Angry Creative specialises in helping SMEs grow with WooCommerce and with a particular focus on internationalisation. We’re really good at this and are one of the leading agencies with this specific expertise.

One of the reasons we’ve become so good at it is because we’ve heavily standardised around solutions that we’ve live-tested and deployed across the client sites that we’re responsible for. This standardised set is called‘Qala‘ and can add value either as a new build or we can add parts of it to an existing build.

Qala Multimarket is a key part of this standardised capability – enough to merit its own article to explain its features, benefits and how it works with other aspects of internationalisation.

What is Qala Multimarket?

Qala Multimarket is a WordPress plugin that builds on MultilingualPress and adds a couple of internationalisation-specific features. In keeping with our development philosophy, Qala Multimarket is independent of all other Qala plugins but designed to work brilliantly together.

What are the key features of Qala Multimarket?

1. Create and manage an internationalised store
   
   Extends the multi-site network configuration available with WordPress multisite and MultilingualPress. This gives store managers the ability to manage how local sites are connected and how those connections look to store visitors.

2. Enabling location-based experiences
   
   With Qala Multimarket, each local site becomes its own independent yet connected store. Different local pages can be managed by different store managers, have a single layer, use different extensions, and use a completely different look and feel. Or they can be exactly the same except for language and/or currency. This allows your store to fully support local requirements while benefiting from being part of a connected network.

3. Enabling a language/site switcher
   
   One of the most important user experiences within an internationalised store is being able to navigate between local websites. Qala Multimarket provides prompts to users for whom there may be a more suitable localisation. It can be configured to allow users to switch between languages with a toggle that turns complex business logic into a simple user experience.

How does Qala Multimarket fit in with other extensions?

Qala is designed in a modular fashion so that as an e-commerce store’s requirements evolve, there are additional Qala and third-party modules that are designed to work seamlessly and complement the rest of Qala. Qala Multimarket is a key module that sits at the heart of Qala’s focus in WooCommerce internationalisation.

Compatible internationalisation-related Qala extensions include:

1. Qala Multimarket Product Connector – enables linking of products between local sites to output HREFLANG and enable Qala Global Cart and other modules. This provides better SEO.
2. Qala Reviews – allows store managers to aggregate reviews for the same product to other localised websites. For example, if you have localised sites for ca-en, ca-fr, and en-en, then this module allows you to pull ca-en reviews to the localised page for en-en (and vice versa), while choosing not to syndicate reviews from ca-fr (as they would be in French). This maximises the impact of reviews on your store, reinforcing social validation.
3. Qala Global Cart – fixes a limitation with the multisite approach to internationalising WooCommerce by rebuilding the cart content when a user switches between languages. This maintains the user’s shopping experience by switching languages and increases the conversion rate of such journeys.
4. Qala Single Admin – a module to streamline editorial and administrative workflows in an internationalised WooCommerce store (instead of having to click through the same action in multiple admins). This saves management time.
5. Qala Tax Tools – allows configuration of EU VAT, IOSS and VOEC systems within WooCommerce to allow merchants to maintain compliance and keep shopping experiences simple.
6. Qala Single Stock – allows centralised stock management for a product that is available in multiple locations. Saves management time and significantly reduces the poor user experience of a customer buying a product that is out of fast-selling stock.
7. Qala Network Reports – in the absence of an ERP or other integration, this module provides store managers with a quick and convenient way to generate reports from the entire network of internationalised locations. This saves time and helps standardise workflows, minimising human error.

While Qala includes a large number of Qala-specific modules, it is also built with the WordPress and WooCommerce open source ecosystems in mind. Where there are add-ons that we feel meet our quality standards and solve specific requirements, we’re happy to use those instead of reinventing the wheel.

Some of the key third-party extensions that Qala is built to be compatible with include:

1. MultilingualPress – this amazing plugin takes a WordPress multisite and turns it into an international network of local sites. It is by far the best solution for WordPress/WooCommerce internationalisation for most uses.
2. Aelia Currency Switcher – allows a local site to sell in multiple currencies.
3. Yoast SEO – the de facto plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce SEO.
4. WooCommerce EU VAT number – provides a service that can check the validity of EU VAT numbers – this helps B2B sites maintain compliance when it comes to EU VAT.
5. WooCommerce Sequential Order Numbers Pro – allows one to customise order numbers on an international WooCommerce store. This allows store managers to ensure order numbers are unique and logical, helping with integrations and other business processes.

These are just the modules that primarily deal with internationalisation. In Qala, there are many more modules (both Qala-specific and curated from the wider ecosystem) that handle other requirements. In this article, we hope we’ve demonstrated the power of Qala as a platform for internationalised ecommerce.

Wherever you are on your ecommerce journey, Angry Creative can help you. If you’re approaching the internationalisation parts of your growth story, it’s especially important to make the right technical and operational decisions. Please get in touch and let’s talk.

If you’re ready to take the next step with your e-commerce, don’t hesitate to contact us!