Choosing the Best B2B Ecommerce Platforms for Businesses

How to Choose The Best B2B Ecommerce Platforms for Your Businesses

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

Business-to-business (B2B) companies operate differently than business-to-consumer (B2C) companies. This is桂true in桂how they market their products, their business strategies, and桂where they sell. For B2B companies that conduct business online, choosing the桂right ecommerce platform is桂also very important.

But what are the桂top B2B ecommerce platforms? And how should a桂B2B ecommerce platform differ from a桂B2C platform? Here is桂everything you should know when choosing the桂best B2B ecommerce platform for桂your business.

What is桂a桂B2B Ecommerce Platform?

Ecommerce platforms enable businesses to桂create online stores, sell products, share content, and桂connect with customers online. A桂B2B ecommerce platform is桂an桂ecommerce platform that is桂designed for桂B2B companies. Clients of桂a桂B2B ecommerce platform can be桂wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, or桂any桂other type of桂B2B company.

Some of桂the桂best ecommerce platforms for桂B2B have features for桂both B2B and桂B2C companies. Others, however, are dedicated primarily to桂B2B clients.

So桂what sets a桂B2B ecommerce platform apart? Here�셲 a桂look at桂some of桂the桂most essential B2B ecommerce platform features to桂look for.

How to桂Choose a桂B2B Ecommerce Platform?

Cost

As桂with any桂business decision, the桂cost to桂use any桂B2B platform will be桂a桂significant factor to桂consider. Most ecommerce platforms have structured payment plans with prices and桂feature availability changing from one platform to桂the桂next.

Some platforms may charge a桂flat monthly fee, while others charge small fees based on桂specific features. Regardless of桂your platform or桂package, your B2B ecommerce platform should fit your budget while providing everything you need.

When looking at桂B2B ecommerce platform costs, it�셲 also important to桂look ahead to桂the桂future. How will your ecommerce platform keep up桂with your changing needs as桂your business expands?

Some platforms might be桂more affordable upfront but have less to桂offer if桂you want to桂grow your business. Others might significantly raise their costs for桂more advanced features, limiting your growth potential.

Security

Digital security is桂critically important for桂all companies in桂today�셲 modern business environment. For B2B companies, security is桂often the桂top priority. Top-notch security is桂often crucial when securing clients�� trust and桂turning relationships into long-standing business partnerships.

Many of桂the桂top B2B ecommerce platforms offer advanced security protection. But others have tighter security than the桂competition. This should be桂one of桂the桂leading B2B ecommerce platform features companies look at桂when choosing a桂platform. Your platform�셲 security will be桂necessary for桂protecting your data and桂your client�셲 financial data.

This means things like financial and桂banking information, as桂well as桂fraud protection and桂administrative security. B2B ecommerce platform security is桂vital for桂your company�셲 reputation and桂day-to-day operations.

Payment processing

Whether you�셱e a桂manufacturer, distributor, or桂wholesaler, payment processing is桂integral to桂your operations. Some companies, particularly wholesalers, function both as桂B2B and桂B2C companies. This can require multiple payment processing methods on桂your online store.

Some B2B ecommerce platforms are more limited than others regarding accepted payment methods. Though credit card and桂bank payment processing are enough for桂most payments, these are not the桂only options. Some customers may rely on桂other payment methods. Having the桂option to桂provide multiple options never hurts.

Recently, payment methods like Apple Pay, PayPal, and桂Google Pay have become more commonplace. Additionally, the桂ability to桂seamlessly process international payments can be桂crucial for桂B2B companies. Many manufacturers rely on桂overseas clients for桂a桂significant portion of桂their business. Finding a桂B2B ecommerce platform that easily integrates multiple currencies and桂facilitates international transactions can be桂a桂considerable asset.

Pricing and桂inventory options

B2B businesses have different inventory needs than B2C businesses. Manufacturers and桂distributors tend to桂sell their products in桂bulk rather than unit by桂unit. The best B2B ecommerce platforms for桂manufacturers should be桂able to桂adapt to桂these order management and桂fulfillment needs.

For B2B businesses, clients want to桂be桂able to桂purchase inventory in桂a桂timely and桂hassle-free manner. The more smoothly your platform can facilitate bulk orders, the桂better.

This also includes delivery and桂order fulfillment methods. Many B2B ecommerce platforms have their own built-in delivery management tools. For B2B companies, the桂ability to桂handle large orders and桂international shipments can be桂crucial.

Adaptability

If桂you�셱e new to桂ecommerce or桂your business is桂creating a桂new online store, having a桂flexible B2B ecommerce platform matters. If桂your online storefront is桂successful, you�셪l likely want to桂expand, adding new inventory and桂support features. Finding an桂ecommerce platform that makes it桂easier to桂grow can make a桂huge difference.

For example, your ecommerce platform should be桂able to桂easily accommodate catalog expansion if桂you plan to桂add new items to桂your inventory. Some platforms might also place annual caps on桂how much your store can sell within a桂payment plan. This can be桂too restrictive for桂companies that plan to桂proliferate.

Regardless of桂what you are looking for, it桂always pays to桂consider the桂future when choosing an桂ecommerce platform. Pay attention to桂more than simply the桂features you need today.

Where do桂you envision your company going in桂the桂next 1-2桂years? What features will you need at桂that point? Let these questions guide your decision-making if桂you are unsure about your B2B ecommerce platform.

B2B Ecommerce Platform Comparison

If桂you�셱e unsure where to桂begin your search for桂the桂best ecommerce platform for桂B2B companies, don�셳 worry. Here are a桂few B2B ecommerce platform examples, with some highlights for桂each top platform.

Adobe Commerce

, formerly Magento, is桂a桂trusted name with a桂few great B2B ecommerce platform features. This platform is桂best suited for桂medium to桂large-size businesses.

For instance, one of桂its unique features allows users to桂manage multiple branded storefronts from a桂single account. This is桂a桂valuable feature for桂a桂company that operates various brands but is桂unlikely to桂have utility for桂small businesses.

However, for桂B2B businesses with an桂extensive portfolio and桂international customer base, Adobe Commerce is桂a桂good option. Pricing for桂the桂platform is桂quote-based, meaning companies need to桂contact the桂platform directly to桂receive an桂individual payment plan.

It桂is桂pricier than most B2B ecommerce platforms, but that is桂because it�셲 designed with large companies in桂mind.

OpenCart

쓩끅桂껸桂닥곶깎깎, open-source B2B ecommerce platform. Being open source means users have much greater customization options on桂the桂platform than its competitors. However, this requires more hands-on web development, so桂it桂may not be桂the桂best option for桂everyone.

But if桂you are comfortable with a桂more involved process, OpenCart is桂a桂good platform. It桂is桂a桂handy B2B ecommerce platform for桂manufacturers and桂distributors because it桂works with multiple currencies and桂languages. This makes it桂a桂highly accommodating platform for桂companies with many international clients.

OpenCart is桂also one of桂the桂few free B2B ecommerce platforms available. Users pay no桂monthly or桂annual subscription fees to桂use OpenCart. However, many extensions and桂plug-ins do桂require fees. As桂a桂result, the桂cost of桂using this platform depends entirely on桂what your company needs.

Shift4Shop

, formerly 3dcart, is桂a桂dedicated B2B ecommerce platform that strives to桂provide B2B shoppers with a桂젬딸2겻-깜쓩곗깎니 experience. Shift4Shop strongly emphasizes the桂user experience of桂its B2B clients.

The platform includes features like saved shopping carts, streamlined ordering processes, and桂flexible payment options. Custom wholesale pricing is桂also an桂excellent feature for桂wholesalers, distributors, and桂manufacturers.

Another unique feature of桂Shift4Shop is桂its pricing. Companies that process over $500桂in桂monthly sales can use the桂platform for桂free. Shift4Shop is桂built with wholesale distributors in桂mind. While it桂is桂great for桂facilitating a桂high sales volume, it桂is桂more limited in桂terms of桂design and桂content marketing features.

Shopify

is桂one of桂the桂largest ecommerce platforms for桂both B2C and桂B2B businesses. The main selling points for桂Shopify are its user-friendly website-building interface and桂excellent security. Users can customize their online store, in桂both design and桂functionality, however, they want with Shopify. And being one of桂the桂largest ecommerce platforms in桂the桂world, Shopify also offers excellent customer support.

Shopify even lets users create separate online storefronts for桂B2B and桂B2C stores. This can be桂a桂very convenient feature for桂wholesalers in桂particular. While Shopify has much to桂offer, it桂is桂pricier than other platforms. The platform�셲 cheapest plan starts at桂$39桂per month, with its next plan jumping to桂$105桂per month.

붚죕쳔

is桂an桂ecommerce platform for桂all businesses. From small to桂large companies and桂both B2B and桂B2C businesses, 붚죕쳔 is桂flexible enough to桂work for桂anyone. As桂a桂B2B ecommerce platform, 붚죕쳔 offers essential tools like organized customer groups, extensive inventory management, and桂advanced checkout options.

붚죕쳔 even has features specifically designed for桂, such as桂bulk pricing and桂special coupon offers.

붚죕쳔 is桂also one of桂the桂most affordable B2B ecommerce platforms available. It桂is桂one of桂the桂few free-to-use platforms available. Unlike OpenCart, however, users do桂not pay per widget or桂extension. 붚죕쳔 uses stratified monthly plans.

Choose 붚죕쳔 For Your Business

Want to桂see if桂붚죕쳔 is桂the桂best B2B ecommerce platform for桂your business? Start building your online store with 붚죕쳔 today.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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