AI commerce functions and access limits
Limit AI commerce actions and retained commerce context to the capabilities and customer access available in the current conversation.
What it is
A Commerce function lets an AI assistant use the commerce capabilities configured for your website. INSIDE checks both the selected operation and the current customer's verified access. Product browsing, a single verified order and a customer's wider order history have different access requirements.
Who uses it and why
- Administrators with the Settings or Developer role choose which capabilities an assistant may use and which store supplies them, subject to delegated settings permissions.
- Operators use configured assistants in private Team Chat for customer and order searches.
- Visitors ask product or order questions and provide the verification details required for private information.
Where to find it
Configure the Commerce function under Settings › AI › Functions. Its main controls are Commerce Provider and Enabled capabilities.
Connect it to the appropriate Features or Skills under Settings › AI. Configure visitor verification under Settings › Commerce › Commerce Providers, in Customer and order access. These screens are available through the Settings or Developer role, subject to delegated settings permissions.
How it works
- INSIDE checks the capabilities enabled on the function and supported by the selected provider.
- The conversation context limits which capabilities the assistant can use. Store-wide customer and order searches are restricted to private operator Team Chat.
- A visitor can browse available product information without gaining access to private customer records.
- For an order enquiry, INSIDE requires the configured order details or supported store sign-in. Matching a guest's order details unlocks that order only. A verified customer identity is needed for the customer's profile or wider order history.
- INSIDE checks access again when executing the operation. A saved function or an AI-generated request cannot override a disabled capability.
- If customer identity or verified access changes, earlier commerce context outside the new access is removed from subsequent AI input. A reply generated under the previous access is discarded when that access changes before delivery.
Follow-up messages keep the existing order enquiry context while access remains unchanged. Ending the conversation cancels active AI work.
Configure it
In Functions, choose Commerce and select only the Enabled capabilities your assistant needs. Set Commerce Provider if the function must use one particular store. That provider must support every selected capability; it does not fall back to another store.
For visitor order assistance, configure Allow visitors to access their orders, Verify access using and Required order details on the provider. These access controls also apply to AI commerce operations.
Assign the function through the relevant AI Feature or Skill. Use a private Team Chat feature for operator-wide searches. Visitor-facing configuration does not grant those searches.
Settings
| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commerce Provider | Settings › AI › Functions | website | Automatic routing by website, subsite and operation | Settings role, Developer role | Binds the Commerce function to a selected provider or allows automatic routing. A selected provider does not fall back to another store. |
| Enabled capabilities | Settings › AI › Functions | website | None selected | Settings role, Developer role | Chooses which commerce operations the function may use, subject to provider support and current customer access. At least one capability must be selected before saving; an unconfigured function permits none. |
Permissions
| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Settings | Manage permitted AI and commerce configuration. |
| AI | Access AI configuration when the Settings role has restricted Settings permissions. |
| Developer | Access AI Functions and Commerce Providers to configure commerce capabilities. |
Limits and good to know
- An order number alone does not grant access unless the supported verification process establishes the required permission.
- Guest verification of one order does not permit customer-profile or order-history reads.
- An unavailable order capability must not be treated as evidence that the order does not exist. Product search cannot answer an order-status enquiry.
- Selecting a particular provider keeps the function tied to that store, including follow-up lookups.
- Visitor product results contain customer-facing catalogue information rather than private customer cards or provider diagnostics.
- Changes to commerce access filter AI commerce context. They do not erase the saved conversation transcript.
- If INSIDE cannot establish current commerce access, it can withhold the affected AI reply. It does not continue with assumed customer access.
Depends on and works with
+5 more · this feature uses
- AI customer and order searchEnhances
Private customer and order discovery is available only in operator Team Chat.
- Customer and order accessConfigured by
Verified visitor access determines which private customer and order information is available.
- Store order details and historyEnhances
Verified order lookup and customer history can support AI answers.
- Product card configuration and shopping actionsEnhances
Product results can be presented through product cards.
- Order card configuration and accessEnhances
Authorised order results can be shared as order cards.
View all connections as a list
This feature uses
- Roles and permissionsConfigured by
Roles control who can edit AI Functions and providers.
- AI feature settings and change historyConfigured by
The AI Feature determines the context in which the function is available.
- Autopilot for live chatEnhances
Visitor Autopilot can answer commerce questions through the configured function.
- Context Compiler for AI conversationsEnhances
Managed continuation lets an assistant continue commerce work within the current customer access.
- AI functions and required inputsRequires
Commerce is an AI Function with authorised operation execution.
- Reusable AI skills and instructionsEnhances
Skills can expose each commerce operation as a separate capability.
- Team chatEnhances
Private operator Team Chat adds access to store-wide customer and order searches.
- Commerce provider setup and selectionRequires
A provider must support and enable the requested operation.
- AI customer and order searchEnhances
Private customer and order discovery is available only in operator Team Chat.
- Customer and order accessConfigured by
Verified visitor access determines which private customer and order information is available.
- Store order details and historyEnhances
Verified order lookup and customer history can support AI answers.
- Product card configuration and shopping actionsEnhances
Product results can be presented through product cards.
- Order card configuration and accessEnhances
Authorised order results can be shared as order cards.
Used by
- AI customer and order searchConfigured by
The Commerce function's enabled capabilities limit private searches and follow-up reads.
- Customer and order accessEnhances
AI commerce access respects the verified visitor identity.
- Store order details and historyConfigured by
The Commerce function's enabled capabilities control AI order lookup and history.
- Order card configuration and accessEnhances
Configured AI commerce functions can retrieve and share authorised order cards.
FAQ and troubleshooting
Why can the assistant find products but not orders?
Product operations and order access are separate. Check Enabled capabilities, provider support and Customer and order access.
Why does the visitor need to provide an email or phone number?
The provider's Required order details determines which details must match. The assistant should request missing verification details for the order enquiry.
Why can an operator search customers in Team Chat while a visitor cannot?
Store-wide customer and order search is restricted to private operator Team Chat. Visitors receive access only to information allowed by their verification.
Why did an answer stop after the visitor changed accounts?
Changing identity or access can invalidate the commerce context used to generate the reply. INSIDE discards a reply that no longer has the required access.
Does re-verifying an order clear the opening question every time?
Unchanged access preserves follow-up context. Filtering applies when the customer's identity or verified access actually changes.