B2B commerce is no longer confined to trade shows, phone calls, and spreadsheets. Modern B2B buyers expect digital-first experiences—as seamless as shopping on Amazon, but with the complexity of negotiated contracts, custom catalogs, bulk orders, and credit terms.
Shopify, a leader in eCommerce, is widely known for its B2C capabilities, but it has steadily gained traction in the B2B space. Traditionally, businesses believed they needed Shopify Plus to unlock wholesale and B2B features. While Shopify Plus provides native support for some B2B workflows, it comes with high subscription costs and limited flexibility for advanced use cases.
The truth is: you can unlock enterprise-grade B2B functionality on standard Shopify—without upgrading to Plus. By extending Shopify with the right tools and integrations, businesses can deliver custom pricing, advanced ordering, flexible payments, and self-service experiences that rival any enterprise platform.
In this blog, we’ll explore the essential features of a Shopify B2B portal in detail and then show how i95Dev brings it all together as your one-stop B2B solution partner.
Why B2B Businesses Need More Than Just a Storefront
B2B customers have unique expectations compared to B2C shoppers:
- Tiered Pricing & Discounts: Buyers expect customer-specific pricing, quantity-based discounts, and negotiated deals.
- Quick Bulk Ordering: Instead of browsing products one by one, they want quick order forms, bulk uploads, or easy reordering.
- Credit Limits & Payment Terms: Net terms, purchase orders, and credit facilities are a standard in B2B transactions.
- Custom Catalogs: Different buyers should only see products, pricing, or bundles relevant to them.
- Seamless ERP/CRM Integration: Orders, customers, and pricing must sync in real time with backend systems.
These requirements go far beyond Shopify’s out-of-the-box B2C setup.
Want to see how your Shopify store can scale B2B? Book a consultation with i95Dev.
What Defines a Shopify B2B Portal?
B2B buyers behave very differently from consumers. Their purchases are larger, more complex, and relationship-driven. For Shopify to work as a true B2B platform, it must support five critical pillars:
1. Custom Pricing & Catalog Management
Unlike retail customers, B2B buyers rarely pay “sticker price.” They expect negotiated pricing, bulk discounts, and customer-specific catalogs. A robust B2B portal should:
- Support customer-specific price lists: Each buyer sees their contracted rates.
- Enable tiered pricing: Discounts based on order volume (e.g., 10% off above 100 units).
- Offer custom catalogs: Restrict product visibility by customer type (e.g., distributors vs retailers).
- Handle packaging variations: Sell in bulk cases, pallets, or custom packs.
2. Bulk & Quick Ordering Tools
B2B customers often place large, repeat orders—very different from a typical B2C checkout journey. A B2B portal must make it fast and simple by offering:
- Quick Order Forms: Buyers enter SKUs or product codes directly.
- CSV/Excel Uploads: Customers upload a file with hundreds of SKUs to populate their cart instantly.
- Reorder Functionality: Past purchases are just a click away, streamlining repeat orders.
- Saved Shopping Lists: Buyers save frequently ordered items for recurring purchases.
3. Flexible Payments & Checkout Workflows
Payment in B2B is about flexibility and trust. Unlike consumers who pay upfront, B2B buyers expect terms that align with business relationships. A strong B2B portal should support:
- Purchase Orders (POs): Customers submit POs at checkout, triggering internal approval and invoicing.
- Net Terms (30/60/90): Buyers receive goods/services and pay later within agreed timelines.
- Credit Limits: Customers can purchase up to their approved limit, tracked automatically.
- Hybrid Payment Options: Mix of credit card, bank transfer, and PO-based workflows.
4. ERP & CRM Integration
For B2B merchants, accuracy is everything. Inventory mismatches, incorrect pricing, or delayed order syncs can ruin customer trust. That’s why ERP and CRM integration is at the heart of a successful B2B portal.
A well-integrated Shopify B2B solution should:
- Sync inventory in real time to prevent overselling.
- Pull customer-specific pricing directly from ERP contracts.
- Push orders automatically into ERP for fulfillment and invoicing.
- Centralize customer data for unified CRM visibility.
- Handle multi-warehouse and regional tax rules.
5. Self-Service Buyer Accounts
Modern B2B buyers want autonomy. A portal should act as a one-stop dashboard where buyers manage their entire relationship with your business. Key features include:
- Multi-user accounts: One company, many buyers with role-based access (purchaser, approver, finance).
- Order history & tracking: Full visibility of past and current orders.
- Invoice & payment management: Download invoices, view outstanding balances, make payments online.
- Quote requests & approvals: Buyers can request quotes, negotiate, and convert them to orders.
Shopify Plus vs i95Dev B2B Portal Solution
| Feature | Shopify Plus | i95Dev B2B Portal Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Customer-Specific Pricing | Limited, mostly app-based | Fully customizable, ERP-driven |
| Custom Catalogs | Available, but rigid | Flexible, buyer-specific catalogs |
| Bulk Ordering | Basic wholesale tools | Advanced: quick order, CSV uploads, reorder lists |
| Payment Terms (PO, Net) | Very limited | Full PO workflows, credit terms, ERP-linked |
| ERP/CRM Integration | Not native | Seamless integration with Dynamics, NetSuite, SAP |
| Self-Service Portal | Basic accounts | Advanced portal: quotes, invoices, multi-user roles |
| B2C + B2B in One Store | Complex setup | Unified commerce with tailored experiences |
| Scalability | High, but expensive | Cost-effective, flexible, scalable |
| Cost | High subscription + setup | Pay-as-you-scale with custom features |
Looking for a cost-effective alternative to Shopify Plus? Connect with i95Dev.
How i95Dev Brings It All Together
While Shopify provides the foundation, i95Dev delivers the expertise and technology to transform it into a true B2B engine.
i95Dev’s B2B Expertise: A One-Stop Partner
- Tailored Feature Development: Every business is unique. i95Dev designs custom pricing, catalog rules, and ordering workflows that reflect your contracts, processes, and customer expectations.
- Deep ERP & CRM Integrations: With certified expertise across Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, SAP, and more, we ensure your Shopify portal syncs seamlessly with backend systems—so pricing, inventory, and credit terms are always accurate.
- Future-Proof Architecture: Whether you’re a mid-sized distributor or a global manufacturer, we build scalable, performance-optimized solutions that grow with your business.
- Unified Commerce: Run B2C and B2B under one storefront. i95Dev creates distinct buyer journeys for each audience without duplicating infrastructure.
- Global Support & Optimization: From implementation to ongoing management, our 24/7 support team ensures your portal continues to perform, adapt, and compete.
Ready to unlock B2B features on Shopify without Plus? Connect with i95Dev and future-proof your business.
Final Thoughts
B2B commerce requires more than a storefront—it requires trust, efficiency, and deep integration. Shopify Plus offers some of these features, but i95Dev enables you to achieve them on standard Shopify —with more flexibility and at lower cost.
From customer-specific pricing to ERP-driven automation and self-service buyer portals, i95Dev is the partner that helps you future-proof your B2B operations.
Book your consultation with i95Dev today and discover how to unlock enterprise-grade B2B features without Shopify Plus.
FAQs: Shopify B2B Portal Solutions
Do I need Shopify Plus for B2B?
Can I run B2C and B2B from the same Shopify store?
How does customer-specific pricing work in Shopify?
Can I offer purchase orders and net terms on Shopify Standard?
Is this solution scalable for high-volume businesses?
Recent Blogs
Company Accounts & Approval Workflows: Transforming B2B Buyer Management
Company Accounts & Approval Workflows: Transforming B2B Buyer Management Author Category Share The Modern Challenge of B2B Buyer Management B2B commerce is undergoing a transformation....
Getting Started & Using Quick Order in Shopify
Getting Started & Using Quick Order in Shopify Author Category Share In today’s fast-paced B2B and wholesale eCommerce landscape, efficiency isn’t optional — it’s expected. Buyers don’t have...
From DTC to Wholesale: Why Brands Are Making the Shift and How to Do It Right
From DTC to Wholesale: Why Brands Are Making the Shift and How to Do It Right Author Category Share For years, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands defined modern retail — sleek websites, loyal...