In respect of their size, the majority of businesses now leverage the digital space to connect with their customers with the intention of high conversion rates. The ideal scenario for any online wholesale business is to find an eCommerce platform that eliminates any hassles when selling B2B.
Your wholesale business’s success depends on the tools put into place to help scale and evolve the business. When it comes to signing up for the right eCommerce platform that fits your business needs, the process can be intimidating. Especially considering how many platforms exist on the market already.
Suppose you are serious about making a name for your wholesale business in the eCommerce industry. In that case, it is essential to remember that it is more than just which eCommerce platform you choose. The overall intention is to create an immersive and lasting impression for your customers as soon as they visit your website. Providing the necessary tools that enhance the shopping experience is the pinnacle to converting hesitant customers into paying customers.
A priceless aspect of eCommerce platforms is their key features and how well the platform integrates with any third-party applications you may have on stand-by. The perfect platform should elevate your brand and promote productivity and functionality.
Not sure which eCommerce platform is the right one for your wholesale business? Great news! The extensive research is already done! This list covers the best eCommerce platforms on the market, perfect for an online wholesale business.
BEST WHOLESALE E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS REVEALED
- WooCommerce
- OpenCart Express
- Squarespace
- BigCommerce
- OsCommerce
- Prestashop
- Recurly
- X-Cart
Do not let this list overwhelm you. This article will break each platform down and specify its key features that can benefit a wholesale business’s growth and success. When shopping around, ask yourself these questions. These questions will help better define the search for the perfect platform that is tailored to your business.
- Can you sync data from multiple channels?
- Is there an ability to integrate third-party applications?
- What opportunities are there for content marketing?
- Is there reliable customer support?
- How mobile-friendly is the platform?
Overall, the platform should meet your every wholesale business needs. Your business will likely grow, so the platform must accommodate the scalability. Both you and your customers should experience a smooth eCommerce journey from start to finish. It is vital to the health of your wholesale business to choose a platform that features a user-friendly dashboard to avoid functionality obstacles.
1. WooCommerce
WooCommerce depends on the business having a WordPress website, which happens to be one of the best and most popular content management systems in the world today. WooCommerce is in the form of a plug-in integrated into a website. Plug-ins are used to extend a website or system’s functionality to create a more fulfilling experience. This insightful software plug-in adds all of the basic functionality of an eCommerce store plus much more that allows you to scale to success.
The base WooCommerce plug-in is entirely free. However, if your website requires some functionality that is not available on the base plug-in, it might be well worth the investment to upgrade the extensions.
WooCommerce subscriptions enable you to create and manage your products with recurring payments. Automation is key! The extensions can cost between $49 a month to $199 annually. It is always possible to start small and grow from there as your wholesale business booms.
This eCommerce platform is undoubtedly a fantastic contender to host your wholesale business.
Key features include:
- Easy integration with content management systems
- 300+ extensions on the WooCommerce Extensions store
- WooCommerce powers at least 30% of all eCommerce websites, globally
- WooCommerce supports an unlimited number of products
- Easy to set up and maintain long term
- WooCommerce has a substantial community with massive support
2. OpenCart Express
OpenCart Express is open-source software that provides a solution to eCommerce problems of creating and managing online stores without the hassle. This comprehensive eCommerce solution helps you as a business owner set up and manage your online stores effectively and efficiently. Additionally, it provides exciting features that can help build new subscription channels and methods to interact with your customer base.
The different extensions available enable you further to increase your wholesale business’s overall aesthetics and functionalities online. A community of experienced developers manages OpenCart Express, so you know your website is in good hands. The talented developers are super helpful for any questions you might have at any time.
This high-performance platform also features the OpenCart forum, which is handy for answering any questions you might have along the way and overcoming any hurdles that you might encounter while working with OpenCart.
Key features include:
- Quick and easy to install
- Multiple languages and currency supported
- Over 20 payment gateways available at your fingertips
- OpenCart is free, but its extensions start at $24/monthly
- Easy integration with content systems like Amazon, WordPress, Magento, and Shopify
- Simple and easy-to-navigate the interface
- Dedicated technical support available at $99 for either a one-time fix or advanced ongoing support
3. Squarespace
Among these influential eCommerce platforms is Squarespace, an industry leader that virtually provides everything you need to have a smooth launch of your website. Additionally, the platform is useful when setting up, customizing, and maintaining automated subscriptions.
Squarespace is easy to learn, user-friendly, and equipped with over 100 flexible, award-winning template designs that will impress visitors to your website. One of their unique features includes a blogging module that enables you to keep in constant touch with your target audience.
Squarespace is ultimately known for its streamlined and customizable template designs. The templates available elevate your brand as a whole. Squarespace is a reliable eCommerce platform for small to mid-size businesses and provides fully-managed cloud hosting. Squarespace’s goal is to ensure you receive a smooth and time-saving experience so you can sit back and enjoy your launch while Squarespace keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Key features include:
- Easy to learn
- User-friendly
- Excellent customer support
- Built-in SEO optimization features to increase site visibility
- Fully customizable pages and layouts
- Content management system integration
- Resourceful webinars and informative blogs
- It makes selling online easy and fun
4. BigCommerce
This eCommerce software enables businesses to roll out engaging content garnished with eCommerce functionalities to their esteemed customers. BigCommerce is a robust platform that contains everything necessary, plus more, to successfully sell wholesale online, with many impressive features at your disposal.
BigCommerce’s pricing starts at $29.95 per month. One unique feature of this robust software is its automatic upgrade to an advanced plan once you surpass specific criteria. BigCommerce could only mean your business is growing, which is an excellent sign of your eCommerce wholesale success. BigCommerce implements this automation, so you do not experience any interruption in your business workflow.
The criteria are as follows:
- Standard – up to $50,000 in revenue
- Plus – up to $150,000 in revenue
- Pro – up to $400,000 in revenue
Suppose you make more than $50,000 in sales over a 12 month period. In that case, your account will automatically upgrade to the next appropriate plan, which will empower you to enjoy additional perks and functionalities to elevate your business to the next level.
Key features include:
- Highly flexible and scalable
- Many built-in native features
- Quick and easy integration of WordPress, Amazon, Magento, and Shopify
- Amazing customer support
- Pricing is based solely on your business’ annual sales
- Among several payment gateways includes PayPal and Square
5. OsCommerce
OsCommerce is an open-source eCommerce platform fit for front and back-end store management. You can customize your store outlook along with catalog pages to manage your products and sales internally without hassle. Some coding skills might come in handy if you wish to customize your website entirely.
Key features include:
- Multiple digital transactions
- Vast product catalogs housing over 10,000 products
- Comprehensive integrations for third party applications and software
- Advanced inventory management
- Zero percent transaction fees
- Customizable
- Free to use, but coding skills are required
- Supports multiple languages and currencies
- Regular backups and can restore your database
- Large community support
6. Prestashop
Prestashop is an open-source eCommerce platform catered specifically for B2B wholesales. This unique platform prides itself on efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Known for its flexible customization features, Prestashop is a strong wholesale eCommerce platform and includes the relative features you need to build an online store that embodies your business.
Customization features include anything from colors, logo design, and professional themes to enhance your products and services. Prestashop services over 300,000 merchants and welcomes you to their community of over a whopping 1,000,000 members.
An expert is ready and available to help you during each step of your eCommerce journey to ensure you are left with a fantastic website that gains and retains customers. Prestashop is partnered directly with PayPal, Google, MailChimp, Stripe, and Facebook to bring you and your customer base a well-rounded online experience.
Prestashop could make an excellent match for small to medium-sized wholesale businesses. This innovative platform is free of charge to work well with any budget. Not sure if you want to build the website from scratch? Prestashop has web developers on stand-by to help make your eCommerce website while you relax and get excited to launch your new site!
Key features include:
- Free of charge
- Highly customizable
- User-friendly
- Top-quality and responsive templates
- Fully manage products, orders, and customer relationships
- Track your statistics
- Sell globally
- Easy to install
- Budget-friendly
- Supports multiple payment gateways
7. Recurly
Recurly is one of the most powerful eCommerce software available. It allows you to monitor your sales and the customer’s behavior. Recurly’s focus is on user engagement with the contents of your website. The results of this analysis can go along way in affecting your business decisions.
Recurly utilizes the knowledge of machine learning to improve customer retention. The software provides you with the analytics of your eCommerce store so that you can keep an eye out for any recurring trends. These analytics will break down what seems to be working and what does not. This way, you can channel more energy and resources into the successful features of your business.
Customer retention further strengthens and broadens your customer base. Recurly’s pricing starts at $149 per month.
Key features include:
- Easy integration with third-party applications and software
- Customer support accessible via the phone, email, live chat, and forums
- Provides advertising and campaign management functionalities
- Top-notch subscription plan and billing management
- Supports multiple currencies
- Multiple payment gateways
8. X-Cart
Last but not least, X-Cart is considered to be one of the most strong wholesale platforms on the market. X-Cart has well over 20 years of experience in eCommerce, making them experts in the field. They’ve got you covered. No matter if you’re looking for an enterprise solution or need some assistance getting started. X-Cart will ensure you are guided down the right path every step of the way.
X-Cart has proven to be a flexible, scalable, and budge-friend eCommerce solution to drive your business development and growth. This intuitive platform offers a memorable storefront user experience and a smooth drag and drop interface. The unique features do not end there. If you decide to host your wholesale store on X-Cart, you will gain access to highly effective SEO tools, powerful email marketing, fraud prevention, and much more.
Key features include:
- 24/7 exceptional customer support
- Unique and custom website designs
- Conversion-focused
- Impressive scalability add-ons
- Ad campaigns that will win you exposure
- Over 120+ payment gateways
- eCommerce Hosting
- Over 25+ analytical tools
- Hassle-free platform migration
- Mobile-friendly website design
SUMMARY
These are the eCommerce industry’s best platforms for wholesale. While many of these platforms are similar to one another, they are also unique in their own ways. It depends on your overall goals, and the business needs to determine which is the best fit for you. Compare each platform’s key features to ensure the platform you choose will take your business to the next level. As a friendly reminder, don’t forget to keep a few key factors in mind when making an informed decision on the eCommerce platform include:
- Quick and easy set-up
- User-friendly
- Available features and functionalities
- Customizability
- Pricing
- Platform integration