Shopify Plus for B2B Manufacturing: Why Forrester Calls It the Best Choice

The B2B eCommerce industry is undergoing a transformation. Businesses are no longer stuck in a “trade-off” between feature-rich solutions and agile, scalable architecture. Thanks to advancements by both new-school cloud-native platforms and legacy providers, today’s commerce platforms blend robust functionality with modern technology to meet evolving demands.

The evaluation by Forrester has placed Shopify Plus among the top platforms for businesses that manufacture B2B products. Forrester gave this recognition based on well-established evidence. Shopify Plus excelled by giving businesses naval powers through fast innovation and artificial intelligence features and reasonably easy usage for professionals with limited technical experience.

In this blog post, we’ll examine the factors that Forrester considers making Shopify Plus a top option for B2B platforms together with a look at market trends in B2B commerce and the platform’s beneficial features and its fit with manufacturing requirements.

B2B companies struggled for an extended time because they had to select either traditional platforms with extensive functionalities or modern platforms with flexible architecture. The situation has become different from what it used to be. The latest Forrester report shows present B2B commerce platforms successfully unite features from extensive systems with modern architecture. B2B commerce providers have upgraded their platform services through modern technology development from traditional vendors.

The emergence of this new technology structure brings major effects for manufacturers operating in B2B markets. Every company operating in wholesale consumer goods distribution to local shops and heavy equipment servicing production facilities needs a platform that understands their operational model.

Additionally, emerging trends like cloud-native solutions, composable commerce, and industry-specific AI models continue to shape the B2B landscape. As Forrester emphasizes, platforms that align their feature set, architecture, and AI capabilities with a customer’s specific needs are best positioned to drive long-term business results.

The following were the criteria Forrester used for the evaluation:

Forrester’s evaluation criteria focus on core factors like application architecture, AI capabilities, and customer account management. Shopify Plus demonstrated significant strengths in these areas. Its AI-powered tools, such as the Sidekick feature, streamline processes by enabling nontechnical users to execute tasks through natural language commands.

Additionally, the platform’s continuous feature updates and strong developer community support rapid feature delivery and customization. However, Forrester notes that Shopify Plus faces limitations in assisted buying and quoting capabilities, which may restrict its appeal for manufacturers with complex B2B workflows.

The strategic direction of Shopify Plus enables B2B manufacturers to receive powerful scalable solutions which address their user needs. The platform’s upcoming development continues to target B2B manufacturers through additions of large-scale catalog management tools together with enhanced wholesale functionality. The successful outcome of Shopify is because of its constant investment strategy which focused on feature enhancement and innovation according to Forrester.

Shopify Plus embraces a forward-thinking method which enables the platform to serve active B2B requirements as well as market-based commerce technology evolutions.

Shopify Plus continues to expand its market reach within the B2B manufacturing sector because it provides agile solutions together with sophisticated capabilities for businesses. The evaluation from Forrester positions Shopify Plus against other Leaders including Salesforce and commercetools but highlights how Shopify is tailored specifically for consumer goods manufacturing needs.

Shopify Plus maintains a substantial and expanding customer base that positions itself against traditional business-to-business platforms by delivering quick implementation alongside simplicity of adoption as well as modern features suitable for manufacturers of various types.

Now, let’s understand why Forrester recognized Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus stands apart from all other solutions when it comes to innovation. OpenAditions supports rapid feature creation at Forrester which makes Shopify Plus the top solution for B2B businesses especially consumer goods manufacturers selling wholesale products. Shopify Plus introduces AI-enabled Sidekick that enables users to ask for tasks through natural language for both promotions setup and user interface adjustment.

Line sheets and prebookings for apparel designs represent recent features that Shopify added to the roadmap which specifically target wholesale business requirements. Shopify Plus maintains superior position through its continuous efforts to innovate so the platform provides necessary features for B2B manufacturer needs.

Shopify Plus tailors its platform to the needs of consumer goods manufacturers operating wholesale channels. This approach has earned praise from reference customers, who appreciate the platform’s wide range of native functionality.

The platform also excels in simplifying operations for nontechnical practitioners. Through its intuitive interface, manufacturers can manage essential processes without needing extensive technical expertise. However, Forrester’sevaluation also notes that while Shopify Plus shines in areas like AI and native features, customers would like more tuning for high-scale operations with large product catalogs.

Today, flexibility is key, and Shopify Plus delivers through its ability to integrate seamlessly with best-of-breed solutions. The platform’s extensive app ecosystem empowers businesses to compose their commerce stack in a way that meets their specific needs—balancing out-of-the-box features with opportunities for extensibility.

Shopify Plus has carved out a competitive advantage by focusing on consumer goods manufacturers operating wholesale channels. This focus has led to the development of features that streamline key B2B operations. Innovations like AI-powered Sidekick, line sheets, and prebookings for apparel manufacturers demonstrate Shopify’s commitment to enhancing wholesale processes.

For manufacturers targeting boutique retail partners, Shopify Plus provides both scalability and an easy-to-use interface—ideal for businesses looking to optimize their wholesale distribution channels.

Shopify Plus’s extensive app ecosystem and network of global systems integrators (GSIs) make it a standout choice for B2B manufacturers. These partnerships enable businesses to enhance their platform through co-innovation, offering tailored solutions for unique industry needs. Whether through custom integrations or specialized apps, Shopify’s ecosystem supports scalable and competitive outcomes.

This ecosystem-driven approach gives businesses access to best-of-breed tools, reducing the need for costly replatforming as operational needs evolve.

Known for rapid implementation and ease of use, Shopify Plus is particularly appealing for businesses looking to launch or expand quickly. Forrester highlights Shopify’s ability to empower nontechnical users, making it easier to onboard teams without extensive IT support.

However, Forrester’s evaluation also suggests there’s room for improvement in high-scale operations, particularly for businesses managing large catalogs or complex workflows. Despite these limitations, Shopify Plus remains a strong option for businesses prioritizing fast scalability and ongoing innovation.

Compared to other platforms, Shopify Plus excels at providing architectural flexibility that aligns with customer engagement stacks, helping businesses remain agile as they scale.

While Shopify Plus offers impressive features, Forrester’s evaluation highlights certain limitations that may affect large-scale manufacturers. In particular, the platform falls short in areas such as assisted buying and quoting, which are critical for businesses with complex B2B workflows. These gaps may pose challenges for manufacturers requiring extensive sales rep involvement and negotiation capabilities.

Additionally, Shopify’s native functionality—though praised for its breadth—may require further refinement to handle the demands of large product catalogs and high-volume operations effectively.

Shopify Plus excels as a solution for consumer goods manufacturers managing wholesale channels. Its ease of use, rapid feature development, and strong AI capabilities make it ideal for businesses focused on streamlining B2B operations without heavy IT dependence.

However, for manufacturers with highly complex workflows or those requiring in-depth custom quoting and assisted buying processes, alternative platforms may better meet their needs. Businesses in this category should assess their requirements carefully before choosing Shopify Plus.

The latest assessment from Forrester established Shopify Plus as a premium platform that serves B2B manufacturers especially those operating in consumer goods. Shopify Plus provides manufacturers tools to optimize wholesale management through its AI technology and built-in process automation and offers a flexible system design for rapid expansion. The combination of rapid development and easy functionality makes Shopify Plus a dominant solution in the market.

Manufacturers operating at complex stages of B2B transactions or at high volumes must carefully evaluate the assisted buying and quoting deficiencies Shopify currently has. Companies who value agility and innovation put Shopify Plus forward because of its competitive advantages.

B2B manufacturers should contact our Shopify development team for online operation solutions.