An honest look at using Shopify for industrial ecommerce and B2B manufacturing. When Shopify fits (simple catalogs, light MRO) and when you need a custom platform (complex SKUs, configurators, heavy B2B).
Shopify for industrial ecommerce: Shopify can work for industrial and manufacturing companies with simple catalogs (under ~500 SKUs), standard B2C or light B2B needs, and few product options. It starts to break when you need complex variant logic (more than 3 options per product), thousands of SKUs, customer-specific pricing at scale, product configurators, or deep ERP integration. We run a 2,847 SKU industrial store — we evaluated Shopify and chose custom.
If you're selling industrial products or running a manufacturing business, you've probably asked: Can we use Shopify for industrial ecommerce?
The short answer: it depends on your catalog and how you sell. Shopify is a strong platform. But industrial ecommerce often needs things Shopify wasn't built for. This guide spells out when Shopify for industrial makes sense — and when you'll hit limits fast.
Shopify handles straightforward product data well. If you have:
then building on Shopify is realistic. You can use Shopify Plus and B2B features for basic wholesale (customer-specific price lists, net terms with apps). Many light MRO, safety, or consumable suppliers fit here.
Shopify gets you live quickly. You don't manage servers, PCI, or hosting. For a new channel or a test of direct sales, that can be the right tradeoff. If your main goal is "get something online fast" and your catalog is simple, Shopify for industrial is a valid choice.
Shopify allows up to 3 option names per product (e.g. Size, Material, Length) and 100 variants per product. One product with 5 sizes × 5 materials × 5 lengths = 125 variants — so you're already over. For true industrial catalogs (diameter × length × coating × material × pack size), you hit that limit immediately. If each "product" in your world has only a few variants, you're fine.
Industrial products are often configurable: many dimensions, materials, and specs that multiply into thousands of SKUs. Shopify's 3-option, 100-variant cap doesn't scale. We run a CNC tool store with 2,847 SKUs and 15+ variant dimensions — we'd have to split one logical product across dozens of Shopify products and still not model it cleanly. Search, filters, and "find the right part" break down when the catalog is built around platform limits instead of how buyers think.
Reality: For industrial ecommerce with complex SKUs, you either work around Shopify (messy product structure, apps, customizations) or use a platform that supports complex catalogs and attributes natively. See ecommerce platforms for complex SKUs and industrial catalogs.
Shopify has added B2B features (company accounts, price lists, payment terms). For light B2B they help. For serious industrial B2B you often need:
You can approximate some of this with apps and customizations, but you're layering on top of a B2C engine. Many teams end up maintaining spreadsheets or external systems anyway. If B2B is core, compare building a B2B e-commerce platform and best industrial ecommerce platforms (we have a static page that compares Shopify, custom, and others).
If buyers configure products (e.g. select dimensions, material, finish and get price + lead time), you need either a configurator or a CPQ (configure-price-quote) flow. Shopify doesn't ship this. You’d need a third-party app or a custom front-end that talks to Shopify’s API — and you still run into variant limits. Industrial ecommerce that relies on configurators usually needs a custom or dedicated B2B platform.
Shopify has an ecosystem of ERP connectors. For simple sync (product feed, orders, basic inventory) they can work. For industrial you often need:
Deep ERP integration with Shopify usually means custom middleware and ongoing maintenance. If your ERP is the source of truth for pricing, inventory, and customers, integrating ERP with your e-commerce business is easier when the commerce layer is built to connect rather than retrofitted.
| Need | Shopify | Better fit |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000+ SKUs, multi-attribute variants | Workarounds, split products, poor UX | Custom or headless commerce, PIM |
| Native B2B pricing and approval workflows | Apps, customizations | Custom B2B platform, OroCommerce, NetSuite SuiteCommerce |
| Product configurator / CPQ | Third-party or custom front-end only | Custom platform, CPQ tools |
| Deep ERP as source of truth | Connectors + custom logic | Custom or platform with strong ERP story |
We compare Shopify, custom, and WooCommerce for industrial in more detail (that page is a static guide on the site). The summary: Shopify for industrial ecommerce works for simple catalogs and light B2B. For complex SKUs, configurators, and serious B2B workflows, plan on custom or a dedicated B2B platform.
We operate our own industrial ecommerce store and chose a custom platform. If you want to talk through your catalog and workflows, get in touch or book a call.
If this guide resonated with your situation, let's talk. We offer a free 30-minute discovery call — no pitch, just honest advice on your specific project.
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