Help Topics
The Customer Portal gives your customers 24/7 access to everything they need—from searching parts and placing orders to managing invoices and support requests. Here's what they can do in the portal:
Search for Parts
- Customers can search your inventory using part numbers or keywords.
- View part details, including:
- List Price
- Your Price – automatically reflects their unique pricing settings.
Check Stock & Pricing
- See real-time stock availability.
- View both retail and customer-specific pricing for all parts.
Save & Convert Quotes
- Save Quotes for future use.
- Convert Quotes to Sales Orders with a single click.
Place Orders
- Submit orders directly through the portal.
- All orders instantly appear in 1place for internal processing.
Track Order Status
- View current status of submitted orders.
- Filter and search through past Sales Orders easily.
Make Invoice Payments
- Securely view and pay invoices online.
- Payments sync directly with your system for easy tracking.
Request Part Returns
- Submit return requests with reason and quantity.
- Return requests are logged and reviewable in 1place.
View Quotes, Orders, Invoices & More
- Full visibility into:
- Quotes
- Sales Orders
- Invoices
- Credits
- Returns
- All lists are searchable and sortable for quick access.
Create & Track Support Tickets
- Submit support tickets right from the portal.
- View ticket status and responses in real time.
- In the dashboard, click the gear icon beside your name located at the top right corner of the screen.
- Click Settings;
- In the Settings screen, click 'Customer Portal' under the 'Setting Type' list.
- Once clicked, the 'Customer Portal' field will expand and give you a list of modules to set. Click 'Portal Activation';
- Once clicked, it will show you the 'Portal Activation' screen that has the Portal Features and other FAQ. Click the 'Activate Portal Now' button.
- Enter the necessary information needed in the 'Portal Activation Request Form'. Once everything is filled in and checked the check box, click 'Activate Now'.
- Once done, you will now see the 'Customer Portal' tab in your Customer Detail screen.
The 1place Customer Portal can be customized to reflect your company's branding and message. You can personalize the customer portal login page to create a more branded and welcoming experience for your customers.
1. Upload Logos
- Upload your company logo to appear on the login screen.
- Optionally, upload a secondary logo (e.g., for a parent brand or division).
2. Enter Company Details
- Add your company name, phone number, or any other contact information to be displayed on the login page.
3. Add a Custom Note
- Include a welcome message, helpful instructions, or an onboarding note for new users.
4. Modify Login and Sign-Up Panel Colors
- Choose custom colors for the login and sign-up boxes to match your brand.
5. Set Font and Text Colors
- Customize the font style and text color used across the login screen.
6. Background Color Settings
- Select background colors for:
- The overall login screen background
- The login and sign-up form background areas
7. Visual Designer: Drag-and-Drop Layout Editor
Customer Portal includes a visual editor that allows you to:
- Visually preview your login screen as you customize it.
- Drag and reposition elements such as:
- Logos
- Company contact details
- Notes for new users
- Login and sign-up panels
This intuitive layout editor ensures your login page looks exactly how you want it—without needing any coding.
The Find Parts screen in the Customer Portal can be tailored to show only the fields and columns that are most useful to your customers. These settings allow you to control both visibility and layout.
1. Select Which Fields/Columns Are Shown
- In the settings screen, each available field is listed in a table.
- To make a field visible to portal users, simply check the box beside it under the Active column.
- Unchecked fields will be hidden from the portal view.
2. Arrange Column Order
- Use drag-and-drop controls under the Action column to arrange the columns in the desired left-to-right order on the list screen.
3. View Field Names and Descriptions
- Each field includes a name and a short description to help you understand what data it shows.
- This helps admins decide which fields are appropriate for end users.
By customizing these fields, you ensure customers only see the most relevant data when searching for parts—making the portal cleaner, more efficient, and easier to use.
Item Detail Popup Screen – Layout Settings (Left, Center, Right Panels)
The item detail popup is divided into three panels: Left, Center, and Right. Each panel has its own separate configuration section, but they all draw from the same list of available fields.
In each section—Left, Center, and Right—you will:
1. Select Which Fields Are Shown (Active Column)
- In each panel’s settings, you’ll see a list of all available fields.
- Use the Active column checkbox to choose which fields appear in that specific panel.
- You can show a field in one, two, or all three panels, depending on your needs.
2. Arrange Field Order (Action Column)
- Within each panel section, use the Action column to set the order in which fields appear (top to bottom).
- This is done by clicking and dragging the rows into the desired order using the arrange icon under the action column.
3. View Field Names
- Each field is labeled for clarity so you know what data will be shown.
4. Set Text Appearance
- Each panel has its own text styling controls, so you can define the appearance of fields per section:
- Font size
- Font style
- Font color
This setup gives you precise control over how information is displayed in each section of the popup. Even though you're choosing from the same list of fields, the layout and styling are configured independently for the Left, Center, and Right panels.
The Warehouse Shipping Priorities section lets you define how the system chooses which warehouse to use when fulfilling customer orders. This setup ensures that inventory is sourced efficiently and in the correct order of priority.
Each row in the table represents a priority level, and you can fully control the order and warehouse logic using the options provided.
1. Arrange Priority Order (Action Column)
- Click and drag the rows into the desired order using the arrange icon under the action column to reorder the priority levels.
- The system will attempt to fulfill orders based on this top-to-bottom priority.
2. For Customers IN Area of Warehouse
- Use the dropdown to select which warehouse should be prioritized when the customer is located within that warehouse’s shipping area.
3. If OUT OF Stock in Warehouse
- Select the fallback warehouse using the dropdown, to be used if the primary warehouse is out of stock.
4. Look Next for Inventory In Warehouse
- Choose an additional warehouse the system should check next, if the first two options don’t have available inventory.
5. Save Warehouse Priority
- After setting all your preferences, click the Save Warehouse Priority button located at the bottom left of the section.
- This saves your shipping logic and updates the system’s fulfillment behavior.
This setup gives you full control over how inventory is sourced and ensures customers receive their orders from the most appropriate warehouse based on availability and location.
The Layout Options section allows you to control how fields are displayed in the Search and Line Item interfaces within the Customer Portal.
Search Field Layout Option
This option determines how search filters are presented when customers are looking for parts.
- Choose from the dropdown:
- Item, Year, Make, Model, Category, Sub-category
- Item, Year, Make, Model, Category (Show Selectable List), Sub-category (Show Selectable List)
Line Item Field Layout Option
This setting controls how fields are displayed for each line item (e.g., in quotes, orders, and results lists).
- Choose from the dropdown:
- Columns (no stocking)
- Columns, but with Description and Item #s Stacked
These options help you tailor the customer interface for usability and clarity based on your business preferences.
The Inventory Item Settings section allows you to control how inventory availability, delivery timing, and pricing visibility behave on the Customer Portal. These settings impact how information is displayed and what purchasing rules apply.
Estimated Delivery Date Format
Choose how the estimated delivery date is displayed to customers:
- Date (e.g., July 25, 2025)
- Day/Date (e.g., Thursday, July 25)
Cut-Off Times for Delivery
Specify cut-off times (per hour) for when new orders must be placed to qualify for specific delivery windows:
- Same-Day Delivery Cut-Off Time - Orders placed before this time are eligible for same-day delivery.
- Next-Day Delivery Cut-Off Time - Orders placed before this time will be delivered the next day.
Estimated Delivery Text (Out of Stock Items)
- Enter the custom message to display when an item is not currently in stock.
Additional Days for Inter-Warehouse Transfers
- Set the number of days to add to the estimated delivery date if the item is being shipped from another warehouse.
- This reflects realistic transfer time between warehouses.
How to Display Inventory in Stock (Dropdown Option)
Choose how inventory levels are displayed on the portal:
- Show actual quantity
- Show quantity of 1
- Show “In Stock” (no quantity number shown)
Purchasing Restrictions (Checkbox Options)
- Do not allow users to buy items that are OUT of stock - Prevents orders on items with zero available inventory.
- Do not allow users to buy more items than what is available - Prevents customers from exceeding current stock levels in their order.
- Hide items on the Find Parts screen if they have a price of $0.00 - Useful for suppressing test items or incomplete pricing.
- If List Price is displayed, only display List Price if an item is out of stock - Helps reduce pricing confusion when availability is limited.
These settings allow for tight control over inventory visibility, order rules, and delivery expectations, helping you deliver a consistent and transparent customer experience.
The Sales Order Settings section controls how online orders are processed in the portal, including who is assigned to each order and how returns are handled.
Assign Salesperson for Online Orders
- Choose a default salesperson from the dropdown list of existing 1place users.
- This user will be automatically assigned to all sales orders placed through the Customer Portal.
Return Processing Options (Checkboxes)
- Automatically credit customer account when they request a return
- Enables auto-crediting once a return request is submitted.
- Useful for streamlining the return and credit process.
- Override returns to only send an email notice
- Disables automatic return processing.
- Instead, the system will simply send a notification email when a return is requested, allowing manual handling.
These settings help align the portal’s order and return behavior with your internal sales and accounting processes.
This section allows you to set up alerts and restrictions that are shown to portal users based on their account status, credit limits, or IP address. These checks help enforce your credit policies while keeping users informed.
Overdue Invoice Message
- Enter the custom message to display when a user has overdue invoices.
- This message will be shown in the portal based on the checkbox settings below.
Credit Limit Warning Message
- Enter the message to display if the current quote or order could place the user over their credit limit.
- Useful for alerting users before they finalize the transaction.
Blocked IP Addresses
- Enter IP addresses you want to block from accessing the portal.
- Multiple IPs can be entered, separated by commas (e.g., 192.168.1.1, 10.0.0.1).
PDF Statement Access
- If you host PDF statements on your own server, enter the directory or URL path here.
- Customers will then be able to download their statements directly from the portal.
Warning and Restriction Options (Checkboxes)
- Display a message if the user has any overdue invoices on the welcome screen - Shows the overdue message immediately after login.
- Display a message if the current order will put your user over their credit limit on the quote screen - Warns the user during the quoting process before the order is finalized.
- Stop customer from ordering if over credit limit - Blocks the ability to place an order if doing so would exceed their credit limit.
These settings help ensure that your financial policies are clearly communicated and enforced, while also improving transparency for your customers.
This setting allows you to define which days of the week your business is available to process and deliver orders. The system uses this information when calculating estimated delivery dates shown to customers.
Simply check the days your business operates and fulfills orders.
Only the selected days will be considered eligible delivery days when the system calculates estimated delivery timeframes during ordering or quoting.
This section allows the designated admin to enter contact information that will be used for internal reference or displayed to customers where appropriate (such as in support messages or system emails).
Admin Fields to Complete:
- Your Name
- Your Email
- The Best Phone # to Reach You
- Preferred Portal Login Name
The Email Settings section must be completed to enable SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), which allows the Customer Portal to send automated emails (e.g., order confirmations, password resets, and return notifications).
Required Fields:
- E-Mail Provide
- Outgoing Mail Server
- Outgoing Server Port
- Email Address
- Password
- Enable SSL
After entering your email configuration, click the Test Connection button to verify that the SMTP setup is working properly.
The system will attempt to send a test email. If successful, you'll see a confirmation message. If there’s an error, check your credentials, server settings, and SSL option.
The Email Templates section allows you to create and manage reusable email templates for automated messages sent through the portal.
Creating a New Template
- Click the New Template button.
- A pop-up window will appear where you can fill out:
- Template Name – internal reference for the template
- From Address – the email address the message will be sent from
- Subject – the subject line of the email
- Body – the main message content (can include dynamic fields, if supported)
- Click Save to store the template.
Editing an Existing Template
To edit an existing template:
- Locate it in the list of templates.
- Click the Edit button under the Action column.
- A pop-up will open where you can update the From Address, Subject, or Body.
- Save your changes once editing is complete.
This section allows you to specify internal email addresses that will receive automated notifications when key customer actions occur in the Customer Portal.
How to Enter Email Addresses:
For each type of notification below, you can enter one or more email addresses.
To send notifications to multiple recipients, separate each email with a comma.
Notification Types:
- New Customer Sign-Ups - Notifies your team when a customer registers on the portal.
- New Orders - Sends an alert each time a customer places an order.
- Potential Customer Abuse - Alerts your team if suspicious or potentially abusive activity is detected.
- Customer Part Returns - Notifies you when a customer submits a part return request.
This section controls which automated emails the Customer Portal sends to your customers, and allows you to choose which email templates are used for each type.
Email Triggers (Checkboxes):
- Send email Quote Confirmation to the user who created the Quote.
- Send email Order Confirmation to the user who created the Sales Order.
When these options are enabled, customers will receive email confirmations automatically after submitting quotes or placing orders.
Email Template Selection
For each type of customer-facing email, you can select a pre-created template from the list of email templates:
- Select Quote Confirmation Email Template
- Select Sales Order Confirmation Email Template
- Select New User Sign Up Email Template
- Select User Activation Email Template
These templates define the subject, message body, and sender information used in each customer notification.
This setting enables real-time credit card transactions through your integrated eBizCharge.com account.
Option Available:
Enable real-time eBizCharge.com Credit Card Authorizations
When checked, the portal will authorize customer credit card payments in real time during checkout using your eBizCharge integration.
Be sure your eBizCharge account is properly connected to 1place for this feature to work correctly.
This section allows you to customize messages that appear to customers during key interactions within the Customer Portal.
New User Signup Landing Message
- A message shown to customers immediately after they sign up for a portal account. (Text box – up to 500 characters)
- Use this to welcome users, provide next steps, or direct them to resources.
Return Policy
- Enter your company's return policy to be shown on the portal where applicable (e.g., during part return requests).
Follow these steps to invite a customer to access the 1place Customer Portal:
- In the 1place Dashboard, click Customers in the left navigation pane.
- Select the customer’s name from the Customer List.
- Go to the Customer Portal tab.
- Then click on the Portal Users tab.
- Enter the user's email address and username.
- Make sure the email address is correct, as this will be used for sending the portal invite.
- Once the information is filled in, click Send Invite under the Actions column to send an activation email to the customer.
The user will receive an email with a link to activate their Customer Portal account./
If you'd prefer to activate a portal user account yourself, without sending an email invite:
- Click the Activate Manually button in the Actions column.
- You will be prompted to enter a temporary password for the user.
- After entering the password, click Save.
- A confirmation pop-up will appear once the activation is complete.
Your customer can now log in to the portal using their email and the temporary password you provided.
It’s recommended that customers change their password after first login.
If a customer no longer needs access to the Customer Portal, you can disable or delete their login.
Steps:
- In the 1place Dashboard, click Customers in the left navigation pane.
- Select the customer’s name from the Customer List.
- Go to the Customer Portal tab.
- Then click on the Portal Users tab.
- Locate the portal user you want to manage.
- Under the Actions column, click either:
- Disable – Temporarily disables the user’s portal access without deleting their information.
- Delete – Permanently removes the user’s portal login.
Note: Deleting a portal user is irreversible. Only disable if you may need to restore access later.
- Share your portal web address with your customers (e.g., abcautobodysupply.1place.cloud).
- On the portal login screen, they should find and complete the Sign Up form, which asks for:
- Company
- First Name
- Last Name
- Street
- City
- State
- Zip/Postal Code
- Phone
- Email/Login
- Choose Password
- Confirm Password
- Once all fields are completed, they click Submit.
- A confirmation message will appear:
“Your request has been successfully submitted. We will email you login information asap.”
Once a customer signs up through the portal, follow these steps to review and approve their access:
- In the 1place Dashboard, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner, then select Settings.
- Under Setting Type, click Customer Portal to expand the options, then select Manage Users.
- Go to the Customer Portal New Sign Ups to Link & Approve section.
- You’ll see a list of all new customer sign-ups.
- In the Select Company Name column, use the dropdown to link the new user to the correct customer account in 1place.
- Review the First Name, Last Name, and Email Address entered during sign-up.
- If the user should be granted access (e.g., verified by management and linked to the correct company), click Approve.
If not approved, click Delete Sign Up to remove the request.
Repeat the process for the rest of the pending sign-ups.
Below the Customer Portal New Sign Ups to Link & Approve section, you'll find a list of all existing customer portal logins.
This list displays the following information:
- Customer Name
- Username
- Email Address
- Login Status (e.g., Active, Inactive)
- Approved By (the admin who approved the login)
- Date Approved
Under the Actions column, you can:
- Send Invite to users who haven’t activated their account
- Disable an active login
- Delete a login entirely
- Activate Manually if you prefer to bypass email invitation
Use this section to monitor and manage customer portal access at any time.
To access the Customer Portal, your customer should:
- Open a web browser (preferably Google Chrome).
- Go to your company’s portal address (e.g., abcautobodysupply.1place.cloud).
- On the login page, locate the Customer Login section.
- Enter their Email Address and Password, then click Login.
- Once logged in, they will be directed to the Find Parts screen.
