SaaS marketplace: compare these 10 tools to help you choose the right solution
Which solution should you use to create your marketplace? Is it better to opt for a SaaS marketplace and cloud technology, or for a bespoke tool developed using open source technology?
This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of the two options, and then gives you a selection of SaaS and open source software to best meet your needs.
Compare the solutions for creating marketplaces before setting out to conquer your market:
Open source vs SaaS marketplaces: what's the best choice?
If you're still hesitating over the choice of technology, here are some criteria to consider when choosing between a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution and an open source tool for creating your marketplace.
Technical skills required vs. ready-to-use tools
If you opt for an open source marketplace, you need to be prepared to master IT development or call on a service provider to adapt the source code to your needs. You get a made-to-measure solution, but it costs you time.
In SaaS mode, you have configurable modules and don't have to worry about services such as hosting, facilities management or automatic updates. It's up to you to decide how much you need a customisable solution.
Demanding implementation vs. agile scalability
Creating a marketplace from open source code isn't free. It requires time and resources (human and financial) to develop a tool tailored to your needs.
This also applies when a new need emerges and the tool needs to be updated, which requires new development. In this case, SaaS solutions save time and are simpler to deploy.
Fixed costs vs. monthly subscription
Open source is not free, contrary to popular belief. It's just that the costs are not the same for an open source solution as for a SaaS solution. We can summarise the costs as follows:
- Costs for open source: hosting, development, updates, maintenance.
- Costs for a SaaS marketplace: monthly subscription, any options, adding new users.
Only you know whether you prefer customised solutions, even if it means waiting longer for the tool to be developed (open source), or whether you prefer the flexibility and simplicity of SaaS.
Long development time vs. accelerated time to market
With bespoke development, the delivery of the tool and its use can be delayed, unlike with a ready-to-use solution.
Can you afford to wait? Open source can be a good solution if you want a tailor-made solution. If that's not the case, SaaS mode is a model natively designed for marketplace creation: all the necessary functions are already ready to use.
You can anticipate your time to market.
Starting from scratch vs adapting your business model
Is your business model not scalable enough? Do you want to change your approach to meet your users' expectations?
With Open Source, you need to plan for development.
With a SaaS solution, you already have the modules and functions you need to bounce back.
Examples of B2B, B2C and C2C marketplaces
Depending on the marketplace project, the platform's users may be professionals, private individuals, or both. On the site, Internet users can buy and sell products or services online.
Here is a table and an image to illustrate the marketplaces market.
These are interesting examples: keep them in mind when choosing your SaaS solution.
| Market | Type |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
| B2B |
Products |
Manutan Orexad |
|
B2B |
Services |
Malt JobProd |
|
B to C |
Products |
Amazon Alibaba |
| B to C | Services |
Deliveroo Uber |
| C to C | Products |
Clearance Price Minister |
| C to C | Services |
Airbnb Blablacar |
In the following image, the FEVAD (Fédération du e-commerce et de la vente à distance) gives you the products and services most frequently purchased on the Internet:
These figures may explain the growth of well-known companies in certain niches.
SaaS marketplace: advantages and comparative table of solutions
Advantages of a marketplace in SaaS mode
In the age of digital transformation, SaaS solutions integrate every business process natively:
- catalogue management
- sales management
- financial flow management
- customer relationship management,
- order management
- invoicing, etc.
You can use pre-existing modules with complete flexibility and choose only those you need, so that your tool fits your budget too.
Another advantage: interconnections with your other software (CRM, invoicing, accounting, customer support, etc.). You no longer have any compatibility or synchronisation problems.
You get a high-performance solution including online storage, high service availability and technical support.
🚀 Are you a project owner? Find more advice on how to get started creating your SaaS marketplace in this white paper co-written with Milango, available to download free of charge :
Comparison table of SaaS solutions for creating a marketplace
We present the best software for creating marketplaces, from among the best-known cloud solutions in France. Each operator offers a ready-to-use ecosystem.
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 Cocolabs |  Commerce Cloud |  Kreezalid |  Medialeads Marketplace Maker |  Milango |  Mirakl |  Octopia |  Origami Marketplace |  Wizaplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For companies with 2 to 250 employees | For companies with 2 to 5000 employees | For companies with 1 to 250 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 50 employees | For companies with more than 50 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 50 employees |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Cocolabs | Learn more about Commerce Cloud | Learn more about Kreezalid | Learn more about Medialeads Marketplace Maker | Learn more about Milango | Learn more about Mirakl | Learn more about Octopia | Learn more about Origami Marketplace | Learn more about Wizaplace |
Cocolabs: setting up service marketplaces
Created in 2016, the Cocolabs solution was originally the tool developed by Cocorico to create its customers' websites. There was no tool on the market designed for selling services online: Cocolabs was born!
Example of a website designed with Cocolabs
The Cocolabs solution offers the advantage of being able to create both B2B and B2C marketplaces. Whether you sell your services to professionals or individuals, this tool will create the platform that suits your business.
The following companies have used Cocolabs to create their marketplace: Cursuspro Entreprise (professional training), Activity Book (children's activities), Ride by boat (boat hire), Maif - Le marché des assos (loan and hire of equipment between associations), Intérim Sport (recruitment).
Advantages of Cocolabs
- complete solution with over 1,600 functions and 20 extensions,
- adapts to all businesses, from the most specialised to high-traffic platforms,
- you own your customised marketplace.
Key features
- escrow accounts to secure financial flows,
- commissions managed per transaction
- price and discount management,
- optimisation of your site for search engine optimisation,
- dashboard for platform administration and monitoring.
💶 Note: Cocolabs pricing is provided on request only.
Cocolabs
Commerce Cloud: Salesforce expertise connected to your marketplaces
Published by Salesforce, Commerce Cloud is the e-commerce solution brought to market by the famous software vendor. It brings together a wide range of functions, boosted by artificial intelligence, to effectively manage your online business.
Example of a site designed with Commerce Cloud
While Commerce Cloud is primarily designed for individual e-commerce sites, it can be used to unify all your sales channels within a single back office. In particular, it can be integrated with marketplace solutions, so you can benefit from the advantages of both platforms.
Many companies around the world rely on Salesforce's expertise, including Adidas, L'Oréal, UGC, Guess, Puma and Alinéa.
Benefits of Commerce Cloud
- Unification of all your sales channels in a single interface,
- Salesforce's strategic and technological strength and expertise,
- high degree of personalisation of customer relations.
Key features
- Simplified creation of e-commerce shops,
- A to Z management of orders and returns,
- analyses and dashboards to monitor your operations,
- integration of secure online payments,
- multi-language and multi-currency functionalities.
💶 Pricing for Salesforce Commerce Cloud is available on request.
Commerce Cloud
Kreezalid: the simple, customisable SaaS solution
Released at the beginning of 2018, Kreezalid has successfully taken off after a very promising start. Kreezalid is characterised by its ease of use and customisation: the interface is very pleasant and intuitive, with a neat design. What's more, a wide range of functions can be configured.
Example of a site designed with Kreezalid
Kreezalid appeals to businesses of all sizes, in all markets, and particularly to savvy entrepreneurs who want a robust SaaS solution to improve the experience on their site for both sellers and buyers.
The examples of marketplaces created with Kreezalid illustrate a wide range of interests: Beauté Futée (C to C), Lovently (B to C), Madoora (Spa booking), Les bocaux en vert (multi-seller), GRDF (B to B), Gymglish (elearning), Rekyou (B to C).
Advantages of Kreezalid
- It's easy to set up your marketplace,
- speed of implementation to accelerate time to market,
- adaptability of the platform for all types of market (B2B, B to C, C to C).
Key features
- 2 natively integrated payment gateways, Stripe and Mangopay,
- management of a customised catalogue of products or services,
- marketing functionalities to activate a new acquisition lever,
- blog creation.
💶 Attractively priced with 3 offers: €129, €249 and €399/month depending on the number of users.
Kreezalid
Medialeads Marketplace: turnkey, modular software
For over 7 years, Medialeads Marketplace has been an expert in the development of B2B and B2C marketplaces. A true all-in-one solution, the software is entirely modular and turnkey, enabling you to integrate automatically and quickly all the functions you need for optimal, personalised management of your marketplace.
The interface is pleasant and polished, intuitive to use, and there are a number of services on offer, including the constant presence of a dynamic team to support you at every stage of your project.
Example of a site designed with Medialeads
By developing its own marketplaces (EuropeanSourcing, LesAmisVignerons, etc.), Medialeads has built up a wealth of experience in fields as varied as retail, technical and strategic sectors. Over the years, the company has created a truly ready-to-use product marketplace solution.
Its customers include :
- B2B: Ascaly (voted best product 2020 by SOFCOT)
- B2C: MyMarchy, Darhanne, Gueuleton, The Normal Market, etc.
Advantages of Medialeads
- ultra-flexible solution, adaptable to all types of project,
- low-cost pricing thanks to its modularity,
- use of the best search technologies with "Elastic Search",
- full project support (a qualified team and a dedicated account manager are at your disposal and ready to listen).
Key features
- automated data import and export (API, Webservices, etc.),
- efficient, comprehensive management of customers, products and orders,
- multilingual solution,
- KPIs and SEO tutorials for optimised content,
- comprehensive statistics with regular reporting.
💶 Note: Medialeads pricing is only provided on request.
Medialeads Marketplace Maker
Milango: the web and mobile marketplace solution
Milango has been helping companies to set up product and service marketplaces since 2015. Whether CtoC, BtoB or BtoC, the turnkey, 100% customisable platform adapts to all business models and continually improves its users' experience, using tracking tools that regularly analyse their behaviour.
Example of a site designed with Milango
Milango is the only marketplace publisher on the market that can help you deploy marketplace solutions both on the web and on mobile applications (on Android and IOS). This specific development of mobile applications, in addition to the web version, allows you to adapt to all digital uses and broaden your horizons to reach a wider audience.
Adaptable to all types of company, from small start-ups to major accounts, this flexible solution meets your business needs thanks to a complete technical analysis carried out by a team of experts. They then define standard or customised functionalities tailored to your strategic objectives, to create a marketplace entirely in your image.
Advantages of Milango
- free technical analysis and audit
- personalised advice based on your business objectives
- solution focused on user experience,
- experts in deploying web marketplaces and mobile applications,
- open solution for integrating external suppliers (API's centric).
Key features
- management of a catalogue of products or services,
- choice of commissions and adjustable rates
- multilingual solution,
- optimised order tunnel,
- easier referencing (tagging, microdata, internal linking, meta administration, etc.).
💶 Note: Milango pricing is only available on request.
Milango
Mirakl: Cloud technology
Mirakl has been present on the market for software solutions for creating marketplaces since 2011. Four years later, the publisher raised €20 million to expand worldwide and finance substantial investment in the development of a new Mirakl, which is already well known to the specialist press.
Example of a site designed with Mirakl
With over 80 marketplaces launched worldwide, Mirakl has become a key platform. Mirakl clearly appeals to companies whose business is retailing.
The model has enabled some household names to create their own sites, including Darty, Galeries Lafayette, Walmart, Carrefour, Conforama, GoSport and RueDuCommerce.
Advantages of Mirakl
- comprehensive, modular offering
- technical experience, particularly in security
- related services (support, business plan, etc.).
Key features
- Integrated Pim for managing a very large multi-seller catalogue,
- compatibility with the majority of e-commerce solutions (Magento, Drupal, Symfony, etc.),
- online purchasing or click-and-collect,
- marketing automation features.
💶 As the solution's strong point is its administration, you can expect to pay significant costs (on request) for an installation that is perfectly interoperable with existing information systems.
Mirakl
Octopia: the full marketplace ecosystem
Octopia is a marketplace solutions provider that supports companies at every stage of their project by transferring to them all the assets required for a successful launch: robust, scalable technology, access to a catalogue of qualified sellers and products, high-performance last-mile logistics and the expertise of a marketplace operator. The solution is also aimed at existing marketplaces, offering them the opportunity to enhance their offering by connecting to its community of over 15,000 sellers .
Example of a site designed with Octopia
At Octopia, more than 500 employees work every day to develop the best solutions and support our customers in transforming their business.
The Business consulting and Customer Success teams work alongside their customers at every stage of their project, providing personalised support to help them draw up their business plan, build their offering strategy and train their teams. The solution consulting teams coordinate the implementation phase and advise customers and their tech partners on rapid integration.
Advantages of Octopia
- Powerful technology, connected to a vast ecosystem of partners (carriers, aggregators, etc.),
- Extensive European network of warehouses and logistics partners,
- catalogue of qualified vendors and products.
Key features
- onboarding of your exclusive sellers in total autonomy,
- seller connection via API, flat files or a dedicated portal,
- integrated vendor relationship management tool,
- multi-criteria selection interface for sellers and products.
💶 Note: Octopia pricing is only available on request.
Octopia
Ogustine Franchise: SaaS dedicated to service marketplaces
Ogustine Franchise is a SaaS solution entirely dedicated to the creation of personal services marketplaces. Ogust specialises in software for this sector.
Example of a site designed with Osgustine Franchise
Cleaning, childcare, ironing, gardening, help for the elderly, tutoring: there's no shortage of ideas for personal services.
Ogustine Franchise offers all the solutions you need to make your dream marketplace a reality. The platform makes it easy for individuals to use: they tend to book on their mobile phones.
What's more, configuring services and recruiting service providers has never been easier: if you have a personal services marketplace project, you'd do well to take a close look at Ogustine Franchise.
Advantages of Ogustine Franchise
- fully integrated administrative management
- intuitive back office for monitoring sales activity,
- network of service providers directly accessible from the solution!
Key features
- flexible, responsive online booking system,
- easy integration with your website
- smooth navigation on smartphones,
- customer and payment management.
Rates: from €200/month.
Origami Marketplace: creating circular, linear or hybrid marketplaces
In the SaaS software sector for creating marketplaces, Origami Marketplace stands out for its innovative approach, in line with current environmental issues.
While the platform supports traditional sales systems, it can also be used to set up a second-hand or circular economy marketplace.
Example of a website designed with Origami Marketplace
Thanks to Origami Marketplace's many advanced features, you can build a customised marketplace, whatever type of economy you want to develop: linear, circular or hybrid. And whether you operate in B2C, B2B, C2C or C2B2C!
What's more, the solution is user-friendly, easy to use and within everyone's reach, guaranteeing rapid deployment of your marketplace project. What's more, the publisher provides a host of online resources (white papers, case studies, etc.) to help you learn more about the subject and improve your business performance.
Benefits of Origami Marketplace
- a flexible, scalable solution that adapts to all your needs,
- software developed by marketplace operators who understand the specificities of the sector,
- a team of former marketplace operators, experts in the sector thanks to their previous experience, who will support you from project study to implementation.
Key features
- complete product catalogue management
- creation of customer areas
- transaction processing between buyers and sellers
- task automation workflows
- accounting and billing,
- analysis tools to monitor performance.
💶 Note: Origami Marketplace pricing is only available on request.
Origami Marketplace
Wizaplace: the all-in-one platform
Wizaplace is positioned as the "all-in-one" solution for creating marketplaces. The platform brings together in a single environment all the functions needed to create and manage marketplaces.
Wizaplace natively integrates the administrator and seller back offices, as well as the customer front office, simplifying marketplace management. The modular SaaS solution can be connected to complementary technologies via its APIs.
Example of a site designed with Wizaplace
The Saas solution can be used to create all types of marketplaces: BtoC, BtoB, CtoC, for the sale of products or services. In addition to e-commerce marketplaces, Wizaplace also powers e-procurement platform projects, circular economy marketplaces and marketplaces for franchise networks, etc.
Other platforms developed by Wizaplace include : Engie (B2B circular economy), Cash Converters (B2C), Somfy (B2B), Crédit Mutuel Arkéa with Fan & Compagnie (B2C), La Place du Spectacle (B2B), Schiever with Hôli Déco (B2C), Warmango (B2B) and Pêcheur Connect (B2C and C2C).
Advantages of Wizaplace
- No commission on sales by Wizaplace customers,
- intuitive solution with integrated back office and front office,
- rapid marketplace deployment,
- modular and robust technology.
Key functionalities
- PIM marketplace for catalogue management,
- Integrated OMS for order tracking and processing,
- supplier offer management tool,
- financial management module,
- Internal CRM for centralising user information (sellers and buyers),
- rating system for products and sellers on the platform,
- advanced B2B and sales promotion functionalities.
💶 Note: Wiraplace pricing is only available on request.
Wizaplace
Is happiness in the cloud?
Today's SaaS solutions for creating a marketplace offer modular technology that can be adapted to any business model. Open source solutions are unrivalled when it comes to platform customisation ... but not without cost.
The advantage of SaaS software is that it allows business models to bounce back without the need for new development, and therefore new investment: the modular offering supports the evolution of your business.
Do you know where to place the cursor between customisation and speed of deployment for your marketplace project?
Article translated from French