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The Backbone of Modern Trade

Understanding the concept of a webshop.

A webshop is an online platform that allows for the sale of products or services. Customers can browse the selection without being physically present, compare items, and place orders. A well-functioning webshop provides clear categories, detailed descriptions, images, prices, and secure payment options. It often includes customer support, shipping information, and return policies to ensure a seamless shopping experience. Today, webshops not only serve as alternatives to physical stores but also play a crucial role in self-service business models.

Why you should consider starting an online store?

A webshop offers the opportunity to present your products or services to a broader audience without geographical limits. An online presence boosts sales, ensures flexible operations, and typically comes with lower maintenance costs than running a physical store.

What features matter in a modern webshop?

A modern webshop starts with an easy-to-use interface: responsive design, fast search and filtering, and detailed product pages with images and reviews. To drive conversions, offer multiple payment methods (card, Apple Pay/Google Pay, BNPL), fast/guest checkout, transparent shipping and returns, and strong security. For growth, add SEO, analytics, marketing automation, inventory and pricing sync with ERP/CRM, and a built-in customer support chat.

Webshop Integrations for Flexium ERP

Webshop formats we support

Flexium’s webshop integration makes it easy for businesses to connect with a wide range of webshops. While Flexium doesn’t build webshops itself, it integrates with them extremely flexibly and efficiently.

✔ Unas integration: Full, stable API connection to UNAS. Development is complete and already live in production.

✔ Broad compatibility: Flexium ERP can connect to custom-built webshops as well as platforms like UNAS and OpenCart.

✔ Integrate your existing webshop: No need to replace what you have—custom development can link your current store to Flexium.

✔ Manage multiple webshops: Run several webshops independently, each with its own menu structure and product categories.

✔ Separate brands and product groups: Create distinct webshops by brand or business unit, all managed centrally in the ERP.

From a system perspective, the technical implementation of the integration is critical. An API connection enables scheduled or real-time synchronization and data exchange between the webshop and the ERP. The integration approach is heavily shaped by industry specifics—what the webshop is expected to handle and which data must be aligned between the two platforms.

✔ Two-way communication: The webshop and the ERP continuously exchange data. The ERP sends products, prices, partners and addresses; the webshop returns orders, quote requests, and contact details.

✔Industry-specific operation support:Some industries don’t allow immediate purchases in the webshop—only quote requests. Flexium provides the appropriate synchronization for these cases.

✔ Multiple webshops, complex pricing: If a company runs several webshops, Flexium can handle overlaps, different prices, and display rules—each webshop can be configured separately.

Key data flows in the integration:

  • Master data
  • Inventory information
  • Orders

Data between the ERP and the webshop is refreshed at scheduled intervals (e.g., every 5, 10, or 15 minutes). Only changes are sent (delta updates)—if just 30 items’ stock changed in the last quarter hour, only those are pushed.

Each night a full refresh runs to reconcile any issues or discrepancies (e.g., deactivated items, stocktakes, stock zeroing), keeping the webshop fully aligned with the ERP and maintaining data integrity.

In B2C webshops the default expectation is a fully automated, user-friendly buying experience with a well-structured product range. Flexium ERP supports this model by automating order, payment, and shipping processing; enabling multiple webshops to run in parallel with different structures; and showing stock by store or warehouse—all managed from a central system.

✔ Automatic ordering and payment: end-to-end processing of orders, payments, and shipping data without human intervention.

✔ Multiple webshops for different target groups: launch separate stores (e.g., paper products vs. cleaning supplies) with different domains and structures, managed together in Flexium.

✔ Centralized data, business-unit operation: products live in a central master, while each webshop has its own structure and assortment.

✔ Location-based stock visibility: display whether an item is available in a specific store or warehouse—especially useful for B2C buyers.

B2B webshops are far more complex than B2C. Buyers usually know exactly what they need, often order by SKU, and frequently purchase large quantities or entire assortments. Prices aren’t uniform: they can vary by customer, be tied to price lists, tiers, or discount schemes, and in some cases depend on daily or exchange rates. Sometimes direct ordering isn’t available—only quote requests. Flexium ERP supports all these needs, with a storefront that is tailored, clean, and function-oriented.

SKU-based, high-volume ordering: partners often place large or full-assortment orders by item number.

Flexible, customer-specific pricing: different prices, price lists, and discounts—up to daily or FX-linked pricing.

Quote request when ordering isn’t possible: if pricing is too complex, the webshop enables RFQs instead of direct checkout.

Partner-specific content: each partner sees only the products, prices, and terms relevant to them.

Function over flash: the goal is fast, precise ordering and efficient customer service, not visual effects.

One ERP, Multiple Front Ends

It’s important to note that while B2B and B2C webshops require different design approaches and functionalities, the same ERP system operates in the background. Different webshop types display the same product inventory and prices, but may present them differently. B2B webshops often require a login and are mainly used for quotation requests, while B2C webshops can typically be used without logging in, offering a fully automated, fast, and user-friendly purchasing process.

Content data (e.g., categories, attributes, images, SEO metadata) can originate from:

  • Flexium, if the product master data is synchronized together with these elements,

  • or directly from the webshop, if only the core product data is transferred from the ERP side.

In general, much of the master data originates from the Flexium ERP system, but the extent of data flow depends on the specific implementation. Some clients request that all product records, including every detail, be managed exclusively in Flexium, and the webshop is built from that data.

In other cases, companies choose to keep only the logistics and order management–related data in Flexium—such as units of measure, prices, shipping terms, and weights. Everything else—like product descriptions, categorizations, and images—is stored and maintained within the webshop system. This approach can be beneficial when a single, standalone webshop is in place and central ERP data synchronization is unnecessary.

Master data management follows different logic for each model. For B2B webshops, the ERP contains real customer partners along with their data and contract discounts. For B2C webshops, however, every new buyer is treated as a unique customer, and due to GDPR compliance, they are not stored as real ERP partners.

The Flexium system includes a dedicated, webshop-specific product master designed for purposes different from the traditional item master. While the standard product master covers production, inventory, logistics, and accounting needs, the web product master is specifically tailored for online sales requirements.

In the webshop, a single product—such as a pair of shoes—may have multiple size and color variations. These appear in the ERP as separate item codes, but in the webshop, they are displayed under one product with selectable options (e.g., size, color). Each variation in Flexium is a unique, stock-tracked item that connects to a shared “web product” for display online.

To ensure that logistics and controlling reports (built on the standard item module) reflect accurate data—such as product locations and online categories—the system links webshop data back to the ERP items. This guarantees that logistics, financial, and operational reports are fully synchronized with the webshop view, providing a complete picture of each product’s status.

Flexium can supply inventory data to the webshop—whether shown as exact quantities, statuses, or visual indicators. The solution adapts flexibly to unique business and communication needs.

ERP-provided support:

  • inventory data management
  • site- and warehouse-level stock information
  • coupon system
  • loyalty customer identification

Future Goals

Targeting ShopRenter & Shopify Integration

Our next step is integrating ShopRenter and Shopify, opening the door to standard webshop platforms. Initial discussions are underway, and the current API implementation already provides a stable foundation for projects. As new versions roll out, the aim is to evolve the Flexium ERP–ShopRenter/Shopify connection into a full-featured, reliable integration.

Flexium - SomaCRM Partnership

Flexium
soma webpage

Why Choose SomaWeb Over a Custom Webshop?

One of the biggest advantages of using SomaWeb is that the integration between Flexium ERP and SomaWeb is already pre-developed. Technical specifications, synchronization processes, and practical know-how have already been established, significantly reducing project risks and implementation time. On the Flexium development side, the necessary expertise and methodology are already in place, proven through previous successful CRM integrations.

No One-Size-Fits-All: Webshop Integrations with SomaWeb

Although SomaWeb projects have a ready technical foundation, every webshop integration is unique: master data handling, pricing structure, registration flow, inventory management, and even partner management can differ. For each new webshop, we create a separate specification and carry out dedicated integration development—even when the core technology is the same.

Orders are received in JSON format, in a consistent structure as if they were entered manually in the system. This allows the ERP to process webshop orders just like internal entries.

SomaWeb

soma webpage
Flexium ökoszisztéma SomaWEB webshop

Why We Recommend SomaWeb

For projects where clients need a fully custom webshop, Flexium recommends SomaWeb.
SomaWeb offers an OpenCart-based webshop platform that has been localized for Hungary. This makes it easy to integrate banking web tools, courier services, and other functions into OpenCart, delivering solutions tailored to the Hungarian market.

Seamless Data and Order Integration

Through the integration between Flexium and SomaWeb, companies can achieve full functional connectivity. This means all corporate data—including customer data, contact details, retail and wholesale information, prices, and discounts—flows smoothly into the webshop system. In addition, with the fully automated ordering process, orders are automatically transferred from the Flexium system to the webshop.

Comprehensive Business Solutions with Flexium and SomaWeb

With SomaWeb’s extensive webshop expertise, integration with Flexium enables complex solutions where the webshop, CRM, and the Flexium ERP work in concert. This lets businesses manage online sales more efficiently and optimize processes, supporting growth and improving competitiveness in the digital market.

All-in-One Capabilities to Run Your Store Smoothly

SomaWeb offers a comprehensive feature set that delivers a complete solution. Built-in SEO support boosts online visibility with optimized meta descriptions, product URLs, and a search-friendly site structure—helping you achieve better positions on Google.

Scale Without Limits, Manage with Ease

The webshop can handle unlimited categories and products, so your catalog scales effortlessly as the business grows.
In the admin, it’s easy to manage tax rules, discounts, coupon codes, promotions, downloadable products, reward points, and customer reviews.

International Sales & Data Security Support

SomaWeb fully supports international sales: 40+ languages, virtually any currency, and automatic exchange-rate updates are available. Daily automated backups make data restoration simple at any time, helping ensure uninterrupted operation.

Focus on Increasing Sales

Everything you need to grow sales and manage your team.

  • Find your best prospects
  • Communicate with customers more effectively
  • Increase your team’s revenue
  • Make sales forecasts more accurate
SEO modules

Customers can only buy if they can find you. SomaWeb’s Automatic SEO Link Generator ensures your products appear with optimized URLs in Google results. The Automatic Search Box Autocomplete smooths the search experience, helping shoppers get faster, more accurate results in your webshop.

Modern Payment Methods

SomaWeb’s payment modules keep your store current with today’s most popular methods. Barion covers all OpenCart versions and supports multiple languages, making it convenient and ideal for international sales. The Bank Transfer (prepayment) module provides a simple, reliable option, while custom payment methods let you offer VIP customers special treatment.

Shipping Solutions

Successful online sales require fast, flexible logistics—SomaWeb delivers. The custom shipping module lets you offer different delivery options per customer group or even per customer. With the GLS label-printing and dispatch module, you can automate parcel hand-offs and save valuable time.

Other Add-on Modules

SomaWeb offers further modules to run your webshop even more precisely and efficiently. With the 7-in-1 Price List Generator, you can export your entire product range to price-comparison sites with a single click, increasing reach and visibility. The Short Description module lets you highlight the most persuasive, purchase-driving facts for each product in a dedicated section—making your offer more compelling.

The GDPR module ensures full compliance with data-protection rules. Beyond security, it builds buyer trust—responsible data handling is now essential.

Finally, the Measurement Units module adds multiple units (e.g., liter, meter, kilogram) to products. This supports accurate presentation and improves administrative efficiency while keeping the assortment transparent for customers.

Smart Modules for OpenCart

SomaWeb offers a wide range of free and paid modules to extend the functionality of OpenCart-based webshops. These modules support sales, administration, streamline payment and shipping, and help ensure regulatory compliance.

Founding of SOMA & Early Projects

SOMA was founded in 2005 as a sole proprietorship. In the early years, they built websites for various industries—such as staffing agencies, bakeries, and event organizers. In 2006, they also launched the online presence of a company focused on laptop retail and repair services.

Expansion & Technological Innovations

Starting in 2007, they built sites for arts projects, including a blog following a celebrity’s daily life. Over 2008–2014, the team delivered cultural center websites, introducing online voting systems and Facebook integration. The year 2009 saw online streaming solutions for a regional TV channel. By 2010, SOMA had become a limited company, which paved the way for additional web projects for DJs, record labels, and event organizers—complete with YouTube and music-player integrations.

Advancing Expertise and Specialization

Between 2011 and 2012 the team led web projects for market-leading software companies and provided professional consulting. From 2013 onward they shifted focus to developing “smart” websites and webshops aimed at boosting clients’ sales efficiency. Along the way they delivered multiple system integrations, expanding both their partner network and customer base.

Milestones

  • 2005: SOMA founded; first projects

  • 2007: Blogs and arts websites

  • 2008–2014: Cultural sites; Facebook integration 2009: Online streaming for a TV channel

  • 2013–2014: Development of smart webshops