This feature is only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
The steps and images in this article apply to Lightspeed Retail accounts created before November 1, 2019. For accounts created on or after November 1, please visit our Lightspeed eCom (E) article here.
Lightspeed & BigCommerce: eCommerce Integration
Sell items online to increase your customer base, market your brand, and grow your business. Lightspeed Retail offers the ability integrate with BigCommerce so you can create your own webstore. You will need either your automatically generated BigCommerce account (from within BackOffice) or an existing BigCommerce account. You will also receive an email that confirms your subscription and provides instructions on setting up your web store.
Check out our BigCommerce Integration Setup video below!
Table of Contents
What is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform that offers a customizable online shopping experience, engaging webstore designs, and responsive templates to elevate mobile online shopping experiences for your customers. Take advantage of the powerful marketing and conversion tools offered by BigCommerce to quickly increase your business’ growth.
Add BigCommerce Integration
If BigCommerce integration is not part of your current pricing package, follow the steps below to upgrade to a package that includes this feature.
If your current package includes BigCommerce integration, follow the steps here to link Lightspeed and BigCommerce.
Sign into BackOffice as the Business Owner or as an employee with the 'Manage Account' and the 'Manage eCommerce Integration' permissions.
Learn more about customizable BackOffice access here.
Follow the prompts to upgrade to a pricing package that includes BigCommerce integration.
Wait for an email from Lightspeed with information about your new BigCommerce account, then follow the steps to link Lightspeed and BigCommerce.
Link Lightspeed and BigCommerce
In order to link your Lightspeed Retail inventory to your online store, either set up a new BigCommerce account via the steps in your welcome email or sign into your existing BigCommerce account.
Follow the instructions in your email to set up a BigCommerce account.
If you have an existing BigCommerce account you’d prefer to use, skip to step 2.
This process is not instantaneous and can take 1 to 2 business days. You will receive an email that confirms your subscription and provides instructions on setting up your web store.
Follow the prompts to be taken to the BigCommerce Dashboard.
With your account connected, continue setting up by enabling your inventory items for online sale.
Receiving an error during installation? Our troubleshooting guide can help you sort out the problem.
Enable & Disable Items
Get started setting up your webstore by enabling items to sell online. Enabled items are Lightspeed Retail inventory items that are available for online sale while disabled items are only available for in-store sale. Follow along below to learn how to do this from BackOffice.
If you run into issues enabling items for online sale in Lightspeed Retail, visit our BigCommerce Troubleshooting article for assistance.
Synced Item Fields
Let’s take a look at Lightspeed Retail basic and variant information sent to BigCommerce and the e-commerce specific product information that’s only found in BigCommerce.
Lightspeed Retail Basic Item vs. BigCommerce Fields
Become familiar with which item fields are synced with BigCommerce. Only the Lightspeed Retail basic item fields listed below are synced with BigCommerce.
Name | This field is updated in BigCommerce whenever changes are made in Lightspeed Retail. Any updates to item name made in BigCommerce will not sync to Lightspeed Retail.
SKU | This Lightspeed Retail generated number is synced with BigCommerce upon enabling an item’s online sale status. It cannot be changed in BackOffice or BigCommerce.
UPC | This number is synced with BigCommerce when an item is enabled in Lightspeed Retail. Any updates to item UPC made in BigCommerce will not sync to Lightspeed Retail.
Track Inventory | Information is synced with BigCommerce when an item is enabled. Any updates to Track Inventory made in BigCommerce will not sync to Lightspeed Retail.
Quantity | The inventory level is synced with BigCommerce when an item is enabled for online sale. This value updates in BackOffice and BigCommerce when the inventory is sold on either end and when there is a manual adjustment in Lightspeed Retail. Any adjustments to item quantity in BigCommerce will not sync in Lightspeed Retail.
Cost | This value is synced with BigCommerce and updated as inventory is received in BackOffice. Any updates to item cost made in Lightspeed Retail will update the item’s cost in BigCommerce.
Price | This number is created in BigCommerce when an item is enabled in BackOffice. Any updates to item price made in Lightspeed Retail will update the item’s price in BigCommerce.
Inventory Level | This value is created in BigCommerce when an item is enabled in BackOffice. It updates in BackOffice and BigCommerce when the inventory is sold or changes are made on either end and when there is a manual adjustment in Lightspeed Retail. Manual adjustments made in BigCommerce are not synced with Lightspeed Retail.
Item Availability | This field is created and updated in BigCommerce when an item enabled and sold in Lightspeed Retail. Adjustments made in BigCommerce are not synced with Lightspeed Retail.
BigCommerce Options & SKUs (Items with Variants)
These fields correspond with BigCommerce Options and Lightspeed Retail items with variants. Only Lightspeed Retail variant item fields listed below will sync with BigCommerce.
Option Values & Labels | This value is created in BigCommerce when an item with variants is enabled. Updates to the name made in BigCommerce will not sync to Lightspeed Retail. Any updates to the name made in Lightspeed Retail will update the item’s name in BigCommerce.
SKU | This number is created in BigCommerce when an item with variants is enabled for online sale. It cannot be changed in BackOffice or BigCommerce.
Price | This number is created in BigCommerce when an item is enabled in BackOffice. Any updates to item price made in Lightspeed Retail will update the item’s cost in BigCommerce.
Cost | This value is synced with BigCommerce and updated as inventory is received in BackOffice. Any updates to item cost made in Lightspeed Retail will update the item’s cost in BigCommerce.
UPC | This number is synced with BigCommerce when an item is enabled in Lightspeed Retail. Any updates to item UPC made in BigCommerce will not sync to Lightspeed Retail.
Inventory Level | This value is created in BigCommerce when an item is enabled in BackOffice. It updates in BackOffice and BigCommerce when the inventory is sold or changes are made on either end and when there is a manual adjustment in Lightspeed Retail. Manual adjustments made in BigCommerce are not synced with Lightspeed Retail.
BigCommerce Categories
Now that you’ve enabled items for online sale and are familiar with the item fields in Lightspeed and BigCommerce, categorize your items in BigCommerce for easy webstore navigation.
Categories in BigCommerce are not the same as categories in Lightspeed Retail. Lightspeed Retail categories are used for inventory organization while BigCommerce categories are used to manage the navigation of your webstore.
For Example:
BigCommerce categories for a retail webstore could be: “Women’s Fashion”, “Men’s Fashion”, and “Children’s Apparel”. In BigCommerce, add items to categories like these so your inventory stays organized for customers.
Create Categories In BigCommerce
Click 'Products' from the Dashboard and choose 'Product Categories'.
Once a connection is created between Lightspeed Retail and BigCommerce, a hidden category called “Imported from ShopKeep” is automatically created to ensure products are not immediately visible to shoppers but available for setup in BigCommerce.
Your online store is automatically set to private and isn’t visible to customers until it’s been launched. Set up payment processing for online payments, make items visible, and complete the remaining steps on the BigCommerce Store Launch Guide to launch your online webstore.
Set Up Payment Processing
To accept online payments, integrate your existing ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account, set up a new ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account, or select a compatible payment gateway offered through BigCommerce.
ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed for Online & POS Sales
Enable your existing ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account to accept online payments from BigCommerce or sign-up for ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed for a seamless payments experience.
Contact us with a request to enable your existing ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account for online payments or to sign up for a new account.
To enable your existing ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account, please contact Customer Care.
To sign up for a new ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed account, contact us. Select eligible merchants may see a landing page directly in their BackOffice.
Once your account is approved for online processing and/or you have requested activation in step 1, you will receive an email within 1-2 business days with steps to complete activation.
Click the link to the gateway from your email or click here.
Log in to the gateway using the username and temporary password from the email.
Click the ‘Administration’ tab, then the ‘Terminals’ tab.
Click to Enlarge
This will need to be entered into BigCommerce’s payment settings in step 12 as the ‘Gateway Password’. After the password is generated, it is permanently hidden.
Follow BigCommerce’s guide to configure your BigCommerce store to the gateway.
Accepting online payments with ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed is possible via the Clover/Payeezy Gateway at no additional cost. BigCommerce subscription costs will apply as online sales volume increases; these fees will apply directly to your Lightspeed Retail account in addition to your normal subscription payment.
If you’d like to process online payments through a provider other than ShopKeep Payments by Lightspeed, you’ll be processing online transactions separate from your iPad Register transactions. Visit BigCommerce’s Online Payment Methods article to learn more.
After setting up processing for online payments with BigCommerce, make items visible in BigCommerce and launch your webstore. Follow along below to learn more.
Make Items Visible
Visible items in your webstore are searchable and available for online purchase.
From the BigCommerce dashboard, click 'Products', then 'View'.
Click the eye icon to change an item's visibility.
When the icon is orange it is not visible to customers. A grey eye indicates that it is visible.
Now that you've launched your store, items are searchable and you're open for online business.
To upgrade to enable additional webstore functionality, such as inventory filtering, the ability for customers to store credit cards, and custom SSL certificates, log into the BigCommerce Dashboard. Visit BigCommerce Support for help upgrading.
FAQ
Continue below for answers to some common questions about BigCommerce integration.
Can more than one Lightspeed Retail location sync to the same BigCommerce store?
Only one Lightspeed Retail location can connect to your BigCommerce account at any time.
Is a BigCommerce category the same as a Lightspeed Retail category?
No. Categories in BigCommerce are used to setup and configure your eCommerce store navigation. Click here to learn more about BigCommerce Categories. Lightspeed Retail categories are used for organizational and reporting purposes. Learn more about them here.
What is the ‘Imported from ShopKeep’ category in BigCommerce?
The Imported from ShopKeep category is a hidden category. This ensures that Lightspeed Retail exported items are not automatically visible to your online customers until you are ready to make them visible in BigCommerce.
When I enable an item to be available online, what data is exported from Lightspeed to BigCommerce?
Item details such as item name, variant options, variant items, cost, price, and quantity are exported from Lightspeed Retail and synced with BigCommerce.
If I edit item details in BigCommerce will those item details be updated in Lightspeed Retail?
No, they will not. If you update an item in BigCommerce, be sure to manually update it in BackOffice to avoid any inventory discrepancies.
When I sell an item online will the item’s quantity be updated in Lightspeed Retail?
Yes, that item’s quantity on hand will be updated in BackOffice if sold in BigCommerce.
When I sell an item in Lightspeed Retail will the item’s quantity be updated in BigCommerce?
Yes, if an item is sold in Lightspeed Retail, that item’s quantity on hand will be updated in BigCommerce.
When I disable an item in Lightspeed Retail to be unavailable online, is the item deleted on BigCommerce?
No, the item is set to hidden and will become available again when you decide to re-enable it in BackOffice.
Can I enable both basic items and items with variants to be available in BigCommerce?
Yes, all inventory items, whether basic or with variants, can be enabled to sync with BigCommerce.
Where can I see my item variants in BigCommerce?
Variant options are located within the product’s ‘Options and SKUs‘ tab on the BigCommerce item view screen. Click the name of any item in your product list to view the different item tabs.
Can my webstore customers pay with Lightspeed’s Integrated Gift Cards?
No, Integrated Gift Cards cannot be accepted as payment for online purchases.
Are there additional features I can add to my online store?
Yes. Log into the BigCommerce Dashboard to upgrade to enable additional functionality, such as the ability for customers to store a credit card, inventory filtering, and custom SSL certificates. Visit BigCommerce Support for help upgrading.
