10 B2B online store systems compared - the store guide

Are you active in the B2B business or planning to gain a foothold here? Depending on your product range, you will no longer be able to avoid creating an online store for your business customers. If you also have an offer for the B2C sector and already operate an online store there, it is worth thinking about creating another store just for your B2B buyers. After all, this is a completely different shopping experience than for private customers. Expectations and functions also need to be redefined. You can find out exactly what this looks like, which store systems are suitable for your own B2B store and much more here!

Reading time 14 min

1. What exactly is a B2B online store anyway?
   1. And what is the difference between a B2B and a B2C store?
2. Options for creating and operating a B2B store
   1. Comparison of online store software for the B2B business
3. Our conclusion
4. FAQ: All questions and answers about your B2B online shop
   1. Why should you run a B2B store?
   2. What B2B online store software is available?
   3. How can companies ensure that their B2B online stores are in line with the latest trends and technologies?

   4. What types of products or services are best suited for selling via a B2B online store?

What is a B2B store?

A B2B store is a store that is aimed exclusively at business people. This means that companies, not private individuals, make purchases here. However, the products sold vary greatly. For example, it can be office supplies, but also materials that are used for further processing. B2B stores are generally operated as online stores and usually display the net price in addition to the gross price. VAT is refunded for business purchases if a VAT identification number is provided. However, there are other aspects that need to be taken into account when operating a B2B online store. You can find out more in the following sections.

What is the difference between a B2B store and a B2C store?

As already mentioned, the biggest difference between B2B and B2C lies in the target group. B2B or business-to-business means "from company to company". It therefore refers to the sale of products or services from one company to another. B2C or Business to Consumer means "from the company to the consumer". Here, services and goods are sold to private individuals, for example in the retail or catering sectors.

There are also business models that offer their products to both private individuals and companies. For example, it is common in the tourism industry to offer rooms not only to private vacationers, but also to business travelers who book hotel rooms through the company. Some hotels also have meeting rooms that can be used for company conferences or events.

B2B and B2C can also be distinguished from each other in smaller details. In the B2C sector, for example, the tone of voice is often a little more relaxed, as is the design of the online store. It is more about emotions and evoking a need for the products in the target group. Of course, business customers also need to be convinced, but on a completely different level. Here it is much more serious and facts take center stage. Many B2B companies have sales staff who look after customers and also use cold calling to sell goods or services to companies. A major difference between B2B and B2C can also be found on the legal side. Legislation is much stricter in the area of sales and advertising compared to private individuals. In addition, conditions between business persons can be set out in individual contracts. Private individuals have a statutory right of withdrawal.

Options for creating and operating a B2B store

If you want to operate a B2B store online, you can use so-called store systems. You can use these to create your store in just a few steps. In the following, we will select many store systems that are suitable for your B2B store. You will then find out how to start and complete the creation process.

Comparison of ten B2B online store softwares

Many store systems are primarily focused on selling to private individuals. However, additional requirements and setting options are necessary for selling to business customers. To help you find a store system for your B2B store that can fulfill these aspects, we have selected some suitable store systems for you. Find the perfect provider for your online store!

Shopware

Shopware is a tried-and-tested store system that primarily enables the creation of B2C online stores. However, there is also a B2B suite that focuses on business processes from the B2B sector.

• Costs: The B2B Suite is included in the Evolve and Beyond packages, price only available on request
• Setup: Simple
• Programming skills: No extensive knowledge required, but more customization is required
• Security: DSGVO-compliant
• For beginners to large corporations: For small and large stores due to individual prices
• Reports/analytics: Yes
• Marketing: Various options, including links to social media
• Design: Freely selectable with the help of themes
• Multilingualism: Yes

Shopify

Shopify is a Canadian company that offers the creation of online stores based on a SaaS model. According to the company, 1.7 million users use the store system to offer their goods on the Internet. Originally, Shopify primarily offered the opportunity to set up stores in the B2C sector. However, there are now a number of functions that make it easier to create stores in the B2B sector.

• Costs: Small packages starting at 29 dollars per month
• Setup: quick and easy
• Programming knowledge: Not required
• Security: Is provided
• For beginners to large corporations: Yes, small models up to Shopify Plus for large companies
• Reports/Analytics: Many reports on user behavior available
• Marketing: Yes, social media marketing, email marketing and SEO
• Design: Individual store themes
• Multilingualism: Yes

Adobe Commerce (Magento)

Adobe Commerce, formerly Magento, is a widely used store system which also provides B2B functions in the Enterprise version.

• Costs: Prices only on request
• Setup: Difficult and time-consuming
• Programming skills: Necessary to set up and manage the store correctly
• Security: High security, automated data backups, disaster recovery and data storage
• For beginners to large corporations: Medium-sized companies
• Reports/Analytics: Extensive monitoring and alerts
• Marketing: There is an Adobe Marketing Cloud
• Design : Various templates available
• Multilingualism: Yes

Intershop

The German provider Intershop also has solutions for the B2B sector. Large companies and corporations in particular will find what they are looking for here, as Intershop meets the high demands of B2B business.

• Costs: Price on request (approximately five to six-figure license costs per year and scope)
• Setup: Difficult
• Programming skills: Helpful
• Security: High
• For beginners to large corporations: Rather for medium-sized to large companies and organizations
• Reports/Analytics: Analytics of purchasing behavior, checkout behavior, product performance, sales performance, customer segments, also with the help of Google Analytics
• Marketing: Many marketing and sales functionalities
• Design: Various design options
• Multilingualism: Internationalization is possible

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

With the B2B Commerce Cloud, Salesforce is also launching a solution for business-to-business business.

• Costs: High, on request
• Setup: Setup is quite simple, as there are online instructions
• Programming knowledge: not absolutely necessary
• Security: Customer data can be easily protected with Salesforce
• For beginners to large corporations: More suitable for larger companies due to costs and complexity
• Reports/analytics: B2B commerce analytics are available
• Marketing: Purchase recommendations, advertising banners and personalization
• Design : Can be personalized
• Multilingualism : Many languages can be selected

Spryker

Spryker is an e-commerce system that specializes in large online retail customers. Spryker can be used for B2B and B2C commerce, but also for unified commerce as well as first and third party marketplaces. You can also integrate third-party systems with Spryker.

• Costs: Price on request
• Setup: Difficult without a service provider
• Programming knowledge: Helpful to necessary
• Security: Yes
• For beginners to large corporations: Spryker is aimed more at larger companies and corporations
• Reports/Analytics: Yes
• Marketing: Discounts, promotions, recommendations and personalization
• Design: Various themes
• Multilingualism : Support for multiple languages

commercetools

Commercetools is a store system for small businesses to large corporations. It is a cloud-based headless commerce platform that can also be used in the B2B sector. The company has been around since 2006.

• Costs: On request, 60-day free trial
• Setup: Simple, as cloud solution. But changes can also be made in the web interface if necessary
• Programming knowledge: Not required
• Security: High network and platform security, secured by WPA2 encryption and AES 256-bit keys
• For beginners to large corporations: Yes, but mainly medium-sized to large companies
• Reports/analytics: activity dashboard and tracking, statistics, real-time data
• Marketing: Promotions, discounts, recommendations, personalization, social channels
• Design: Various design options to create an intuitive webshop
• Multilingualism: Multiple currencies and multilingual setup

plentymarkets

Plentymarkets from Plentysystems AG is suitable for various industries and business models, including the B2B sector. Every company will find what they are looking for in the Basic to Enterprise tariffs. Additional B2B-specific functions can be integrated into the online store via the B2B store plugin, which can be installed via plentyMarketplace

• Costs: 5 different packages, starter package Basic is available from €42/month plus order-dependent fees, the B2B plugin can be used in the subscription model for €290 per year
• Setup : Time-consuming
• Programming knowledge: Not necessary
• Security: A top priority, IDW PS 880 certification of the entire system, data is traceable for up to ten years and tax documents are backed up
• For beginners to large corporations: For small and large companies. However, setup is time-consuming, which is why this means a lot of resources for small companies that may not be available
• Reports/analytics: various plugins can be installed for reports and analytics
• Marketing: good measures to implement SEO
• Design : Is customizable
• Multilingualism: Multiple languages and currencies

SAP Commerce Cloud

Small, medium-sized and large companies can create their own B2B store with the help of SAP Commerce Cloud. This is because the SAP Commerce Cloud for B2B is an integrated, modular and expandable store solution.

• Costs: Prices on request, Standard and Professional Edition packages
• Setup: Implementation is quick if SAP base systems are already in place
• Programming knowledge: Not necessary
• Security: Access rights management, backup concept
• For beginners to large corporations: Mainly for large companies
• Reports/analytics: Dashboards with analytics
• Marketing: Promotions, discounts, product recommendations and personalization
• Design: Personalization of the online store possible
• Multilingualism: Yes, different languages and currencies

OXID eShop

The online store software OXID eShop is a store solution from the German company OXID eSales AG, which is based in Freiburg. They offer various editions that are suitable for both small and large companies. The Enterprise Edition is optimized for the B2C and B2B market.

• Costs: Price on request
• Setup: Set-up is simple
• Programming knowledge: Can be used without programming knowledge
• Security : Security updates are carried out regularly
• For beginners to large corporations: For beginners and large enterprises
• Reports/Analytics: Google Analytics can be integrated, for example
• Marketing: Extensions for online marketing tools available, SEO possible
• Design: Various modules and themes are available
• Multilingualism: Internationalization possible

Our conclusion

The choice of store systems for your B2B store is huge. It's difficult to say which store system is best for you. It all depends on what goals you are pursuing, how much budget you have available and how complex you want your store to be. Spryker and the Salesforce Commerce Cloud, for example, are more suitable for large companies. The Shopware store system can be the right solution for both small and large companies. If you are not yet sure which store system is the best choice for you and your company to set up a B2B store, we will be happy to help you. Thanks to years of experience in e-commerce, we know how to set up successful online stores and know what your company needs.

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