Made for Science - B2B Shopify solution for software sales

What started out as a supposedly uncomplicated project developed dynamically: in the course of development, B2B-specific requirements, externally influenced workflows and systemic limitations increasingly came to light. A typical example of the reality of e-commerce.

Changing requirements:

• Extreme time pressure: Originally 10 days until go-live, extended in phases due to change requests
• Subsequent B2B functions: Extended accounting, differentiated e-mail logic and cancellation requests
• Changes by third parties: The licensor adapted workflows several times at short notice
• Budget limits: The chosen Shopify plan proved to be too limited for some requirements

Technical requirements:

• Licence number query for renewals
• Separate e-mail addresses for licence holders:in
• VAT ID check for tax-free sales to companies in Austria
• Dynamic invoice adjustment depending on order type
• Automated connection to external fulfilment processes

We rely on adaptive project management with clear communication, fast decision-making processes and pragmatic interim solutions in order to keep the course of the project stable - despite numerous external influencing factors.

Strategies and measures:

• Open communication: early coordination of all changes and dependencies
• Pragmatic workarounds: Use of Order Printer Pro instead of complete invoice integration
• Subsequent optimisation: creation of detailed flowcharts for workflow visualisation
• Fast response: Flexible adjustments in the event of sudden changes by the licensor

The solution in detail:

• Intelligent forms with dynamic query logic
• Automated VAT ID validation
• Customised invoice and cancellation templates
• Integration of external workflows
• Export functions for further processing in third-party systems

You can view the shop here:

The project illustrates the central principles of successful e-commerce implementations:

• Good preparation saves time: Pre-defined workflows are also crucial for agile projects
• Standard vs. individualisation: B2B requirements in the B2C system require creative compromises
• External change management: third-party influences must be considered as a risk at an early stage

Despite a tight timeline, subsequent requirements and external influences, a fully functional B2B shop solution was realised - including all complex licensing processes.

• Successful launch within the extended schedule
• Technically robust implementation of all requirements
• High customer satisfaction
• Valuable insights for future B2B projects on Shopify