method includes:
the user selects the desired product after browsing from the catalogue of products using the end user device;
the user adds the desired product to the cart and places the order request;
the admin approves the order request placed by the user using the admin device and calculates the commission according to the product selected by the user;
the vendor places the order requested by the user and approved by the vendor using the vendor device;
if the vendor has the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor generates the invoice of the order placed;
if the vendor does not have the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor requests the admin to generate the invoice of the product after which the admin generates the invoice for the product;
after the invoice has been generated the vendor is required to ship the product whose order has been placed for which the vendor requires the admin approval;
if admin approves the shipment by the vendor then the vendor generates the shipment of the product to complete the order and deliver the product to the user; and
if admin disapproves the shipment by the vendor then the admin generates the shipment of the product after which the order is completed and the product is successfully delivered to the user.
In an embodiment, a method for performing transaction on the platform by using the platform, the method includes:
the vendor provides beneficiary details and the preferred payment options in both offline and online mode to the admin;
the admin initiates the transaction using the admin device;
if the order has not been completed the transaction is stopped by the admin;
if the order has been completed the admin proceeds to pay the vendor;
the vendor virtual account is managed by the admin using the admin device where the admin can list the transactions, view the transactions, export the transactions or view the earned amount;
if the order is not refunded the transaction process is completed; and
if the order is refunded the admin can debit the payment amount given to the vendor previously for completing the order by managing the vendor virtual account using the admin device.
In an embodiment, the payment made by the user for the purchased product goes directly to the admin and the admin further provides the sellers with their payments, the admin performs payment to each vendor at a time or can select all the orders of a particular vendor and for pay for them at once and the admin deducts the commission of vendor and pay the remaining amount to the vendor.
, Claims:I/WE CLAIM
1. A platform (100) for multivendor marketplace portal, the platform (100) comprising:
an ecommerce cloud server (120), the ecommerce cloud server (120) deploys the computer readable instructions which is created by admin and used by admin, vendor and user, the ecommerce cloud server (120) having
an ecommerce cloud database (122), the ecommerce cloud database (122) stores the computer readable instructions, credentials of user and vendor, information about products of vendors, and
an ecommerce cloud server processor (124), the ecommerce cloud server processor (124) executes the computer readable instructions and carry out all the functions of the platform (100);
an admin device (102), the admin device (102) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120), the admin device (102) is used by the admin to manage all the functioning of the platform (100), the admin device (102) having
an admin database (104), the admin database (104) stores the computer readable instructions and has all the data required by the admin to effectively manage the platform (100) like information related to users, vendors, products sold by vendors, and
an admin device processor (106), the admin device processor (106) runs computer readable instructions to perform functions of the admin;
a vendor device (108), the vendor device (108) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120), the vendor device (108) is used by the vendor to manage and sell their product, the vendor device (108) having
a vendor database (110), the vendor database (110) stores the computer readable instructions, products sold by the vendor, shipment details of the products, categories and attributes of the products, and
a vendor device processor (112), the vendor device processor (112) runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for the vendor and enable the vendor to manage the shipping and delivery of the products;
an end user device (114), the end user device (114) is connected to the ecommerce cloud server (120), the end user device (114) is used by the user to browse and buy products sold by the vendors, the end user device (114) having
an end user database (116), the end user database (116) stores the computer readable instructions, the user addresses, user payment details, products added to cart by user, products bought by user, shipment details of the products, and
an end user processor (118), the end user processor (118) runs computer readable instructions to perform transactions for user and help the user in browsing the product the user wishes for;
wherein, the admin is responsible to totally manage platform (100) through the backend and front-end;
wherein, the admin can add or edit or delete vendors, manage users, product categories, products, offers and feedbacks;
characterize in that, the platform (100) list the products from multiple independent vendors in the common product catalogue and enable the users to shop for them at a single web store with the products supplied by hundreds of different vendors from all over the world.
2. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform (100) supports easy navigation, multilingual support, multiple payment options, multicurrency support and easy checkout.
3. A method for multivendor marketplace portal by using the platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising:
the vendor requests admin to feature the product of the vendor on the platform (100) created and owned by the admin;
the admin may reject or accept the request from the vendor;
upon accepting the request of the vendor, the product of the vendor gets featured on the platform (100) and is visible to the user who is looking to buy the product from the vendor; and
the user selects a particular product from a catalogue of products and completes the payment of the product through the selected payment option and receives the product from the vendor after the shipment is generated;
wherein the payment made by the user for the purchased product goes directly to the admin and the admin further provides the sellers with their payments, the admin performs payment to each vendor at a time or can select all the orders of a particular vendor and for pay for them at once and the admin deducts the commission of vendor and pay the remaining amount to the vendor.
4. A method for vendor registration process by using the platform (100) as claimed in claim 3, the method comprising:
the vendor submits his application to the admin to be able to become a vendor and sell product on the platform (100) created and owned by admin;
the admin applies some moderation to the application of vendor and products requested by the vendor to sell on the platform (100) of admin;
if admin approves the application of vendor then an account panel and a resource panel is created for the vendor by the admin on the platform (100) to enable the vendor to sell his products on the platform (100);
the account panel is accessible by the vendor using the vendor device (108) which the vendor can access to manage their profile, products, sales, reports, settings and many more according to their group settings and membership plans; and
the resource panel of the vendor is accessible by the vendor using the vendor device (108) which the vendor can access to view a snapshot of their total pending amount, total earned amount, total orders placed, total products sold, sales analytics, products status and latest orders.
5. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the admin can also enable the auto approval option for the vendor in which case every new vendor will get approved automatically but admin has the authority to disapprove a vendor at any time using the admin device (102) and the admin has the authority to provide permissions of different modules to vendors.
6. A method for management of catalogue of products by using the platform (100) as claimed in claim 3, the method comprising:
the vendor performs addition or an update to the products listed by the vendor on the platform (100);
if any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor does not require admin approval then the product added or updated automatically goes live on the platform (100); and
if any product added by the vendor or updated by the vendor requires admin approval then only after moderation performed by the admin to the product and product approved by the admin can the product go live on the platform (100).
7. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein vendors add or edit or list or delete product's attributes, add or edit or list or delete products, order or view or cancel shipment for their products, add their bank detail and also view the commission and statistics of sales, rating and review for their products, every approved vendor has an account panel to manage their profile, products, sales, reports, settings and many more according to their group settings and membership plans, the vendor adds or updates the product only after the permission of the admin, the vendor has the ability to create all the types of products from the vendor device (108) which are all the types of products that the admin can create from the admin device (102), the vendor creates an attribute from the vendor device (108) from the attribute set provided to him by the admin for the products that the vendor wants to sell, vendor can assign the products to the available categories created by the store admin through which way the products of vendor will get listed according to the categories available in the platform (100).
8. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the admin can add or edit or block or unblock the user, seller and any category or sub-category of products, can add discounts to the products being sold by the vendor and manage blogs on the front end of the platform (100), can view and manage orders placed in the portal by getting notified via auto email features when any user places an order.
9. A method for placing an order on the platform (100) by using the platform (100) as claimed in claim 3, the method comprising:
the user selects the desired product after browsing from the catalogue of products using the end user device (114);
the user adds the desired product to the cart and places the order request;
the admin approves the order request placed by the user using the admin device (102) and calculates the commission according to the product selected by the user;
the vendor places the order requested by the user and approved by the vendor using the vendor device (108);
if the vendor has the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor generates the invoice of the order placed;
if the vendor does not have the permission to generate the invoice for the product then the vendor requests the admin to generate the invoice of the product after which the admin generates the invoice for the product;
after the invoice has been generated the vendor is required to ship the product whose order has been placed for which the vendor requires the admin approval;
if admin approves the shipment by the vendor then the vendor generates the shipment of the product to complete the order and deliver the product to the user; and
if admin disapproves the shipment by the vendor then the admin generates the shipment of the product after which the order is completed and the product is successfully delivered to the user.
10. A method for performing transaction on the platform (100) by using the platform (100) as claimed in claim 3, the method comprising:
the vendor provides beneficiary details and the preferred payment options in both offline and online mode to the admin;
the admin initiates the transaction using the admin device (102);
if the order has not been completed the transaction is stopped by the admin;
if the order has been completed the admin proceeds to pay the vendor;
the vendor virtual account is managed by the admin using the admin device (102) where the admin can list the transactions, view the transactions, export the transactions or view the earned amount;
if the order is not refunded the transaction process is completed; and
if the order is refunded the admin can debit the payment amount given to the vendor previously for completing the order by managing the vendor virtual account using the admin device (102).