B2B Internet sales in the United States are expected to hit $ 1.2 trillion in 2021 alone. As a successful B2B business, you may be asking how to take advantage of the enormous prospects presented by a B2B ecommerce open source platform. Although it appears complicated at first appearance, it is relatively simple. As a result, fundamental knowledge is an inevitable requirement for success. Utilize this information to guarantee that the treatment is performed the first time correctly.
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In the domain of B2B e-commerce, what is an open-source platform?
To begin, you should gain a working knowledge of what an open-source B2B e-commerce platform is, why you need one, and how it varies from others. Open-source software (OSS) is software that is distributed with the source code intact, allowing users and publishers to study, modify, and develop it to meet their specific requirements. In comparison to closed-source code, open-source code enables developers to update or alter the code in order to design their perfect B2B platform.
Meanwhile, what precisely is “source code”?
Programmers can update a software’s source code (program/application “source”) to modify its behavior; this code defines how a software (program/application) runs behind the scenes. They are not required to engage with the application’s inventor prior to issuing updates or correcting defects.
It is critical to be able to quickly and easily update the design. You may quickly build the B2B e-commerce platform of your dreams using open-source technology. The source code is completely customizable to match your individual needs. Further, just one thing stands between you and achieving your goals: Your time, talents, and financial resources.
In addition, crowdsourcing is a technique used to build open-source software. It was created and is maintained by community members and volunteers. Each individual is free to use, modify, or contribute to the content in any manner they like. Utilizing open-source software has several advantages, including cost savings and the ability to customize the program to your exact needs. The fast growth and adoption of open-source software in the corporate sector are well-founded.
Security
Nothing goes unnoticed in a world where hundreds of eyes constantly scan the ground. Linus Torvalds, the Linux creator, used the term “Linus’ Law” to characterize this concept. According to Linus Torvalds, having many eyeballs inspecting and testing a piece of code increases the likelihood of identifying and correcting a mistake quickly.
Nobody outside the organization is aware of the potential risks associated with closed-source proprietary software. When a product flaw is discovered, it is uncommon for a company to wait weeks or months to release a repair. Frequently, expensive proprietary software is used to demonstrate “security via obscurity.”
While the incidence of “discovered defects” in open source software is higher, these problems are often recognized prior to causing major damage and are swiftly rectified. Following a big release of proprietary software, it is possible that a new problem may be discovered, forcing a much longer patch period. In the meanwhile, we wish the businesses responsible for its operation the best of luck.
Quality
Because open-source software is created by people who are also end-users, it is more likely to meet the end user’s requirements. It is not about what suppliers assume their customers want when it comes to open-source; it is about what their customers truly desire. They contribute significantly to a meaningful product and transform it into something they would like to use themselves—and they do so exceptionally successfully. In actuality, open-source solutions have gained popularity due to their technological superiority.
Community
It is a global community of competent and motivated individuals dedicated to developing open-source software. They place a premium on transparency and usability, and they want their products to be accessible to the broadest possible audience. The community has access to various information and tools when it comes to the most popular open-source projects.
Moreover, the open-source community is unmatched in terms of sheer numbers of enthusiasm, expertise, and initiative.
While end-user documentation is frequently inadequate in open source software, extensive documenting of the software development process is critical. This includes tracking issues’ history and resolution, version upgrades, new features, and extension requests. Before making a final option, conduct some research and thoroughly review the OSS documentation.
Open-source B2B e-commerce solutions that are the most trustworthy
To save you time and effort, we’ve streamlined the process of choosing the most refined open-source B2B e-commerce platform for your needs. To help you start, we’ve produced a list of six of the most popular B2B e-commerce platforms. Inhale deeply and then plunge in!
nopCommerce
nopCommerce is an open-source B2B eCommerce platform built on the most recent version of Microsoft’s ASP.NET framework. It comes pre-loaded with multi-store and multi-vendor functionality. Businesses benefit from endless customization choices and may build enterprise-level stores at no cost because it comes with the source code.
All common shipping and payment methods are supported by nopCommerce. There are sophisticated SEO and marketing features that allow expanding the business and raising brand awareness. Compliance with PCI DSS and GDPR ensures high security. It released a mobile application and embraced headless architecture. With almost 2,000 integrations and themes, nopCommerce’s default capabilities can be substantially increased.
Our users simply need to complete these 3 steps in order to start a B2B eCommerce website: choose a hosting provider, install a platform, and then begin setting up your store.
OroCommerce
Magento, a well-known business-to-business platform, is almost definitely recognizable to you. On the other side, OroCommerce was built by the same team that founded and developed Magento. OroCommerce is not yet a household name, but it is rapidly becoming one due to its recent popularity boom. Orocommerce is a significant player in the B2B Digital Platforms business, according to IDC’s 2020 MarketScape.
Let us begin by addressing the research’s aim. OroCommerce is also a B2B e-commerce platform that supports business-to-business, business-to-consumer, business-to-business, business-to-business, business-to-business, business-to-business, and marketplace selling. Due to its open-source nature, it is completely free. OroCommerce also ships with a comprehensive set of B2B capabilities, as well as the flexibility to customize those features to meet specific company requirements.
Woocommerce
Woocommerce is a well-known WordPress plugin for business-to-business (B2B) websites. Over 38% of online retailers utilize the platform, downloaded over 15 million times. Due to the plugin’s ability to transform WordPress websites into reputable e-commerce firms, users were keen to use it for business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales transactions.
Due to WP’s simplicity due to its commerce and utility, it is a popular choice for enterprises. Utilizing this application may provide a diverse selection of products and services.
Drupal
Using Drupal e-commerce to sell products and services online has never been easier.
When it comes to integration with third-party apps, Drupal offers a particular advantage. However, because it can be employed by large enterprises with the assistance of expert content marketers and site designers, it is a viable alternative for small and medium-sized firms.
Several of Drupal’s features include the following:
- Pre-installed is a basic theme that may be adjusted to your liking.
- The program’s 40 modules enable you to extend the functionality of your website.
- Automatic development of page aliases is possible.
- It integrates with Google Analytics and includes features such as bot prevention.
While an active user base is one factor that contributes to open-source software’s popularity, it is not the sole factor.
