What is Enterprise eCommerce?
The digital commerce environment has changed significantly in 2024 due to changes in customer behavior and technology breakthroughs. At the forefront of this change are eCommerce enterprise platforms, which provide powerful features designed for big companies. These platforms offer the infrastructure to handle large volumes, intricate processes, and international transactions.
Selecting the appropriate enterprise eCommerce platform becomes crucial as businesses compete for a leading online presence. Businesses are discovering that not all eCommerce platforms are made equal after navigating the massive digital marketplace of the twenty-first century. The enterprise eCommerce software that brands select determines the stability, scalability, and profitability of an online business, much like the foundation of a structure.
While a mismatch might result in lost sales, operational difficulties, and dissatisfied customers, the correct platform can improve user experience, improve operations, and promote profitability. Given the high stakes and the constantly changing eCommerce industry, it is imperative to comprehend the significance of this decision.
What Makes an Enterprise eCommerce Platform?
Enterprise brands must have access to a strong feature set that functions to help them grow their business if they are to succeed. Therefore, here are some core features that make an enterprise eCommerce platform worth buying:
Scalability and Performance
Having more traffic is a good thing because it indicates that your business is expanding. However, you must ensure that your platform can manage the increase in traffic to your online business. In addition to satisfying your present traffic need, your solution should be scalable to handle your anticipated expansion. Examine a platform’s dependability before putting your website on it to prevent any outages and make sure you never miss a POS.
Multi-Store Management
Utilizing a variety of sales channels is crucial for enterprise businesses to reach their clientele more easily. Making the most of your branded selling experience will make the customer journey seamless and draw more customers to your store. In addition to allowing you to target more customers, a strong omnichannel tool can also help you save a lot of time on feed administration.
Advanced Security Features
You should take the security of your data into account when assessing platforms. This may depend on whether you choose an on-premises or self-hosted platform over a SaaS platform. Self-hosted platforms frequently offer increased data visibility and knowledge of data security. A SaaS solution, on the other hand, will handle security and PCI compliance in the course of their monthly fees, freeing up your resources for other projects.
Best Enterprise eCommerce Platforms
Top enterprise eCommerce platforms come in a variety of forms, each tailored to a particular business type, eCommerce industry, and stage of the enterprise business lifecycle. It’s crucial to research the kind of eCommerce software that will work best for your company’s operations before we discuss how to select the best enterprise eCommerce platform:
SaaS Enterprise eCommerce Solution
In tech, professionals refer to Software as a Service as ‘SaaS.’ Although brands often use SaaS eCommerce platforms strictly for eCommerce, they use them for support services as well. These include analytics, CRM, marketing campaigns, and advertising. Because of its ease of use and the cloud eCommerce solutions it provides, SaaS is a multibillion-dollar market that continues to expand in all of these sectors.
Headless Enterprise eCommerce Solution
SaaS systems and headless eCommerce platforms share several similarities. For instance, devs design their back-end features and enterprise eCommerce hosting options to handle inventory management, ensure PCI DSS compliance, and maintain robust security. This is where the “headless” component comes into play.
On-Site Enterprise eCommerce Solutions
Enterprise organizations frequently employ an on-site best enterprise eCommerce software, which provides one of the most potent solutions. They are also a great choice for businesses that expect rapid expansion, which is when a self-hosted platform makes the most sense.
Cloud-Based Enterprise eCommerce Solution
Cloud computing can provide automatic backup in many places, including site information, data, analytics, and inventory. Using an off-site cloud eCommerce platform significantly lowers the requirement for server expenditure. An enterprise eCommerce company may also benefit from additional security features offered by cloud hosting of the best eCommerce platform for enterprises.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud
A Software as a service (SaaS) choice for companies wishing to optimize their omnichannel retail is Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Customers can use this platform to manage their sales and digital channels with a single, consolidated solution. Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a scalable system best suited for various customer markets and works well for B2C, B2B, and B2B2C enterprises.
Despite the company’s efforts to portray itself as a single platform, many of its products like Salesforce Commerce Cloud B2C are purchased software that was developed outside of the Salesforce ecosystem and are still sold separately today. Because of this, Salesforce’s feature development including the pros and cons has prioritized brand acquisitions over innovation in core commerce.
Salesforce strives to be an all-in-one solution, much like Shopify. Nevertheless, this drive to remain in the Salesforce ecosystem may result in restrictions for business brands looking to achieve their eCommerce objectives.
In addition, the total cost of ownership of Salesforce Commerce Cloud is higher than that of alternative platforms, such as BigCommerce. Merchants may find it challenging to enhance and optimize their websites without first paying a substantial amount due to high development expenses, pricing structure, limited integrations, and costly licensing fees.
SAP Commerce Cloud
SAP Hybris Commerce, an on-premise hosting solution, was the company’s first eCommerce product. Additionally, SAP Hybris Commerce developed into its cloud-based eCommerce solution, SAP Commerce Cloud, over time.
Businesses having a significant global presence will find SAP Commerce Cloud’s inherent features, such as multi-site, multi-language, and multi-currency support, appealing and best suited for their company. The platform offers numerous pros and cons, including omnichannel capabilities, support for multiple product catalogs, subscription order management, and advanced data management tools. However, despite its extensive range of sophisticated features, businesses hosting their websites on this platform may encounter certain challenges.
In addition, the website is renowned for having several features that seem antiquated in comparison to other platforms. The TCO of the program is another possible obstacle. A lot of notable customers think the platform is pretty pricey. The platform’s TCO may increase due to the tool’s cost and the cost of paying developers to create and manage the website, rendering it an unsuitable option.
Oracle Commerce Cloud
Professionals refer to the cloud-hosted solution spin-off from Oracle Commerce on-premises as ‘Oracle CX Commerce,’ formerly known as Oracle Commerce Cloud. It uses a single SaaS platform that works best for both B2B and B2C clients across many verticals.
Oracle designed the architecture of Oracle CX Commerce with an API-first approach, which allows for development flexibility. It is a platform whose key features and capabilities work to assist enterprise firms in scaling, and it also supports multi-channel strategies and contains AI characteristics.
However, before selecting Oracle CX Commerce as your eCommerce solution, you need to take a few pros and cons into account. It has a steep learning curve, just like SAP Commerce Cloud. It can take a lot of time to get used to the tool, which some organizations might not have, particularly if they have a tight launch date. Hiring a development team is one way to solve this, but be aware that this might drastically increase your TCO.
The platform encourages notable customers to combine technologies with the Oracle ecosystem. This may restrict brands who want to integrate external technology into their website. If you choose to use Oracle’s suite of tools, be aware that doing so may make it more difficult and expensive to re-platform to a different tool in the future.
BigCommerce Enterprise
Based on an Open SaaS paradigm, the platform’s key features and capabilities give users the flexibility of open-source software along with all the advantages of a SaaS platform, enabling them to design the online store of their dreams. Brands may create the tech stack of their dreams with this architecture. BigCommerce provides a large array of native tools as well as third-party applications that enable companies to build a strong website entirely within the platform. With their headless build, brands capitalize on the software’s ability to integrate best-in-class technology and modifications that work to position their website for success.
Notable customers may better support the B2B market segment, run many stores from a single back-end, and allow clients to pick up online orders at their desired location with these various functions. The platform’s collaboration with Feedonomics also enables users to develop a strong omnichannel strategy. Apart from its pros and cons, customers like BigCommerce for its superior security, exceptional customer support, and reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Enterprise VS Standard eCommerce Solutions
The key differences between eCommerce and enterprise eCommerce are primarily in terms of volume, complexity, and the particular requirements they meet. Online purchasing and selling of goods and services are what is called ‘eCommerce,’ and it usually benefits small and medium-sized enterprises. With capabilities like listings of products, the processing of payments, and order management, standard eCommerce platforms function to assist companies in starting and running their online stores. Businesses with simpler requirements, cost considerations, and smaller sales volumes are a good fit for them.
Larger companies with more complicated needs are the target market for enterprise eCommerce. These platforms make managing large product catalogs, managing high traffic as well as transaction volumes, and linking with other business systems (ERP, CRM, and POS) possible. Advanced capabilities and use cases like multi-channel selling, configurable workflows, and improved security measures are also available on enterprise platforms. They work to accommodate large-scale operations and offer the flexibility and scalability required by companies seeking to develop and enter new markets.
Selection Criteria for Enterprise eCommerce Platforms
To focus your search and find the ideal enterprise eCommerce platform for your particular needs, preferences, and budget, it’s a good idea to keep the following criteria in mind as you shop around:
Technical Considerations to Look For:
The majority of enterprise eCommerce solutions provide significant functionality. Integrations, however, can increase their utility even further. This is especially true if you already use accounting software and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, among other business technologies.
Business Considerations to Look For:
The quality of customer service offered by a business eCommerce platform is a key factor in determining its overall effectiveness. Quick and easy access to support is crucial, as you’ll likely have questions or need assistance resolving issues. Look for platforms that provide robust customer support options, such as a self-serve knowledge base, a detailed FAQ section, live chat, email support, and phone assistance.
Enterprise eCommerce platforms vary in their ease of use as well. Ease of use should be your top priority unless every member of your team is extremely tech-savvy. Thankfully, a lot of products come with free samples or demos so you can check out how user-friendly they are before spending money. You’ll discover that although some alternatives are more comprehensive and have a steeper learning curve, others were designed with novices in mind.
Implementation and Migration of an Enterprise eCommerce Platform
Although switching to a new corporate eCommerce platform can prove a laborious process, your company may gain much from a platform that genuinely fits your demands you plan and execute implementation carefully.
Initiate a Planning Process
The next step after deciding on a new platform is the organization of the migration procedure. This includes establishing a realistic timeframe, assessing the extent of the migration, and creating a thorough migration plan that includes all required duties, roles, and responsibilities.
Set Realistic Timeline Expectations
Set up realistic timeline expectations considering the data migration, data analyses, training of staff, and optimization of duties, roles, and responsibilities. Having a clear and realistic timeline expectation will help your departments work collectively towards the implementation and migration of the enterprise eCommerce platform, rather than expecting unrealistic outcomes.
Be Prepared for Common Challenges
It’s critical to thoroughly evaluate the new platform after data migration. To guarantee seamless operation, test each feature while attempting to replicate as closely as feasible the real-world user experience. Address any problems that arise throughout the testing procedure. Keep a tight eye on the platform for a few weeks after launch to identify any unforeseen issues. Pay close attention to KPIs related to sales, user experience, and performance.
Don’t Forget Resource Requirements
Transferring crucial files and data from the old platform to the new one is an essential component of platform relocation. To make sure that no important data is lost throughout this process, you must perform this step carefully. Don’t forget to move material like product details and blog entries in addition to client information and order details.
Future Trends in Enterprise eCommerce
The dynamic field of eCommerce has revolutionized how we shop and do business. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial for your organization to stay competitive in the face of swift technological breakthroughs and shifting consumer tastes. In 2024, experts expect several new developments to change eCommerce. After concentrating on the ones that are worth monitoring this year, we’ll offer some advice on how to benefit from the best enterprise eCommerce solution.
The speed at which things have changed, from digital influencers on TikTok and Reddit’s ascent in Google search results to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), has been astounding. The top trends listed below will assist you in determining how well your website satisfies the demands of tech-savvy online buyers. The following are some of the most recent developments influencing the best enterprise eCommerce solutions in 2025, along with their implications for companies trying to stay on top of the game:
AI and Machine Learning Integration
Platforms currently use AI to provide customers with more relevant and engaging interactions through dynamic content production, automated customer support, and customized buying experiences. In addition, brands will incorporate AI and machine learning further into the customizable enterprise eCommerce platform through chatbots, copywriting, and personalization. Writing product descriptions and creating sales copy will be made simpler with ChatGPT, while browser integrations including Copilot will make AI a commonplace.
Products like Google’s Gemini will improve customer service and productivity. Despite the impression that we are still in the early phases, artificial intelligence has grown at an exponential rate. It is already changing the way that eCommerce sites draw in and win over customers.
Headless eCommerce Adoption
Businesses may innovate and provide consistent experiences across several channels by implementing headless architecture in the eCommerce platforms for enterprise, which improves their capacity to adjust to shifting consumer needs. The most flexible approach to experimenting with new digital selling strategies is headless eCommerce. Decoupling the front end and back end lowers risk and provides the ideal setting for developers to explore and create.
Yeti Cycles was unable to swiftly bring its items to market due to its complex tech stack. They found, with the assistance of an agency partner, that they could match the exact engineering of their goods with a headless eCommerce solution. They found that going headless gave them the boost they needed to innovate and expand. Instead of requiring a significant amount of time and development resources, it created a completely new source of income. Thus, headless eCommerce is a crucial aspect of enterprise eCommerce platforms and a trend that just can’t be overlooked in 2025.
Mobile-First Approaches
Mobile devices account for more than 55% of all internet traffic, and the number of people buying on their phones is only going to rise. The emergence of 5G will improve m-commerce and digital experiences, allowing eCommerce platforms to provide more interesting content.
To stabilize the enterprise eCommerce platform comparison companies are optimizing enabling mobile-first design and voice-activated shopping in response to the growing popularity of mobile and voice search, which makes it simpler for users to purchase while on the go. With features including in-app purchases and live-streamed shopping events, social media platforms are evolving into direct sales channels that let companies connect with customers where they already spend time through mobile optimization.
Sustainability Features
Businesses using enterprise-level eCommerce platforms are gradually adopting sustainable practices, which range from making longer-lasting products to cutting waste and their carbon footprint. Patagonia is well known for donating revenues to the environment, while Amazon allows buyers to select shipping with less packaging. Transparency, social responsibility, and the environmental impact of a company’s complete supply chain are important to millennials and Gen Z in particular.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the emphasis on sustainability and environmental friendliness. This tendency in the eCommerce sector is probably going to get more intense in 2025. Consumers anticipate eco-friendly products, less packaging waste, and a commitment to sustainable practices from eCommerce platforms. In order to enhance their operations and obtain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, we hope to see retailers align with these ideals.
To meet the values of environmentally sensitive customers, businesses are incorporating tools to monitor and report on sustainability measures, such as carbon footprint estimates and sustainable packaging options.
Emerging Technologies
Over the past 25 years, eCommerce has seen substantial change. Since its modest start in the early 1990s, it has grown into a huge global sector with an estimated $2 trillion in global sales. Enterprise eCommerce is developing quickly as online companies strive to provide seamless, highly customized buying experiences. This change is taking place while people’s purchasing power is being constrained by economic issues such as declining consumer savings, growing debt, and exorbitant interest rates.
Technological developments, smartphones and other mobile devices, and product marketplaces like Alibaba, Amazon, and eBay are important drivers of this transformation and have increased overall sales volume. Enterprise eCommerce companies need to make investments in digital business transformation, artificial intelligence, and seamless customer experiences if they want to remain relevant in being chosen as the best enterprise eCommerce platform.
Bottom line
Enterprise eCommerce companies have strict and complicated regulations. Selecting the best enterprise eCommerce solution may address nearly every problem that companies have, take them to the next level, and boost sales and client retention.
The most crucial step is to select the perfect enterprise eCommerce system and stay away from the well-known but antiquated ones. Contact the Pimberly team or request a free demo to see how Pimberly can manage the actual responsibilities of your corporate eCommerce firm if you still have questions or would want more information about the capabilities of contemporary platforms. Just contact us at Pimberly to get started.