The new age of B2B ecommerce is here with BigCommerce B2B Edition.
BigCommerce B2B Edition is an app BigCommerce users can download onto their BigCommerce account to get a set of B2B features ecommerce features. On other platforms, merchants need to build out custom functionality or download multiple apps to get the desired B2B features. The BigCommerce B2B edition app has all the functionality in one BigCommerce app. So, with a couple of clicks you can add critical functionality to your store. This saves you time, energy, and money.
Once installed in your BigCommerce store, you can access the B2B features from your BigCommerce admin account. This article walks through the main features of the BigCommerce B2B Edition at a high level so you know what to expect when you install it in your store!
Key BigCommerce B2B Edition Features
- Buyer Portal
- Company Account Structure
- User Management
- Invoice Portal
- Company Address Book Management
- Super Admin Masquerade
- Internal Sales Staff Quoting
- Shared Shopping Lists and Buy Again
- Payment Method Visibility Control
- Quick Order
Figuring out how each BigCommerce feature fits into your business can take a bit of thought, so we’ve outlined each one below to give you a clearer picture. Keep in mind, all of these features come included when you install the BigCommerce B2B Edition app.
BigCommerce Buyer Portal
The BigCommerce Buyer Portal is a hub where B2B customers can log in to view orders, manage quotes, reorder products, and access account information. All of this in one place! This feature makes ordering a self-service experience for buyers, reducing the need for manual support and speeding up the purchasing process. It lessens friction in the path to purchase!
For example, a distributor selling industrial parts can use the Buyer Portal to give each of their customers a personalized view of their order history and current quotes. The customer can than see and pay invoices all from the portal. It’s a powerful way to streamline communication and improve the buying experience.
Company Account Structure
The Company Account Structure allows businesses to set up parent and sub-accounts within a single company profile. This is useful for merchants selling to organizations with multiple departments or locations that need individualized access but centralized billing and management. For instance, a wholesaler of school supplies can create one account for the school district, with separate logins for each school to place orders under that umbrella. It’s a flexible way to manage complex buying organizations.
BigCommerce User Management
User Management gives B2B companies the ability to assign roles and permissions to individual users within a company account. This is especially helpful when different team members are responsible for different parts of the purchasing process. For example, a facilities manager may be given permission to place orders while a procurement director handles approvals. This feature ensures proper control and visibility at every level.
BigCommerce Invoice Portal
The Invoice Portal lets customers view and pay invoices directly from their account dashboard. It’s a huge win for B2B merchants who offer net terms or extend credit to their customers. A commercial cleaning supply company, for example, can use the Invoice Portal to let customers track outstanding balances and make payments without needing to call or email the accounting team. This feature removes confusion from sales, simplifies payment workflows, and leads to faster cash flow.
Company Address Book Management
With Company Address Book Management, businesses can store multiple shipping and billing addresses under one account, making checkout faster and more convenient. This is ideal for customers who ship to different job sites, warehouses, or office locations. A construction supply company, for instance, may have buyers that place orders for multiple locations throughout the month. This feature eliminates repetitive data entry and reduces shipping errors. This leads to a faster, smoother sales process.
Super Admin Masquerade
The Super Admin Masquerade feature allows internal sales reps (or customer support) to log in as a customer to view the site exactly as the buyer sees it. This is incredibly useful for troubleshooting, placing orders on behalf of clients, or training new buyers. For example, a medical supply company’s sales rep can log in as a hospital buyer to assist with a complex reorder. It’s a fast and accurate way to provide hands-on support and guidance.
Internal Sales Staff Quoting
This feature allows internal sales teams to create and manage quotes directly from the admin panel. It’s perfect for merchants who handle custom pricing or bulk orders. For example, a furniture manufacturer may generate a personalized quote for a corporate client outfitting an entire office space. This streamlines the quoting process and creates a smoother path to conversion.
Shared Shopping Lists and Buy Again
Shared Shopping Lists and Buy Again functionality make it easy for B2B buyers to reorder frequently purchased products or coordinate purchasing across teams. This is a game-changer for businesses with recurring orders or collaborative purchasing processes. A restaurant chain, for example, can share a shopping list of approved supplies across all locations, ensuring consistency and saving time.
Payment Method Visibility Control
Payment Method Visibility Control lets merchants show or hide payment methods based on customer groups, company accounts, or other criteria. This is ideal for businesses offering specific terms or payment options to select clients. A merchant selling safety equipment might offer net-30 invoicing to long-time customers while requiring prepayment from new accounts. This keeps payment workflows aligned with internal policies.
BigCommerce Quick Order
Quick Order allows buyers to add products to their cart by entering SKUs or using a CSV upload, which improves the speed of purchasing process for high-volume buyers. It’s especially valuable for customers who know exactly what they need and want to skip the browsing experience. A plumbing supply distributor, for instance, can let contractors place large orders quickly right from the Quick Order page.
Conclusion
BigCommerce B2B Edition packs a powerful set of tools designed to help merchants meet the demands of modern B2B buyers, all in one place. Whether you’re managing complex buyer relationships, offering custom quotes, or streamlining reorders, the features available in this app can transform how your store operates.
For more information on these topics and more, explore the Anchor Group blog, where we regularly publish articles on B2B ecommerce strategy, BigCommerce features, and best practices. And don’t forget to check out the Anchor Group YouTube channel for walkthroughs, tutorials, and real-world examples to help you get the most out of your BigCommerce website.
Have questions about how B2B Edition fits into your ecommerce plans? Contact Anchor Group. We’re here to help!
Questions and Answers
When Do I Need BigCommerce B2B Edition?
You need BigCommerce B2B Edition when your online store is serving B2B customers and you want to provide a streamlined, personalized, and scalable buying experience. If your customers include distributors, wholesalers, or organizations with multiple buyers and approval workflows, this app gives you the tools to support those complex needs right out of the box. Instead of piecing together custom development or relying on several third-party apps, B2B Edition centralizes critical ecommerce functionality (i.e. company account structures, user roles, invoicing, quoting, and quick ordering) into one solution. It’s especially valuable when your B2B sales are growing and you want to reduce manual processes, improve customer satisfaction, and make your internal team more efficient.
What’s the cost of BigCommerce B2B Edition?
BigCommerce B2B Edition is an add-on available to merchants on a BigCommerce Enterprise plan. The cost of B2B Edition is included in a custom pricing package based on your store’s specific needs, order volume, and overall business requirements. Because Enterprise plans are custom built based on the merchant, the exact price can vary from one merchant to another. If you're already on BigCommerce Enterprise or considering the upgrade, give us a call here at Anchor Group. We will talk you through some considerations and can help connect you to the right people at BigCommerce.
Themes Supported by BigCommerce B2B Edition?
Most modern BigCommerce themes are compatible with B2B Edition, especially those available in the BigCommerce Theme Marketplace. However, to get the most out of the app’s powerful features (i.e. shared shopping lists, company account structures, and invoice portals) it’s important to choose a theme that’s optimized for B2B user experiences. At Anchor Group, we recommend starting with a flexible, well-supported theme like Cornerstone or Camden Marketplace, which offer clean designs and solid compatibility with B2B Edition functionality. If your business has more complex needs, our team can help you customize a theme or build one from scratch to fully support your B2B workflows.
BigCommerce Certified Partner, Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner
As a BigCommerce Certified Partner and an Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner, Anchor Group is ready to handle BigCommerce and NetSuite projects alike! Whether you have one platform and are looking to integrate the other, are considering a full-scale implementation of both platforms or need support with ongoing customizations, our team is ready to answer any questions! Get in touch!
