Invoice PDF Generating Application for Magento
Generating invoice files in PDF is an inevitable step in concluding online transactions. However, in a large marketplace, creating these PDFs can be a complex process involving data transfer, processing, and the utilization of multiple templates.
As you may already be aware, PDF generation in Magento poses real challenges. The process lacks intuitiveness and becomes particularly complicated during the styling stage.
For each template that needs preparation and real-time modifications, amendments require sending requests and verifying if the changes are correctly reflected in the final version of the invoice file.
How to Automate Magento PDF files generating process?
When it comes to styling PDFs in Magento, you probably know it can be quite a challenge. Especially when juggling multiple versions! It’s a task that demands valuable time and effort, resources that could be put to better use elsewhere. Let’s explore more efficient solutions!
In a recent scenario, we encountered a situation where the store had many different versions of PDFs to render. To address this, we decided to automate the PDF creation process with a custom application for the Magento backend.
This streamlined approach proved to be efficient and effective from the e-commerce management perspective as well as the development site. Instead of 200 hours, we could complete the task in 50, which is a quarter of the initial timeline. This has resulted in significant budget optimizations.
Solution
Magento, being an Open Source platform, seamlessly integrates with API solutions. Consequently, we have developed an application that efficiently generates PDFs with ease and precision and communicated with Magento with API connection.
The workflow was divided into 2 main steps. The first one was to develop the application rendering PDF files and the second one was to structure data and templates.
The PDF rendering application was developed using React in combination with the Serverless NextJS Endpoint. The integration between Magento and Serverless NextJS revolutionizes the game by allowing server costs to be determined based on the number of requests. This approach offers remarkable flexibility and scalability, aligning perfectly with diverse business requirements.
Each endpoint ensures authorized requests for validated data, delivering well-structured information. The React PDF engine leverages templates and received data to generate the desired files, resulting in a seamless process.
The UI enhancement offers the ability to modify files with real-time preview access, providing a seamless and efficient PDF rendering process.
This not only accelerates the process but also simplifies it, making it more user-friendly.
We developed the following features:
- 1. Preview mode for all pdfs
- 2. Real-time change preview
- 3. Data manipulation in preview mode
- 4. Serverless API endpoints for Magento integration
- 5. Dynamic documentation for Backend developers (for easier integration)
- 6. Endpoint API validating data for security and stability reasons
- 7. Endpoint API is protected by Basic Auth for security reasons
- Support for all client stores.
Outcome / benefits
This solution greatly improves the PDF generation process, benefiting both merchants and developers.
It eliminates the need for excessive development work, making it easier and more efficient.
Additionally, real-time preview functionality allows for quick and hassle-free assessments of any changes.
Jakub Nowak, Michał Tarkowski, Panda Group Developers