Skip to main content

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about GSM Middleware.

General​

What is GSM Middleware?​

GSM Middleware is a WordPress plugin that synchronizes orders, inventory, and tracking data between multiple e-commerce platforms (BigCommerce and WooCommerce) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (Navision).

What platforms does it support?​

  • BigCommerce (via API v3)
  • WooCommerce (via REST API v3)
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (via OData)

How many sites can I manage?​

There's no hard limit. The plugin currently manages 50+ active sites in production.

Does it work with multisite?​

No, GSM Middleware is designed for single-site WordPress installations managing multiple external e-commerce sites.

Installation & Setup​

What are the system requirements?​

  • PHP: 8.2 or higher (compatible up to 8.4)
  • WordPress: 6.0 or higher
  • MySQL: 5.7 or higher (8.0+ recommended)
  • Memory: 256MB minimum, 512MB+ recommended
  • Composer: Required for dependency management

How do I install the plugin?​

See Installation Guide.

Do I need an external database?​

Yes, for production use. The plugin uses a separate database (rm_* tables) for order and inventory data. You can use the WordPress database for testing.

How do I configure cron jobs?​

See Cron Setup Guide.

Order Sync​

How often do orders sync?​

By default, every hour. You can adjust the schedule or run manually from the Control Panel.

What happens if an order fails to sync?​

Failed orders are logged in rm_error_orders with the reason. They can be reviewed and reprocessed manually using the Test Order feature.

Are orders ever synced twice?​

No. Once an order is successfully synced (fully_import_from_website=1), it's never processed again.

What about test orders?​

Orders under $1.00 are automatically skipped unless explicitly enabled in site settings.

Can I sync historical orders?​

Yes, adjust the min_date_modified setting for the site or use the Test Order feature for specific orders.

SKU Verification​

What happens if a SKU doesn't exist?​

Orders with invalid SKUs are placed on hold in rm_error_orders. You must add the SKU to Business Central, run inventory sync, then reprocess the order.

How does kit expansion work?​

When an order contains a kit parent SKU (defined in rm_kits), the plugin automatically expands it into component line items with calculated quantities.

What are "soft fails" vs "hard fails"?​

  • Soft Fail: SKU exists in Business Central but not yet in middleware (rm_items). Order will retry automatically after next inventory sync.
  • Hard Fail: SKU doesn't exist in Business Central or has a blocked status. Order goes to rm_error_orders and requires manual resolution.

Business Central Export​

How does BC Export work?​

  1. Insert Operation: Pushes validated orders from rm_order to Business Central Sales Orders
  2. Verify Operation: Checks Business Central for created Sales Order numbers and updates rm_order.nav_sales_order_number

See BC Export Overview.

How long does export take?​

  • Insert: ~0.5-1 second per order
  • Verify: ~0.3 seconds per order

Batch operations process 100 orders at a time.

What if BC export fails?​

Failures are logged in rm_order_import_errors. Check the error message, resolve the issue (usually data validation), then retry from the Control Panel.

Can I skip BC Export?​

No, it's a required step in the workflow. Orders must be exported to Business Central for fulfillment.

Inventory Sync​

How does inventory sync work?​

The inventory sync cron job:

  1. Fetches all items from Business Central OData
  2. Updates rm_items table with current data
  3. Pushes quantity updates to all active e-commerce sites

How often does inventory sync run?​

Typically every 30 minutes, but configurable.

Why aren't inventory updates showing on my site?​

Check:

  1. Site has inventory_sync=1 enabled
  2. Cron job is running (check inventory_last_run timestamp)
  3. Item exists in Business Central
  4. No API errors in logs

Can I exclude certain sites from inventory updates?​

Yes, toggle inventory_sync off for that site.

Tracking Sync​

How does tracking sync work?​

The tracking sync cron job:

  1. Queries Business Central for shipped orders with tracking numbers
  2. Matches to rm_order records
  3. Posts tracking info back to e-commerce platforms
  4. Updates order status to "Shipped"

When do tracking numbers appear?​

Tracking numbers are synced after Business Central marks the Sales Order as shipped (usually within 1 hour).

What if tracking doesn't appear on the site?​

Check:

  1. Site has tracking_sync=1 enabled
  2. Order has nav_sales_order_number populated
  3. Business Central has tracking data for that Sales Order
  4. No API errors in logs

Troubleshooting​

Orders are stuck in "Pending Insert"​

  1. Check cron jobs are running: wp cron event list
  2. Check for errors: tail -f /var/log/gsm-middleware/bc-insert-items.log
  3. Verify API connection: Test Connection in Control Panel
  4. Check database connection: Settings → DB Environments

"Maintenance window" message in logs​

Business Central has maintenance every Sunday 19:00 - Monday 04:00 UTC. All sync operations are automatically paused during this time.

AJAX requests fail with "403 Forbidden"​

  1. Verify user has manage_gsm_middleware capability
  2. Check nonce is included in request
  3. Clear browser cache
  4. Check for plugin conflicts

Site test connection fails​

  1. Verify API credentials are correct
  2. Check site URL is accessible
  3. Test API endpoint directly (Postman/cURL)
  4. Check for IP restrictions on the e-commerce platform
  5. Verify API scopes/permissions

Performance​

Does it slow down my WordPress site?​

No. All heavy operations run via cron jobs outside web requests. The admin interface is React-based and highly optimized.

How much database space does it use?​

Varies by order volume. Typical usage:

  • 10K orders/month: ~500MB
  • 100K orders/month: ~5GB

Can I archive old orders?​

Yes, you can safely archive/delete orders older than 90 days from rm_order, rm_lineitems, etc. The plugin only works with recent orders.

Data & Security​

Where is sensitive data stored?​

  • API credentials: Encrypted in WordPress options table
  • Database credentials: Encrypted in rm_db_environments
  • Order data: External database (configurable)

Is the plugin GDPR compliant?​

Yes. Customer data is stored only as long as needed for order fulfillment. See your Business Central data retention policies.

Can I export/backup data?​

Yes, use standard MySQL backup tools to backup the middleware database.

Customization​

Can I add custom order fields?​

Yes, extend the Normalized_Order DTO and modify the sync classes. Contact support for guidance.

Can I integrate other platforms?​

Yes, create a new class extending Abstract_Order_Sync. The architecture supports any platform with a REST API.

Can I modify sync logic?​

Yes, but carefully. Use WordPress filters and actions where provided. For major changes, consider forking the plugin.

Support​

Where can I find logs?​

  • WordPress: /var/log/wordpress/debug.log (if WP_DEBUG_LOG enabled)
  • Plugin logs: /var/log/gsm-middleware/*.log
  • Database: rm_error_orders, rm_order_import_errors

How do I report a bug?​

  1. Enable debug logging
  2. Reproduce the issue
  3. Collect logs and error messages
  4. Create an issue with full details

Where can I get help?​

Next Steps​