The Location Manager role in the Multi Location Product & Inventory Management for WooCommerce plugin is designed to give each store, warehouse, or branch its own dedicated manager. Instead of one administrator handling everything, you can assign different people to different locations, each with specific permissions. This makes operations smoother, prevents mistakes, and ensures accountability.
Purpose of the Role
The Location Manager role exists to delegate responsibilities. It allows you to give managers access only to the parts of the system they need, based on their assigned location(s).
- Separation of duties: Each manager only sees and manages data for their assigned location.
- Control and security: Permissions can be limited to viewing only, or expanded to allow editing and management.
- Scalability: As your business grows, you can add more managers for new locations without overwhelming a single admin.
This role fits into team operations by creating a clear hierarchy: the central admin oversees everything, while managers handle day-to-day tasks for their own branches.
Available Permissions
When creating or editing a Location Manager, you can assign specific permissions. Each option defines what the manager can do:
View Dashboard
This permission allows a manager to see the dashboard for their assigned locations. For example, if a manager is responsible for two branches, they will only see performance data for those two. They cannot make changes, but they can monitor sales, stock levels, and overall performance. This is useful for managers who need to stay informed but don’t need editing rights.
View Orders
Managers with this permission can look at orders for their assigned locations. They can open the WooCommerce → Orders page and see all orders tied to their store(s). However, they cannot edit or update orders. This is essentially a “read-only” view, useful for supervisors who need visibility into customer activity without interfering in order processing.
Manage Orders
This permission goes further by allowing managers to edit and update orders for their assigned locations. They can change order statuses, update customer details, or adjust items in the order. This is ideal for managers who handle fulfillment, customer service, or need to correct mistakes in orders.
Manage/View All Orders
This is a broader permission that allows managers to view and manage orders across all locations, not just the ones they are assigned. For example, a regional manager might need this to oversee multiple branches. It gives them full control over orders regardless of location, making it a powerful option for higher-level staff.
View Products
Managers can see the products available in their assigned locations. They cannot edit or add products, but they can monitor listings and stock levels. This is useful for managers who need to keep track of what’s available without making changes.
Manage Products
This permission allows managers to edit and create products for their assigned locations. They can update product details, adjust stock, or add new products. It’s ideal for store managers who handle local inventory and need to keep product information up to date.
Manage/View All Products
This permission allows managers to manage all products across all locations, even if they are not assigned to those locations. To use this, the Manage Products option must also be enabled. For example, a head office manager could update product details for every branch. This is a powerful option that should be given only to trusted staff.
Run Reports
Managers with this permission can access the Analytics section. They can see which products are selling well, how many views products get, purchase rates, and conversion rates. This helps managers understand performance and make better decisions about stock, promotions, and customer engagement.
Export Reports
This permission allows managers to export data such as dashboards and analytics for their assigned locations. To use this, View Dashboard and Run Reports must also be enabled. Exporting reports is useful for managers who need to share performance data with higher management or keep records for analysis.
Location-Specific Products Frontend
When this option is enabled, managers will only see products tied to their assigned location on the frontend. This keeps their view clean and focused, ensuring they don’t get confused by products from other branches.
Where It Fits in Team Operations
The Location Manager role is essential for businesses with multiple branches or warehouses. It allows each branch to operate independently while still being part of the central WooCommerce system.
- Retail chains: Each store manager can handle local inventory and orders.
- Warehouses: Supervisors can manage stock and fulfillment for their warehouse.
- Franchises: Franchise owners can manage their own products and orders while the central admin keeps overall control.
- Regional managers: Can be given “Manage/View All” permissions to oversee multiple branches.
By using Location Managers, businesses can balance local independence with central oversight, making it easier to grow and manage multiple locations without chaos.