The truth is, most B2B platforms were either built for another audience or another era. They're not keeping up with how modern wholesale works: dynamic, relationship-driven, and increasingly digital.
So what’s going wrong, and what should brands look for in a platform that truly supports scale?
The disconnect between B2B needs and ecommerce reality
Wholesale is a complex, high-touch sales model that differs significantly from direct-to-consumer retail. Yet many B2B ecommerce platforms are stripped-down versions of B2C systems or overengineered legacy solutions. Here’s where most setups fall short.
1. B2C platforms retrofitted for B2B
Platforms like Shopify or Shopware were built with consumers in mind. While they now offer enterprise plans or B2B plug-ins, these are typically locked behind expensive tiers. Costs often start around €2,500 per month, not including customisation or development.
Even then, the user experience isn’t designed for wholesale buyers. Retailers struggle with retail-oriented flows, and brands rely on workarounds or external tools to manage simple B2B processes.
2. Plug-in dependent ecommerce stacks
Some brands build their own B2B setup using flexible platforms like WooCommerce or Magento. At first, this can seem agile and cost-effective, with plug-ins adding specific functions like bulk ordering or restricted access.
But as the tech stack grows, so does the maintenance burden. Plug-ins can break, clash with updates, and create security risks. Over time, teams find themselves dependent on developers just to maintain essential operations.
3. Legacy platforms designed for enterprise
At the opposite end are traditional B2B platforms like Cloudsuite, Propeller, and Optimizers. These tools are powerful and feature-rich, but often built with large wholesalers in mind.
For mid-market brands, they come with steep learning curves, outdated interfaces, and long implementation timelines.
The pricing is usually geared toward enterprise budgets, and the rigidity makes it hard to stay agile in a fast-moving market.
The problem isn’t complexity, it’s misalignment
Wholesale comes with complexity, but that doesn’t mean your platform has to. The issue isn’t that B2B commerce is too intricate to support, it’s that most systems aren’t designed with wholesale realities in mind.
You either end up paying for features you don’t use or stitching together different tools to meet your needs. This creates inefficiencies, hidden costs, and friction for both your team and your retail partners.
What a modern B2B platform should actually offer
A truly modern B2B platform should be built from the ground up to serve wholesale brands. It should support a wide range of workflows without requiring custom development or constant maintenance.
Look for a platform that includes:
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Support for multiple order types, including sales reps, showrooms, and trade events
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Integrated dropshipping, with automated order routing
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Self-service portals for easy retailer reordering
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Unified dashboards for full visibility across customers, channels, and reps
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Flexible pricing and promotions tailored to customer groups
All of this should be intuitive, accessible, and ready to use—no patchwork required.
Orderchamp Cloud was built specifically for growing wholesale brands. Rather than adapting consumer systems or enterprise software, we’ve created a purpose-built platform that simplifies every aspect of B2B sales.
Here’s how we do it differently:
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A single, unified platform for marketplace sales, direct orders, dropshipping, and your own branded portal
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Quick onboarding with no-code setup
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Intuitive experience for both brands and retailers
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Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or commissions
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Scalable features that grow with your business
Everything you need is in one place. No plug-ins, no patchwork, no surprises.
Rethink your B2B commerce strategy
If your current platform feels restrictive, disjointed, or overly complex, it might be time to simplify. The right platform should reduce friction, not add to it. It should help your team move faster and make your brand more accessible to buyers.
With Orderchamp Cloud, we believe wholesale brands deserve tools that are as dynamic and user-friendly as the businesses they power. We’ve built a platform to support your growth,
simplify your workflows, and let you focus on what matters most: your customers.