Key Features of B2C eCommerce Platform: An Overview of Different Solutions

Retail realities have been transforming. With lines between the digital and physical world blurring, businesses have been scrambling for this online-first sales imperative. Today, the sales approach is not confined to whether to expand sales digitally or not, but rather how many channels can be effectively utilized to engage customers. According to Statista, by 2027, one out of every 4 (23%) retail sales will take place online aggregating to a staggering $7.9 trillion.  

However, with such an opportunity, the competition has also been increasing. Getting users’ attention means putting in place a well-orchestrated eCommerce platform strategy. One that gives all the participants the right set of tools. For this reason, you may wonder, what is the right mix of features to look for in a B2C eCommerce platform solution? And which solution offers better features?

Read ahead to find out…

What is a B2C eCommerce Platform?  

Think of a platform like Amazon or Etsy. Such a website is launched by an intermediary party. They further invite third-party vendors to sell their products and services to the buyers on the website, while they manage the supporting eCommerce operations like technology management, marketing,  platform management, shipping, accounting, and others. 

On such a platform, all three participating entities have their respective roles on the platform. 

• The intermediary assigns an Admin to manage and support the platform operations but does not need to maintain an inventory of their own. 
• Third-party vendors use the infrastructure and support to sell their inventory. 
• The buyers simply sign up, choose desired products, and complete the transactions. 

Top B2C eCommerce marketplace Platforms 

So, what decides the structure of B2C eCommerce marketplace platforms? Leaders in the industry pioneered expectations and workflows to meet these expectations. Some of the leading names set the tone with innovation. This innovation filters down to the eCommerce industry, and the rest of the ecosystem responds by offering those capabilities with their features. So let’s see which players are leading the B2C industry. 

1. Amazon

Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. Amazon’s primary business involves offering a wide range of product categories through its online marketplace platform and making money from multiple revenue channels. Amazon is popular for its vast product selection, efficient operations, and customer-centric innovations.

• Annual Revenue: $514 billion 
• Headquarters: Seattle, USA

2. Walmart

Although Walmart has been a legacy business in the US, its eCommerce operations commenced in 2000, It leverages its offline physical stores and offers both its products and those from third-party sellers. Walmart is globally renowned for its competitive pricing and seamless experience of online and physical stores.

• Annual Revenue: $611 billion 
• Headquarters: Bentonville, USA

3. Wayfair

Wayfair was founded by Niraj Shah and Steve Conine in the year 2002. It offers homeware, including a massive selection of furniture and home décor items. It has gained popularity for its user-friendly online interface and extensive product categories for home furnishings.

• Annual Revenue: $12.2 billion 
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, US

4. Newegg

Newegg was founded in 2001. It is a leading electronics B2C platform specializing in tech products such as computer hardware, electronics, and gaming accessories. It started operations as an inventory based business, but slowly added third party sellers to transition to the marketplace business model. Known for its wide range of tech goods and a dedicated customer base, Newegg excels in delivering a streamlined shopping experience focused on technology.

• Annual Revenue: $2.4 billion 
• Headquarters: City of Industry, California, USA

5. Tokopedia

A leader in the rapidly progressing South East Asian region, Tokopedia was launched in 2009, Operating from Indonesia it caters to the specific needs of the region i.e. it empowers small businesses and individual entrepreneurs to sell a wide range of products across product categories. The B2C platform is popular for its vast selection of products, intuitive UX, and integration of digital financial services, making it a behemoth of the region. 

• Annual Revenue: $3.5 billion 
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia

What are the different types of B2C eCommerce Platform Solutions? 

A B2C eCommerce platform solution can help you launch an online eCommerce platform. While these solutions achieve the same final objective, they vary greatly amongst themselves. The main types are as follows: 

1. Hosted eCommerce platform solutions (also known as SaaS eCommerce solutions) 

These are turnkey eCommerce solutions that are already hosted over the cloud by the providers on the solution. Entrepreneurs interested in launching an eCommerce platform simply sign up and launch their eCommerce platform. However, the pricing model in such scenarios is via rental models i.e. you pay a recurring fee forever to maintain. Examples include Shopify, Sharetribe. 

2. Open Source eCommerce platform solutions

These are solutions freely available for download. However, these solutions need customization before they can be launched as fully functional B2C platforms. So essentially these are low-code options. For example Prestashop

3. Self-hosted eCommerce platform solutions 

These are turnkey solutions that are typically license-based. You acquire the license to use, and then you can host these on-premises or over a server of your choice. Here you don’t rent but you own the eCommerce platform. For example Yo!Kart 

Why does Choosing the right B2C Platform Features matter? 

The B2C marketplace is the platform for your eCommerce business. It connects three participants i.e. 

• Admin: The authority responsible for managing the eCommerce platform. 
• Sellers: Third-party vendors selling products/services on your platform. 
• Buyers: The end consumers who buy the products and services on the platform. 

Your B2C platform solution needs features to create a modern eCommerce ecosystem for all these users. Moreover, you need to cover the following business functions. 

• Platform configuration 
• Managing product categories 
• Order Management 
• Hosting payments and redistribution 
• Business health analysis 
• Shipping management 
• Finances 
• Taxes and Compliances 
• Marketing, branding, and promotions
• User management 
• Vendor management 
• Managing content and website SEO

Hence a list of features is required for the streamlined functioning of the B2C eCommerce marketplace platform. 

20 Key Features to look for in a B2C eCommerce Platform Solution 

1. Product Catalog 

All products offered on the marketplace need to be streamlined and managed. The product catalog feature allows the marketplace operator to add the product categories that are to be sold in the eCommerce marketplace. Moreover, this feature should give the operator comprehensive capabilities to add necessary details and relevant media. 

2. Support for Multiple Revenue Channels 

eCommerce marketplaces have the opportunity to make money via multiple revenue channels. The most popular revenue channels in an eCommerce marketplace are: 

• Commissions: commissions on products are one of the more popular channels. 
• Subscription plans for sellers: Marketplaces also introduce subscription plans for the sellers. These are typically in exchange for additional services. 
• Advertisements: website advertisement space can be monetized. 

Support for all these channels in a B2C eCommerce platform is essential to maximize revenue generation from the business.  

3. Shipping and Fulfillment 

Efficient shipping operations are key to eCommerce success. It is the biggest differentiator that helps eCommerce businesses leverage lower prices over the traditional supply chain. Moreover, it is an important factor for user satisfaction. A key feature in B2C eCommerce platform is the capability to set custom shipping rules by the Admin. Additionally, you can allow the sellers to choose their shipping resulting in a win-win scenario. Significantly, third-party solutions like Shipstation also aid in shipping and fulfillment operations in an eCommerce marketplace. However, the API of these solutions has to be integrated with the platform. 

4. Affiliate marketing 

Affiliate marketing is when an eCommerce business pays partners (called affiliates) a commission for diverting traffic onto their website. In the US, 16% of all online orders come via Affiliate marketing channels, highlighting its importance. Thus, a well-organized affiliate marketing module is a key features to look for in a B2C eCommerce platform.

5. Pay Per Click Campaigns 

Pay Per Click or PPC is a feature that allows the business to streamline monetizing advertisements on the website by counting each click thus streamlining the revenue being generated from the PPC campaigns.

6. Tax Management 

In a country like the US, each state and each county has its own rules and regulations for charging VAT. Plus the tax slab can vary for product categories. If you add global operations, in countries like Canada or Australia, you have to factor in a similar but different tax structure i.e. GST. Hence robust tax management is integral to B2C eCommerce operations. Furthermore, third-party business solutions like Avalara also help with easing tax calculations. 

7. Dedicated User Dashboards 

In modern eCommerce, the marketplace Admin, Sellers, and the Buyers have their distinct roles within the eCommerce platform. A dedicated dashboard gives each user group access to relevant features and data tailored to their needs, enhancing usability and functionality.

• Admin dashboard: A centralized panel to manage operations, users, and gauge site performance. 
• Seller dashboard: Gives sellers control over sales and shop performance.
• Buyer dashboard: Provides buyers with a unified panel to experience shopping on the platform. 
• Affiliate dashboard: Gives the affiliate partners a convenient way to judge their earnings from the eCommerce platform. 
• Advertiser dashboard: Helps advertisers to manage and streamline their advertisement campaigns. 

8. Intuitive User Experience 

Shopping is often a pursuit that transcends necessity and engages the buyers in creating memorable experiences. Historically, brick-and-mortar stores have invested heavily in making shopping an occasion to remember. The same is replicated by eCommerce stores with intuitive user experience. Prefer logic-driven buyer journeys that minimize friction and leverage minimum effort from users. 

9. Geolocation-Based Product Listing

Give your buyers the convenience of searching for only relevant products in their search. With geolocation-based product listing the buyers can see only products available to ship at their location. This ensures an optimized user experience by enhancing convenience and filtering the irrelevant details from a user’s perspective. 

10. Push notifications 

A key communication tool, push notification gives the business a direct communication channel with the users of your business. With the capability to send push notifications to the users’ devices, you can run promotional campaigns, advertise new additions to the eCommerce business, promote new releases, and more.  

11. Mobile Apps 

Today, an increasing number of users use mobiles as their primary device for online shopping. Hence to maximize the reach of a business, mobile devices are important for eCommerce success. That said, the mobile apps must mirror the experience on your eCommerce platform. Hence, if you are planning to include mobile apps in your eCommerce strategy, prioritize B2C eCommerce platforms that offer intuitive mobile apps along with the B2C platform solution. 

12. Automated Seller Payouts 

On an eCommerce platform, the transaction cycle works like this: The buyers checkout with the product and complete the transaction. The money gets transferred to the bank account of the marketplace business. To complete the cycle, the business deducts any applicable commissions and transfers this amount to the seller’s account. All online transactions are facilitated by secure payment gateways. The best payment gateways like Stripe or Paypal give the option of automating sellers’ payouts. Choose an eCommerce platform solution that can integrate leading payment gateways. 

13. Streamlined Checkout 

Checkout is the last but an important stage in the buyer journey. A streamlined checkout process in an eCommerce platform accelerated the completion of the transaction thereby removing friction and enhancing the overall user experience, and reducing the cart abandonment rates. Options like saved user fields, lesser need for clicks, and optimized workflows enhance the chance for conversions in a B2C marketplace platform. 

14. Multiple Payment Methods 

Buyers’ priorities can vary when it comes to how they wish to pay for the product or service. The option for multiple payment gateways improves the buying experience and enhances conversions on the platform. Some popular payment methods to offer include payments by cards, eWallets, bank transfers, and cash on delivery. 

15. Effortless Platform Access

Integral to the browsing experience of all users on the platform, a faster log in ensures that each of the users are able to begin their respective journeys on the platform. Some popular methods to facilitate a faster log in include social media login and OTP-based log in. These complement the existing method of the traditionally popular email log in. 

16. Reports and Analytics

In today’s digital-driven retail ecosystem, data insights remain pivotal to understanding and analyzing the performance of your online business. On an eCommerce platform, data is made available by reports and analytics. Data-driven decisions can fundamentally change your eCommerce strategy, hence making this a key features to look for in a B2C eCommerce platform. 

17. Abandoned Cart

An abandoned cart is an incomplete order by a buyer. With eCommerce, this can be a common pain point. This feature allows businesses to reach these customers with the help of push notifications or/and emails. This is typically the Admin’s prerogative, and helps the business to recover lost sales. 

18. Data Import/Export 

Setting up product listing can take time, especially if the sellers have a long list of products to list. To accelerate this process, give your sellers the option of quickly importing data into the system. This can be done quickly with the help of .csv files. 

19. Individual Seller Storefronts 

By giving your sellers a virtual microsite within your marketplace allows them to build their brand on your platform. This can be done with the help of individual seller storefronts. You can go further, by allowing the sellers to personalize their storefronts to align it with their individual branding requirements. Such features of B2C eCommerce platform help to onboard sellers easier. 

20. Marketing and Promotions 

Unlike a brick-and-mortar marketplace, your online platform will exist in a virtual space. So effective marketing and promotions are essential to cross selling and upselling products. Key features of B2C eCommerce for promotions include displaying smart recommendations, featured and related products. Promotions can be done with the help of promotional banners and running rewards, coupons, or discounts on the eCommerce platform. 

21. Reviews and Rating 

User-generated content is one of the best ways to engage buyers and earn their trust on the platform. A key feature in a B2C marketplace is the ability to add reviews and ratings for the products and services available. Moreover, you can further foster context by introducing review parameters. However, an important tip here is to create a system where these are published only after Admin approval. 

How to Launch an Online Marketplace with Key Features of a B2C Platform

In this blog, we have explored some of the important features of B2C eCommerce platforms. These features can build a foundation for achieving your business goals. However, the next big question is: how do you launch a B2C eCommerce platform that has all the features to succeed? There are two main options available to you. 

Custom Development: Alright, the first approach is straightforward, and is probably what you would opt for if you lack key insights. So you outline your specific platform requirements and have a custom platform built from scratch around those. This can help you in curating a platform as per your needs. However, this route requires significant time and resources, increasing your investment manifold and impacting time to market. The question is do you need to do this? 

Leverage a Turnkey Solution: There is an alternative. You can choose an off-the-shelf solution that allows you to quickly build a B2C eCommerce marketplace. This method is both faster and more cost-effective. However, which are the best turnkey B2C Platform solutions? Let’s explore. 

Best Feature Rich Turnkey B2C Platform Solutions 

By now, you are familiar with the top features to look for in a B2C platform solution. These are capabilities that allow eCommerce platforms to perform well in the market, gaining traction with the audience. To get ahead of the competition you need to launch a B2C platform that offers the best of these features and more, at affordable price solutions. To do that you need a turnkey B2C platform solution with the best features. So, breaking down for you, the list of the most feature rich turnkey solutions in the order given below. 

1. Yo!Kart: This solution has a range of class leading eCommerce features. Moreover, all of these features are included in all of its price packages. If you want to launch a B2C eCommerce platform with rich features, Yo!Kart is a good choice.  

2. Growcer: Like Yo!Kart, Growcer too has a list of features. Moreover, this solution is tailored towards hyperlocal B2C eCommerce solutions. If you want to launch a hyperlocal B2C eCommerce platform, Growcer is a good choice. 

3. Shopify: This is a SaaS eCommerce store solution. It is a popular choice for launching a single vendor inventory based B2C eCommerce platform. 

4. Adobe Commerce CU: This is an open source B2C eCommerce platform solution. As mentioned above, open source solutions need extensive customization.

Let’s understand all these solutions in more detail along with their salient features.  

1. Yo!Kart: Build a B2C eCommerce platform with pivotal eCommerce features

A leading self-hosted B2C eCommerce platform solution since 2014, having empowered 5500+ entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, Yo!Kart is a solution packed with features that make a difference in eCommerce. Developed completely in-house with robust custom frameworks, this ready-to-use solution, can help you in launching your eCommerce marketplace platform at a quick time and at very affordable costs. 

Salient features of Yo!Kart 

• Multi-Vendor support OOTB, no plugins necessary for this. 
• It has a range of essential eCommerce features, all offered builtin 
• Pay a one-time License acquisition fee, and the solution is all yours, for lifetime. 
• Also part of the price package is free installation and upto 1 year of free tech support. 
• Yo!Kart has multiple key business API and payment gateways integrated by default into the system. 
• The solution is also extensively customizable and tested for scalability. 
• Mobile apps for android and iOS. Yo!Kart is also PWA compliant and mobile responsive. 

2. Growcer: Build a B2C eCommerce platform with a Hyperlocal Module built-in

Growcer is a robust multi-vendor platform to start a hyperlocal marketplace platform. A hyperlocal marketplace platform is a business that confines its services to a localized geographical region. For instance, take a grocery online platform serving a city. Growcer is a readymade solution that comes with all essential eCommerce features, such as a product catalog system, commission management, tax management, order tracking, click-and-collect, PWA, and more. 

Salient Features of Growcer 

• Multi Vendor support OOTB, no plugins necessary. 
• Hyperlocal module built-in 
• Lifetime license available with one time payment fee. 
• Pre-integrated business APIs and payment gateways. 
• Secure and based on a robust tech stack. 
• Customizable and scalable. 
• Growcer has a readymade buyer and delivery staff apps for iOS and Android platforms

3. Shopify: SaaS B2C eCommerce Store Solution 

One of the most popular B2C eCommerce solutions if you want to build an eCommerce store platform. An eCommerce store is simply an eCommerce platform a business launches to sell its own inventory. Such sites have just one seller. This Canada-based solution is both versatile and robust. But like any other SaaS solution, Shopify comes with recurring subscription charges. If you want to launch a multi vendor B2C platform, you will need a third party plugin. Some popular ones include Shopify multi vendor plugins from Webkul or Cedcommerce. 

Salient Features of Shopify 

• Leading single vendor eCommerce website builder 
• SEO features, however these are not best in class. 
• For enterprises, Shopify also offers premium service called as Shopify Plus 
• Pricing plans start at $199, however, features restrictions and vendor lock in is there for affordable plans. 

4. Adobe Commerce (previously Magento): Open source B2C platform solution

Adobe Commerce Open Source (formerly Magento Open Source). It is a popular eCommerce solution that is available as an open source version as well. An open source solution is a low-code alternative to custom eCommerce development. However, open source solutions might be free but they have to be extensively customized to make it into a fully functional eCommerce platform with rich features. Hence they need less work than custom development but need more work than no-code solutions. Adobe comes with features like SEO optimization, in-built CMS, mobile responsiveness, product management, and more. However, Adobe commerce needs customization, so the overall cost is higher than a readymade solution like Yo!Kart. 

Salient features of Adobe Commerce Open Source:

• Free to Use: The platform solution is freely available for download. 
• Unlike SaaS solutions, businesses have more control over their platform. 
• Scalable platform solution. 
• Customizable. 
• Good features but the learning curve is higher. 

Why Yo!Kart is the Best B2C eCommerce Platform Solution 

The reason Yo!Kart has been so popular is because of these factors: 

• Yo!Kart has a list of features, but most importantly, all these are inclusive in every price package. There are no incremental inclusions, every feature is offered by default. 
• It is self-hosted so it can be hosted over a server of your choice. 
• It is built on a robust and customizable technology stack, in case any changes are required for a very unique business model. 
• Support of an in-house Agile team for after sales support and in case there is need for customization. 
• A list of pre integrated business APIs and 20+ payment gateways. 
• Comes with PWA support and native mobile apps. 
• Free upto 1 year of Technical support
• Currently used by 5500+ clients worldwide to power their dream projects. 

Wrapping Up

The eCommerce industry is ripe with opportunities, ready to be explored. However, at the same time the industry is getting competitive, and established players like Amazon have set the bar of customer expectations. 

These expectations can be met with a rich-featured, matured, and evolved eCommerce platform solution aligned with the industry’s best practices. With Yo!Kart, entrepreneurs and enterprises have a robust solution that has key features of a B2C eCommerce platform, allowing them to launch a contemporary eCommerce marketplace platform. 

FAQ

Q 1. Which are the top 3 B2C eCommerce Platform features? 

Ans: The top 3 best B2C eCommerce platform features are: 

1. Frictionless UI/UX for a seamless buyer journey including a streamlined checkout process. 
2. Multiple payment methods which includes integrated secure payment gateways for all major world regions. 
3. Advanced search for buyers to quickly find relevant products. 

Q 2. What factors should I consider when choosing a B2C platform solution?

Ans When selecting a B2C platform solution, consider:

• Features: Ensure the platform offers the features you need.
• Customizable: For any changes, if required. 
• Scalability: The platform should be able to handle growth as your business expands.
• After Sales Support: Good customer support can be crucial, especially when dealing with technical issues. 
• Pricing: Understand the TCO or the total cost of ownership of the B2C eCommerce platform solution including transaction fees, subscription costs, and any other charges.

Q 3. What is an eCommerce platform solution? 

Ans: An eCommerce platform solution is a software that allows you to launch an eCommerce platform. 

Q 4. What is an example of a B2C platform? 

Ans: An example of a B2C platform is Amazon. Alibaba, or Etsy. 

Q 5. Which is better SaaS or self hosted B2C eCommerce platform solution? 

Ans: A SaaS solution is relatively easier to start since you don’t need to install it on the server. However, you never own the copy of the solution you use, you just pay a lifetime recurring rental fee. 

A self hosted solution has to be installed over the server of your choice before getting started. But once that is done, you own the solution for life and there is no rental fee to be paid to the developing company.