So, how do you know which one’s your perfect match? Grab your coffee (or something stronger) and let’s decode this cloud rivalry together.
Think of Salesforce Ecommerce Cloud as your one-stop shop for running online sales across web, mobile, social, or even your brick-and-mortar store. It's intuitively designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, giving you the tools you need to succeed.
It’s not a single product; it’s more like a well-run family business with two all-star siblings:
Both share a common DNA (powered by Salesforce CRM), but each serves very different purposes, and that’s where things start to get interesting.
A quick note on platforms: B2C Commerce Cloud (built on the former Demandware platform) is distinct from B2B and B2C Commerce, which run natively on Salesforce Core. Both connect to the broader Customer 360 ecosystem, but their underlying tech stacks differ.
There’s also a rising star in the Salesforce ecosystem: D2C Commerce (Direct-to-Consumer). Built on the same Salesforce Core platform as B2B Commerce Cloud, D2C Commerce empowers manufacturers, wholesalers, and industrial brands to sell directly to end customers—without abandoning their existing B2B operations. It bridges the gap between B2B and B2C, giving companies the power to launch sleek, consumer-style storefronts while keeping all their sales, service, and customer data unified inside the Salesforce Ecommerce Cloud.
If you’re selling directly to consumers—think fashion, gadgets, skincare, or coffee subscriptions—B2C Commerce Cloud is your showstopper.
It’s the perfect blend of beauty and brains, but here’s the catch: it’s technically complex. You’ll often need custom development or architecture guidance (and that’s where a Salesforce partner like DSG keeps your build on track).
If that sounds familiar, check out our post on How We Scope a Salesforce Project at DSG (and Why It Actually Works).
Imagine you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler selling to other companies with bulk orders, contracts, and approval workflows. Welcome to Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud, part of the native Salesforce Core experience.
It’s everything your B2B sales team wished they had years ago—visibility, control, and automation in one unified platform.
Here’s where things get psychological.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides for both sides.
Either way, both deliver a customer experience that feels effortless.
Let’s break it down a bit further.
|
Feature |
B2C Commerce Cloud |
B2B Commerce Cloud |
|
Who you sell to |
Individual shoppers |
Business buyers/accounts |
|
Order types |
One-off purchases |
Bulk & recurring orders |
|
Pricing model |
Discounts & promos |
Contract-based pricing |
|
Buying journey |
Fast & visual |
Structured, multi-step |
|
Customization |
Super flexible, dev-heavy |
Template-driven, faster launch |
|
CRM integration |
Via connectors and Data Cloud |
Native on Salesforce Core |
Let’s play a quick round of “Who Wore It Best?”
No wrong answers here—just the right strategy for your sales model.
Sure, you could run ecommerce on Shopify Plus, Magento, or BigCommerce—but none of them natively sync with your sales, marketing, and service data.
Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud sits right inside your CRM, which means your teams work from the same playbook. When an account places a bulk order, your sales rep sees it instantly. When a service case opens, your fulfillment team already has context.
It’s a single source of truth that turns multi-channel chaos into omnichannel harmony.
If you’re selling directly to consumers, B2C Commerce Cloud gives you flair, emotion, and scalability. If you’re selling to businesses, Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud on Core provides structure, integration, and automation.
If you’re doing both, unify your strategy with Salesforce Ecommerce Cloud and let the CRM do the heavy lifting. And if you’re still unsure which cloud fits your business? No worries, that’s what we’re here for.
Let’s connect, map out your strategy, and turn cloud confusion into cloud confidence—DSG style.