Wholesale distribution software: customer catalogs, pricing and order fulfillment — buying checklist
From: https://www.iwantmywebsitenow.com/industry/distribution/wholesale/
Workflow sources checked: 2026-10-02. Prices have separate capture dates.

Use this with a vendor or a builder. These are proposed evaluation tests, not claims that any product passed them.

YOUR BUSINESS
Current software:
What must work differently:
Records to bring across:
Budget and timing:

QUESTIONS TO TEST
1. Buyer-specific catalog
Ask: Can each account see only authorized products, price lists, pack sizes and shipping terms?
Demonstrate: Log in as two buyers. Compare visibility, contract price, minimums and tax treatment for the same SKU.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

2. Inventory and allocation
Ask: Does portal availability reflect reserved, incoming and channel-committed stock?
Demonstrate: Place an order that uses the last available case while a second channel cart remains open. Check the allocation and conflict.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

3. Approvals and credit
Ask: Can sub-buyers request orders while authorized buyers approve them under account terms?
Demonstrate: Submit an order from a subordinate user over the account limit. Check hold, approval notice and credit status.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

4. Fulfillment and credits
Ask: Can partial shipments, backorders, returns and invoice credits update buyer status correctly?
Demonstrate: Ship part of an order, backorder one line and return a damaged case. Reconcile shipment, credit and remaining balance.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

DEMO SCENARIO (SYNTHETIC)
Place and partially fulfill a customer-specific order
1. Set up two wholesale accounts with distinct price lists, product visibility and payment terms. Add a buyer and approver to one account.
2. Place a mixed-case order with a minimum and one item close to available stock. Have the secondary buyer submit it for approval.
3. Reserve the order, ship available lines, backorder one SKU and update the expected date. Ensure other sales channels cannot promise reserved stock.
4. Process a damaged-item return and credit memo. Compare portal status, inventory, invoice, credit limit and accounting export.

MIGRATION
Plan a controlled data move
Map account IDs, buyer roles, catalog visibility, price lists, discounts, tax rules, payment terms, minimum quantities, open orders, allocations, backorders, returns and credit balances. Pilot several buyer accounts before inviting all customers and reconcile the opening stock by warehouse.

A POSSIBLE FIRST BUILD
A customer portal does not establish contractual price terms, tax compliance or credit policy. Keep account agreements authoritative, define who can approve orders and review sensitive customer pricing and stock data access.

SOURCES
B2B Wave features
https://www.b2bwave.com/features
Vendor documentation of customer-specific catalogs, price lists and approval accounts.

Cin7 wholesale distribution
https://www.cin7.com/industries/wholesale-and-distribution/
Vendor overview of inventory, B2B ordering and delivery visibility.

Cin7 B2B online stores
https://www.cin7.com/features/sales/b2b-online-stores/
Vendor overview of wholesale ordering and payments.

Now Commerce
https://www.nowcommerce.com/
Vendor overview of B2B ecommerce tools; confirm accounting and inventory details.

Research by Don, I Want My Website Now.
A product description is not hands-on testing. Verify the plan, current price and export access before committing.