B2B E-commerce is Different
Why B2B Requires More
A B2C webshop is designed for consumers.
A B2B webshop is designed for business processes.
While both platforms sell products online, the requirements behind a B2B buying journey are fundamentally different. Business customers expect personalized pricing, streamlined ordering processes, purchasing workflows, and account-specific functionality that simply doesn't exist in a traditional B2C environment.
At Etidome, we help manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors build B2B commerce platforms that support both customer needs and internal business processes.
Functionality Beyond the Login
One of the biggest differences between B2C and B2B commerce is what happens after a customer logs in. The real value of a B2B platform starts behind the login.
Customer-Specific Net Pricing
B2B customers rarely pay the same price. Pricing is often based on contracts, agreements, discounts, or customer-specific conditions. By displaying net prices after login, customers immediately see the prices that apply to their account.
This creates transparency, reduces manual price requests, and speeds up the purchasing process. Customers can place orders with confidence, while sales teams spend less time handling pricing inquiries.
Favorites Lists
Business customers frequently order the same products. Favorites lists allow users to save products, create custom lists, and organize items by project, department, or application.
By reducing the time spent searching for products, favorites lists make repeat purchasing faster and more efficient. They also improve the overall customer experience by simplifying recurring orders.
Automated Payments & Direct Debit
Business purchasing processes often require flexible payment options. Integrating direct debit, invoice payments, and automated payment methods ensures transactions align with existing financial processes.
This reduces administrative effort, accelerates order processing, and creates a smoother buying experience for both customers and suppliers.
Approval Workflows
Purchasing decisions within organizations often involve multiple people. Approval workflows allow employees to create orders while managers or procurement teams review and approve purchases before they are submitted.
This provides greater control over spending, improves compliance with internal policies, and streamlines procurement processes across the organization.
One-Click Buy
For recurring purchases, speed matters. One-click buy functionality allows customers to reorder products instantly using predefined delivery addresses, payment methods, and account preferences.
By minimizing the number of steps required to place an order, businesses can reduce purchasing time, increase efficiency, and create a seamless buying experience for repeat customers.
B2C vs B2B E-commerce
In B2C, the goal is often conversion.
In B2B, the goal is efficiency.
Business buyers already know what they need. They want to find products quickly, place orders efficiently, and access information relevant to their organization.
A successful B2B platform therefore focuses on:
Personalized customer experiences
Contract-specific pricing
Fast reordering
Product information management
Approval workflows
Account management
Integration with ERP systems
The result is a platform that becomes part of the customer's daily purchasing process.
Why Choose Etidome?
With more than 25 years of experience in the technical industry, Etidome understands the complexities of B2B commerce.
Our expertise spans:
B2B e-commerce
Product data management
ETIM classification
PIM and PXM
ERP integrations
Customer portals
Digital transformation
We help manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors create digital commerce platforms that support both growth and operational excellence.
See how we deliver digital b2b commerce
STG is a Belgian wholesale distributor in sanitary and technical products. Their redesigned webshop includes a mega menu, enhanced search and direct add to cart, connected to a network of 53 physical Pro Shops.
Van Egmond is a Dutch wholesale distributor in electrotechnical products. Their webshop became a reference point for other distributors in the sector — and is used by their own internal staff to look up product information faster than their ERP allows.