We operate a 2,847 SKU industrial e-commerce store. Here are the key differences between industrial and regular e-commerce, and why they matter.
We operate a 2,847 SKU industrial e-commerce store selling CNC tools to machinists and machine shops. We've seen the differences between industrial and regular e-commerce firsthand.
Many companies try to use regular e-commerce platforms (like Shopify) for industrial needs and run into limitations. This comparison explains why industrial e-commerce is different and what you need to know. For a detailed comparison, see our Shopify vs Custom platform guide.
We understand industrial e-commerce because we operate one. This means we can explain the real differences, not just theoretical ones.
Complex catalogs with 1,000-10,000+ SKUs, multiple variant types (diameter × length × coating × material), technical specifications
Simple catalogs with <500 SKUs, basic variants (size, color), standard product information
Impact: Industrial needs custom platforms. Regular e-commerce platforms struggle with complex catalogs.
B2B pricing: customer-specific pricing, volume discounts, contract pricing, approval workflows, quote generation
B2C pricing: fixed prices, simple discounts, no approval workflows
Impact: Industrial requires custom pricing engines. Regular platforms can't handle B2B pricing complexity.
Technical product information, engineering specifications, calculators (True Position, Speeds & Feeds), technical support
Simple product descriptions, lifestyle images, standard customer service
Impact: Industrial customers need technical tools. Regular e-commerce focuses on visual appeal.
Complex orders, large quantities, approval workflows, quote-to-order process, PO numbers
Simple orders, small quantities, instant checkout, no approvals
Impact: Industrial needs approval workflows and quote management. Regular e-commerce is instant checkout.
Real-time sync with ERP, multi-location inventory, variant-level tracking, material requirements
Simple inventory tracking, single location, basic stock management
Impact: Industrial needs ERP integration. Regular e-commerce has basic inventory features.
ERP integration, engineering tools, procurement systems, manufacturing workflows
Payment gateways, shipping carriers, basic marketing tools
Impact: Industrial needs deep integrations. Regular e-commerce has standard integrations.
Problem: Trying to use Shopify or WooCommerce for complex industrial catalogs with B2B pricing.
Solution: Use custom industrial e-commerce platforms designed for B2B and complex catalogs.
Our Experience: We evaluated Shopify for our 2,847 SKU store. It couldn't handle our variant complexity or B2B pricing needs.
Problem: Assuming regular e-commerce platforms can handle 1,000+ SKUs with complex variants.
Solution: Test with your actual catalog complexity. Most regular platforms max out at 500-1,000 SKUs.
Our Experience: Regular platforms struggle with complex variant logic. We handle 15+ variant types in our store.
Problem: Trying to use fixed pricing when you need customer-specific pricing and volume discounts.
Solution: Build custom pricing engines that handle B2B pricing complexity.
Our Experience: B2B pricing requires custom solutions. Regular platforms can't handle customer-specific pricing well.
Problem: Not integrating with ERP systems, leading to manual data entry and inventory errors.
Solution: Plan ERP integration from the start. Real-time sync eliminates manual work.
Our Experience: We integrate our e-commerce with inventory systems. Real-time sync eliminates errors.
We operate a 2,847 SKU industrial e-commerce store selling CNC tools to machinists and machine shops. We've experienced the differences between industrial and regular e-commerce firsthand.
We evaluated regular e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce) for our store and found they couldn't handle our needs: complex variant logic, B2B pricing, ERP integration, and engineering calculators.
We built a custom industrial e-commerce platform that handles all our requirements. We know what works because we use it daily.
When we build industrial e-commerce for clients, we're applying solutions we've already proven work in our own operations. We understand the differences because we live them.
More guides to help you understand industrial e-commerce