B2B Dropship B2C Dropship Platforms

 

To build an online version of your physical mall with a multi-vendor structure, you need a platform that allows each vendor to manage their own storefront, catalog, and order fulfillment while centralizing the order processing. Based on your description, the platform should ideally support a B2B2C (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer) model and provide the following capabilities:

• Vendor storefront management (individual catalog, product management)
• Centralized shopping cart for customers (aggregating products from multiple vendors)
• Vendor-specific order fulfillment, customer service, and returns
• Payment and commission handling
• Seamless integration of vendor products with your platform
• Scalable and customizable to fit your mall's specific needs

Let's explore some of the platforms you mentioned, including Mirakl, BigCommerce, and Shopify B2B, as well as other possible solutions.

1. Mirakl

Mirakl is a robust platform designed for marketplace management and can handle multi-vendor environments efficiently. It provides an end-to-end solution for building an online marketplace with a central shopping cart and individual vendor storefronts.

• Pros:
  • Fully customizable and designed for multi-vendor models.
  • Allows each vendor to manage their own catalog, pricing, promotions, and fulfillment.
  • Handles vendor commissions, order routing, and payments.
  • Extensive integration options (ERP, CRM, accounting systems, etc.).
  • Strong support for B2B2C models.
  • Enterprise-grade solution with advanced features.
• Cons:
  • Pricing is generally on the higher side, suited more for larger enterprises.
  • Can be complex to set up and maintain depending on your level of customization.

Recommendation: Mirakl is an excellent choice if you are looking for a comprehensive, enterprise-grade solution with extensive customization. It’s ideal for larger-scale operations and can handle complex workflows.

2. BigCommerce (B2B Edition)

BigCommerce is a well-known e-commerce platform that also supports multi-vendor marketplaces. Its B2B Edition specifically allows you to create a marketplace where vendors can manage their own products, catalogs, and orders.

• Pros:
  • Supports B2B and B2C business models.
  • Allows for multi-vendor integration with custom storefronts.
  • Offers a robust API for integration with other systems.
  • Scalable, with a user-friendly interface for both admins and vendors.
  • Comprehensive payment processing options.
• Cons:
  • The B2B edition might require customization for complex marketplace features.
  • Limited advanced marketplace functionality out of the box compared to specialized platforms like Mirakl.

Recommendation: BigCommerce is a good option for SMBs or those who want a simpler, easier-to-manage solution with multi-vendor capabilities. It is not as specialized in marketplace features as Mirakl but can be an excellent choice for growing your business with a solid foundation.

3. Shopify (B2B Solution)

Shopify offers a variety of tools that allow you to set up a multi-vendor marketplace. The Shopify B2B solution is specifically designed for businesses looking to integrate vendors, provide them with custom storefronts, and streamline the order process.

• Pros:

  • User-friendly, even for those without technical expertise.
  • Vendor management apps (like Multi Vendor Marketplace or Shopify Plus features) enable product catalog and order management.
  • Strong app marketplace for additional functionality (e.g., for dropshipping, customer support).
  • Extensive support for payment, inventory, and shipping management.
  • Easy integration with dropshipping providers, payments, and fulfillment services.

• Cons:

  • Can get costly, especially with apps and advanced features.
  • Marketplace functionalities are more limited out of the box, requiring third-party apps for full functionality.

Recommendation: Shopify is a great choice if you're looking for an easy-to-use platform with flexibility. It’s ideal for smaller vendors who want a plug-and-play solution with strong customization options via third-party apps.

4. Other Platforms to Consider:

• WooCommerce + Dokan or WC Vendors: If you prefer using WordPress, WooCommerce can be extended with marketplace plugins like Dokan or WC Vendors to create a multi-vendor system. It provides flexibility and ease of integration with WordPress-based websites.
• Sharetribe: A platform for creating marketplaces that offer flexibility in design and features. It supports various business models, including B2B2C, and offers a simplified approach for smaller businesses.
• Arcadier: A marketplace platform that enables businesses to create multi-vendor platforms. Arcadier offers a variety of customizable features, but it may lack some of the enterprise-grade features found in Mirakl or BigCommerce.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Platform:

• Scalability: Make sure the platform can scale as your business and the number of vendors grow.
• Customization: Does the platform allow you to customize the look and feel of each vendor's storefront? Does it provide flexibility for the backend (e.g., order management)?
• Payment Handling: Can the platform efficiently handle vendor commissions and payments? Does it support different payment gateways?
• Vendor Support and Management: How easy is it for vendors to manage their product catalogs, orders, and fulfillment?
• Integration Capabilities: Ensure that the platform integrates well with your existing systems (ERP, CRM, shipping carriers).
• Cost: Consider the long-term costs (subscriptions, apps, transaction fees) of the platform. Some platforms may offer lower upfront costs but may have higher transaction or subscription fees as your business grows.

Final Recommendations:

If you're looking for an enterprise-grade solution with robust marketplace features, Mirakl is the best option. It can handle complex workflows and large numbers of vendors.

If you're looking for something more affordable and user-friendly, BigCommerce or Shopify (with the right apps) might be a good fit. Shopify is excellent for a more hands-off approach with third-party apps, while BigCommerce can offer a more built-in, integrated solution for multi-vendor marketplaces.

For more customization and lower upfront costs, WooCommerce with Dokan or WC Vendors is a good option, especially if you're already familiar with WordPress.

Finally, choose a platform that best suits the long-term needs of your mall and its vendors, considering both the vendor experience and customer experience.

If you’re still unsure or need help implementing and customizing these platforms, feel free to contact specialized consultants or developers with experience in e-commerce and multi-vendor marketplace setups.

The Design Leader Dilemma

 

Many design leaders find themselves in an impossible situation. On one side, senior management have read articles trumpeting the incredible ROI of user experience design. McKinsey tells us that design-led companies achieve 56% higher returns to shareholders. Forrester reports that every dollar invested in UX brings 100 dollars in return.

Yet the reality I encounter when talking to design leaders is very different. Most are desperately under-resourced, with tiny teams expected to support hundreds of projects across their organizations. The result? We’re spread so thin that we can barely scratch the surface of what needs doing.

The problem isn’t just about resources. It’s about expectations and how we define our role. Too often, we position ourselves (or are positioned by others) as implementors — the people who do the user research, create the prototypes, and run the usability tests. But with the scale of digital touching every corner of our organizations, that’s simply not sustainable.

Time For A New Approach #

We need to stop trying to do everything ourselves and instead focus on empowering others across the organization to improve the user experience. In other words, we need to become true leaders rather than just practitioners.

This isn’t about giving up control or lowering standards. It’s about maximizing our impact by working through others. Think about it: would you rather be directly involved in 10% of projects or have some influence over 90% of them?

Hey UXer, it’s time to sharpen your design leadership skills. Learn to strategize, influence, and drive cultural change even with limited resources.

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What Does This Look Like In Practice? #

First, we need to shift our mindset from doing to enabling. This means:

• Offering targeted services rather than trying to be involved in everything;
• Providing coaching and mentoring to help others understand UX principles;
• Creating resources that empower others to make better UX decisions;
• Setting standards and guidelines that can scale across the organization.

Let’s break down each of these areas.

Targeted Services #

Instead of trying to be involved in every project, focus on providing specific, high-value services that can make the biggest impact. This might include:

• Running discovery phases for major initiatives
  By strategically initiating discovery phases for critical projects, you ensure that they start with a strong, user-focused foundation. This can involve tools like the Strategic User-Driven Project Assessment (SUPA), which helps validate ideas by assessing audience value, user needs, feasibility, and risks before committing to major investments. SUPA ensures projects are not just built right but are the right ones to build.
• Project-Specific UX Guidance
  Regular feedback on design assets throughout a project keeps UX principles front and center. This can be achieved by offering UX audits, periodic check-ins to assess progress, or design reviews at key milestones.
• Facilitating workshops and problem-solving sessions
  Leading targeted workshops or brainstorming sessions empowers teams to overcome design challenges on their own with your guidance. These tailored sessions help teams understand how to make better user-centered decisions and solve issues themselves, spreading UX capabilities beyond your team.

The key is to be strategic about where you spend your time, focusing on activities that will have the greatest ripple effect across the organization.

Carrying out a SUPA reduces the risk that users will fail to embrace a new digital service and helps avoid expensive reworking later. (Large preview)

Coaching And Mentoring #

One of the most effective ways to scale your impact is through coaching. This could include:

• UX Office Hours
  Designate times where anyone in the organization can drop in to get quick UX advice. This informal setting can solve small issues before they snowball and helps stakeholders learn as they go.
• One-on-One or Group Coaching
  Scheduled check-ins with individuals or teams are great opportunities to address challenges directly, mentor those who need extra support, and ensure alignment with best practices. Regular 1:1 or group coaching keeps UX priorities on track and provides valuable guidance when and where it’s needed most.
• Tailored Problem-Solving Sessions
  Providing bespoke guidance for specific challenges that teams encounter empowers them to tackle design obstacles while internalizing the principles of good UX. These problem-solving sessions can be invaluable in ensuring teams can autonomously address future problems.

Use a tool like Calendly to enable colleagues to easily book consultation sessions while ensuring that you have blocks of time reserved for other activities. (Large preview)

The goal isn’t to turn everyone into UX experts but to help them understand enough to make better decisions in their daily work.

It’s also important to recognize that others might not initially deliver work at the same level of quality that you would. This is okay. The primary goal is to get people engaged and excited about UX. If we criticize them every time they fall short of perfection, we risk undermining their enthusiasm. Instead, we need to foster a supportive environment where improvement happens over time.

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Creating Resources #

Develop tools and resources that help others apply UX principles independently. For example:

• Design Systems
  Create and maintain a comprehensive design system that integrates UX best practices into the UI across the organization. A well-crafted design system ensures that everyone, from developers to designers, aligns on consistent best practices, making it easier for teams to work independently while still maintaining high standards. This includes reusable code components, clear documentation, and alignment between design and development.
• UX Tool Suite
  Providing teams with pre-selected tools for user research, prototyping, and user testing helps maintain quality and saves time. With tools for everything from user research to usability testing, you provide the resources teams need to conduct UX activities on their own without extensive onboarding.
• Research Repository
  Maintain a centralized repository of user research findings that can be accessed by anyone across the organization. A well-organized research repository can reduce duplication of effort, provide insights across different initiatives, and allow teams to learn from each other’s findings. This promotes consistent application of user insights across projects.
• Supplier Lists
  Providing a vetted list of suppliers and external agencies helps ensure consistency when work is outsourced. It provides quick access to high-quality resources, mitigates risk, and builds trust with suppliers who understand your standards.
• Self-Service Training Resources
  Create a library of on-demand training materials that teams can access when needed. This should include video tutorials, interactive exercises, case studies, and step-by-step guides for common UX tasks like conducting user interviews, creating personas, or running usability tests. Unlike scheduled workshops, self-paced learning allows people to access knowledge exactly when they need it, leading to better retention and practical application.

These resources should be practical and accessible, making it easy for teams to do the right thing.

Create a repository of UX tools that people can use, along with training to help them utilize these tools effectively. (Large preview)

Setting Standards #

Create a framework that guides UX decisions across the organization:

• Design Principles
  Establish core design principles that align with your organization’s values and user-centered goals. These principles help ensure consistency and clarity in decision-making. For example, define around six to ten principles that stakeholders across the organization have voted on and agreed upon, ensuring broader buy-in and consistent decision-making.
• Policies for UX
  Develop clear policies that standardize processes like work requests, user research and testing, and stakeholder involvement. These policies help set expectations, keep efforts aligned with organizational goals, and make it easier for non-UX professionals to understand and comply with best practices.
• Project Prioritization Policies
  Having clear guidelines on how projects are prioritized ensures that UX gets the attention it needs in the planning stages, preventing it from being overlooked or marginalized. Establish policies that align project value to user needs and organizational priorities.

The key is to make these standards helpful rather than bureaucratic — they should enable better work, not create unnecessary obstacles.

Bringing It All Together #

All of these elements should come together in what I call a UX Playbook — a single source of truth that contains everything teams need to deliver better user experiences. This isn’t just another document to gather dust; it’s a living resource that demonstrates your value as a leader and helps others get started on their UX journey.

We should learn from the Government Digital Service Manual and create a UX playbook that consolidates all the resources, policies, and training we provide. (Large preview)

The shift from practitioner to leader isn’t easy. It requires letting go of some control and trusting others to carry forward UX principles. But it’s the only way to create lasting change at scale.