B2B e-commerce places different demands on technology than B2C. You need tools that handle volume pricing, customer-specific price lists, payment terms, and complex order flows. Here are the most important solutions.
What distinguishes a good B2B e-commerce platform?
A B2B platform should support customer-specific prices and discounts, net payment (30/60/90 days), password-protected portals for approved buyers, bulk orders, and customized product catalogs per account.
Shopify B2B – built-in features
Shopify has built native B2B functionality directly into the platform. This includes company profiles with customized price lists, payment terms with invoice generation, and password-protected storefront pages. Everything is managed from the same admin as B2C sales.
Key apps for B2B on Shopify
Wholesale Club / Wholesale Gorilla: Provides advanced wholesale functionality with volume discounts, customer-specific price groups, and customized payment terms. Ideal for brands selling to retailers.
NetSuite ERP Integration: For medium and larger B2B companies, ERP integration is crucial. NetSuite connects Shopify to inventory, finance, and CRM for seamless order overview across systems.
Avalara / TaxJar: Automatic tax calculation is critical for B2B commerce, especially for companies selling across borders with different VAT rules.
Shopify Flow: Automation tool that allows you to build workflows without coding – for example, automatic approval of new retailers or reminders for outstanding invoices.
CRM integrations for B2B
HubSpot and Salesforce are the most commonly used CRM solutions for B2B e-commerce. Both integrate seamlessly with Shopify and allow the sales team to follow up on leads, manage accounts, and track purchase history.
Payment solutions tailored for B2B
Shop Pay Installments, Klarna B2B, and Hokodo offer "buy now, pay later" options tailored for business customers. This lowers the barrier to purchase and improves cash flow for both parties in the transaction.
Choosing the right stack
Start with the platform's built-in B2B features and add apps as needed. Avoid overcomplicating your technology stack early on – a simple, well-integrated solution is almost always better than many separate systems that communicate poorly with each other.
