E-commerce Module-wise User Stories with Acceptance Criteria

In this blog article, we will provide a comprehensive walkthrough of detailed User Stories with Acceptance Criteria for key modules of an e-commerce platform. A user story is a powerful tool that helps teams understand and communicate what a user needs from a system or application. It focuses on the user’s perspective, ensuring that development efforts are aligned with the actual needs of the end-user.

These User Stories with Acceptance Criteria are not only a blueprint for the development process but also serve as a foundation for quality assurance and testing. By clearly defining each feature’s functionality, user stories help ensure that the expected behavior is well understood by all stakeholders involved in the project, from business analysts and developers to designers and quality assurance testers.

In this post, we will delve into each critical e-commerce module, such as user management, product management, shopping cart, checkout, payment gateway integration, and order management. For each module, we’ll define key user stories and establish clear acceptance criteria. This structured approach ensures that features are developed according to best practices, resulting in an intuitive and efficient user experience.

Whether you are an e-commerce product manager, a developer, or part of a design team, understanding how to create and implement well-defined user stories is crucial. These stories help set clear expectations for both users and administrators of the platform, ensuring that the final product meets both functional and business requirements. Let’s dive in and explore these essential user stories that will guide the successful creation of your e-commerce platform.

1. User Management Module

User Registration:

• As a new user, I want to be able to register for an account on the website.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the registration page.
    2. User must provide a valid email address and password.
    3. Upon successful registration, a confirmation email is sent to the user.

User Login:

• As a registered user, I want to be able to log in to my account using my email and password.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the login page.
    2. User must enter a valid email address and password to log in.
    3. Upon successful login, user is redirected to the homepage.

Profile Update:

• As a user, I want to be able to update my profile information, such as my name, email, and shipping address.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the profile settings page after logging in.
    2. User can edit their name, email, and shipping address.
    3. Changes to profile information are saved and reflected in the user’s account.

Password Reset:

• As a forgetful user, I want to be able to reset my password if I forget it.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the password reset page.
    2. User must provide the email associated with their account.
    3. A password reset link is sent to the user’s email.
    4. User can reset their password using the link provided.

2. Product Management Module

Adding New Products:

• As an admin, I want to be able to add new products to the website, including images, descriptions, and prices.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can access the product management interface.
    2. Admin can fill out the required fields for a new product: name, description, price, and image.
    3. Upon submission, the new product is added to the website’s product catalog.

Editing Existing Products:

• As an admin, I want to be able to edit existing product information, such as prices and quantities.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can access the product management interface.
    2. Admin can search for and select the product they wish to edit.
    3. Admin can update the product’s information, such as price and quantity available.
    4. Changes to product information are saved and reflected in the product catalog.

Deleting Products:

• As an admin, I want to be able to delete products that are no longer available.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can access the product management interface.
    2. Admin can search for and select the product they wish to delete.
    3. Admin can confirm the deletion action.
    4. The product is removed from the website’s product catalog.

3. Shopping Cart Module

Adding Items to Cart:

• As a user, I want to be able to add items to my shopping cart from the product detail page.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can view the product detail page.
    2. User can specify the quantity of the product they wish to purchase.
    3. User can click the “Add to Cart” button to add the product to their shopping cart.
    4. The item is added to the shopping cart with the correct quantity.

Viewing Cart:

• As a user, I want to be able to view the items currently in my shopping cart and their quantities.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the shopping cart page.
    2. User can see a list of products currently in their cart along with their quantities and prices.

Updating Cart:

• As a user, I want to be able to update the quantity of items in my shopping cart or remove items entirely.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can update the quantity of an item in their cart directly from the shopping cart page.
    2. User can remove an item from their cart entirely by clicking a “Remove” button.

Proceeding to Checkout:

• As a user, I want to be able to proceed to checkout from my shopping cart.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can see a “Proceed to Checkout” button on the shopping cart page.
    2. User can click the button to proceed to the checkout process.

4. Checkout Module

Shipping Method Selection:

• As a user, I want to be able to select my preferred shipping method during checkout.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can access the checkout page after adding items to their cart.
    2. User can choose from available shipping methods, each displaying associated costs and delivery times.
    3. User can select their preferred shipping method.

Entering Billing and Shipping Information:

• As a user, I want to be able to enter my billing and shipping information.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can enter their billing and shipping address details on the checkout page.
    2. Required fields for billing and shipping information are clearly indicated.
    3. User can review and confirm their entered information before proceeding.

Order Summary:

• As a user, I want to be able to review my order summary before completing my purchase.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can see a summary of their order, including itemized costs (subtotal, taxes, shipping).
    2. User can review the list of items in their order along with their prices and quantities.
    3. User can review their billing and shipping information.

Order Confirmation:

• As a user, I want to receive a confirmation email with my order details after completing my purchase.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User receives an email confirmation shortly after successfully completing the checkout process.
    2. The email contains a summary of the order, including items purchased, total cost, and shipping information.

5. Payment Gateway Integration Module

Secure Payment Information:

• As a user, I want to be able to securely enter my payment information during checkout.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. User can choose their preferred payment method on the checkout page.
    2. User can securely enter their payment details, such as credit card information or PayPal account.

Payment Confirmation:

• As a user, I want to receive confirmation that my payment was successfully processed.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. After entering payment information and confirming the purchase, user receives a payment confirmation message.
    2. User is redirected to a confirmation page displaying their order details.

6. Order Management Module

Viewing Orders:

• As an admin, I want to be able to view a list of all orders placed on the website.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can access the order management interface.
    2. Admin can view a list of all orders, sorted by date or status.

Updating Order Status:

• As an admin, I want to be able to update the status of orders (e.g., processing, shipped, delivered).
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can select an order from the list and update its status from a dropdown menu.
    2. Updated order status is saved and reflected in the order details.

Generating Packing Slips and Shipping Labels:

• As an admin, I want to be able to generate packing slips and shipping labels for orders.
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    1. Admin can select an order from the list and print a packing slip with order details.
    2. Admin can generate a shipping label with the customer’s shipping address for the selected order.

These detailed user stories, along with their associated acceptance criteria, are crucial in ensuring that both functional and non-functional requirements are thoroughly defined for each module of an e-commerce platform. Functional requirements outline the core actions and behaviors the system must support, such as user registration, product management, and order processing. Non-functional requirements, on the other hand, define the system’s performance, security, usability, and reliability, ensuring that the platform delivers an optimal user experience.

By breaking down the features into clearly structured user stories, development teams can have a focused, actionable roadmap to follow. Each story provides context and direction, making it easier to prioritize features, identify dependencies, and test functionalities. Furthermore, by aligning all stakeholders around these stories, including developers, product managers, quality assurance teams, and business owners, collaboration becomes more streamlined. Everyone involved can understand the goals and requirements from the user’s perspective, which is essential for creating a product that is intuitive, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

Ultimately, these user stories act as the foundation for delivering an online shopping experience that is both user-friendly and efficient, meeting the diverse needs of customers while supporting the operational goals of the business. By adhering to this structured approach, teams can build e-commerce platforms that not only meet customer expectations but also provide a robust, seamless shopping experience.