Requiring logins or allowing guests
The first feature control in the Web Store settings is whether you allow guests or not.
Guest access toggle for Web Store
This controls whether a visitor can start a quote without identifying themselves. They can simply load in a CAD file, and then begin setting material and part details and calculating to get a price.
With guest mode enabled, visitors can start a quote without logging in
This is best for making it as easy as possible for your customers to get a price, as requiring registration for new visitors is friction that can sometimes turn a prospective customer away.
The downside is, guests can start a quote and then not proceed to order it, and you won't have their details to follow up with them.
It's important to note that guests will still need to identify themselves via email address before they proceed to the checkout screen. The checkout screen is where they calculate shipping and taxes, have the option to download the quote (instead of confirming the order on the spot), and placing the order.
Requiring registration
If guest mode is disabled, visitors must log in (or register, if this is their first time) before they can start a quote.
With guest mode disabled, visitors must log in to get started
When a customer registers for the first time, they will be asked to provide their name and email address, and they will need to verify their email address with a code. They will also set a password. After registration, future orders can be placed by simply logging in with email and password.
If a quote is started by a customer who is logged in, that quote will have the customer and their email address associated it. This is best if you want to ensure you can always follow up with customers if they start an order but don't proceed with it.
Customers get additional benefits when they log in:
They can edit their business and address details, which are pre-filled in future orders.
They can view their previous Web Store orders (not internally-created quotes), and resume old quotes that they started.
If your account has access to the Part Library feature, your customer will be able to access their previously ordered parts and add them to future quotes.
Any customer-specific discounts or specific tax rates you applied to them in Customer Central will be applied to their orders automatically.