Centoro’s key features – compared to Magento, Shoper and WooCommerce

Centoro This is one of the platforms developed with manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors in mind, who require a more advanced sales environment than a traditional online shop. In this guide, we compare Centoro with Magento, Shoper and WooCommerce, showing which solutions work best for selling B2B and when it is worth opting for a platform designed strictly for wholesale trade.

How does the B2B platform differ from a standard online shop?

The biggest mistake made when choosing a sales platform is treating B2B as a traditional online shop. In practice, wholesale operates completely differently from standard retail e-commerce. A manufacturer or distributor must manage commercial relationships, ERP integrations, multiple warehouses, individual pricing and the work of sales representatives. Consequently, companies expanding their sales B2B very quickly find themselves needing a more advanced environment than a standard online shop, leading them to increasingly explore what the B2B platform is and how it can integrate ERP, logistics and commercial processes within a single environment. 

B2C vs B2B — functional differences

In the ‘B2C’ model, the key priorities are a straightforward checkout, online payments and a convenient shopping experience. Retail customers typically buy individual products and expect fast order fulfilment and a simple returns process. That is why platforms designed for retail focus primarily on UX, marketing and the ease of launching sales. In ‘B2B’, the priorities are completely different. Organisations require customised pricing structures, multiple user levels, purchasing limits and integration with sales and logistics processes. This is precisely why platforms designed primarily for retail often require additional modules or extensive integration with external systems.

Sales processes in wholesale and distribution

For a wholesaler or distribution company, an online shop is just one element of the entire sales process. Organisations must synchronise logistics, warehouses, contract customers and ordering processes in real time. In more sophisticated organisations, marketplaces, multi-branch sales and various levels of user access are also involved. That is why companies B2B are increasingly in need of data centralisation and the automation of sales processes.

Why is ERP so important at B2B?

ERP as the company’s operational centre

In most organisations B2B, the company’s operational hub remains ERP. This is where data on customers, stock levels, prices, commercial documents, credit limits and logistics is held. In practice, this means that a sales platform without proper integration ERP very quickly begins to cause organisational problems. This leads to stock discrepancies, manual data entry, duplicate documents and delays in order fulfilment.

Why do companies B2B choose the ERP-first model?

Manufacturing and distribution companies are increasingly opting for solutions designed using the ‘ERP-first’ model. The more complex the commercial process, the more important stable synchronisation between the sales platform and business systems becomes. This means there is a need for constant data synchronisation between sales, warehousing and logistics. For organisations with an extensive commercial structure, this has a direct impact on the stability of operational processes.

ERP’s integrations at Centoro

Centoro It stands out thanks to over 30 integrations ERP and an architecture designed around the synchronisation of business processes. This is of great importance to manufacturing and distribution companies, as a sales platform without stable integration ERP quickly begins to cause problems relating to commercial documents, stock levels and order fulfilment.

Centoro vs Magento — the key differences

Magento has remained one of the most recognisable enterprise e-commerce platforms for years. For many large organisations, it remains a very robust solution. At the same time, an increasing number of companies B2B are seeking alternatives to Magento due to maintenance costs, the complexity of implementation and the large number of integrations that need to be built from scratch. It is precisely here that comparisons between the B2B Centoro platform and Magento most often arise.

Implementation and maintenance costs

Magento offers extensive customisation options, but usually requires a substantial implementation budget and a large development team. Centoro is developed as a SaaS solution, which for some organisations means more predictable maintenance costs and a quicker time-to-market. However, the cost of implementation still depends on the number of integrations and the level of customisation, so before choosing a system, it is worth checking how much the B2B platform costs.

Magento requires a number of modules and integrations

Magento offers extensive scope for expansion and customisation, which is why it is primarily used by larger enterprise organisations undertaking complex custom implementations. However, many features of B2B require additional integrations such as CRM, OMS or tools for merchants, which increases the number of systems maintained in parallel. In the case of Centoro, many of these functionalities are provided as part of a single environment, which can simplify platform development and reduce the number of independent systems.

Centoro as a ready-made ecosystem: B2B + CRM + OMS + SFA

The biggest difference between the solutions lies in their system architecture. Magento allows you to create virtually any enterprise e-commerce environment. Centoro, on the other hand, is developed as a platform that integrates sales from B2B, ERP, CRM, OMS and SFA into a single environment. For organisations developing their wholesale operations, this usually means fewer separate integrations to maintain and easier management of commercial processes. The table below shows the key differences between the architectures of Centoro and Magento in the context of B2B sales.

When is Magento the better choice?

Magento remains a very robust solution for large enterprise organisations. It works particularly well where a company has its own IT department, very large development budgets and requires maximum architectural flexibility. Such implementations are most commonly carried out in organisations engaged in international sales or developing bespoke e-commerce environments.

Centoro vs Shoper — why does Shoper work best for B2C?

Shoper is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in Poland. It works very well for simple retail set-ups and quick launches of online shops. Problems usually arise when a company begins to develop more advanced wholesale processes. This is precisely why comparisons between the B2B, Centoro and Shoper platforms are becoming increasingly common. It is worth emphasising here that Shoper was designed primarily with simple e-commerce in mind B2C. In more complex wholesale models, organisations often begin to require advanced workflows, multiple customer tiers and integrations ERP.

No advanced CRM and SFA

One of the key features that sets Centoro apart from Shopera is the inclusion of the CRM and SFA functions. This is particularly important for companies with sales representatives and extensive field sales processes. Companies operating on a wholesale basis often need not only an online shop, but also tools to support customer relationship management and the coordination of the sales department’s work. Platforms designed for simple retail e-commerce usually require additional integrations in such cases.

ERPs and sales workflow integrations

Centoro It highlights the integration with ERP as one of the platform’s cornerstones. For wholesalers and manufacturers, this means the ability to synchronise prices, stock levels and commercial documents within a single environment. In the B2B model, integration with ERP is crucial for the stability of sales and the servicing of contract customers. The sales platform must therefore operate as part of a wider business environment, rather than simply as an online shop in its own right.

For which businesses will Shoper still be a good choice?

Shoper remains a very good choice for straightforward retail e-commerce. This solution works particularly well for small and medium-sized online shops that do not have very complex commercial processes. The platform is most often chosen by companies looking to launch online sales quickly without having to build a complex integration environment. 

Centoro vs WooCommerce — a stable system rather than dozens of plugins

WooCommerce is now one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. The immense popularity of WordPress has led thousands of businesses to launch their online shops using this solution. For simple e-commerce, WooCommerce works very well. However, challenges arise as sales volumes and the number of integrations increase. It is at this point that businesses begin to analyse the differences between the B2B Centoro platform and WooCommerce.

WooCommerce scaling issues on B2B

WooCommerce works well for small and medium-sized e-commerce projects. The system offers a great deal of flexibility and allows you to launch an online shop relatively quickly. Problems usually arise with more complex ‘B2B’ structures, multiple warehouses and a large number of integrations. As the organisation grows, so does the number of plugins and technical dependencies, which begins to affect the stability of the entire environment.

The risk of plugin conflicts

Many organisations extend WooCommerce using a wide range of plugins. Initially, this approach is convenient and relatively inexpensive, as it allows the shop’s functionality to be expanded quickly. Over time, however, this begins to cause problems relating to compatibility, updates and the stability of the environment. The more complex the organisation, the greater the risk of conflicts between extensions and of issues affecting the security and performance of the entire system. WooCommerce requires regular updates to WordPress, plugins and third-party integrations. In more complex environments B2B, this increases the risk of performance issues and the costs of maintaining the entire platform.

Why are companies at B2B switching from WooCommerce to bespoke platforms?

As organisations grow, there is a need to centralise sales processes. Companies are beginning to integrate ERP, marketplaces, logistics and complex sales workflows. It is at this point that they start looking for platforms that integrate ERP, CRM, OMS and sales workflows within a single environment. For manufacturers and distributors, this means the opportunity to simplify their system architecture and reduce the number of standalone integrations.

Centoro’s key distinguishing features

Centoro It integrates the functions of the B2B, CRM, OMS and SFA platforms into a single sales environment. The platform is being developed primarily with manufacturers, importers, distributors and wholesalers in mind, who handle more complex sales processes. In practice, this means that commercial, logistical and sales data can be centralised within a single environment.

20 years’ experience and over 1,000 implementations

Centoro It stands out thanks to its 20 years’ experience in the market, over 1,000 implementations and more than 30 ERP integrations. The company also develops over 100 modules supporting sales automation and operates on a SaaS model. Such figures are particularly important for organisations assessing a technology provider’s experience, the scale of its implementations and the extent to which the platform integrates with business processes.

ERPs and distribution support

The platform has already been used by, amongst others: Cargill, Foodwell, Bakalland, Trefl and Vive Textile Recycling. This shows that the solution is being utilised by manufacturers and organisations operating within a distribution model. The more complex the organisation, the greater the importance of stable data synchronisation between systems. One of the areas being developed by Centoro is the automation of sales processes. The proposed platform can automate up to 80 per cent of orders. For organisations, B2B this primarily means a reduction in manual processing and more efficient management of a larger number of orders.

Which companies should choose Centoro?

Centoro It works best in organisations with extensive wholesale operations, contract customers and numerous processes running in parallel. These are most often manufacturers, importers, distributors and wholesalers who require ERP integration, sales automation and the centralisation of commercial and logistics data. The solution is typically chosen by companies planning to develop multi-channel sales and further scale their operations B2B.

A summary of the key differences

The table below summarises the key differences between Centoro, Magento, Shoper and WooCommerce in terms of B2B implementation, ERP integration and the handling of more complex sales processes.

Summary

The choice of sales platform should be based primarily on the business model, the scale of the organisation and the level of integration required by the company. A simple online shop requires different features to those needed by a manufacturer or distributor serving contract customers and operating a multi-channel sales model. Therefore, before implementation, it is worth analysing not only the costs of launching the platform, but also the potential for further development, process automation and integration with the systems used within the organisation.

FAQ

Will Centoro replace Magento?

For some companies, yes, particularly if the organisation is looking for a ready-to-use environment at B2B featuring ERP, CRM and sales automation. Centoro is developed primarily with manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors in mind, who wish to reduce the number of separate systems and simplify the management of sales processes. Magento remains a popular solution for large-scale enterprise projects requiring extensive customisation and complex bespoke implementations.

Is WooCommerce suitable for B2B?

WooCommerce can work well for simpler implementations B2B, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses developing their sales on WordPress. The system offers great flexibility and extensive scope for expansion via plugins. Problems usually arise with more complex sales processes, numerous integrations ERP and a large number of users and sales workflows. In such situations, organisations often start looking for more stable platforms designed strictly for B2B.

Will Shoper work well for a wholesale business?

Shoper may be sufficient for simpler wholesale models and organisations that do not have highly complex commercial processes. The platform works particularly well in retail e-commerce and for rapid online roll-outs. In more advanced distribution models, however, there is often a need for integration with ERP, commercial workflows, CRM and support for multiple tiers of business customers. In such cases, companies begin to explore more comprehensive platforms such as B2B.

How does ‘ERP’ work on Centoro?

Centoro It integrates with the ERP systems and synchronises data relating to customers, stock levels, commercial documents and orders. This enables the organisation to minimise manual data entry and reduce the risk of operational errors. The ERP integration is particularly important for companies with extensive logistics operations, a large number of sales representatives and contract customers with individual commercial terms.

How much does it cost to implement the B2B platform?

How much does the B2B platform cost? The cost of implementing the B2B platform depends primarily on the number of integrations, the level of customisation and the size of the organisation. Companies planning to implement the platform often also compare costs based on the sales model, the number of users and the scope of integrations ERP.

How can you automate wholesale sales?

The automation of wholesale sales requires, first and foremost, the integration of ERP, sales workflows, OMS and the centralisation of sales processes. The synchronisation of data relating to customers, warehouses and orders is also of key importance. In practice, companies at B2B most often automate order processing, the exchange of commercial documents and logistics processes. This helps to reduce manual work and increase the scalability of sales.

Which ‘B2B’ platform should a manufacturer choose?

Manufacturers should choose the B2B platform primarily on the basis of its integration with ERP, its sales automation capabilities and its ability to handle complex commercial processes. The system’s scalability and its ability to integrate with logistics and marketplaces are also of great importance. In practice, manufacturing organisations most often require an environment that combines online sales, commercial workflows, CRM and order management within a single system.

What does OMS offer on B2B?

OMS It helps manage orders, logistics, marketplaces and multi-channel sales within a single environment. This enables the organisation to monitor the flow of orders between different sales channels more easily. In the ‘B2B’ model OMS, this is particularly important where there are a large number of contract customers, multiple warehouses and more complex logistics processes.

Does Centoro have CRM?

Yes. Centoro integrates the functions of CRM, OMS and SFA into a single sales environment, enabling the centralisation of customer data and sales processes. This solution is particularly important for organisations with field sales representatives, an extensive sales structure and a large number of business customers.

Does Centoro integrate with ERP?

Yes. Centoro stands out thanks to over 30 integrations ERP and an architecture designed around the synchronisation of business processes. The integration includes, amongst other things, the synchronisation of customer data, orders, prices and stock levels. For manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, this is of crucial importance, as it helps to minimise operational errors and streamline order fulfilment.