Platform	Ideal For	Key Strengths	TCO
Medusa JS	Manufacturers needing deep customization	Full control, zero license fees, B2B flexibility	Low
commercetools	Enterprise manufacturers with global complexity	Composable, scalable, highly modular	Medium-High
BigCommerce	Smaller manufacturers launching quickly	B2B-ready, fast setup, good app ecosystem	Medium
Commerce Layer	Manufacturers with multi-market operations	API-first, localized pricing/catalogs, headless flexibility	Medium

 

Why We Don’t Recommend Shopify or Shopify Plus for Manufacturers

While Shopify Plus is a popular choice for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, it falls short for manufacturing businesses—especially those operating in B2B environments or dealing with complex workflows, custom pricing, or regulated products.

Key Limitations for Manufacturers:

1. Limited Native B2B Functionality

Shopify is built for retail-style ecommerce. Manufacturers often need:

• Customer-specific pricing

• Volume-based discounts

• Purchase orders, quote requests, and net terms

• Bulk ordering workflows

• Invoice-based payments

These features are only available through third-party apps, leading to patchwork solutions that often lack the flexibility or depth required for industrial use cases—and can become fragile at scale.

2. Poor Fit for Custom Workflows & Infrastructure Integration

Manufacturers rely on tight integration with backend systems like ERPs, WMS, MES, and PIMs. Shopify’s closed ecosystem and limited backend access make it difficult to support:

• Real-time inventory sync from multiple warehouses

• Advanced order routing logic

• Custom product configuration or BOM (Bill of Materials) management

Additionally, Shopify’s hosted architecture and API limitations create challenges for deep integration with custom logistics software or legacy platforms.

3. Multi-Store Complexity for International or Distributor Markets

Shopify requires creating separate store instances for each region or partner group. This adds operational overhead and increases cost and complexity when managing localized catalogs, pricing, and compliance.

4. Difficulty Handling Complex Product Structures

Manufacturers often deal with large SKU counts, multi-variant configurations, and dependency-based pricing. Shopify’s native product architecture isn't built for:

• Configurable products

• Dynamic BOM logic

• Conditional variant pricing based on configuration inputs

5. Restrictions Around Regulated or Specialized Products

Shopify Plus enforces strict compliance rules, which prohibit or heavily restrict the sale of many product types commonly found in industrial manufacturing, including:

• Industrial tools with weapon-adjacent applications

• Medical equipment or regulated components

• Export-controlled or restricted parts

Real-World Example: Why Shopify Didn't Work for Our Australia-Based Client

We worked with our Australia-based client, the number one welding machine supplier in the country. They approached us after struggling to make Shopify fit their business model. Their key challenges included:

• Integrating with ERP and PIM systems

• Managing a complex SKU structure with numerous variants

• Supporting export workflows and custom product configurations

Despite building multiple proofs of concept (POCs), we consistently encountered platform limitations. In the end, Shopify couldn’t meet their operational complexity or technical requirements—a common issue for manufacturers pushing beyond basic ecommerce needs.

 

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Appendix 1 — How to Shortlist Vendors?

So how can you distill the best Composable Commerce Platform down?

In some ways, it is a pretty challenging task.

You’ve probably exhausted a lot of energy winning the traditional (monolithic) vs. modern (Composable) commerce battle and now you have to go again?

Firstly — a lot will depend on your role. Technology leaders and marketing leaders will likely have very different views as to what best looks like.

1. Market Leaders: You could go for one of the market leaders — but if you do, that needs to come with a health warning as claims and evidence of ‘price gouging’ are rampant (especially on Reddit forums).

2. Agency Recommendations: You can rely on your agency partner to suggest a preferred platform. However, keep in mind that enterprise commerce providers like SAP and Salesforce have agency partnerships, meaning agencies often receive 10–15% of the revenue from each client through these platforms. So, it’s worth double-checking whether their recommendation truly aligns with your business needs or if it’s influenced by commission incentives..

3. MACH Alliance Listings: You could refer to the MACH Alliance listings for Composable Platforms.

4. G2 and Capterra Reviews: G2 and Capterra reviews can also help you shortlist your chosen criteria.

5. New Entrants: Finally, you can assess if any of the newer entrants like Medusa JS offer some unique characteristics that appeal.

Best Tech Stack for Headless Commerce

When building a headless commerce solution, selecting the right tech stack is crucial for ensuring scalability, flexibility, and performance. Here’s a detailed look at the best tech stack components:

CMS (Content Management System)

Looking to choose the best headless CMS for your eCommerce store? Check out this dedicated article to help you make the right decision!

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Tracking and Analytics

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Provides comprehensive tracking and analytics for understanding user behavior and optimizing marketing strategies.

• Segment: A powerful tool for collecting, managing, and routing data to various analytics and marketing platforms.

• Mixpanel: Offers advanced analytics and user behavior tracking, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.

Advanced Analytics

• Metabase: An open-source platform for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.

• Tableau: A robust analytics platform for in-depth data analysis and visualization.

• Power BI: Microsoft’s business analytics tool for creating interactive dashboards and reports.

Custom Dashboard

• Snowflake: A cloud-based data warehousing solution that provides scalable and secure data storage and analytics.

• Looker Studio: A powerful tool for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.

• Metabase: An open-source platform for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.

User Behavior Tracking

• Hotjar: Provides heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback tools to understand user behavior.

• FullStory: Offers comprehensive session replay and user behavior analysis.

• Amplitude: Focuses on product analytics and user behavior tracking.

Fast Delivery and Caching

• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Services like Cloudflare, Akamai, or AWS CloudFront for fast content delivery.

• Caching Solutions: Tools like Redis or Varnish for improving performance and reducing load times.

A/B Testing and Optimization

• Optimizely: A leading platform for A/B testing and personalization.

• VWO (Visual Website Optimizer): Offers comprehensive A/B testing and optimization tools.

• Google Optimize: An integrated tool for A/B testing and personalization with Google Analytics.

 

User Search Queries

• Algolia: A powerful search engine that provides fast and relevant search results.

• Elasticsearch: An open-source search engine that offers advanced search capabilities.

• Typesense: A modern, open-source search engine that is easy to set up and use.

Customer Queries

• Zendesk: A comprehensive customer service platform for managing customer queries.

• Intercom: A customer messaging platform that helps businesses engage and support customers.

• Freshdesk: A customer support software that offers robust ticketing and support features.

Payment Processing

• Stripe: A popular payment gateway that offers robust APIs and extensive features.

• PayPal: A widely-used payment solution that supports multiple payment methods.

• Braintree: A payment gateway that provides flexible and secure payment processing.

These components form a robust tech stack for building a headless commerce solution, ensuring that your platform is scalable, flexible, and optimized for performance.

Our Recommendation: Why Medusa JS is Best

Medusa JS stands out as the best composable commerce solution for several key reasons:

1. Open Source Leadership:

• Many of the world’s best software solutions powering global infrastructure are open source. Examples include:

• Linux: Powers NASDAQ, top 500 supercomputers, 96% of web servers, NASA missions, and major cloud providers.

• Docker, TensorFlow, Git, Kubernetes: All leading technologies are open source, enabling global developer collaboration, code transparency, and full control.

2. Flexibility and Scalability:

• Medusa JS is a leading Node.js-based open-source composable solution that provides unmatched flexibility over code and data flow.

• Its architecture supports complex integrations with POS, ERP, and custom manufacturing systems, making it ideal for brands with diverse SKUs and complex requirements.

• Scalability with Medusa JS is virtually endless, and the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the highest among its competitors.

For businesses seeking full control over their commerce stack, minimal transaction fees, and extensive customization capabilities, Medusa JS is the future-proof choice.

What’s the Cost to Build a eCommerce Site Like This?

It's difficult to provide an exact figure without detailed requirements, but to give you an estimate, let’s assume a typical client profile we often work with:

A manufacturing business generating around $20M in revenue, operating in three countries, currently using outdated systems like an old version of Salesforce, along with legacy ERP and PIM systems. If such a company wants to transition to a modern direct-to-consumer (D2C) eCommerce platform, the project would typically involve:

• Full product data migration

• URL redirection and SEO-safe migration of all indexed pages

• Handling over 2,000+ products with multiple variants and SKUs

• Integration with ERP, CRM, PIM, and offline sales channels

• Maintaining continuity across multiple platforms and sales systems

In India, projects of this scale usually take 6 to 7 months—these are not simple websites. Working with manufacturers, we bring deep market understanding and subject-matter expertise to manage complex integrations and data migrations smoothly.

For a project like this, costs in India typically range from $80,000 to $150,000+, depending on the complexity. Please note, this estimate does not include a B2B portal, which is often a separate requirement for manufacturing clients.

So for a B2C eCommerce platform tailored to a manufacturing business with complex product structures and high-volume operations, this would be a realistic range.

What About the Same Project in the U.S. or Other Western Markets?

In contrast, the same project in the U.S. typically costs between $600,000 and $1 million or more. Agencies specializing in composable commerce and enterprise headless solutions often charge well into the millions, especially when building fully custom integrations with ERP, PIM, CRM, and OMS systems.

Interestingly, despite these high fees, up to 80% of the actual development work is often outsourced to developers in Asian countries—including India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. So while clients may be paying enterprise-level fees, much of the execution is still being handled offshore.

This creates a major opportunity: by working directly with expert teams based in these regions (like ours), manufacturers can access the same technical expertise and architectural standards—at a fraction of the typical cost charged by Western firms.

When Will a Headless Ecommerce Project Start Delivering Value for Manufacturers?

For manufacturers, shifting to a modern headless ecommerce platform isn’t just about building a better website—it’s about improving efficiency, reducing costs, and creating a foundation for long-term growth.

Based on our work with industrial and manufacturing companies, we typically see ROI within 3 to 5 months after launching a headless setup. And in many cases, the benefits begin even sooner.

Realistic Scenario: What the Numbers Look Like

Let’s say your manufacturing business earns:

• $5 million per month in revenue

• With a 20% profit margin, that’s $1 million in monthly profit

You’re currently using a traditional ecommerce platform that costs:

• $1 million per year in licensing and fees (~$83,333/month)

After migrating to a more efficient headless system:

• Your platform costs drop to $80,000 per year (~$6,667/month)

• Your operational costs drop by 40% due to better automation, flexibility, and integration

• Your conversion rate improves by 20% from a better-performing site

What Does That Actually Mean?

With these improvements:

• Monthly profit increases by $150,000

• Operational savings hit $800,000/month

• Platform fee savings are $76,666/month

Total Monthly Financial Benefit: $1,026,666
Annual Added Value: Over $12 million

Even if your migration costs $100,000 or more, it pays for itself within 3 to 5 months.

Why Manufacturers See ROI Faster Than Other Industries

Manufacturing is different from retail:
You don’t need millions of website visitors or one-time shoppers.
You need just a few right-fit buyers—distributors, wholesalers, or B2B customers.

Here’s what we’ve consistently seen:

• The cost per acquisition (CPA) is much lower than in consumer ecommerce

• If your website helps even 3 to 5 new B2B buyers find you per year...

• And each of them places $50K to $200K+ in bulk orders annually...

That’s hundreds of thousands in new revenue from just a few high-value leads.

With a strong site, tailored workflows, and a fast B2B buying experience, your ecommerce platform becomes a powerful tool for lead generation, quoting, and long-term customer relationships—not just order processing.

Final Takeaway

If you’re a manufacturer looking to scale, digitize your sales channels, and reduce technical overhead:

• You don’t need a massive audience—just the right few customers

• You’ll cut costs, streamline operations, and boost profits

• You’ll be positioned to grow your distributor or wholesale network online

• And you can expect to see value in just a few months

Summary

Transitioning to a headless commerce platform can significantly boost your conversion rates, reduce operational costs, and lower the total cost of ownership. By investing in a headless commerce solution, you can expect to see substantial returns within 10 to 12 months, making it a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to enhance their e-commerce capabilities.

About Us

We are Weframe Tech, the world’s leading open-source-based composable solution development company. Our mission is simple: to be pioneers in open-source composable technologies.

Our Vision:

To be the world’s most trusted and innovative leader in open-source composable technologies.

Why Work with Us?

• Expertise in Building Solutions with Open-Source Tech: Our team has extensive experience in developing solutions using open-source technologies.

• Proven Track Record: We’ve helped brands generating over $100M in GMV significantly cut costs — reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) by over $1M annually through lower licensing fees and maintenance costs. Additionally, we’ve boosted conversion rates (CVR) by up to 20% and slashed operational expenses by over 40%.

• Customized Planning and Execution: We tailor our solutions to meet your specific business needs.

Contact us for detailed planning and consultation.

About the Author

Vipul Uthaiah is the COO and Founder of Weframe Tech, a global leader in open-source headless commerce and composable development solutions. With years of experience in helping brands scale through innovative solutions, Vipul is passionate about open-source technologies and digital transformation.

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