Why we've added OroCommerce to our tech stack for building larger B2B websites

If you've found your way to this article, you've likely been tasked with the not-so-easy job of evaluating ecommerce platforms for your organization. You're probably also aware of how critical it is to make the right decision for your business. According to Hokodo research, a staggering 93% of B2B buyers prefer ecommerce.

Yet, according to a Future Commerce Insights Report, 43% of merchants say there's no real difference between ecommerce platforms!

This might lead you to think that a successful digital transformation comes down to choosing the right implementation partner. While we agree that having the right partner on board is vital, we believe a platform's out-of-the-box functionality and price point are essential considerations for B2B brands.

Systems originally developed for B2C transactions can require time-consuming and expensive workarounds to accommodate B2B requirements, possibly jeopardizing a successful move to online sales.

That’s why we’re excited to be able to offer OroCommerce to our clients. OroCommerce was built for the distinct needs of business-to-business commerce. Its native B2B functionality removes the need for merchants to compromise, making it a powerful and exciting option.

When it comes to ecommerce development, we don't take additions to our tech stack lightly. We've been devoted fans of Craft CMS and its commerce engine, Craft Commerce, for many years.

We still use and love Craft! But we want to share why, as trusted implementation partners to brands large and small, we've decided to include OroCommerce in our recommendations to merchants.

Our reason is simple. OroCommerce, with its unique set of ready features, solves real-world business problems for large and enterprise B2B brands better than other platforms and at a better price.

Since we exist to solve our clients' business problems sensibly and affordably, we like this!

But we like it even more when out-of-the-box solutions translate to cost savings via greater operational efficiencies, higher order values via a better customer experience, and more significant overall ROI as they do with OroCommerce.

OroCommerce is a platform developed specifically for business-to-business commerce by former Magento executives and engineers.

While OroCommerce is newer than other ecommerce solutions (it's been on the market for just over a decade), we see this as one of its clear advantages.

OroCommerce developers have learned from other platforms' shortcomings and worked out solutions that better suit the modern B2B buyer.

In addition to its impressive list of out-of-the-box B2B solutions, OroCommerce is open-source, which gives it an advantage. That's because developers can share best practices and coding knowledge resulting in a stronger OroCommerce community.

OroCommerce has been developed to meet the unique needs of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and their customers. It provides ready solutions to support B2B merchants in digitizing business-to-business sales, enhancing customer-focused tools, and streamlining operational processes.

Today, OroCommerce's solution provides these robust B2B features and more. OroCommerce developers are constantly designing new features to keep up with innovations and industry trends, ensuring B2B merchants retain a competitive edge.

For example, to enhance efficiencies in the buying experience, OroCommerce developers recently introduced AI assistants in the form of AI SmartAgent and AI SmartOrder.

Where most platforms fail to meet requirements for business-to-business transactions, OroCommerce shines. OroCommerce has the right tools for B2B sales, marketing, and operations teams.

Customer relationship management (CRM), analytics, customized workflows, a content management system (CMS), the ability to manage special accounts, and managing permissions are OroCommerce tools that reduce the need for time-consuming manual work and save critical team resources.

OroCommerce also offers excellent customer experiences through features like search, the ability to configure products and receive a quote (CPQ), mobile and desktop ordering, and buyer-specific catalogs.

At Foster Commerce, we specialize in developing and customizing websites so they're optimized for growth and last.

We like OroCommerce because it allows us to tailor websites to suit specific use cases. We can extend OroCommerce websites via integrations with existing ERP, CRM, or payment systems, to name a few. This kind of flexibility is a "must-have" for us because it's a must-have for our clients.

OroCommerce’s flexibility is complemented by its ability to scale alongside business growth so merchants aren't "locked in." For example, merchants can easily add to their product catalog or take on new opportunities for market expansion without fear that their website won’t be able to handle more traffic, inquiries, and sales.

We’re thrilled that OroCommerce enables us to continue to offer merchants needed customizations rather than expecting them to adapt their business to fit a website.

Another reason we chose OroCommerce is its pricing structure. OroCommerce pricing is flexible and based on each organization's specific business profile. This is readily apparent in its two pricing tiers: the Community Edition and the Enterprise Edition.

The Community Edition is completely free. It is an excellent option for small organizations new to online B2B sales who are just beginning to digitize aspects of their business.

The Enterprise Edition is perfect for midsize to large organizations that are ready to implement a total digital transformation and grow. Pricing is configured around each business's unique needs, number of admin users, and gross merchandise value (GMV).

Overall, we appreciate the two-tier pricing model. As advocates for businesses seeking to digitize sales, we're gratified to see that OroCommerce is making it easy for unique B2B companies to compete online and scale.

To summarize, why we've chosen OroCommerce for building B2B websites comes down to three things:

1. Tools that reduce manual work for sales, marketing, and operations teams

2. Platform flexibility and scalability that enable fearless business growth

3. A two-tier pricing model that accommodates small, midsize, and large businesses

So what's next? If you've got development chops and want to try OroCommerce, we suggest downloading the Community Edition and trying it out.

Or, if you prefer to talk to an expert in the space, we invite you to schedule a no-obligation call with us. We'll listen to your business needs and give you our honest opinion about whether OroCommerce is a good fit for your business.

Finally, if you prefer to read more before talking to an expert, we've provided additional resources below.

Enjoy!