Online shopping is not only a popular channel in the B2C sector. A growing number of B2B decision makers also prefer the convenience of ordering from virtually anywhere. E-commerce in B2B is growing – the question for entrepreneurs is how they can take advantage of this market.
Often, the right tools are the cornerstone of a successful B2B eCommerce business. In this case, the most important asset is a B2B platform for your business. Because no matter who you sell to, you need a strong platform to succeed in this environment.
We’ll introduce you to the best B2B platforms and tell you what to consider when making your choice.
What should a B2B platform offer?
Your B2B platform should give you everything from a customizable checkout experience to marketing tools and analytics. Because the B2B world has different requirements than the B2C world, you should carefully consider your B2B solution before making a choice.
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Table of contents:
What is a B2B e-commerce platform?
In a nutshell, a B2B platform is an e-commerce platform that enables digital sales for business customers. A good B2B platform should provide your customers with a seamless experience throughout the checkout process. The platform should also enable you to evaluate customer data obtained from the ordering process and use it for customer communication.
It should also offer the possibility to integrate warehouse management software or dropshipping software. Interfaces and integrations with CRM software, ERP systems, logistics software, and payment service providers are also an important point.
Read the tips: What is dropshipping? You can find it in the post.
Retailers often expect B2B online stores to function differently than in the B2C world. This is mainly because the store system is not only for individuals, but also for the entire client company. Therefore, a B2B store is implemented differently than a B2C store.
In the next section, we’ll take a quick look at the key differences between these two fields.
The biggest difference between B2B and B2C
B2C (Business to Consumer) is about the relationship between the business and the end consumer. Therefore, the focus of online stores is mainly on product display and marketing.
The B2B field is about business relationships between companies (business-to-business). Therefore, B2B-focused platforms usually focus on efficient ordering processes and customer-specific projects.
Read the tips: You can find more information in our blog post on B2C vs. B2B.
In a B2C store, the same service is also available to all users. The situation is different for B2B: every company wants to show its negotiated price, shipping terms, and payment method. Often there are also graded prices or your own product range – these numerous requirements also require extensive functionality on the B2B platform. We have now evaluated and concluded for you the 5 most suitable solutions for your business.
The 5 Best B2B Platforms for Your Business
There are a variety of B2B platforms on the market today – and they all offer unique advantages to entrepreneurs. Which platform is best for you also depends on your specific requirements.
However, there are some basic features that every B2B platform should have. In addition to self-service features and personalization, marketing tools and customizable checkout also play an important role.
Now let’s take a closer look at the 5 best B2B platforms:
#1 Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus gives you powerful tools to run and grow your wholesale business. Great features include ERP and CRM integration, 100+ payment providers, and conversion optimization and personalization.
B2B on Shopify is a suite built directly into your admin panel that gives you access to further customization of themes, pricing, and checkout – all as part of your Shopify Plus plan. This enables you to manage your B2C and B2B sales from your Shopify admin. The solution allows you to customize pricing, payment terms, tax exemptions, and more—it requires no apps or programming.
Read the tips: You can learn how to implement a B2B store with Shopify here.
The most important features:
- Company Profile
- Customized product series
- Personalization for B2B stores
- Quantity rules and price lists
- reports and reports
- Self-service shopping
- easy reorder
- Customizable B2B Logistics
- Determination of discount
- global expansion
- 24/7 support
- Manage multiple stores with one background
Price:
Shopify’s B2B platform pricing is available upon request.
Want to learn more about the features of “B2B on Shopify”? You can get more information here.
#2 Sana Business Cloud
Sana Commerce is a solution built for B2B businesses. With its features, it is a great option for sellers in this regard. The solution is ready to use right away thanks to seamless integration with your Microsoft Dynamics or SAP ERP system. With this B2B platform, you can guarantee your customers the latest product information, transparency and a unified buying experience.
The most important features:
- Easy repeat purchases
- self-service function
- Personalized Prices and Discounts
- B2B specific payment integration
Price:
Also, with this B2B platform, you can only ask the supplier directly for the cost of the solution.
Read the tips: This is how you build your eCommerce.
#3 E-Commerce
OroCommerce is also a B2B platform, tailored for the specific needs of B2B companies. Modern software platforms provide you with many of the tools you need to sell your products online. With OroCommerce, you benefit from a flexible open source environment and a well-developed community.
OroCommerce’s customers mainly include large and medium-sized retailers and manufacturers from all over the world.
The most important features:
- Built-in CRM
- open source environment
- Sales and Marketing Reports
- 24/7 support
- Access Control, Roles and Privileges
- Customizable Pricing Tiers
Price:
The price depends on your individual requirements. For smaller companies, Oro has a free community edition and a paid enterprise edition for medium and large companies. Exact pricing for the Enterprise Edition is available upon request only.
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#4 OXID B2B Shop System
OXID is suitable for both B2B and B2C fields. The system has a large number of interfaces and the integration of third-party systems, which can be highly customized. Customers of this solution value a combination of reliability, scalability, and ease of adaptability.
The most important features:
- high scalability
- Quick Order Process
- High degree of customization
- Easy access to e-commerce
Price:
Prices in the B2B zone vary depending on the order volume of your store. You can request details via the homepage.
Read the tips: We provide proven strategies for your eCommerce marketing.
#5 Big Business B2B Edition
BigCommerce’s B2B platform is also popular with sellers. The easy-to-integrate solutions are specifically tailored to the requirements of this industry. Among other things, merchants can create custom shipping rates for B2B customers and sync data across their CRM, ERP, and other platforms.
The most important features:
- Advanced Shipping Options
- B2B Specific Payment Services
- easy reorder
- Apply Automatic Volume Discounts
- Backend ERP system and CRM integration
Price:
BigCommerce starts at $29 for the Standard plan. The Enterprise plan is recommended for individual needs and features. Prices for the program are available upon request.
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in conclusion
E-commerce also offers great potential in the B2B arena. It is especially important to find a B2B platform that suits your needs.
When deciding which B2B eCommerce platform to use, ask yourself which features are most important to you. Shopify Plus is the perfect choice for anyone looking for high-quality ecommerce functionality with a solid and easy-to-use backend.
Are you ready to turn your ideas into reality?
Try Shopify for free and sell as much as you want!
Frequently asked questions about B2B platforms
What B2B platforms are there?
There are various B2B platforms in the market that can support you in implementing your store. The most famous include “B2B on Shopify” from Shopify Plus or Sana Commerce. In our blog post we show you even more possibilities.
What is B2B?
The acronym B2B stands for “business-to-consumer,” which translates to “business-to-business.” B2B is about selling products from one company to another. Companies that sell products to end consumers rely on so-called B2C methods.
What are the advantages of a B2B store?
B2B Store supports companies to optimize purchasing and sales processes and increase efficiency. This way you save resources, costs and time.
What is the best B2B platform?
The best B2B platform for you depends on your needs and the size of your business. With “B2B on Shopify,” Shopify Plus gives you a powerful platform tailored for the B2B space. You can find out more about this solution in our article.
About the author: Alice Viete is a content marketing expert. As an agency owner, she supports B2B and eCommerce companies in implementing their personalized content strategies. On the Shopify Blog, she writes about current topics of successful retailers and online transactions.