AI Merchant Pro
WooCommerce Plugin

AI Merchant Pro for WooCommerce

Complete documentation for installing, configuring, and using AI Merchant Pro to connect your WooCommerce store to ChatGPT Shopping and Google Merchant Center.

Version 6.2.2 Updated 2025-12-09

Overview

AI Merchant Pro for WooCommerce is a powerful plugin that generates AI-ready product feeds for ChatGPT Shopping and Google Merchant Center. It creates dual-format feeds (XML + JSON) from your WooCommerce catalog, making your products discoverable by 180M+ ChatGPT users and traditional shopping platforms.

Dual Feed Generation

Generate both XML (Google) and JSON ACP (ChatGPT) feeds simultaneously from your catalog.

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ACP Validator

Scan your entire catalog for ChatGPT compatibility issues before submission.

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Shipping Rules

Visual builder for complex shipping rules by country and service type.

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Feed Statistics

Monitor crawl activity with 30-day analytics dashboard and insights.

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ChatGPT Integration

Direct push to OpenAI endpoint for approved merchants with instant updates.

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High Performance

Handles 50,000+ products with optimized batch processing and caching.

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System Requirements

Minimum Requirements
  • WordPress 5.8 or higher
  • WooCommerce 5.0 or higher
  • PHP 7.4 or higher (8.0+ recommended)
  • MySQL 5.6 or higher
  • Memory Limit 256MB minimum (512MB recommended)
For Large Catalogs (50K+ products)
  • PHP 8.0 or higher
  • 1024MB memory limit
  • 600 seconds max execution time
  • OPcache enabled
  • Redis or Memcached (object cache) recommended

Quick Start Checklist

  • WordPress & WooCommerce installed and active
  • Products with images, prices, and descriptions
  • SSL certificate installed (HTTPS)
  • License key from CodeCanyon purchase

Installation

1

Download the Plugin

Purchase and download AI Merchant Pro from CodeCanyon or your account dashboard. You'll receive a ZIP file named ai-merchant-pro-woocommerce-v6.2.2.zip.

2

Upload to WordPress

In your WordPress admin, navigate to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Click "Choose File" and select the ZIP file, then click "Install Now".

3

Activate the Plugin

After installation completes, click "Activate Plugin". You'll see a new "AI Merchant Pro" menu in your WordPress sidebar.

4

Flush Permalinks

Critical step: Go to Settings → Permalinks and click "Save Changes" without changing anything. This registers the feed URLs with WordPress.

Skipping this step will cause your feeds to return 404 errors!
5

Activate Your License

Navigate to AI Merchant Pro → License, enter your license key from CodeCanyon, and click "Activate License". This unlocks all premium features.

Installation Complete!

Your feeds are now available at:

  • XML Feed: https://yoursite.com/?feed=googlemerchant
  • JSON Feed: https://yoursite.com/?feed=chatgpt_json

Feed Configuration

Your Feed URLs

After installation, your product feeds are dynamically generated at these endpoints:

Feed Type URL Parameter Use Case
XML Feed ?feed=googlemerchant Google Merchant Center, traditional platforms
JSON ACP ?feed=chatgpt_json ChatGPT Shopping, AI assistants
Sample Feed ?feed=chatgpt_json&sample=1 First 5 products for testing

XML vs JSON: Which Should I Use?

XML Feed (Google Merchant)

  • RSS 2.0 with Google namespace
  • Standard product attributes
  • Compatible with Google Shopping
  • No shipping rules included
  • Limited variant support
  • No 3D models

Best for: Traditional shopping platforms, Google Merchant Center campaigns

Pro Tip
You can (and should!) enable both feed formats. Use XML for Google Merchant Center and JSON ACP for ChatGPT simultaneously.

Optional Fields Configuration

Configure which optional fields to include in your feeds from AI Merchant Pro → Settings → Feed Options:

Field Description Default
include_variants Include all product variations as separate items Enabled
include_out_of_stock Include products with zero inventory Disabled
include_hidden Include products hidden from catalog Disabled
include_reviews Include product review data and ratings Enabled
include_videos Include video URLs from product gallery Enabled

Currency Settings

The plugin automatically uses your WooCommerce currency settings. For multi-currency stores, you can generate feeds in different currencies by adding a currency parameter to your feed URL (e.g., adding ¤cy=EUR to the feed URL).

The plugin is compatible with popular multi-currency plugins like WPML, WooCommerce Multi-Currency, and Currency Switcher.

Shipping Rules

The Shipping Rules Builder allows you to define complex shipping costs that are included in your JSON ACP feed. ChatGPT uses this data to provide accurate shipping estimates to shoppers.

Using the Shipping Builder

Navigate to AI Merchant Pro → Shipping Rules to access the visual shipping builder.

1

Add a Shipping Rule

Click "Add Rule" and select a country from the dropdown. You can add multiple rules for different countries.

2

Configure Service Types

For each country, add shipping services (Standard, Express, Overnight) with their respective costs and delivery time ranges.

3

Set Free Shipping Thresholds

Optionally set a minimum order value for free shipping. Orders above this amount will show $0 shipping cost.

4

Save Rules

Click "Save Rules" to apply your configuration. The changes will be reflected in your next feed generation.

Service Types Reference

Service Type ACP Code Typical Delivery
Standard Shipping standard 5-7 business days
Express Shipping express 2-3 business days
Overnight/Next Day overnight 1 business day
Store Pickup pickup Same day
Freight/Heavy Items freight 7-14 business days

Example: US Shipping Rules

Here's an example of how you might configure shipping for the United States:

  • Standard Shipping: $5.99, 5-7 business days, free over $50
  • Express Shipping: $12.99, 2-3 business days

You can add as many countries and service types as you need. The shipping data is automatically included in your JSON ACP feed so ChatGPT can provide accurate shipping estimates to customers.

ACP Validator

The ACP Validator scans your entire product catalog to identify issues that could prevent products from appearing in ChatGPT Shopping or cause disapprovals.

Running a Validation Scan

  1. Navigate to AI Merchant Pro → ACP Validator
  2. Click "Start Validation" to begin scanning
  3. Wait for the scan to complete (progress shown in real-time)
  4. Review the results dashboard with issues grouped by severity

Understanding Issue Severity

Critical Blocks submission

Product will not appear in ChatGPT Shopping. Must fix before submission.

  • Missing product title
  • No product URL
  • Price is zero or negative
  • No images
Warning May cause issues

Product may have reduced visibility or accuracy issues.

  • Description too short (<50 chars)
  • Missing brand information
  • No GTIN/SKU
  • Low-quality images
Info Optimization suggestions

Recommendations to improve product discoverability.

  • Add more product images
  • Include video content
  • Add size/color attributes
  • Enable customer reviews

Fixing Common Issues

Missing GTIN/EAN/UPC

GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) help identify products uniquely. To add:

  1. Edit the product in WooCommerce
  2. Go to Product Data → Inventory
  3. Enter the GTIN in the SKU field, or install a GTIN plugin
  4. For custom GTIN field, map it in AI Merchant Pro → Field Mapping
Images Too Small

ChatGPT Shopping requires images at least 500x500 pixels. To fix:

  1. Upload higher resolution product images
  2. Regenerate thumbnails using a plugin like "Regenerate Thumbnails"
  3. Check WooCommerce → Settings → Products → Display for image size settings
Description Too Short

Product descriptions should be at least 150 characters for optimal AI understanding:

  1. Include key features and benefits
  2. Describe materials, dimensions, and use cases
  3. Avoid keyword stuffing - write naturally
  4. Use the short description field for feeds if main description is too long
Price Mismatch

Feed price must match your website price exactly:

  1. Ensure sale prices are correctly configured with dates
  2. Clear any caching plugins after price changes
  3. Check for currency conversion plugins that might affect prices
  4. Regenerate your feed after making price updates

ChatGPT Integration

Connect your WooCommerce store directly to ChatGPT Shopping, making your products discoverable by millions of ChatGPT users.

Standard Submission Flow

For most merchants, the standard flow involves submitting your feed URL to OpenAI for crawling:

1

Generate Your Feed

Ensure your JSON ACP feed is accessible at:
https://yoursite.com/?feed=chatgpt_json

2

Validate Your Feed

Run the ACP Validator to check for any critical issues. Fix all critical errors before submission.

3

Submit to OpenAI

Visit the OpenAI Merchant Portal and submit your feed URL for review.

4

Await Approval

OpenAI will crawl and verify your feed. Approval typically takes 3-7 business days. You'll receive email notification.

Direct Push (Agency License)

Agency license holders can push feed updates directly to OpenAI's endpoint for faster updates without waiting for crawls.

Agency License Required
Direct Push requires an Agency license and OpenAI API credentials. Contact support for setup assistance.

Direct Push Benefits

  • Instant Updates - Changes reflect in minutes, not days
  • Real-time Inventory - Stock levels sync automatically
  • Price Sync - Sale prices update immediately
  • Selective Push - Update only changed products

Checking Submission Status

Monitor your feed status in AI Merchant Pro → ChatGPT Status:

Pending - Awaiting initial crawl
Processing - Feed being validated
Approved - Products live on ChatGPT
Rejected - Issues found, check validator

Advanced Features

Variable Products

AI Merchant Pro fully supports WooCommerce variable products, exporting each variation as a separate item with its own attributes such as color, size, and material. Each variation appears in the feed with its own price, stock status, and images.

Use clear attribute names (Color, Size, Material) rather than abbreviations for better AI understanding and product discoverability.

Video & 3D Models

Enhance your product listings with rich media content to improve engagement and conversions. AI Merchant Pro adds a dedicated "AI Merchant Pro Media" panel to the WooCommerce product editor where you can easily add videos and 3D models.

New in WooCommerce Editor
When editing any product in WooCommerce, you'll find a new "AI Merchant Pro Media" metabox in the product data section. Use this panel to add video URLs and 3D model files directly - no coding required!

Adding Product Videos

In the AI Merchant Pro Media panel, you can add video URLs from:

  • YouTube - Paste any YouTube video URL
  • Vimeo - Paste any Vimeo video URL
  • Self-hosted MP4 - Use your own video file URLs

Videos will be included in your JSON ACP feed and displayed to ChatGPT users when they browse your products.

Adding 3D Models

For products that benefit from 3D visualization (furniture, jewelry, electronics, etc.), you can add 3D model files in the same panel:

  • GLB/GLTF files - Standard 3D web format
  • USDZ files - For Apple AR Quick Look

Simply upload your 3D files to your media library or enter the URL in the AI Merchant Pro Media panel. The 3D model URL will be included in your feed for AI platforms that support AR/3D viewing.

Pro Tip
3D models significantly increase product engagement. Consider adding them for your best-selling or high-value products first.

Custom Field Mapping

If you use other plugins that store product data in custom fields (like GTIN plugins, brand plugins, etc.), AI Merchant Pro can automatically pull that data into your feeds.

Go to AI Merchant Pro → Field Mapping to configure which fields to use for:

  • Brand - The manufacturer or brand name
  • GTIN/EAN/UPC - Product barcodes for identification
  • MPN - Manufacturer Part Number
  • Condition - New, refurbished, or used
  • Energy Rating - For appliances (A+++, A++, etc.)

The plugin automatically detects popular GTIN and brand plugins and uses their data. For custom setups, you can manually specify which fields to use in the Field Mapping settings.

Performance Optimization

For stores with large catalogs, enable these performance features:

Batch Processing

Process products in chunks of 500 to prevent timeouts. Enable in Settings → Performance.

Feed Caching

Cache generated feeds for 1-24 hours. Reduces server load on repeated requests.

Async Generation

Generate feeds in background via WP-Cron. Prevents admin slowdowns.

Selective Sync

Only regenerate products that changed since last sync.

Recommended Server Settings for Large Catalogs

Setting 5K Products 25K Products 50K+ Products
memory_limit 256MB 512MB 1024MB
max_execution_time 120s 300s 600s
Batch Size 1000 500 250
Cache TTL 1 hour 6 hours 12 hours

Troubleshooting

Feed URLs show 404 error

Solution: Flush your permalinks.

  1. Go to Settings → Permalinks
  2. Click "Save Changes" without making any changes
  3. Try accessing the feed URL again

If the issue persists, ensure pretty permalinks are enabled (not "Plain").

Some products are missing from the feed

Products may be excluded if they:

  • Are out of stock (if configured to exclude)
  • Are set to private or draft status
  • Are in excluded categories
  • Have validation errors preventing inclusion
  • Have no price set

Check your plugin settings and run the ACP Validator for details.

Feed generation times out or crashes

For large catalogs:

  1. Enable Batch Processing in Settings → Performance
  2. Reduce batch size to 250-500 products
  3. Increase PHP memory_limit to 512MB+
  4. Increase max_execution_time to 300s+
  5. Enable Async Generation for background processing
Images not appearing in feed

Check the following:

  • Products have featured images set
  • Image URLs are accessible (not protected)
  • Your site uses HTTPS (required for images)
  • Images are at least 100x100 pixels

Test image URLs directly in browser to verify accessibility.

License activation fails

Common causes and solutions:

  • Invalid key: Copy the full key from CodeCanyon without extra spaces
  • Domain limit: Deactivate from previous domain first
  • Firewall: Whitelist our license server (license.aimerchantpro.com)
  • SSL issue: Ensure your site has a valid SSL certificate

Contact support with your purchase code if issues persist.

Google Merchant disapprovals

Run the ACP validation to identify issues:

  • Missing identifiers: Add GTIN, MPN, or brand
  • Invalid images: Use high-resolution, non-watermarked images
  • Price mismatch: Ensure feed price matches landing page
  • Incorrect categories: Map to Google's taxonomy

Review Google's product data specification for detailed requirements.

Enable Debug Mode

For detailed troubleshooting, enable debug mode in AI Merchant Pro → Settings → Advanced → Debug Mode. This logs feed generation details to wp-content/debug.log.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I regenerate my feed?

For most stores, daily regeneration is sufficient. If you have frequent inventory changes, consider enabling real-time sync or scheduling updates every 4-6 hours. Google typically crawls feeds once daily, while ChatGPT may crawl more frequently.

Can I use this with other feed plugins?

Yes! AI Merchant Pro works alongside other feed plugins. Our feeds use unique URLs (?feed=googlemerchant and ?feed=chatgpt_json) that won't conflict with other plugins.

Does it work with multi-language sites (WPML/Polylang)?

Yes, full compatibility with WPML and Polylang. Generate separate feeds per language by appending the language parameter:

  • ?feed=chatgpt_json&lang=en
  • ?feed=chatgpt_json&lang=es
  • ?feed=chatgpt_json&lang=fr
How do I exclude specific products or categories?

Two methods available:

  1. Category exclusion: Go to AI Merchant Pro → Settings → Categories and uncheck categories to exclude.
  2. Product-level: Edit individual products and check "Exclude from AI Merchant feeds" in the product data panel.
What's the difference between Pro and Agency licenses?
Feature Pro Agency
Sites 1 site Unlimited
Direct Push - Included
White Label - Included
Priority Support Email Email + Live Chat
Is my data sent to external servers?

Your product data stays on your server. The plugin only communicates externally for:

  • License verification (your domain name only)
  • Direct Push (if enabled, sends product data to OpenAI)
  • Update checks (plugin version only)

Feed URLs are public by design, as Google and ChatGPT need to crawl them.

Changelog

6.2.2 December 9, 2025
Added Direct Push support for ChatGPT Shopping API
Added 3D model (GLB/GLTF) support in feeds
Improved Feed generation speed by 40% for large catalogs
Fixed Variable product price inheritance issue
6.2.1 November 15, 2025
Added Support for WooCommerce 8.3+
Improved ACP Validator with new severity levels
Fixed Currency conversion for multi-currency stores
Fixed Memory leak in batch processing mode
6.2.0 October 20, 2025
Added Visual Shipping Rules Builder
Added Feed statistics dashboard with 30-day history
Added Video URL extraction from product galleries
Improved WPML/Polylang compatibility for multi-language feeds
6.1.0 September 5, 2025
Added ACP (AI Commerce Protocol) JSON feed format
Added ChatGPT Shopping submission workflow
Improved PHP 8.2 compatibility

Need Help?

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