In the dynamic world of eCommerce, crafting a comprehensive B2B platform demands intricate planning, adept technical implementation, and seamless integration with external systems.
This case study explores the journey of developing a cutting-edge B2B eCommerce site for Cadmus Distribution Group Limited using Magento 2 Open Source and Progressive Web App (PWA) technology.
What is a B2B eCommerce Site?
A B2B (Business-to-Business) eCommerce site is an online platform that facilitates the buying and selling of goods and services between businesses. Unlike B2C (Business-to-Consumer) eCommerce, where transactions occur between a business and individual consumers, B2B eCommerce focuses on business transactions.
How to Build a Successful B2B eCommerce Site?
Creating a B2B eCommerce platform involves a strategic blend of various elements. However, there are specific fundamental pillars you should focus on when aiming to establish a successful B2B eCommerce website.
Performance-Focused Excellence
The speed and responsiveness of your B2B eCommerce website play a pivotal role in user satisfaction and conversion rates. Here’s why performance matters:
- Optimized Loading Times: Businesses are busy, and time is of the essence. Slow-loading pages can lead to frustration and potential loss of business. Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and employ content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure swift page loads.
- Mobile Responsiveness: With an increasing number of users accessing websites via mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure your B2B platform is mobile-friendly. Responsive design enhances user experience across various devices, fostering accessibility and usability.
- Scalability: As your business grows, so should your website. Ensure your eCommerce platform can scale with your expanding business needs. Scalability is key to accommodating increased traffic, products, and data without compromising performance.
Security-Focused Fortification
Security is paramount, especially when dealing with B2B transactions and sensitive business information. Consider the following measures to fortify your B2B eCommerce website:
- PCI DSS Compliance: Adhering to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is non-negotiable for B2B eCommerce platforms. Compliance ensures secure processing and handling of payment data, instilling trust in your customers.
- SSL Certificate: Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates encrypt data transmitted between the user’s browser and your server. This encryption not only safeguards sensitive information but also boosts your website’s credibility. Customers are more likely to engage with a site they perceive as secure.
Integration with Business Systems
Efficient operation is the cornerstone of a successful B2B eCommerce platform. The website should be integrated seamlessly with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
It reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and enhances overall efficiency. Real-time data synchronization ensures consistency across different business systems.
Comprehensive Product Information
Businesses often seek specific details, pricing structures, and bulk options. Here’s how you can enhance your product listings:
- Detailed Descriptions: Provide comprehensive product descriptions that include specifications, use cases, and any other pertinent details. This helps businesses understand the value of your offerings.
- Tiered Pricing: Implement tiered pricing structures to cater to the diverse needs of different businesses. Bulk pricing options should be transparent and easy to understand.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Harnessing the power of customer testimonials is a potent strategy to underscore your business and product strengths. By incorporating reviews directly on your website, you provide valuable insights from satisfied customers, bolstering your credibility.
How Tigren build a B2B eCommerce Site with Magento 2 – PWA for Cadmus Distribution Group Limited
Overview
For this project, we built a PWA B2B eCommerce site on Magento 2 Open Source. Building a complex system that was enriched with numerous custom features and ensuring seamless functionality posed a significant challenge.
However, we successfully overcame these challenges to launch the UX and UX Portal website, powered by the Tigren PWA.
The goals
In this project, Tigren set clear objectives from the outset:
- Build a comprehensive B2B eCommerce system from A to Z
- Integrate with external systems: Netsuite ERP, Marketing: Clerk.Io, Dotdigital, Doofinder Search, Zendesk
- Build the most popular payment methods: Opayo payment gateway, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Scope of work
The project encompassed a wide range of features and integrations, including:
- Delivering standard eCommerce features: cart, account, checkout, wishlist…
- ERP integration: (Netsuite)
- Ensuring pricing, stock, and product data coming from external systems were complete and accurate
- Two-way sync for customer, order, shipment, invoice, and Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) with Netsuite.
- Doofinder search integration
- Company account feature
- RMA feature
- Reseller feature
- Force login feature
- Pre-Order, Quick Oder feature
- Loqate Auto Postcode suggestion
- Clerk.Io integration
- Dotdigital integration
- Zendesk integration and customization
- Reward Point feature
- Payment methods: Sagepay, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- And specifically for the website design:
- Being consistent with brand colors and other identity elements
- Creating wireframes and designs for desktop and mobile
Key challenges
Every project comes with its distinct set of difficulties, and this one was no exception. Tigren faced several key challenges that demanded resolution.
- Complex Scenarios: Varied processes and intricate data scenarios with multiple steps and stakeholders, including:
- Customer type, company, personal
- Tier pricing, per customer group, inventory stock level
- Order, invoice, deposit, fulfillment, and return flow
- Notification
- Streamlined and Automated Processes:
- A demand for a smooth and automatic process, requiring synchronization on the fly triggered by customer/admin actions.
- High-performance requirements to ensure seamless functionality.
- Third-Party Isolation:
- Independent functioning of many third-party entities without any interconnections or integrations.
- Necessity to develop and integrate these third-party components from scratch into the website.
- Data and Cybersecurity: Rigorous attention to data security and cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information in the project.
How Tigren Implement this B2B eCommerce Site
Tackling these challenges head-on, Tigren implemented strategic solutions to ensure the successful execution of the project. Anh here is the approach of Tigren to building a completed B2B eCommerce Site on Magento 2 with TigrenPWA theme on top.
The project was strategically divided into three main components: Magento, web apps, and Netsuite ERP.
- Backend: Develop the Magento 2 extension, graphql API with full customization adapted for the client’s requirement and 3rd plugins
- Frontend: Based on Tigren PWA, build PWA add-ons and customize the theme to the following design
- Netsuite cloud ERP – where the data synchronization to
Refer detailed guide for some key functions: DotDigital, Apple Pay and Google Pay, Clerk.io …
The Netsuite integration was built from the ground up, utilizing the Netsuite PHP library SDK. This module was designed to be compatible with RMA, Zendesk, and Card payment, tailoring it to specific business requirements.
- Configure necessary things for flow on NS: save searches, custom fields, sales orders, order items, records…
- For data, we create a mapping configuration field between NS attribute and Magento attribute, allowing the system to work flexibly.
- Develop suite script to trigger API call to Magento 2, ensure real-time data update
- Follow standard framework structure coding and query, optimized to ensure the system runs smoothly and fast
In terms of security, in addition to JWT, we implemented a Two-Factor Authentication (OTP) feature for API authentication, providing an additional layer of verification.
Technology
- Zend Framework
- PHP / MySQL
- Javascript
- HTML / CSS
- TailwinCSS
- ReactJS
- GraphQL
Results
Despite the intricate challenges, the project achieved remarkable success:
- Enabled consistent management of customer and product information.
- Provided end-users with a seamless and efficient experience.
- Streamlined the entire B2B sales process.
Conclusion
Tigren’s accomplishment in developing a cutting-edge B2B eCommerce site for Cadmus Distribution Group Limited reflects our capability to stay current with trends. Overcoming challenges, Tigren’s implementation achieved notable success, ensuring consistent information management, a seamless user experience, and streamlined B2B sales processes.
This case study serves as proof of Tigren’s expertise and innovation, setting new standards in the dynamic world of B2B eCommerce. Therefore, if you have a demand for B2B site development, feel free to contact us for exceptional solutions.
