4 Types of B2B Applications
Dealer/Distributor Portal
B2B Marketplace
Procurement Platform
Order Management System
Dealer/Distributor Portal
A branded portal where your existing dealers and distributors log in to browse catalogs, place orders, track shipments, manage payments, and view their account statements. This is the most common B2B model for Indian manufacturers with established dealer networks.
Examples: FMCG manufacturers, auto parts companies, pharma distributors, building materials brands
Best for: Manufacturers with 50-5000 dealers who currently take orders via phone, WhatsApp, or field sales reps
8 Must-Have B2B Platform Features
Multi-tier Pricing Engine
Different pricing for Gold, Silver, and Platinum dealers with volume discounts, regional pricing, and promotional scheme management. Prices auto-calculate based on dealer tier, order quantity, and active schemes.
Credit Limit Management
Set credit limits per dealer, auto-block orders when limit exceeded, send payment reminders at 80% utilization, track aging (30/60/90 days), and integrate with Tally for real-time outstanding balance.
Automated GST Invoicing
Auto-generate GST-compliant invoices with CGST/SGST/IGST calculation, HSN code mapping, e-invoicing (IRN) via NIC API for turnover above Rs 5 crore, and e-way bill generation for shipments above Rs 50,000.
Order Approval Workflow
Configurable approval chains — orders above Rs 5 lakh need manager approval, credit-exceeded orders need finance approval, new dealer first orders need sales head approval. Push notifications at each step.
Inventory Sync Across Warehouses
Real-time stock visibility across all warehouses (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai). Dealers see available stock per location, and orders auto-route to nearest warehouse with sufficient inventory.
Dealer Analytics Dashboard
Each dealer sees their purchase history, growth trends, top-ordered products, payment status, and scheme utilization. Manufacturers see pan-India dealer performance, regional trends, and inactive dealer alerts.
WhatsApp Order Notifications
Automated WhatsApp messages for order confirmation, dispatch with tracking link, delivery confirmation, payment reminders, and new scheme announcements. Uses WhatsApp Business API for reliability.
Bulk Upload/Download
Import 1000+ SKU catalogs via Excel upload with validation. Dealers can upload bulk orders via Excel template. Export order reports, payment statements, and GST data to Excel for offline review.
6-Layer B2B Platform Architecture
Frontend Layer
Technologies: React 18, Next.js 14, Flutter 3, Tailwind CSS, PWA for offline
Before vs After: B2B Platform Impact
| Metric | Before (Phone/WhatsApp) | After (B2B Portal) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Processing Time | 2 days (phone/WhatsApp) | 4 hours (self-service) | -83% |
| Order Errors | 12% (wrong SKU, qty, price) | 1.5% (system-validated) | -88% |
| Dealer Engagement | Phone orders only | Self-service portal + app | +300% |
| Collection Cycle | 45 days average | 28 days average | -38% |
| Sales Team Time on Orders | 60% of working hours | 15% of working hours | -75% |
| Catalog Update Speed | 3 days (print/PDF/WhatsApp) | Instant (portal update) | -99% |
| Monthly Orders Handled | 500 (manual capacity) | 2000+ (system capacity) | +300% |
| Customer Retention | 72% annual | 89% annual | +24% |
B2B Application Development Cost
| Tier | Scale | Cost | Features Included | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MVP Dealer Portal | 50-200 dealers | Rs 12-25 Lakh | Product catalog, dealer login, basic pricing, order placement, GST invoicing, payment tracking, admin dashboard | 8-10 weeks |
| Multi-feature B2B Platform | 200-1000 dealers | Rs 25-60 Lakh | Multi-tier pricing, credit management, Tally integration, dealer mobile app, analytics, WhatsApp notifications, bulk upload, scheme management | 14-16 weeks |
| Enterprise B2B Marketplace | 1000+ dealers or multi-vendor | Rs 60L - 2 Crore | Multi-vendor, procurement workflows, logistics integration, AI recommendations, multi-warehouse, multi-language, advanced BI dashboards | 20-28 weeks |
| Monthly Maintenance | Any | Rs 15K-60K/month | Bug fixes, server monitoring, security patches, GST compliance updates, Tally version updates, minor enhancements, support SLA | Ongoing |
Custom B2B Portal vs Udaan vs IndiaMART vs Global Platforms
| Feature | Cartoon Mango (Custom) | Udaan | IndiaMART | Global (Shopify B2B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Workflows | 100% custom — your exact dealer/distributor workflow | Fixed marketplace workflow, no customization | Listing and leads only, no order workflow | Template-based, limited India workflow support |
| Tally/ERP Integration | Bi-directional Tally and SAP B1 sync included | No ERP integration | No ERP integration | QuickBooks/Xero focus, no Tally support |
| Multi-tier Pricing | Unlimited tiers, volume, region, scheme-based pricing | Seller sets one price, marketplace controls | No transactional pricing | Basic price lists, limited tier logic |
| GST Compliance | E-invoicing, e-way bill, CGST/SGST/IGST, HSN, ITC | Basic GST on marketplace invoices | No invoicing | No Indian GST support |
| Data Ownership | 100% your data, your servers, full export | Platform owns customer data and relationships | Lead data shared across competitors | Platform-dependent, vendor lock-in risk |
| Dealer Mobile App | Branded Flutter app with offline mode | Udaan-branded app (your competitors visible) | IndiaMART app for leads only | Limited mobile, no offline |
| Cost Model | One-time Rs 12-60L + Rs 15-60K/mo maintenance | 2-5% commission on every transaction forever | Rs 30K-3L/year for listing, plus pay-per-lead | Monthly SaaS Rs 50K-5L/mo, scales with usage |
| White-label Branding | Fully branded — your logo, domain, colors | Udaan branding only | IndiaMART branding on listings | Partial branding, platform footer visible |
16-Week Implementation Roadmap
Discovery & Workflow Mapping
- Map current dealer/distributor ordering workflow (phone, WhatsApp, email, field reps)
- Identify pricing logic, credit terms, approval chains, and payment methods
- Define dealer personas and user journeys
- Catalog audit — SKU count, pricing tiers, scheme complexity
- Technical assessment — existing Tally/ERP setup, hosting requirements
Design & Architecture
- UI/UX design for dealer portal (web and mobile)
- Admin panel wireframes for manufacturer team
- Database schema design for catalog, pricing, orders, payments
- API architecture and integration design (Tally, payments, logistics)
- Security architecture — role-based access, data encryption, API security
Core Development
- Build product catalog with search, filters, and image management
- Develop multi-tier pricing engine with volume and scheme logic
- Build order management — placement, approval workflow, fulfillment tracking
- Develop credit limit management and payment tracking modules
- Build admin dashboard with dealer management, analytics, and reporting
- Develop dealer mobile app (Flutter) with offline capability
Integration & Data Migration
- Integrate Tally/SAP B1 for order sync, inventory sync, payment reconciliation
- Integrate GST e-invoicing (NIC API) and e-way bill generation
- Integrate payment gateway (Razorpay) and virtual accounts (NEFT/RTGS)
- Integrate logistics APIs (Delhivery, DTDC) for shipment tracking
- Migrate existing dealer data, product catalog, and pricing from Excel/Tally
- Set up WhatsApp Business API for order notifications
UAT & Launch
- User acceptance testing with 10-20 pilot dealers
- Load testing — simulate 500+ concurrent dealer sessions
- Security audit and penetration testing
- Dealer training (video tutorials, user guide, WhatsApp support group)
- Production deployment, DNS setup, SSL, monitoring
- Post-launch support — daily check-ins for first 2 weeks
Get Free B2B Platform Assessment
We will map your dealer/distributor ordering workflow, analyze your pricing complexity, evaluate Tally/ERP integration needs, and provide a detailed B2B platform roadmap with cost estimates — free of charge.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about AI automation for custom B2B application development for Indian manufacturers
What is a B2B application and how is it different from B2C?
A B2B (Business-to-Business) application is a software platform where businesses transact with other businesses — manufacturers selling to distributors, wholesalers supplying retailers, or brands managing dealer networks. Unlike B2C apps (Amazon, Flipkart) designed for individual consumers, B2B applications handle complex workflows: multi-tier pricing (different rates for gold, silver, platinum dealers), credit limit management, bulk orders with negotiation, GST-compliant invoicing with e-way bills, and approval hierarchies. Indian B2B platforms must also integrate with Tally/SAP B1, support NEFT/RTGS/UPI payments, and handle 1000+ SKU catalogs with regional language support.
How much does custom B2B application development cost in India?
How long does it take to build a custom B2B platform?
Should I build a custom B2B portal or use Udaan/IndiaMART?
How does GST invoicing work in a B2B application?
What features should a dealer portal have?
How do you integrate NEFT/RTGS/UPI payments in a B2B platform?
Can dealers use a mobile app to place orders?
How does the B2B platform integrate with Tally and SAP B1?
What is the ROI of a custom B2B application?
What does ongoing maintenance include and what does it cost?
Can the B2B platform support multiple locations and warehouses?
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Written by the Cartoon Mango engineering team, based in Bangalore and Coimbatore, India. We build custom B2B portals, dealer management systems, and enterprise commerce platforms for manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers across India.
