Manufacturing companies rely on accurate data, complex product structures, and integrated operations. Choosing the right Shopify Plus Partner ensures that your eCommerce system does more than launch a storefront. It becomes an operational layer that supports quoting, engineering, fulfillment, distribution, and customer management.

This guide outlines what manufacturers should evaluate before selecting a Shopify Plus Partner, with criteria tailored specifically to industrial and B2B workflows.

1. Verify Their Experience With Manufacturing Use Cases

Most Shopify agencies focus on direct to consumer brands. Manufacturing has different requirements. Look for partners who can demonstrate experience in:

  • B2B wholesale portals
  • Complex configurable products
  • Multi step quoting workflows
  • Engineering data and specification management
  • ERP and PIM integrations
  • Dealer or distributor portals
  • Sample ordering workflows
  • Product information that includes technical attributes
  • Multi location inventory and serialized tracking

Ask to see examples from industries similar to yours. Even if they have not worked in your exact vertical, they should show familiarity with industrial selling motions.

2. Review Their Technical Capabilities for Integrations

Manufacturers rarely operate Shopify in isolation. The platform must sync with:

  • ERP systems such as NetSuite, Business Central, Acumatica, or Epicor
  • PIM or DAM platforms such as Pimcore or Salsify
  • PLM or engineering systems
  • Warehouse management software
  • CRM
  • Production or job tracking tools

A strong Shopify Plus Partner should focus on integrating Shopify into your existing operational stack, not pushing unnecessary custom builds. They should be able to design workflows using:

  • Native Shopify capabilities
  • Shopify’s B2B features
  • Reliable, well supported Shopify apps
  • Existing integration platforms or middleware already used by your business
  • API connections when required, but only when existing tools cannot support the need

Their goal should be maximizing your current systems and ensuring everything works together seamlessly.

3. Evaluate Their B2B Feature Expertise

Manufacturers often sell to:

  • Distributors
  • Dealers
  • Contractors
  • Industrial buyers
  • OEM customers
  • Project based procurement teams

Your partner must know how to design B2B workflows such as:

  • Tiered pricing
  • Account approval controls
  • Purchase order payment
  • Quote to order flows
  • Sales rep assisted ordering
  • Budget or credit limits
  • Shared company accounts
  • Restricted catalogs
  • Bulk ordering or order sheets
  • Sample requests

A good partner will not force a retail workflow onto a B2B buying process.

4. Review Their Understanding of Technical Product Data

Manufacturers often need to display:

  • Technical specifications
  • Materials and certifications
  • Dimensions, tolerances, or performance testing
  • Data sheets and downloadable documents
  • CAD files
  • Installation instructions
  • Safety sheets
  • Application photos
  • Compatibility details

Your Shopify Plus Partner must know how to structure product data using Shopify’s flexible tools such as metafields, product templates, and structured data fields. They should prioritize using Shopify’s built in capabilities or your PIM rather than proposing custom systems unless absolutely necessary.

5. Check Their Ability to Support Quote Driven or Configure to Order Sales

Many manufacturers do not show pricing publicly. Others require multi step configuration workflows. Evaluate whether the partner can support:

  • Quoting portals using Shopify’s native draft order and B2B features
  • Automated quote requests using existing apps
  • Behind login pricing
  • Configure to order flows using metafields and variant logic
  • Sales rep assisted ordering
  • Approval flows using tools you already have

A strong partner does not immediately jump to building new software. They start by examining Shopify’s existing capabilities, available apps, and the systems your operations team already uses.

6. Look at Their Operations Mindset, Not Just Design

A manufacturing site is an operational tool. Partners should be comfortable working with what your team already has in place. Ask how they approach:

  • Order routing
  • Fulfillment logic
  • Multi warehouse inventory
  • Lead time and production status communication
  • Sample workflows
  • Returns or RMA processes
  • Order grouping
  • Post purchase communication

They should prioritize configuring Shopify and integrating your current tools rather than suggesting rebuilding systems that already work.

7. Review Their Process for Documentation and Handover

Avoid partners who create proprietary tools or workflows that only they understand. A good Shopify Plus Partner uses standard Shopify patterns and well supported apps so you can:

  • Easily maintain your storefront
  • Switch vendors if needed
  • Train internal teams quickly
  • Avoid being locked into custom code

Documentation should clearly outline how your setup works inside Shopify and how it connects to your existing systems.

8. Evaluate Their Long Term Support Model

Manufacturers often need ongoing updates such as:

  • Adding new product lines
  • Updating technical documents
  • Creating new B2B features
  • Managing integration changes
  • Supporting pricing updates
  • Seasonal or annual catalog refreshes

Review whether they offer structured support, retainer options, or SLA based maintenance.

9. Ask About Their Approach to Performance and Reliability

Manufacturing customers access sites through corporate networks, job sites, plants, and distribution offices. Your partner should optimize for:

  • Fast loading PDPs with high resolution technical documents
  • Search that handles large and highly technical catalogs
  • Filters based on attributes relevant to engineers or specifiers
  • Mobile access for field teams
  • Strong caching and CDN usage
  • Accessibility and compliance standards

This ensures your digital catalog is accessible and easy to use across your entire audience.

10. Check for Industry Understanding and Communication Style

Manufacturing teams value clarity. Good partners:

  • Communicate in simple terms
  • Understand production timelines and constraints
  • Make practical recommendations
  • Avoid unnecessary complexity
  • Respect B2B sales cycles
  • Have experience collaborating with internal engineering, sales, and IT

The partner should feel like an operational ally, not a creative agency selling trend driven designs.

Summary

Evaluating Shopify Plus Partners for manufacturing is about finding a team that respects your operational stack and maximizes the tools you already rely on. The right partner focuses on:

  • Using Shopify’s native capabilities
  • Leveraging reliable Shopify apps
  • Integrating your existing ERP, PIM, CRM, or production systems
  • Reducing unnecessary custom development
  • Creating a scalable, maintainable setup any future team can manage