Adding B2B Capabilities to Shopify: Custom Pricing and Multiple Shipping Options

A few decades ago, the concept of customizing online shopping experiences was a definite novelty, embraced by a few forward-thinking businesses experimenting with basic eCommerce features.

As Shopify and similar platforms began to emerge, the potential for tailored B2B solutions started to take shape. Initially, online stores offered standard pricing and shipping options, but businesses began to realize the value of personalized experiences. 

The real turning point for adding B2B capabilities to platforms like Shopify came with the increasing demand for more sophisticated features in 2018. Businesses needed advanced Shopify B2B wholesale solutions to handle custom pricing structures and multiple shipping options to cater to their varied clientele.

During this period, Shopify began introducing more sophisticated B2B features, such as custom pricing, wholesale channels, and advanced shipping options

Bitcot’s recent project involved leveraging these Shopify B2B features to transform a client’s Shopify wholesale B2B store. 

An Overview of the Client’s Requirements

Our client is a leading performance beauty company in California specializing in aesthetic products.

They initially engaged us to develop a custom online store using Shopify and Laravel. The aim was to create a tailored platform that could deliver an optimal shopping experience and help them achieve effective B2B with Shopify.

During the development phase, it became clear that two additional functionalities were necessary to further elevate the user experience: custom pricing and multiple shipping.

While Shopify supports these features, they are only available through third-party plugins like Multiship, MultiParcels, Shopacado, and HulkApps, which can be costly. Additionally, integrating these plugins means that store data is stored in their databases, raising security concerns.

To address this, we developed a private app that replicates and slightly modifies the functionality of these plugins while implementing a completely new design. 

This approach allows us to maintain full control over the data, ensuring it remains secure within the store’s infrastructure – something that cannot be achieved with third-party plugins.

Our Approach

1. Custom Pricing Development: We designed a custom pricing module that integrates seamlessly with the existing store. This module allows for dynamic pricing adjustments based on quantity and other factors, providing a more tailored shopping experience.
2. Multiple-Shipping Integration: We developed a user-friendly interface that allows customers to add and manage various addresses during checkout. This required adjusting the order management system to handle multiple delivery destinations and ensuring accurate processing and fulfillment.
3. Testing and Optimization: Both features underwent extensive testing to ensure they functioned as intended. We refined the systems based on user feedback and performance data, ensuring that they met the highest standards of reliability and user experience.
4. Platform Transition: The client later wanted to migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce. We facilitated a smooth transition by replicating the two functionalities on the new platform, ensuring that the new setup met all operational needs.

Implementing Multiple Shipping Addresses in Shopify

One of the key features we developed was the ability to ship to multiple addresses within a single order. This functionality is particularly useful for customers who want to distribute their purchases to multiple recipients or have goods delivered to different locations.

The development of Shopify’s multiple shipping options significantly improved the shopping experience by adding flexibility and convenience. They can now split their orders and send items to different places in one go. 

Here’s a detailed look at how this feature works and how it benefits both the store owner and the end user.

Login 

When users visit the Shopify store, they start by logging into their account. Clicking the login menu directs them to a user-friendly login form. After logging in with their credentials, they land on the product details page under the “Buy Now” menu.

Quantity

Upon landing on the product details page, the “Ship to Multiple Addresses” option is visible. When the user selects a quantity greater than one, this option gets enabled automatically, offering a flexible Shopify B2B eCommerce solution for customers who wish to ship items to different locations.

Shipping

If the user selects 12 units of a product and clicks the option “Ship to Multiple Addresses”, a pop-up opens where users can allocate specific quantities of the product to each of the previously saved addresses as needed. 

They might decide to send 5 units to one address and 7 units to another. Alternatively, they can choose to ship all 12 units to a single address.

Checkout

Once the quantities and addresses are set, customers can proceed to checkout seamlessly with the Shopify B2B solution.

Developing and Integrating Quantity-Based Pricing for B2B Sales

One of the standout requirements was the ability to manage quantity-based pricing. eCommerce customized pricing based on quantity allows our client to offer attractive discounts for bulk purchases.

We implemented two types of quantity-based pricing in the Shopify store: bundle and contract. This dual functionality gives our client the flexibility to choose the best pricing strategy for different customer segments. 

Bundle Pricing

We developed a sophisticated bundle pricing system that automatically adjusts product prices as the user selects a fixed quantity of items. 

For example, consider a product with a default price of $610. The pricing system is designed to adjust this cost as follows:

• For 70 quantities: The price per item is reduced to $520.
• For 100 quantities: The price per item drops further to $450.

On the front end, customers can easily see the dynamic pricing in action. Prices are updated instantly as quantities are selected, providing customers with immediate visibility into the cost benefits of their purchases.

Contract Pricing

In addition to bundle pricing, we developed contract pricing which involves setting specific prices through a formal agreement between our client and the specific seller. These prices are negotiated based on factors like volume, long-term commitment, or special conditions.

We have set up two contract pricing options: single and volume. Each customer account is limited to one pricing option, either single pricing or volume pricing.

Single Pricing

In a single-price contract, the product price is fixed and remains constant regardless of the quantity purchased. 

The app owner can enter the contract price in the “Custom Price” input field, ensuring a consistent rate for all units ordered under the contract.

• Fixed Price: The price per unit is predetermined and does not change based on the volume or frequency of purchases.
• Predictability: Provides clear and predictable costs for both the buyer and the seller.
• No Discounts for Volume: Unlike volume pricing, where larger quantities can lead to lower prices, a single-price contract doesn’t offer discounts for bulk purchases.

Volume Pricing

In long-term contracts, customers require varying quantities over time. Bundle pricing forces them into fixed quantities, which doesn’t align with their needs.

So our client can define different pricing levels based on different quantity ranges. It includes multiple levels and more granular control over pricing. 

For example, a company can sign a contract with our client to buy vials over a year at a negotiated price which is lower than the standard rate.

The structured input fields (“Max Qty” and “Price”) help prevent errors that might occur with manual pricing setups.

Coupons and Special Categories for B2B Customers

In line with the client’s requirements, we implemented additional functionalities. This included a feature for managing offers. When a user clicks the “My Offers” menu, they are presented with a list of available coupon codes.

For example, as shown above, users can see the coupon description, type, start date, and a unique Shopify coupon code. They can easily copy the code with a single click on the “Copy Code” button, making it convenient to use the discount on their purchases.

In addition to the coupon management system, we implemented special categories for training and sample products. These categories are designed to enhance customer engagement and facilitate product trials:

• Training Products: Offered free of charge with a default quantity of 1. These products are intended to provide users with hands-on experience and familiarize them with the offerings.
• Sample Products: Also free but come with a specified quantity, such as 5 units. This allows customers to test and evaluate the products before committing to a purchase.

Transitioning from Shopify to BigCommerce

After developing and deploying the PoC store on Shopify, the client decided to transition to BigCommerce due to the high commission fees on Shopify. This transition was driven by BigCommerce’s robust features and scalability, which better suited the client’s long-term needs.

Our team undertook the task of meticulously replicating the store’s design and functionality on BigCommerce. 

This Shopify to BigCommerce migration not only preserved the store’s core functionalities but also leveraged BigCommerce’s advanced capabilities to enhance performance and user experience.

Pricing System

As per our client’s requirements, we developed two product bundles: one for 6 vials priced at $450 and another for 30 vials priced at $400. The minimum order quantity is 3 vials, and the maximum is 200 vials.

We also implemented a flexible pricing system within the same functionality for custom quantities:

• For orders of fewer than 6 vials, the price is set at the default rate of $600.
• For quantities between 6 and 30 vials, the price is $450.
• For orders exceeding 30 vials, the price is $400.

User Account Data

User experience was a top priority. We carefully migrated user account data to ensure a smooth transition for existing customers, avoiding any disruption in their shopping experience.

Product Categories

All product categories from the original store, including training and sample products, were accurately set up on the new platform. This maintains the store’s organizational structure and product availability.

Admin Panel

For the admin panel, we leveraged BigCommerce’s built-in admin interface to ensure seamless management and operations.

Key Approaches, Decisions, Challenges, and Innovations

For the development of both the Shopify and BigCommerce platforms, we employed several key tools. We used Adobe XD for UX design, ensuring that the store’s user interface was both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The designs were thoroughly reviewed and approved by the client before development commenced.

Before initiating the development on BigCommerce, our client was assured by the platform that the necessary functionalities, such as SSO login and advanced pricing features, were already built-in. 

However, after approaching Bitcot, the client realized that these specific features were not readily available. 

Recognizing the importance of these functionalities to the client’s business, our team proactively engaged with BigCommerce support. Through our collaboration, the BigCommerce team developed and provided the “B2B Edition” plugin, which was tailored to meet our client’s unique requirements. 

With the help of this app, we introduced several key features, including the ability to create companies, manage company users, assign roles such as super admins and sales staff, and set up payment methods for each company. 

In terms of challenges, a major issue we encountered was the incompatibility of the initial design with the BigCommerce platform. 

To address this, our team developed a custom theme using JavaScript coding within BigCommerce. This approach allowed us to effectively integrate and implement the original design while ensuring full compatibility with the platform’s requirements.

We also faced challenges with Keycloak SSO login integration and price management. These were resolved through custom development and close collaboration with BigCommerce support.

Midway through the development process, during a client call, some functionalities needed further clarification for the client. To address this, we proactively created detailed videos and comprehensive documentation. This ensured a clear understanding and provided ongoing support for the client.

The Impact of New Functionalities on Operations and Sales

Our custom-developed functionalities for Shopify have modernized our client’s B2B commerce platform by providing a flexible and user-friendly solution. 

Enhance B2B Operations

Implementing the ability to ship to multiple addresses within a single order brought several significant advantages for our client:

• Streamlined Order Processing: This feature simplified the management of complex orders by consolidating shipments to various addresses into a single transaction, reducing administrative overhead and streamlining order fulfillment.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Automating the distribution of orders across multiple locations improved logistics and warehouse operations, making the fulfillment process more efficient and reducing manual errors.
• Increased Customer Retention: By meeting the needs of customers who required multi-location deliveries, our client saw an improvement in customer satisfaction and loyalty, fostering long-term relationships and repeat business.
• Boosted Sales Opportunities: The new functionality attracted customers with multi-location shipping needs, leading to larger order volumes and increased sales potential.
• Optimized Cost Management: Consolidating orders with multiple addresses into one transaction helped the store manage shipping and handling costs more effectively, potentially reducing overall expenses.
• Enhanced Data Insights: Managing multi-address shipments provided valuable data on shipping patterns and customer preferences, enabling better inventory planning and more targeted marketing strategies.
• Competitive Advantage: Offering this advanced shipping feature differentiated the store from competitors, attracting new customers who valued the added convenience and flexibility.
• Efficient Returns Handling: The feature also streamlined the process for handling returns from multi-address shipments, ensuring a smoother and more positive customer experience.

Increase B2B Shopify Sales

The dynamic pricing system proved to be a game-changer for sales performance. It has provided the store with a versatile tool for optimizing revenue and enhancing customer satisfaction. With Shopify custom price features, our client benefit in the following ways: 

• Increased Sales and Order Volume: The store incentivizes customers to purchase in larger volumes. This not only bumps up overall sales but also encourages bulk buying, which can be especially advantageous for B2B e-commerce transactions.
• Enhanced Pricing Flexibility: The system allows for the customization of pricing structures to align with specific business strategies. Whether offering discounts for bulk purchases or adjusting prices based on market conditions, the store can adapt its pricing to maximize profitability.
• Improved Customer Experience: Customers benefit from clear, transparent pricing that reflects their order volume. This helps them make informed purchasing decisions and enhances their overall shopping experience by providing cost savings for larger orders.
• Streamlined Management: Automating quantity-based pricing reduces the need for manual price adjustments and calculations. This streamlined approach minimizes errors and simplifies price management, leading to more efficient operations.
• Better Inventory Control: The system helps in managing inventory more effectively by aligning pricing strategies with stock levels. This ensures that pricing incentives are consistent with inventory availability and demand.
• Competitive Advantage: Offering quantity-based pricing can set the store apart from competitors who may not provide similar pricing flexibility. This can attract new customers and retain existing ones by demonstrating value and responsiveness to their purchasing needs.

Moreover, the ability to quickly grab and apply a Shopify discount coupon, along with the availability of free training and sample products, encouraged repeat visits and allowed them to try out products. This engagement was reflected in increased customer retention and a more active user base.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up this article, it’s clear that the enhancements we implemented have had a transformative effect on our client’s eCommerce operations. 

They resulted in a more efficient and user-friendly online store, driving higher customer satisfaction, increased sales, and better long-term growth potential.

Moving from Shopify to BigCommerce went off without a hitch. We kept all the great features from the old platform and took advantage of BigCommerce’s new tools. 

This switch not only cut down on commission fees but also gave the store a solid boost in performance and scalability.

If you’re interested in exploring how B2B enhancements can benefit your eCommerce setup or how to set up B2B on Shopify, feel free to reach out for a conversation. 

We’re here to share insights and answer any questions you might have about integrating custom features or transitioning to a new platform. Let’s discuss how we can support your goals and improve your business operations together.