Wholesale teams usually arrive with one of two sentences. Either: “We need a branded store where our trade buyers can log in and order.” Or: “Our reps are still taking orders on WhatsApp and someone in the back office is re-typing them into the ERP.” Those are different products.
Shopify B2B is the right starting point when you already sell — or want to sell — through a public, brand-led storefront. You get Shopify’s checkout, apps, analytics and theme ecosystem, then we extend it with customer-specific price lists, volume tiers, bulk order forms, gated company accounts and ERP-synced inventory. It is a strong fit for hybrid brands that serve consumers and trade buyers from one back office.
Vendplex is the right starting point when the motion is distribution and field sales. Customers, sales reps and admins need the same live stock and the same customer-specific pricing, on mobile, while a rep is standing in a shop. Route planning, pickup lists and real-time ERP sync are not extras in that world — they are the product.
A useful test: if a buyer discovers you on the open web and places a branded order, you are in Shopify territory. If a sales rep walks a beat of existing trade accounts every morning, you are in Vendplex territory. Plenty of businesses need both, in sequence. We build both, and we will tell you honestly which one to start with.
Typical Shopify B2B work we do: company-location pricing, net terms, quick reorder from invoices, and checkout rules via Shopify Functions. Typical Vendplex work: catalog + tier pricing + ERP connect + onboarding the field team. If you are unsure, bring a week of real orders to a call. The pattern in those orders is clearer than any feature list.