Choosing the Right B2B Buyer Portal in 2025: Oro, BigCommerce, or SparkLayer
What your customers expect, what each platform delivers, and how to make the right call.
B2B buyers don’t want to wait on sales reps, dig through email chains, or call just to place an order. They expect self-service portals that give them everything they need, instantly and on their own terms.
If your buyer experience falls short, your competitors will be happy to pick up the slack.
But picking the right buyer portal isn’t just about features. You need a solution that fits your business model, connects to your ERP, and supports how your customers actually buy. In this guide, we’ll compare three of the most popular options: OroCommerce, BigCommerce B2B Edition, and SparkLayer, and break down where each one fits best.
Prefer to watch instead? Click here to view the full video comparison.
What Is a B2B Buyer Portal, Really?
Let’s clear something up. A buyer portal isn’t just a login screen or a reordering tool.
A modern B2B buyer portal gives your customers real-time access to:
- Pricing specific to their account or contract
- Purchase history, open invoices, and quotes
- Role-based ordering permissions across their team
- Inventory availability and order status updates
- Tools for submitting and approving large or complex orders
These are not just conveniences. They reduce the need for manual support, increase reorder frequency, and build long-term customer loyalty.
OroCommerce: Deep Customization for Complex B2B Sales
OroCommerce is an open-source platform built specifically for B2B from day one. It is designed for companies with layered sales processes, account-based pricing, and high operational complexity.
What stands out:
- Built-in tools for quoting, negotiations, and approvals
- Workflow automation for pricing logic, discounts, and approvals
- Customer hierarchies with role-based dashboards and permissions
- Direct integrations with major ERPs like SAP and Sage
- Support for multiple warehouses, catalogs, and storefronts
This is the most flexible option on the list. You can customize almost every aspect of the buyer experience to match your exact sales process. That flexibility comes with responsibility. Oro requires development resources, ongoing technical maintenance, and a longer runway to launch.
Best for:
Manufacturers and distributors with complex quoting, approval workflows, or layered buyer roles who want full platform ownership.
BigCommerce B2B Edition: SaaS Simplicity with Enterprise Potential
BigCommerce B2B Edition is an add-on to BigCommerce Enterprise that turns a consumer-facing platform into a full-featured B2B experience. It is a strong choice for mid-market brands who want to move quickly without sacrificing capability.
What it offers:
- Buyer portal with quoting, order history, saved lists, and permissions
- Account-based pricing and custom catalogs
- ERP integrations via third-party apps or API
- Open source buyer portal frontend for optional customization
- Access to a large app marketplace and partner ecosystem
BigCommerce strikes a balance between structure and flexibility. You don’t have to manage infrastructure or security updates, and you can launch quickly. Some features, like automation and workflow logic, require additional tools or partner-built enhancements.
Best for:
Growing B2B companies that want a scalable, managed platform with room to expand through extensions and integrations.
SparkLayer: Instant B2B on Top of Any eCommerce Platform
SparkLayer isn’t a full platform. It is a B2B portal layer that sits on top of your existing eCommerce site, most commonly Shopify. That means you don’t have to rebuild or replatform to add B2B functionality.
Where it shines:
- Account-specific pricing, permissions, and buyer teams
- Access to quotes, invoices, and order history
- Quick order forms and repeat purchase tools
- ERP integrations with platforms like Brightpearl and Linnworks
- Fast deployment without rebuilding your site
SparkLayer gives you a sleek buyer portal experience that integrates cleanly with your storefront. While customization is more limited than with Oro or BigCommerce, most core B2B features are built in and easy to use. You manage the customer experience across two systems, but the learning curve is low.
Best for:
Merchants already on Shopify who want to launch B2B quickly without starting from scratch.
Choose OroCommerce if: | Choose BigCommerce B2B Edition if: | Choose SparkLayer if: | ||
You sell into large accounts with complex approval processes | You want a hosted solution with fast time to launch | You already run your site on Shopify | ||
Your quoting, pricing, or buyer hierarchy requirements go beyond what most platforms can handle | You have a mix of B2C and B2B customers | You want to launch a B2B portal quickly with minimal disruption | ||
You want full control over the backend and frontend | You want strong out-of-the-box features with an open partner ecosystem | You need standard B2B features like pricing rules, team permissions, and account views | ||
You’re willing to invest in custom development and long-term maintenance | You need stability and scalability without owning all the infrastructure | You’re okay managing your storefront and portal layer separately |
Final Thoughts
No buyer portal platform is perfect out of the box. The right choice depends entirely on your business model, internal resources, and growth goals. Each option in this guide serves a different slice of the B2B market, and they all come with tradeoffs.
If you’re trying to decide, you don’t need to do it alone. We’ve helped manufacturers, distributors, and hybrid B2B brands find a platform that fits their exact needs.
Curious which buyer portal platform is right for you?
We’ll help you cut through the noise and find the platform that actually supports how you sell.