Why customized solutions for medium-sized businesses are essential today
The requirements for digital business models have fundamentally changed in recent years. Standard software continues to form an important basis, but in many cases, it is no longer sufficient to efficiently, securely, and sustainably map complex business processes. Especially in medium-sized businesses, the need for individual solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into existing system landscapes, organizational structures, and business models is growing.
As the manufacturer of the e-commerce platform Smartstore, we are expanding our range of services and now offer individual development services around our software. With this, we respond to a market development in which standard functions increasingly need to be supplemented by company-specific requirements.
Individual development is not an option, but a must
Medium-sized companies today face the challenge of providing their business processes through the browser – both for internal users and for partners, customers and external service providers. Processes that were previously handled manually, by email or through isolated systems must now be available digitally, transparently and in real-time.
This includes among others:
-
Order and quotation processes
-
Individual pricing and discount logics
-
Approval and authorization workflows
-
Self-service functions for partners and customers
-
Inter-system data flows
These requirements are no longer an optional step towards digitalization but a mandatory prerequisite for efficient collaboration and sustainable growth.
Smartstore as a base – individual development as a consistent extension
Smartstore represents a powerful and flexible foundation for modern commerce scenarios. Nevertheless, complex business models cannot be fully standardized. Individual development is therefore not a break with the standard software, but its logical extension.
Customized adjustments enable, among other things:
-
Mapping of company-specific processes
-
Extension of existing functions through plugins
-
Integration of external systems
-
Implementation of individual user and role models
It is crucial that these extensions are deeply embedded in the platform architecture and remain maintainable in the long term.
ERP integration: the backbone of digital processes
In almost all medium-sized companies, the ERP system forms the central backbone of the business processes. Without a proper connection to this system, any e-commerce or portal solution remains fragmented.
Individual ERP integrations go far beyond mere data exchange. They include, among others:
-
Article, price, and availability logics
-
Customer or partner-specific conditions
-
Order, delivery, and billing processes
-
Bidirectional synchronization in real-time or defined intervals
Often, the development of specific interfaces, process logics, or extensions is necessary for this. As the manufacturer of Smartstore, we know the relevant integration points of the platform in detail and can implement ERP connections to ensure they are stable, performant, and updateable.
Partner portals: Digitally mapping collaboration
An increasingly important application case for individual development is partner portals. They serve as a central platform for collaboration with dealers, suppliers, service providers, or franchise partners.
Typical requirements for partner portals are:
-
Individual access and role models
-
Exclusive assortments or price structures
-
Insight into orders, delivery statuses, or invoices
-
Collaborative maintenance of data or content
-
Integration into existing ERP and CRM processes
Such portals can rarely be mapped with standard functions. They require clear process logic and close integration with existing systems. Smartstore provides the technological basis for this, and individual development creates the necessary adaptation to real business workflows.
B2B workflows: Making complexity manageable
B2B business models are characterized by complex decision-making and approval processes. Unlike in the traditional B2C environment, there are rarely linear purchasing processes.
Typical B2B workflows include:
-
Multi-level approvals
-
Individual user roles within a customer account
-
Quotation and budget processes
-
Project or cost center-related orders
-
Customer-specific assortments and pricing rules
These processes must not only be captured technically correct but also organizationally meaningful. Individual development allows these workflows to be precisely adapted to a company's internal structures while ensuring intuitive use over the browser.
Understanding holistic complexity: Smartstore, Smart Retail, and Smart Venue
With Smartstore as well as the complementary areas of Smart Retail and Smart Venue, we do not view commerce in isolation but as an interconnected overall system. Digital touchpoints, physical sales spaces, partner networks, and backend systems interlock.
This holistic perspective inevitably leads to increased complexity. As manufacturers of these platforms, we understand these interrelationships in their entirety and can systemically analyze and solve individual requirements - without creating technical standalone solutions or hard-to-maintain custom constructs.
Who are individual development services suitable for?
Individual development is particularly targeted at companies that:
-
Operate complex B2B or hybrid models
-
Need to deeply integrate ERP, CRM, or third-party systems
-
Actively involve partners in digital processes
-
Wish to specifically extend standardized processes
-
Expect long-term maintainability and investment security
Especially in medium-sized companies, these requirements are now the rule rather than the exception.
Conclusion
Standard software forms the basis – individual development makes the crucial difference. In an increasingly networked and process-driven business world, companies must map their processes digitally, browser-based, and across systems.
With Smartstore, Smart Retail, and Smart Venue, we not only provide powerful platforms but now also offer individual development services. As manufacturers, we have the necessary system understanding to implement complex requirements sustainably, cleanly, and future-proof.
Do you have questions about this topic? Or would you like to send us your feedback? You can reach us through the contact form, by email at info@smartstore.com or by phone from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 4 pm at the number +4923153350