B2B ecommerce
How to choose an ecommerce platform for distributors
By Julián Medina · Director of SourcingUp and creator of CommerceUp
Evaluate a platform using your own business scenarios: customer accounts, price lists, ordering units, credit, salespeople and integrations. A useful comparison shows what already works, what needs adapting and how the platform will support future changes.
Bring your own test cases to the demo
Prepare sample accounts and products with different rules. Ask to see a complete order and an exception, such as an unmet minimum or a special agreement. The demo should explain which settings each case needs and which information comes from the ERP.
Compare operating costs and the cost of future changes
Look beyond the subscription and setup fees. Consider support, integrations, future changes and the time your own team will need to invest. Ask how improvements are prioritized and what happens if you change ERP systems or sales processes. A platform that fits today also needs a clear way to support your growth.
Be clear about my perspective
I created CommerceUp for distributors, manufacturers and importers selling wholesale. That experience informs these questions, and I have a direct stake in the product. Evaluate any platform against your own operation, with responsibilities and acceptance criteria agreed before the project begins.
Put it into practice
- Test your own scenarios, including exceptions.
- Compare the costs of running and adapting the platform.
- Assign an owner to each integration.
- Define the checks required before launch.
The thinking behind this guide
A guide by Julián Medina. The scenarios are illustrative, not measured customer outcomes. Explore CommerceUp.