Challenges and Limitations of BigCommerce for B2B Customization
Businesses to businesses or B2B e-commerce continues to experience phenomenal growth; statistics show the global B2B e-commerce market will hit $8.5 trillion by 2026, and customization has become a strategic weapon. Organizations need tools that help them manage e-commerce functions in addition to demands that may arise within the business’s evolution process. BigCommerce is used by many B2B businesses. It is considered very flexible and equipped with numerous ready options. However, as the firm grows and becomes more complex, there is a limitation to the use of BigCommerce and its impact on growth and operations.
This blog aims to review the aspects of customization of B2B e-commerce platforms and realistic strategies to address whether the business needs help with BigCommerce limitations for sustainable growth and operational effectiveness.
The Importance of Customization in B2B E-Commerce Platforms
With the ongoing advancement in B2B e-commerce, customization becomes the key consideration when selecting an e-commerce platform. In this way, they can be sure that they have chosen a platform suitable for the current needs and will help develop the project in the future.
Meeting Complex Business Needs
B2B is likely to have a different transaction structure than B2C since the products are more complicated. Organizations need solutions that can accommodate complex business processes, high volumes of orders, a tiered pricing system, and an approval system. Such flexibility enables needs within the requirements of various models and procedures of B2B e-commerce to be met, which in turn helps the platform to be adjusted to support needs.
B2B interactions are more complex than B2C ones since business-to-business transactions combine complex operations and activities. For instance, 74% of business-to-business buyers prefer to buy from a website customized to their needs. It also emphasizes the significance of personalization from the needs of B2B buyers, which are much more diverse and challenging than the straightforward consumerist needs. Such needs contain large ordering, charged pricing, and many procedural approvals.
Enhancing User Experience
User experience should be highly valued in B2B contexts as it reflects consumer satisfaction and loyalty. Overall, 77% of B2B buyers stated that procurement was very complex or difficult for their latest procurement. This complexity usually results from the clients ministering through e-commerce platforms that could be better suited to their needs.
These may include online product catalog systems, better ways of searching for products online, and even better check-out options based on the roles of a business-to-business buyer. These improvements make the purchasing process more precise and prevent a consumer from abandoning the cart easily.
Integrating with Existing Systems
As a major issue, a problem of B2B e-commerce integration into business systems like ERP, CRM, and supply chain management information systems can be stated. Integration into these systems requires significant customization to ensure that it can work effectively with the e-commerce platform and that data can be passed through between the two systems in real time.
The ERP software market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8% and is expected to touch $53.15 billion in the global market by 2024. This growth also speaks volumes about the need for B2B e-commerce applications that can be integrated with ERP systems for real-time information. To combine such applications, customization also allows businesses to develop APIs and connectors that permit the smooth feeding of data between the two systems thus minimizing errors and ineptitude.
Adapting to Industry-Specific Requirements
Various industries have close to different necessities for e-commerce. For instance, the manufacturing industry could require the implementation of options for customized products. The healthcare industry will require secure data handling to meet industry rules such as HIPAA.
It indicates that e-commerce platforms should be customized to address these industry-specific needs. For example, a specific customized platform may have a product configurator for the manufacturing industry or more secure measures for the healthcare industry. About 67% of B2B companies mentioned that the seller’s e-commerce platform was significantly ingrained for sector-specific needs. This statistic demonstrates the understanding of the necessity of developing approaches to address the specific requirements of various sectors.
Strengthening Brand Identity
The significance of establishing unique brand images and market identities cannot be overemphasized, especially in the contemporary digital environment. An opportunity to brand B2B e-commerce platforms enables it to mirror the business brand aspects such as the values, design aspect, and the message it conveys to its clients creating a part of brand identity. This is especially the case with B2B businesses that rely on building long-term partnerships and trust.
A coherent brand identity leads to a 23% increase in sales across channels. This statistic shows how important it is to stay on the right track and spend money for the brands to remain consistent. Customization is essential in achieving brand consistency by allowing a business to customize the nature of its e-commerce platform to reflect its general brand strategy in areas such as the layout and design of the e-commerce website and its communication style. It also helps the user get used to the product and its features while creating a sense of loyalty and trust among the users.
Facilitating International Expansion
Customization, therefore, assumes importance for B2B players in the global market to fit the needs of the various target market segments. This includes working ability within the scope of multiple languages, currencies, and localized content within the relevant regulated environment.
A dedicated e-commerce website can be useful in meeting the specific needs required in different countries and allow for a targeted approach. 75% of the consumers prefer to use their first language at the time of purchase and 60% of buyers never or seldom resort to websites in English only. These statistics justify the need for customization when undertaking an international expansion strategy.
BigCommerce’s Limitations in B2B E-Commerce
BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce solution. It creates its stores easily and launches them with powerful tools and functions. Originally, it worked best in the B2C marketplace, however, its usage in the B2B market also showed some drawbacks that can negatively impact business development and productivity.
Limited Customization Options
Customization is essential in the case of B2B e-commerce platforms, as many companies may have specific needs that must be met. However, BigCommerce is less customizable than other platforms or more flexible or open-source ones such as Magento or Shopify Plus.
BigCommerce offers APIs and developers’ tools for this purpose but they are frequently incomplete for precise requirements. For instance, unique pricing options, the complex layout of the checkout page, or business processes specific to a particular sector can pose difficulties in robust workaround. These limitations may lead to a less-than-ideal user experience, thereby requiring further investment to build customized solutions that would be both expensive and time-consuming.
Constraints on Integrations
B2B companies should integrate with the existing business applications including ERP, CRM Supply chain application, etc. Cohesion is vital for the smooth flow of activities while the real-time data flow makes the process accurate and efficient.
BigCommerce is compatible with many software solutions, but when it comes to connecting with specific or outdated platforms it has some limitations. There are issues in BigCommerce’s API which gives some third-party tools challenging integration experiences. It affects their efficiency and data sharing. This could slow down a company’s workflow, implement lots of work to be done manually, and increase the error rate slowing down business growth.
Performance and Scalability Challenges
As B2B companies develop, their sites need to become capable of reaching higher traffic, extending the lists of offered products, and performing more complicated transactions. Stability and speed are essential here because technical issues, including slow loading times or application crashes, can cost customers and hurt businesses.
BigCommerce in particular is known for its overall stability, but like most solutions that are geared towards scaling businesses, it suffers from velocity issues. The overall system design may lack the sophistication of some other heavy-duty solutions, which impacts the response times and can show unavailability during high-traffic periods. However, the BigCommerce platform can get slowed down when handling a vast number of products or numerous transactions per day which may hinder business growth and organizational productivity.
Limited Advanced B2B Features
B2B e-commerce has certain features that standard B2C e-commerce platforms cannot provide. This includes complex pricing schemes, purchase orders, customer-specific price lists, and intricate approval processes. BigCommerce does provide some level of B2B capabilities, but it needs to include many of the more enterprise-focused functions necessary for even larger or more complicated B2B processes.
For instance, BigCommerce accompanies built-in support for multi-tier and customer-specific prices, which are limited; this means establishing and implementing the price discrimination structure required in most B2B transactions is challenging. It also lacks some integrated functions, including sophisticated quoting, contracts, and intricate order approval schemes. Lack of these features may limit the company and its ability to satisfy particular requirements of its B2B clients, thus, resulting in lost sales and customers’ dissatisfaction.
Dependence on Third-Party Apps
Some of the challenging areas mentioned above are addressed using third-party applications and integrations on the BigCommerce platform. This can temporarily solve the problem, although it also creates new difficulties.
Third-party app use creates many problems since it requires integrating many different apps, and problem-solving is usually difficult in such cases. It can generate extra overheads that must be sustained. It raises the odds of potential problems with interoperability or security threats. Furthermore, the expense of acquiring and implementing expense such a third-party app is high. It involves a continuing annual subscription fee which could prove expensive for the big business when compared to the outright price cost of Big Commerce.
Overcoming Bigcommerce’s Limitations
BigCommerce is one of the most successful e-commerce solutions. It enjoys several high qualities and conveniences. However, its use is limited since some specific programs or applications in the business-to-business context usually need more customization, integration, and scalability. Here are some strategies to overcome big commerce’s limitations:
Custom Development and API Utilization
Custom development enables a business to develop BigCommerce according to its specific needs. BigCommerce provides powerful APIs for developers to build solutions with diverse features like the pricing structure, workflow, and integration with other systems.
For example, a business-to-business firm might require adjusting a specific price for goods or services, depending on the clients and the quantities required. Here developers can use BigCommerce’s API to build the application-specific pricing engine in the software. This approach means the platform is optimized for specific business needs without using third-party apps that may not cater to all the requirements.
You should hire experienced BigCommerce developers to design and develop custom functionalities and connect with new features.
Partnering with a BigCommerce Expert
Working with a certified BigCommerce expert or agency can greatly complement the platform. These professionals have adequate knowledge and experience handling BigCommerce to suit different demands. They can help you with the application installation, configuration, upkeep, and fine-tuning.
BigCommerce specialists can also share the experience of using various strategies and creating original solutions to functional restrictions. It helps to guarantee that the potential of BigCommerce can be enhanced in a manner where businesses exactly require efficient and effective e-commerce approaches.
You should consult a certified BigCommerce expert or agency since you can receive professional advice and ensure your platform’s enhanced performance and functionality.
Considering a Hybrid Approach
A mixed approach implies leaning on BigCommerce for its benefits and connecting it to other systems with added features. For instance, a company may use BigCommerce for the B2B front-end selling while using a unique ERP application for the back-end activities of the business, such as inventory and order processing.
This approach enables one to leverage the positive parts of BigCommerce with other platforms that can fill the gaps and provide a tailor-made option. This is an essential model, especially for companies with more advanced needs that the BigCommerce alone hub cannot solve.
You should assess your business requirements and leverage BigCommerce with other appropriate systems or platforms to get a bespoke e-commerce solution.
Exploring Alternatives for Specific Needs
BigCommerce is not as suitable for a business in some situations because its limitations are sometimes too critical to manage with workarounds only. Consider switching to other platforms that can more effectively accommodate given requirements. It is highly customizable compared to other platforms such as Magento from Shopify Plus; it has more native features, especially for business-to-business marketing.
Switching to a platform that natively supports more sophisticated customization and integration becomes more reasonable. There are certain steps that businesses should take to evaluate their needs and the available options to find out which one will suit them best.
You should analyze other platforms that suit your business needs better, and switch if the BigCommerce platform does not meet their demands.
Enhance Performance and Scalability
Companies look at whether their current e-commerce solution can support higher traffic or provide sufficient capacity for storing more products or content. Improving performance and scalability in this part of duties requires improvements on the existing structures. One effective method is to employ content delivery networks (CDNs) to enhance the load times and reliability factors.
Performance optimization solutions adopting BigCommerce include image optimization, caching, and site reviews to deal with congestion hindrances. It is also vital to guarantee that the hosting environment meets heavy traffic since it is unforeseeable.
You should also make performance improvements and specify if a CDN is handy for increasing the rate of a BigCommerce store.
Leverage Headless Commerce
Headless commerce involves a business’s ability to use BigCommerce for its powerful back-end capabilities while implementing a different front-end solution. This more flexible solution allows a more individual approach to the users.
Headless commerce helps organizations build unique front-end user experiences using the latest web design frameworks while leveraging the back-end stability of BigCommerce. This strategy is especially beneficial if the business needs a specially designed application or if it should uniformly appear across different platforms.
You should consider headless commerce options for a separation of the front end and the back end, which makes for better UX and features.
Conclusion
Customization is a part of any B2B e-commerce strategy. BigCommerce provides good functionality for the B2B e-commerce business, but some drawbacks are linked to its customization, integration, and scalability for the rapidly growing companies. These constraints are not addressed by adequately implementing contingency measures like third-party software uses, in-house custom development, and outside consulting services to guide the e-commerce business. It can continue to reap huge credit from the e-commerce platform as a strategic weapon in the cut-throat business environment.
As the global B2B e-commerce market grows, the demand for customized platforms will only increase. Companies that invest in customization will meet the needs of their customers, differentiate themselves from the competition, and achieve long-term success in the digital marketplace.