We are thrilled and humbled to announce we have been named a 'Major Player' in the prestigious IDC MarketScape: Worldwide B2B Digital Commerce Applications for Midmarket Growth 2023-2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US50625723, December 2023). The IDC MarketScape evaluates worldwide B2B mid-market vendors and categorizes them into four categories – 'Participants', 'Contenders', 'Major Players', and 'Leaders'.
We believe this acknowledgment is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses in the digital commerce landscape.
IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. The Capabilities score measures vendor product, go-to-market and business execution in the short-term. The Strategy score measures alignment of vendor strategies with customer requirements in a 3-5-year timeframe. Vendor market share is represented by the size of the icons.
A journey of innovation and transformation
Founded in 2000, Shopware has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of the ecommerce industry. Our journey initially centered on self-hosted ecommerce solutions. After the release of Shopware 6, we expanded our scope by launching our cloud-based SaaS solution, marking a significant strategic development in our offerings. This transformation was just the beginning of our pursuit of excellence in digital commerce.
Industry trends
This year's MarketScape report once again highlights key trends for the B2B market segment:
The importance of customer experience
At a time when B2B companies are increasingly competing for growth and differentiation, customer experience has become a key factor. Customer expectations and needs are rising, and seamless and personalized shopping experiences are becoming more and more important. For growth in the midmarket segment, SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) as well as integration and implementation strategies are becoming crucial.
Unique commerce experiences
Generative AI (GenAI) for bidirectional B2B personalization
Machine learning for precision-tuned lead-to-cash operations
Proactive strategic change management makes or breaks AI-driven B2B commerce
The premium on convenience
A resilient ecommerce blueprint
Agility as a unique asset
Digital maturity and revenue growth [1]
The need for a personalized customer experience
The report highlights the importance of creating a valuable customer experience so compelling that it justifies a premium price. The shopping experience, therefore, becomes the decisive factor for success.
Another key factor is digital maturity. According to the MarketScape report, the ability to develop a personalized customer experience quickly and in a targeted manner is a true growth multiplier. If this is successful, it creates a cycle of customer loyalty, customer retention, and sales growth.
The concept of composability and applying it to varying degrees
Finally, the report also highlights the importance of composability. To keep up with growth, providers need to offer composable solutions. Many companies feel this pressure and are increasingly trying to offer this requirement via API solutions.
The good news for buyers is that most software solutions now fulfill these requirements, although to varying degrees. The less good news is that differentiating between "headless" and "composable" providers is not accessible to laypeople and requires a certain level of technical expertise.
This is where Shopware steps in – by not only offering composable solutions through advanced API technology but also by making these technologies more accessible and understandable. Our focus is on simplifying the complex, enabling businesses of all sizes and individuals with varying levels of technical expertise to harness the power of composable commerce.
B2B digital commerce differentiators: how to choose your ideal ecommerce software
When choosing an ecommerce platform, it's important not only to consider the latest trends in ecommerce, but also to focus on the unique needs of your business. The market is crowded with numerous vendors, making the selection process complex. The IDC MarketScape highlights the importance of specific criteria for navigating through more than 100 digital commerce software vendors. IDC advises thoughtful consideration of your specific use of a B2B digital commerce platform to differentiate yourself in the competitive marketplace. Understanding the seven key differentiators is crucial to making an informed decision and ensuring that your platform choice aligns with your goals.
Among the IDC MarketScape's seven key differentiators, in our opinion, the following three stand out as essential for platforms seeking to distinguish themselves:
AI and data Your organization leverages AI (including ML and GenAI) and data strategy as its core differentiators. By harnessing intelligent insights, precise automation, and the latest in AI technology, you offer tailored experiences, optimize operations, and anticipate market trends, setting you apart in a data-driven world.
Business agility Your organization is primarily focused on differentiating with business agility. Speed is of the essence, including fast time to market, a business-friendly user interface (UI), and optimized revenue operations (RevOps). Prioritizing flexibility in operations and strategy, you quickly respond to market shifts, seize emerging opportunities, and navigate challenges, ensuring resilience and sustained growth.
Experience Your organization is primarily focused on differentiating by delivering rich content and experiences, with a platform pre-integrated with content management and personalized engagements throughout the customer journey. Unique, well-targeted, and timed experiences serve as the primary drivers of customer acquisition, expansion, and retention. You encourage customers to try novel experiences and become an advocate for your brand.
These three criteria, among a total of seven, help you make an informed choice and select an ecommerce platform that aligns with your goals and business model.
IDC inclusion criteria of vendors: how IDC selected the evaluated B2B digital commerce vendors
IDC's evaluation ultimately selected 22 vendors based on their relevance to midmarket merchants in the enterprise applications market, with a focus on B2B digital commerce platforms. The selection was based on criteria such as the product's alignment with IDC's digital commerce functionality requirements, its cloud-based nature, and its suitability for midmarket growth strategies. Additionally, the product must be actively used in multiple industries, cater primarily to B2B organizations, and have a significant customer base in the midmarket or higher revenue range.
Empowering midmarket B2B commerce
Understanding midmarket B2B commerce needs
The IDC MarketScape report highlights the unique needs of the often-forgotten midmarket B2B commerce segment. It includes companies with annual revenues between $100 million and $500 million. These companies face many of the same challenges as larger enterprises, such as complex supply chains and regulatory compliance, but often operate with more limited resources. The need for strategic resource management is essential to their growth and success.
Shopware 6: streamlined ecommerce for the midmarket
Shopware 6 is specifically designed to address these midmarket challenges. It features an easy-to-use interface and an API-first approach that ensures seamless integration. Our midmarket pricing model provides a cost-effective ecommerce solution without compromising on features.
Known for its intuitive design, Shopware 6 benefits from a strong global community that contributes to its continuous innovation. This makes Shopware 6 more than just a platform; it's a growth partner for midmarket businesses. Ready for multiple market expansions, Shopware 6's scalability and versatility, powered by a global developer network, keeps it at the forefront of ecommerce solutions, empowering midmarket businesses in the dynamic digital commerce landscape.
Key highlights: Why Shopware is a Major Player
Strengths of Shopware recognized by the IDC MarketScape
1) Composable modular headless commerce
By leveraging APIs and SDKs, Shopware provides a modular and scalable platform that enables businesses to decouple the frontend from the backend for headless deployments. Shopware's RESTful API-first design ensures seamless integration with other systems, while the cloud-native capabilities offer robustness and agility. Shopware provides CRUD endpoints, webhooks, and script injections to further extend the platform.
2) Unified Commerce
Unified commerce is a term with many potential definitions in commerce; Shopware can competently cover each possible angle — B2B, B2C, B2X, and omnichannel (retail plus ecommerce) — either directly or via composable commerce API integrations.
3) Digital Sales Rooms
Shopware's Digital Sales Rooms enhance guided shopping, elevating the consultative experience with real-time interactions and seamless ecommerce integration. As part of the Beyond plan, Digital Sales Rooms offer interactive, no-code presentations with full cart and checkout functionalities. The feature supports 1:1 or group co-browsing sessions complete with video and audio streaming. Hosts can control customer navigation, add items to carts, and access real-time analytics about the engagement.
"We needed a tool that would allow us to serve more customers per salesperson, provide personalized guidance, and deliver exceptional customer service — and we found it in Digital Sales Rooms".
– Michelle Pusdrowski, Ecommerce specialist B2B, Tamaris
Watch the exclusive interview and learn how Tamaris revolutionizes its sales strategy through personalized guidance and interactive shopping experiences.
4) Flexible pricing and deployment options
Shopware does not penalize merchants for their success, maintaining a philosophy against arbitrary rate hikes as order volumes increase. After each contract year, the company reviews and adjusts the agreed transaction allowance for the coming year.
Midmarket businesses should consider Shopware
In summary, answering the question of who should consider Shopware for their business, the IDC MarketScape notes:
“Consider Shopware 6 if you are a mid-market business looking for a full-featured, composable, cloud-agnostic, headless platform from a vendor with a rich history in digital commerce.”
IDC MarketScape: Worldwide B2B Digital Commerce Platforms for MID-Market Growth 2023 Vendor Assessment, (#US50625723e), December 2023)
Source:
[1] IDC MarketScape: Worldwide B2B Digital Commerce Applications for Midmarket Growth 2023–2024 Vendor Assessment, #US50625723e, Heather Hearshy, December 2023, p. 7.
