A Beginner's Guide to Installing and Using the ​​ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote Plugin

Introduction

Whether you're a small business owner, an e-commerce enthusiast, or simply someone exploring the digital marketplace, understanding how to provide flexible pricing options is crucial. In the dynamic world of online business, fixed prices aren't always the best strategy. Sometimes, your customers may want a quote based on their specific needs, which could vary depending on the quantity, customizations, or the nature of the products or services.Enter the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin, a versatile tool that gives your WordPress-based online store the functionality to handle quote requests. This advanced plugin offers a variety of features, from allowing customers to add items to a quote basket and submitting it as a quote request, to giving administrators the power to manage these requests directly from the dashboard.This comprehensive guide is designed to help beginners understand how to install the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin and how to utilize its diverse features. We'll take a detailed look at how to implement this plugin on your WordPress site and the potential benefits it brings to your e-commerce venture.So, whether you're completely new to WordPress plugins or already have some experience under your belt, this article will provide you with a step-by-step, easy-to-follow guide to mastering the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin. Let's get started!

How to Install the Plugin on Your WordPress Site

Step 1: Download the PluginFirst, navigate to the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin page on the WooCommerce website. Click on the 'Add to Cart' button, proceed to checkout, and download the plugin.

Step 2: Install the PluginNow, let's move on to installing the plugin on your WordPress website.
Access your WordPress admin area.
Go to 'Plugins' and click on 'Add New'.
Choose 'Upload Plugin' and select the downloaded plugin file from your computer (it should be a .zip file).
Click 'Install Now'.

Step 3: Activate the PluginOnce the installation is complete, click 'Activate Plugin'. You can find this option under your 'Plugins' tab.

You have successfully installed and activated the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin on your WordPress site. Now let's dive into its features and see how they can be used.

Features and Their Use

Add 'Request a Quote' Option for All Products on Shop Page & Product Pages

This feature allows customers to request a quote directly from the product page. 
To enable this:
Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote', and select the 'General' tab.

Under 'Quote Settings', select 'All Users' or specify user roles for whom you want to enable this feature.

In 'Button Settings', select the checkbox next to 'Enable Quote Request'.

Modify the 'Button Label' if needed.

Save your changes.

Show the List of Selected Products & Request Form on Any Page

This feature gives you the flexibility to display a quote form and the list of selected products on any page of your choice. Here’s how to do it:
Navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Form'.

Here you can customize your quote form fields.

Once done, you can use the shortcode [elex_quote_form] to add the form to any page.

Give the choice to Customers for Choosing the Shopping Cart or to Request a Quote

This setting allows customers to choose between adding items to the cart or requesting a quote.
In the 'General' tab under 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote', you will find 'Button Settings'.

Select the checkbox for 'Enable Add to Cart Button', this will display both buttons to the customers.

Save your changes.

Enable Request a Quote Only for Specific Products & User Roles

You might want to enable the 'Request a Quote' feature for certain products or user roles only.
Navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Products' tab.

Here you can exclude or include products and also set the feature for specific user roles.

Save the changes.

Hide the Price on the Product, Shop, and Quote List Pages

This feature lets you hide the price of a product on different pages. This can be useful in cases where the final price may vary depending on the customer's request or when you don't want to disclose the price until the quote is final.
Go to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'General' tab.

In 'Price Settings', check 'Hide Price' and choose where you want to hide it.

Save your changes.

Based on Product Availability, Include or Exclude Products

This feature enables you to include or exclude products from the quote option based on their availability.
Navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Products'.

Choose either 'Include' or 'Exclude' based on your preference.

Enter the product names you wish to include or exclude in the provided field.

Save your changes.

Add a Minicart

The mini cart feature provides an easy way for your customers to review what products they have requested a quote for.
Go to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'General'.

Check the 'Enable Mini Quote Cart' box.

Save your changes.

Accept, Deny or Modify Customer's Quotes

Once a customer sends a quote request, you have the ability to accept, deny or modify it.
You can see all quote requests in 'WooCommerce' > 'Quotes'.

Click on a quote to review it, here you can change the product's price or quantity.

Once you've made your changes, click on 'Accept', 'Deny', or 'Modify'.

Accept Payments After the Approval of Order

This feature allows you to take payments after a quote has been approved.
Go to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'General'.

Check 'Enable Order Creation After Approval'.

Save your changes.

Set Up a Custom Form for the Customers to Place the Order

To make the process seamless for your customers, you can create a customized form for them to place orders.
Go to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Form'.

Click on 'Add Field' to add custom fields as needed.

For each field, you can specify the type (text, checkbox, etc.), label, and whether it is required or not.

Click 'Save' after you're done.

Trigger Email, Chat, and SMS Notifications to Admin

Keeping administrators informed of new quote requests can ensure prompt responses. Here's how you can set it up:
Navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Email'.

Under 'Admin Notifications', check 'Enable Admin Email'.

Provide the email address where notifications will be sent.

You can also enable chat and SMS notifications if the necessary integrations are set up.

Click 'Save'.

Notify the Order Status to the Customers

Customers will appreciate knowing the status of their quote request. To set up customer notifications:
Go to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Email'.

Under 'Customer Notifications', check 'Enable Customer Email'.

Customize the subject and body of the email as needed.

Click 'Save'.

Custom Email, SMS, or Google Chat Notification Templates

You can customize the templates for different types of notifications:
Navigate to 'WooCommerce' > 'ELEX Quote' > 'Email'.

For Email templates, customize the content under 'Admin Notifications' and 'Customer Notifications'.

For SMS or Google Chat notifications, this depends on the specific integrations. Generally, you would find template customization options in the settings of the corresponding plugins.

Click 'Save' after making changes.

Conclusion

This concludes our comprehensive guide for beginners on the ELEX WooCommerce Request a Quote plugin. Remember, every website and every customer base is unique, so feel free to play around with the settings until you find what works best for you. Happy quoting!