There are countless options for B2B organizations seeking e-commerce solutions providers for their business. For these organizations, the right e-commerce platform can make or break goals for sustainable business growth and success.
E-commerce platforms are a great option for B2B organizations. This blog covers some of the best e-commerce solution providers out there. When selecting an online shop for your business, here are the key factors and platforms to consider.
Table of contents
What kinds of e-commerce solutions are available?
Most e-commerce solutions providers are split into three categories: open source, SaaS, and headless commerce.
Open source
Open-source e-commerce platforms are popular with organizations that have their own in-house IT teams. This is because they can adapt or customize any part of the code to suit their requirements.
Open-source platforms require businesses to manage PCI compliance, web hosting, security and new tools or integrations for their web store. This means businesses must take responsibility for these tasks.
Examples of open source platforms include WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and Shopware.
SaaS
Software as a solution (SaaS) e-commerce solutions providers allow businesses to leverage cloud-based software to operate their web stores. Businesses pay a subscription fee to use this software. By doing so, they can easily access updates and new releases.
SaaS solutions provide the platform and its associated infrastructure. They offer a range of pre-built features and functionalities that can be customized to an organization’s needs and business goals.
Examples of SaaS e-commerce tools include Sana Commerce Cloud, Big Commerce, and Wix.
Headless
Headless e-commerce solutions involve a separation of the platform. The front-end, or “head”, is decoupled from the back end, or “body”. This allows for more flexibility. These types of platforms are preferred by large enterprises that have multiple brands with verydifferent e-commerce requirements.
These solutions also provide a faster go-to-market pace than traditional e-commerce solutions. The separation of front and back-end can be costly and complex. It can require technical expertise to manage. Cumulative project costs may be higher as a result.
Examples of headless e-commerce solutions providers include Spryker, commercetools, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Choosing between self-hosted vs cloud e-commerce
E-commerce solutions can be divided into two categories: self-hosted and cloud e-commerce. These include headless, SaaS, and open-source options.
Choosing how to host your e-commerce store online is important. It can determine the success and performance of your store. Therefore, it is essential to make a wise decision.
Self-hosted
These e-commerce platforms are also known as “on-premise”. Web store owners must take responsibility for hosting, installation and software updates.
Self-hosted e-commerce solutions providers give businesses complete control over the software, server configurations, and customizations. Some key aspects include software installation, server management, customization, data-control, and maintenance.
Platforms that offer customization and control may require technical teams to maintain them. This could be a challenge, but the end result is worth it.
WooCommerce is an example of a self-hosted e-commerce platform.
Cloud e-commerce
These kinds of e-commerce platforms are hosted on cloud-based infrastructure. Cloud service providers manage hosting, storage, and computing resources for e-commerce operations. This eliminates the need to manage one’s own servers or hardware.
Cloud e-commerce has many advantages. These include reliability in terms of data accuracy, flexible costs, high security and compliance, and easy access..
Sana Commerce Cloud is an example of a cloud-based e-commerce solutions provider.
10 of the best e-commerce solutions providers for B2B organizations
1- Sana Commerce Cloud (SCC)
Sana Commerce Cloud (SCC) is a robust e-commerce platform that leverages the power of Microsoft Dynamics and SAP ERPs to create a highly reliable platform built on customer convenience. An ideal choice for businesses seeking a solution that integrates with their ERP, it is highly specialized for B2B organizations seeking to provide next-level e-commerce experiences.
Scalability and performance enabled by cloud-based infrastructure.
Cons:
Unable to integrate with ERPs outside of Microsoft Dynamics and SAP.
Customizations are usually required for larger enterprises.
Highly specialized for B2B organizations, with standard B2C options.
2- Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce)
Adobe Commerce is an e-commerce solution with a large ecosystem, offering a wide range of tools and functionalities. It is most popular with organizations with extensive B2C or design requirements.
Pros:
Advanced design functionalities thanks to pre-built integrations with Adobe.
Extensive range of marketplace extensions (costs between $0-$15,000).
Useful B2C functionalities for businesses in that industry.
Cons:
ERP integration is not out-of-the-box.
A higher-end e-commerce solutions provider with costs to match.
Not highly specialized in B2B integration, leaving potential for siloes.
3- BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a leading open-source e-commerce platform, one that can function well across various sectors and industries.
Pros:
Intuitive functionality and feature options.
Secure platform with a great track record for keeping web stores safe.
Flexible enough to accommodate other IT solutions (such as CMS platforms).
Cons:
Relies on partners for implementation, which can drive project time and costs up.
Migration costs and exports are often involved.
Less extensive app marketplace.
4- commercetools
commercetools is a modern, API-driven e-commerce platform designed to deliver flexible and scalable solutions for businesses.
Pros:
Headless and API-driven architecture for businesses looking for an extremely flexible solution.
A modular platform that can adapt easily to different business requirements.
Developer-friendly tools and ecosystem.
Cons:
Requires technical expertise to fully leverage all capabilities.
Implementation and customization can quickly become complex.
Modular pricing that can often scale depending on requirement scope.
5- Shopify
Shopify is a popular and user-friendly e-commerce platform that caters mainly to B2B sellers. Their B2B offering is called “Shopify Plus”. It offers a wide range of features and support, making it a leading choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Pros:
Easy-to-use interface with intuitive, built-in features.
Extensive app store with a vast selection of add-ons and integrations for expanding functionality.
Reliable customer support available 24/7 to assist with any issues or questions.
Cons:
Limited customization options compared to self-hosted platforms. Limitations when it comes to free features.
Transaction fees on certain payment gateways unless using Shopify Payments.
Scalability challenges arise for large-scale businesses with high traffic volumes.
6- Intershop
Intershop is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that offers a range of features and solutions for businesses looking to establish and grow their online presence. With its long-standing expertise in the e-commerce industry, Intershop caters to both B2B and B2C companies.
Pros:
Scalable platform with a wide array of built-in features.
Flexible architecture capable of meeting unique business requirements.
A full-suite solution.
Cons:
Only interfaces with SAP and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations.
Interfaced solution means no direct integration with the ERP.
Potentially higher upfront costs compared to other platforms on the market.
7- DynamicWeb
DynamicWeb is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that combines content management, digital marketing, and e-commerce functionalities. It provides businesses with a flexible and scalable solution for creating and managing their online presence.
Pros:
Unified platform for content management, digital marketing, and e-commerce.
SaaS and Cloud deployment model options offer flexibility in project planning.
Flexible and customizable architecture to meet unique business requirements.
Cons:
Interfaced solution that offers a broader spectrum of solutions.
More specialized in CMS than e-commerce.
Cannot accommodate SAP ERPs.
8- Volusion
Volusion is an e-commerce platform designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a user-friendly interface and a range of features to help businesses create, manage, and grow their online stores.
Pros:
Built-in marketing and SEO features to help drive traffic and increase visibility.
Secure and reliable hosting, ensuring the stability and performance of the online store.
User-friendly interface with easy-to-use tools for store setup and management.
Cons:
Limited customization options compared to some other e-commerce platforms.
Transaction fees on certain payment gateways unless using Volusion Payments.
Customer support may have limitations in responsiveness and availability.
9- OpenCart
OpenCart is a popular open-source e-commerce platform with strong store management, extensions, and customer support functionalities.
Pros:
Open-source nature allows for extensive customization and flexibility.
User-friendly interface and straightforward setup process.
Wide range of extensions and themes available.
Cons:
Technical expertise may be required for advanced customizations.
Community support and documentation may vary in quality.
May require additional extensions or development for certain advanced features.
10- WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress, popular amongst first generation e-commerce platform buyers. A CMS-driven web store that has an SMB, B2C focus.
Pros:
Competitive, entry-level pricing.
CMS-driven e-commerce is more suitable for ERP agnostic businesses.
Highly customizable through plugins.
Cons:
Middleware required to integrate with the ERP.
Involves maintenance of multiple connectors including hosting and security.
Can involve additional costs as a result of extra maintenance.
Shopping for e-commerce solution providers: Features to look for
When shopping for e-commerce solutions providers, what do you need to keep an eye out for? Here’s a quick look at all the different elements you need to factor in:
Feature #1: Out-of-the-box capabilities
A key first step when selecting an e-commerce solution provider is, of course, finding one whose solution meets your business needs. To do so, you must first have defined your e-commerce goals with a prioritized list of product requirements. Find out how in our e-commerce project blog post.
Once you have your list of priorities, start looking for vendors who offer most, if not all, of your must-have requirements in their standard, out-of-the-box e-commerce solution.
In general, it is best to avoid too many customizations, as this can quickly increase your project timeline and push you over budget. And don’t assume that if one feature is standard in one e-commerce software platform, it will be standard in another, as this is not always the case.
E-commerce software features include:
Hosting environment: the hosting environment of any given e-commerce platform will determine a range of features, including SSL, payment processing, shopping cart functionality, and more.
API call volumes: if you’re opting to use a SaaS platform, it’s worth exploring how many API calls might be available, as well as their efficiency. Some platforms, such as Shopify, have more rigid API call/second limits, making it a challenge to build out your web store the way you wish.
User-friendly web store builder: For most B2B organizations, an e-commerce platform is a significant investment, one that doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for designers to make things look sleek. That’s why it’s so important to have a dynamic, responsive and user-friendly website builder, that makes designing something on-brand and functional simple, regardless of internal resources.
Security: E-commerce stores have to deal with highly sensitive data that needs to be kept secure. All web stores also need to meet PCI compliance requirements, which have to be met in order to avoid being charged fines, and other financial repercussions.
Feature #2: Integration potential
On top of finding a platform that meets your list of e-commerce requirements, think also about how your potential solutions will fit into your current IT infrastructure and tech stack. What you want to avoid here are systems that operate in silos and lead to additional maintenance costs and resources, and more room for error. You also want to make the most of your existing tech investments and working processes.
Integration of systems is especially important as your organization grows and expands into new markets. To avoid siloed operations that lead to additional overhead costs and resources, the e-commerce platform you’ve chosen to back your web store should fit in with your current tech stack. There are two kinds of integrated e-commerce solution providers:
Directly integrated platforms
A directly integrated e-commerce solution, such as Sana Commerce Cloud, is installed inside your ERP system. The e-commerce platform can then access all your existing ERP data, functionalities and calculations, and project them onto the web store — without the need to replicate the information.
In short, your ERP is the engine that powers your web store. This leads to advantages such as quick implementation, lower maintenance costs and clearer investments, but also personalized customer pricing functionalities and many more benefits.
Interfaced e-commerce platforms
These types of e-commerce platforms run autonomously. These solutions only provide the web store itself (the front-end). You can still connect your web store to your ERP using connectors. The data is then synchronized with your ERP from time to time, but all adjustments and calculations need to be performed twice: once in your web store and once in your ERP. This often means a longer and more complex implementation project, but also more maintenance costs and resources needed in the long run.
Trying to compare between two e-commerce vendors?
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Feature #3: E-commerce costs
Budget is always an important consideration when selecting an e-commerce solution provider. You can compare buying an e-commerce solution to buying a flight ticket. Some airlines will include everything in one ticket. While others will charge you additional fees for checked-in luggage, seat selection, entertainment, in-flight meals on top of the original ticket price.
There are many factors to take into consideration when making an e-commerce vendor pricing comparison. These can include:
Out-of-the-box software cost
Implementation fees
Any additional connection fees: for example, if the middleware or connectors needed to sync your tech systems are not included out-of-the-box
Any additional customization fees: for everything not included in the standard solution
Hosting costs: and whether these are fixed or variable (for example, depending on site traffic or turnover)
Any additional hosting partner costs
Service and support fees
Agency fees (if web store management self-service is not available)
Add-on costs: for example, payment service providers
Fees for design or templates
E-commerce software vendor comparison can get tricky. While one solution provider might seem the cheapest initially, it might work out more expensive in the long run. Be wary of hidden e-commerce costs and ensure you have a clear overview of what you’re buying into.
And it’s not just the fees you are paying directly to your e-commerce vendor. You should also consider the money you will spend — or save — on internal resources to run and maintain your e-commerce platform. This again all depends on the type of e-commerce solution and provider you choose.
Wondering what your e-commerce return on investment is?
Use our free ROI calculator.
Feature #4: Time to market
Time is also money! Be sure you select a provider who can deliver your web store within your timeline. The sooner your web store is live, the sooner you can start making money online.
How fast your e-commerce vendor can deliver a web store will depend on their working processes as well as the solution you choose. For example, if you opt for an out-of-the-box solution delivered by an expert e-commerce provider, you will go live much faster than with a highly-customized platform that a less experienced vendor needs to build from scratch.
This was the case for New Zealand-based steel distributor Steel & Tube, who used Sana Commerce to implement two web stores in just 90 days.
Feature #5: Relevant experience
The best e-commerce provider for your business is typically a vendor who has experience working with your kind of company and project. This means experience with:
E-commerce: It might sound obvious, but some vendors might offer e-commerce as part of a suite of solutions. This might work as a stop-gap solution, but the levels of support and customization available with this kind of software can often leave you unable to meet more ambitious digital transformation projects.
B2B and/or B2C: Many e-commerce solution providers will have plenty of experience with B2C, but less so with B2B customers. This might lead to a beautiful-looking web store front-end attached to a back-end that cannot handle the complexities of B2B orders, and vice versa. If, as a B2C company, you opt for a vendor with little B2C experience, you might not be able to get the B2C features you are looking for.
Companies of similar sizes/sectors: Organizational processes vary depending on the size and industry, so it’s important to establish whether your e-commerce provider will be to validate their experience, you should ask your potential e-commerce providers for examples of past clients who are comparable to your business in size, scope and goals. You can even ask to make contact with these clients directly.
Feature #6: Culture fit
On top of selecting an e-commerce software vendor who has the right experience, you should also consider whether this vendor fits your organization. This means a provider whose culture, professionalism and working processes match or complement yours, for a seamless, clear and efficient collaboration.
You not only want an e-commerce solution vendor who can cope with your way of working, but also a provider with whom you can form a real partnership.
For example, if you are a waterfall company, a provider who can only work with agile methodology may not be a good fit. Similarly, huge enterprises might not want to opt for a brand-new start-up.
Feature #7: Support capabilities
Before, during and after the implementation of your new e-commerce platform, you will likely need support from your e-commerce software vendor. Consider, therefore, the additional services offered by your shortlisted providers:
What support do they offer from start to finish?
What type of training and education do they provide customers?
How long does it take to get an answer to your call or email?
Are they active in your region and/or do they offer worldwide support?
The type of support you require will differ based on your company’s needs. We often find that large enterprise companies have higher demands than smaller businesses. But whatever they are, to ensure your e-commerce project runs smoothly, your chosen provider should be able to comply with your support and servicing needs.
Conclusion
Over the span of this blog post, we’ve covered the different types of e-commerce solutions providers available for businesses looking to level-up their web stores. Moreover, we’ve covered some of the key considerations for B2B organizations trying to decide on a prospective vendor, which include the hosting environment, API call volumes, and security functionalities.
For truly effective B2B e-commerce, integration capabilities can make or break your work processes. Selecting the right e-commerce platform is critical for B2B success. Factoring in features such as out-of-the-box capabilities, integration potential, costs, time to market, and support can help you make an informed decision that is good for your business.
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