Developing a web shop for companies involves a significantly different technical and business scope compared to standard B2C solutions designed for end consumers. Companies that sell to other companies face specific requirements that do not exist in retail e-commerce — multi-tier price lists, personalised catalogues per buyer, user permission management, ERP system integration and the automation of ordering processes. Prolink develops web shops for companies as business platforms that digitalise the sales process and integrate into existing infrastructure.
The difference between a B2C and a B2B web shop
A B2C web shop is designed for one type of user — the end consumer who browses, selects and pays. A B2B web shop must support more complex relationships between buyer and seller that are based on pre-agreed terms, contractual prices and specific ordering processes. The same item in the catalogue may have a different price for different business partners, and access to certain categories or payment terms may be restricted to defined users. These differences are not merely design considerations — they require a different system architecture, different database logic and a different approach to user roles.
In addition, B2B buyers often order in larger quantities, require allocation to cost centres, need automatically generated documentation and expect the web shop to communicate with their internal systems. Prolink builds B2B web shops that meet all these requirements through a custom platform without the limitations of generic solutions.
Multi-tier price lists and personalised catalogues
One of the fundamental requirements of a B2B web shop is the ability to display different prices to different buyers. The Prolink CMS supports the definition of an unlimited number of price tiers — wholesale price, price under a partner agreement, price for a specific order volume or seasonal price — which are automatically applied according to the user profile of the logged-in buyer. A buyer who logs in with a user account linked to a specific agreement automatically sees the prices and terms defined for them, without manual intervention from the sales team.
Personalised catalogues allow certain buyers to see only the categories or products that are relevant to their business relationship with the supplier. A distributor covering a specific market can have access only to their product range, while a partner covering a different segment sees a different set of products. This level of control granularity is not possible in standard platforms but is critical for companies with complex distribution networks.
Integration with ERP systems
ERP integration eliminates data duplication and manual entry that are a frequent cause of errors and delays in B2B operations. Prolink develops integrations that enable two-way data synchronisation between the web shop and the ERP — stock levels update in real time, orders received through the web shop automatically enter the ERP without manual transfer, and customer data and agreed terms are pulled from the ERP into the web shop.
The specific integrations depend on the ERP system the company uses — Prolink has experience integrating via REST and SOAP API interfaces that modern ERP systems expose, as well as with solutions that use CSV or XML file exchange for systems without a modern API layer. During the analysis phase, the integration architecture, synchronisation frequency and logic for resolving conflicting data are defined, ensuring predictable system behaviour in the production environment.
User account and permission management
A B2B web shop requires a more sophisticated user account model than standard e-commerce. A single buyer company may have multiple employees using the same web shop with different permissions — a procurement officer may browse the catalogue and add items to the cart, but cannot finalise an order without approval from the procurement manager who holds that permission. Prolink implements a multi-tier permission system within user accounts that reflects the buyer's actual procurement processes.
In addition, the system supports cost centre management, automatic generation of purchase orders in formats the buyer uses internally, and storage of previous orders with a one-click reorder function — functionality that significantly accelerates routine procurement processes.
Automation of the ordering process and documentation
Every order placed through the B2B web shop can automatically trigger a series of processes that would otherwise require manual intervention — generating a pro forma invoice or invoice, sending notifications to relevant people on both the buyer and seller side, updating the status in the ERP and creating a delivery note. Prolink builds these automation workflows as a configurable part of the system, with the logic adapted to the company's actual business processes.
For companies working with international buyers, the system supports multilingual and multi-currency functionality, automatic VAT calculation according to local regulations and generation of documentation compliant with the accounting requirements of different markets.
Technical architecture and security
The web shop for companies is developed on the Prolink CMS, which is designed for managing complex catalogues, multi-user environments and high transactional data loads. The database is normalised according to B2B model requirements — the structure supports the hierarchy of customers, contractual terms and price tiers without compromising performance.
Security is particularly important in a B2B environment because the data involved includes business information, contractual prices and financial transactions. All communications take place through TLS encryption, access to the administrative interface is protected by multi-factor authentication, and customer and order data is stored in compliance with GDPR requirements. An access log records all actions by users with administrative permissions, which is important for companies subject to internal or external audits.
Development and implementation process
Development of a B2B web shop begins with a detailed analysis that covers mapping the sales process, defining user roles, analysing existing IT infrastructure and ERP systems, and identifying specific business rules that must be implemented in the system. This phase is critical because errors in analysis have a multiplicative effect on all subsequent development phases.
| Phase | Content |
|---|---|
| Analysis and specification | Mapping the sales process, user roles, ERP integration and business rules |
| System architecture | Defining database structure, API contracts and integration model |
| Design and UX | User interface adapted for B2B users — speed, clarity, bulk actions |
| Development and integrations | CMS implementation, ERP integration, pricing logic and user roles |
| Testing | Functional, security and performance testing on the development server |
| Implementation and training | Launch, data migration, administrator and user training |
| Maintenance | Updates, monitoring, security patches and technical support |
The entire development takes place on a development server to which the client has access from the first day, enabling continuous progress monitoring and timely corrections without costly changes in later phases.
Frequently asked questions about web shop development for companies
Can the web shop be integrated with our existing ERP system?
Yes — integration is defined during the analysis phase based on the technical documentation of the ERP system the company uses. Most modern ERP systems expose API interfaces that enable two-way data synchronisation. For older systems without a modern API, alternative integration approaches are used through file exchange or direct database access with appropriate security measures.
How does managing different prices for different buyers work?
Each buyer or group of buyers can be assigned a price tier that automatically applies agreed prices, discounts or payment terms upon login. Administrators can manage price tiers through the administrative interface without technical intervention.
Is it possible to restrict access to certain parts of the catalogue?
Yes — the visibility of categories, products and prices can be configured by user role or individual user account. The buyer sees only what they are authorised to see according to their user classification.
How are orders that require internal approval handled?
The system supports a multi-tier approval process where a procurement officer can create an order that goes to a manager for approval before becoming active. Each step in the process can generate an automatic notification to the relevant people.
How long does B2B web shop development take?
Duration depends on the complexity of the ERP integration, the number of user roles and the scope of the catalogue. Simpler B2B projects are completed in eight to twelve weeks, while more complex systems with multiple integrations and advanced business logic require a longer development period that is defined after the requirements analysis.
A web shop for companies as digital sales infrastructure
A web shop for companies is not an addition to existing operations but a digitalisation of the sales process that eliminates manual steps, reduces errors and opens a new channel that operates around the clock without placing a burden on the sales team. Properly integrated with an ERP system and adapted to specific B2B processes, the web shop becomes a strategic tool that shortens the sales cycle and strengthens relationships with business partners. Prolink develops B2B e-commerce platforms as long-term solutions that grow alongside the client's business. For a requirements analysis and preparation of a solution proposal, contact the Prolink team.