5 Best Shopify Alternatives for Indian B2B2C Enterprises

In today’s fast-evolving Indian eCommerce landscape, finding the right Shopify alternative is crucial for B2B2C enterprises that plan to carve out a niche for their brands, just like Indian leaders such as Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, and Urban Company. To truly stand out from the competition, brands need powerful and flexible platforms that not only streamline operations but also deliver exceptional customer experiences.

And for such cases, surprisingly Shopify is not always the best fit!

If you're searching for a Shopify B2B2C alternative, you’ll be glad to know that several solutions offer unique capabilities tailored to the specific needs of Indian businesses. While Shopify has undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping the industry, some excellent alternatives are available that can help B2B2C enterprises scale more effectively. But first, let’s explore the B2B2C business model itself and how it functions in today’s market. Understanding this model will shed light on why these platforms are critical for success.

What is the B2B2C Ecommerce Model?

The B2B2C (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer) model is a hybrid business structure that integrates both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) interactions. In this model, a business sells its products or services to another business (the B2B part), which then sells those products or services to the end consumers (the B2C part). This creates a value chain that benefits all parties involved. 

The B2B2C model is popular in industries such as retail, healthcare, and technology because it allows brands to leverage the reach of intermediary businesses while still maintaining control over the customer experience and branding. Many of the best B2B2C ecommerce platforms facilitate this model by providing the tools needed for expanded market reach, stronger consumer relationships, and streamlined operations through partnerships with other businesses in the distribution or service process.

How does the enterprise B2B2C Business Model work?

The enterprise B2B2C (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer) business model involves a more complex and scaled-up version of the traditional B2B2C approach, often implemented by large corporations and enterprises. In this model, an enterprise (business 1) partners with intermediary businesses (business 2) to deliver goods or services to the end consumers (C). The goal is to combine the strengths of each party to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth. This is where the best B2B2C ecommerce platforms come into play, providing the necessary infrastructure for smooth collaboration between enterprises and intermediaries.

Here’s how the enterprise Business-to-Business-to-Consumer model typically works: 

In the context of a food aggregator, such as Swiggy or Zomato, the B2B2C model involves restaurants (business 1) partnering with the food aggregator platform (business 2), which then facilitates the sale and delivery of food to the end consumer. Here, the food aggregator acts as an intermediary, managing the customer experience, payment, and delivery while the restaurant focuses on preparing the food. The consumer often interacts only with the aggregator platform, unaware that multiple businesses are involved in the process. This seamless integration of services is made possible through the best B2B2C ecommerce platforms, ensuring efficient operations across the entire value chain.

Business 1 (Enterprise/Restaurant Chains): Large restaurant chains or food brands produce and prepare food but do not engage directly with the end consumer in terms of delivery or customer service. They focus on maintaining food quality, brand consistency, and operational efficiency across multiple locations. To achieve this at scale, many restaurant chains rely on the best B2B2C ecommerce platforms to manage operations effectively and maintain a consistent consumer experience.

Business 2 (Food Aggregator): The food aggregator acts as the intermediary that connects the restaurant or food brand with consumers. The aggregator handles the online ordering platform, logistics, and customer interactions, including order placement, payment processing, and delivery. In many cases, they also assist with marketing and promotions, helping enterprises reach a larger audience. Here again, the best B2B2C ecommerce platforms enable these intermediaries to offer seamless services, from logistics to customer management.

Consumers (C): The end consumers place their food orders through the aggregator’s app or website, often interacting exclusively with the platform. The aggregator facilitates the transaction, but consumers receive meals from the enterprise brand (e.g., a large restaurant chain). The consumers may associate their experience with both the aggregator and the food brand, further reinforcing the importance of the best B2B2C eCommerce platforms in delivering a consistent and satisfying consumer experience.

In this enterprise B2B2C model, restaurant chains leverage the food aggregator’s technology, delivery network, and customer base to scale their business and reach more consumers without investing heavily in their own delivery infrastructure. Meanwhile, the aggregator benefits from the popularity and menu variety of large restaurant chains, attracting more users to their platform. This model helps enterprises maintain their brand presence and expand market reach while relying on aggregators for logistics, customer service, and technology, a process that is heavily dependent on the best B2B2C eCommerce platforms to ensure smooth, scalable operations.

5 best Shopify Alternative B2B2C Ecommerce Platforms

Exploring the best Shopify alternatives for Business To Business To Consumer eCommerce platforms can help you discover solutions that better fit your business needs. We've evaluated the top 5 platforms, examining their pros and cons to guide you in finding the perfect option for scaling your business efficiently.

Here are the top ones :

1. StoreHippo

StoreHippo is a standout Shopify B2B2C alternative for Indian enterprises seeking to seamlessly manage both B2B and B2C eCommerce under the B2B2C model. Tailored to meet the unique demands of businesses that operate across diverse segments, StoreHippo’s architecture and features are specifically designed to handle the complexities of both business models from a single platform. Whether your business requires advanced B2B functionalities such as bulk ordering, custom pricing, and RFQ management, or B2C features like personalized storefronts and direct customer engagement, StoreHippo delivers it all effortlessly, making it an ideal choice for Indian enterprises operating within the B2B2C ecosystem.

Pros:

• Unified platform with built-in capabilities to manage B2B, B2C, and B2B2C operations seamlessly.
• B2B features include custom pricing, RFQ management, and bulk ordering for enterprise-level flexibility.
• Headless commerce architecture enables deep customization and scalability, positioning StoreHippo as an advanced Shopify B2B2C alternative for Indian businesses.
• Native multi-store setup enables to set up multiple location or product line specific sub stores for B2B2C businesses.
• Support for multi-vendor marketplaces enables easy partner business’ management as vendors across your network.
• Mobile-first design with built-in mobile apps builder and PWA stores for fast, app-like experiences making it the best Shopify alternative for Indian markets.
• Multi-currency and multi-language support for global or pan-India operations, essential for B2B2C businesses targeting diverse markets.
• Integrated payment gateways and logistics solutions for smooth, seamless transactions across all sales channels.
• Seamless integration with third-party tools and over 120 pre-integrated partners for logistics, payment gateways, marketing, accounting, and more.
• 300+ native enterprise-grade features, tailored for large-scale B2B2C operations.

Cons:

• Advanced B2B and B2C features are only available in higher-tier plans.
• Additional advanced customization may involve extra costs based on the complexity of the requirements.

Why StoreHippo is Superior

StoreHippo's plug-and-play solutions, along with its robust marketplace capabilities, put it ahead of other platforms when it comes to managing large-scale operations for Indian B2B2C enterprises. Its focus on Indian-specific requirements like multilingual support, GST enabled invoicing, multi tier taxes, built in marketing solutions etc makes it a clear winner for businesses looking for advanced Shopify B2B2C alternatives to scale across diverse markets.

2. Magento

Magento is a powerful open-source platform and a strong Shopify alternative for B2B2C enterprises seeking extensive customization and flexibility. Known for its robust architecture, Magento is ideal for businesses with in-house development teams that require full control over every aspect of their online store, allowing for deep customization and scalability across both B2B and B2C operations.

Pros:

• Highly customizable with open-source flexibility for tailored B2B2C solutions.
• Strong developer community and marketplace for a wide range of extensions.
• Scalable for enterprises managing multiple stores and large volumes.
• Advanced B2B features like custom pricing and bulk ordering.
• Multi-language and multi-currency support for global reach makes it a good Shopify alternative.
• SEO-friendly with strong tools for improving visibility and traffic.

Cons:

• Requires significant technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
• High operational costs for hosting, security, and performance management.
• Customization and development can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
• Limited out-of-the-box features compared to other platforms, requiring additional extensions.
• Ongoing updates and patches need to be managed by the business.

Why Consider Magento

Magento’s flexibility empowers businesses to build highly customized eCommerce solutions tailored to their B2B2C needs, making it a good choice for enterprises with the technical expertise and resources to manage the complexity of large-scale operations. For businesses seeking complete control over their platform and the ability to scale, Magento is a strong contender as a Shopify alternative for B2B2C enterprises.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust Shopify B2B2C alternative designed to cater to businesses looking for a comprehensive, scalable eCommerce solution. Known for its flexibility and built-in multi-channel selling features, BigCommerce helps B2B2C enterprises streamline operations across both business and consumer segments. With no transaction fees and a wide range of out-of-the-box tools, it is particularly well-suited for businesses that want to grow without relying heavily on third-party apps.

Pros:

• No transaction fees, making it cost-effective for high-volume sales.
• Built-in multi-channel selling with seamless integrations across platforms like Amazon, eBay, and social media.
• Scalable for growing businesses, suitable Shopify B2B2C alternative for enterprises of all sizes.
• Extensive out-of-the-box features, reducing the need for third-party apps.
• Strong SEO and marketing tools to help boost visibility and attract traffic.

Cons:

• Limited design customization compared to other platforms like Storehippo or Magento.
• Higher pricing for advanced features and enterprise plans.
• Fewer customization options without relying on additional development.
• Smaller app marketplace compared to Shopify, limiting extended functionality.
• Steeper learning curve for non-technical users.

Why Consider BigCommerce

BigCommerce stands out as a Shopify B2B2C alternative due to its ability to handle both B2B and B2C operations from a single platform. Its built-in features allow businesses to scale effortlessly while managing multi-channel sales and marketing with ease. For B2B2C enterprises seeking a cost-effective, scalable platform with strong SEO and marketing tools, BigCommerce offers an ideal balance of functionality and growth potential.

4. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a flexible, open-source Shopify B2B2C alternative that integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it ideal for businesses that want to blend content and commerce. With its extensive plugin library, WooCommerce provides B2B2C enterprises with the ability to customize their eCommerce operations to meet specific business needs while leveraging the familiarity of the WordPress ecosystem.

Pros

• Low-cost setup, with many free and affordable plugins available.
• Seamless integration with WordPress, ideal for content-rich websites.
• Highly customizable with a vast plugin ecosystem for added functionality. Make it a suitable Shopify alternative for budding enterprises. 
• User-friendly interface for managing products and content together.
• Large global community for support and development.

Cons

• Limited scalability compared to more robust eCommerce platforms.
• Heavily reliant on plugins, which may lead to slower site speeds and security vulnerabilities.
• Performance issues when handling large inventories or high traffic volumes.
• Ongoing maintenance required, including frequent updates for plugins and security.
• Lack of built-in advanced features, requiring third-party extensions for B2B2C functionalities.

Why Consider WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a great Shopify B2B2C alternative for businesses that are already familiar with WordPress and want to maintain control over their content and commerce from one platform. It offers flexibility and affordability for smaller or mid-sized B2B2C enterprises looking for a customizable, low-cost solution, although it may require more hands-on management and plugin support as the business grows.

5. Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart)

Shift4Shop, formerly known as 3dcart, is a fully-featured Shopify B2B2C alternative that offers a variety of built-in tools designed to meet the needs of both B2B and B2C businesses. With no transaction fees and a strong focus on customization, Shift4Shop provides B2B2C enterprises with the ability to create scalable eCommerce solutions without the need for numerous third-party apps, making it a cost-effective option for growing businesses.

Pros

• No transaction fees, which helps businesses maximize profit margins.
• Comprehensive built-in features, including B2B functionalities like custom pricing and customer groups.
• Strong SEO tools to improve visibility and drive traffic.
• Subscription and recurring payment support, ideal for businesses offering subscription-based products.
• Mobile-responsive design templates, ensuring a consistent user experience across devices make it a good Shopify alternative for enterprises targeting domestic and international markets.

Cons

• Limited design flexibility compared to more advanced platforms like StoreHippo, Magento or WooCommerce.
• Smaller app marketplace, reducing the availability of extensions for niche functionalities.
• Less intuitive user interface, which may require more time to learn.
• Fewer developer resources and community support than larger platforms, making custom development more challenging.
• Advanced customization may still require technical expertise.

Why Consider Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop is a solid Shopify B2B2C alternative for businesses seeking a cost-effective platform with a wide range of built-in features, including advanced B2B tools like custom pricing and customer segmentation. It is ideal for B2B2C enterprises looking for a solution that minimizes the need for third-party apps while offering a competitive pricing structure and strong SEO support. However, businesses requiring more design flexibility or advanced customization may need to consider the limitations of the platform.

Conclusion

While Shopify offers a reliable solution for many eCommerce businesses, enterprises running complex B2B2C operations often require platforms that deliver greater flexibility and scalability. Among the top Shopify B2B2C alternatives, each platform shines in different areas. If you're seeking a platform that can manage both sides of the B2B2C equation and scale with your business needs, one of these Shopify alternatives might be the right fit. 

However, for businesses looking for a versatile, feature-packed solution StoreHippo proves to be an advanced Shopify B2B2C alternative and hence an ideal choice. StoreHippo stands out for its seamless handling of both B2B and B2C models, offering built-in multi-vendor support, headless commerce architecture, and mobile-first design tailored for Indian enterprises. 

Ready to take your B2B2C business to the next level with a smarter Shopify alternative? Discover StoreHippo fully hosted and managed eCommerce solutions and start your 14-day free trial today.