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Create business rules

Goal​

To set up business rules (also called incentives) that automate actions based on specific conditions during checkout, like applying discounts, adding free products, or calculating shipping costs dynamically. Business rules help you create flexible pricing strategies and promotional campaigns without requiring code changes.

What are Business Rules?​

Business rules in Propeller Commerce are configurable policies that automate decision-making during the shopping process. They consist of:

  • Conditions: IF statements that check order properties (subtotal, items, customer details)
  • Actions: THEN statements that execute when conditions are met (apply discounts, add products, set shipping)

Step 1: Navigate to Business Rules​

  1. From the backoffice menu, select Shops & Channels and then Business Rules.
  2. You'll see a list of existing business rules with their names, creation dates, and last update dates.

Step 2: Create a New Rule​

  1. Click the New Business Rule button at the top right.
  2. Enter a name for your rule (e.g., "Shipping Costs", "5% Discount on Laptops").
  3. The rule builder interface will open with condition and action sections.

Step 3: Set Up Conditions​

  1. In the IF any of these conditions apply section:

    • Click on the Item dropdown to select what to check
    • Choose from options like:
      • Order actioncode
      • Order subtotal
      • Order items
      • Order delivery address
      • User type
      • Product manufacturer
    • Select the Condition (Equals, Contains, GreaterThan, etc.)
    • Enter the Value to compare against

  2. Add multiple conditions by clicking Add condition.

  3. Use and/or toggles to combine conditions logically.

Step 4: Define Actions​

  1. In the THEN execute these actions section:

    • Click the Action dropdown
    • Choose from available actions:
      • Add product to bonus items
      • Give discount to order item
      • Give discount to order total
      • Set shipping costs
      • Set transaction costs

  2. Configure action parameters:

    • For product actions: Select product ID and quantity
    • For discounts: Enter percentage or fixed amount
    • For shipping: Set the shipping cost value

Step 5: Save and Activate​

  1. Click Save to save your rule configuration.
  2. The rule is automatically active once created.
  3. Test your rule by creating a test order that meets the conditions.

Rule Examples​

Example 1: Free Sample Product​

  • Condition: Order actioncode Equals "FREESAMPLE"
  • Action: Add product to bonus items → Product ID: 1112, Quantity: 1, Price: €0

Example 2: Brand-Based Discount​

  • Conditions:
    • Order items > total Quantity Equals 30
    • AND Product manufacturer Equals "SONY"
  • Action: Give discount to order total → 10%

Example 3: Location-Based Shipping​

  • Conditions:
    • Order subtotal GreaterThan 100
    • AND Order delivery address country Equals "BE"
  • Action: Set shipping costs → €36

Available Condition Types​

  • Order subtotal
  • Order actioncode (promo codes)
  • Order current date
  • Order delivery/invoice address fields (country, city, region, postal code)
  • Order postage shipping method
  • Order postage carrier
  • Order payment method
  • Order items (quantity, specific products)
  • Product manufacturer
  • Product category
  • Product attributes
  • User type
  • User firstname/lastname
  • User debtorID
  • User birthday

Available Action Types​

Pricing Actions​

  • Give discount to order item: Apply percentage or fixed discount to specific items
  • Give discount to order total: Apply percentage or fixed discount to entire order
  • Set transaction costs: Add transaction fees

Product Actions​

  • Add product to bonus items: Add free or discounted products
  • Add valuepoints to order: Award loyalty points

Shipping Actions​

  • Set shipping costs: Override default shipping calculation
  • Set carrier to selectable: Make specific carriers available

Best Practices​

  • Use descriptive names that explain what the rule does
  • Order rules by priority if multiple rules might apply
  • Document complex rule logic for future reference
  • Regularly review and update rules to match current promotions
  • Use action codes for temporary promotions that can be easily disabled
  • Consider performance impact when creating rules with many conditions

Tips for Complex Rules​

  • Use grouped conditions (AND/OR) to create sophisticated logic
  • Combine multiple rules for layered incentives
  • Set up seasonal rules with date conditions
  • Create customer segment-specific rules using user attributes
  • Use product categories for broad product-based rules

Monitoring and Troubleshooting​

  • Check the rule list regularly to see which rules are active
  • Review last modified dates to track recent changes
  • Test rules in a staging environment first