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Comparisons
Concord compared: what it does, what it doesn't, and what fits instead
Self-service dealer ordering + credit-limit enforcement + automatic per-product, per-state tax — standalone, or above your ERP via API-based integration. Not a DMS. Not a SFA.
Businesses that sell through dealers and trade accounts often look at several kinds of software at once: sales force automation, distributor management, ecommerce platforms, ERP modules and accounting add-ons. They solve different problems. This page explains what each is built for, where Concord fits, and how Concord compares with specific products buyers ask us about.
Start with the problem you're trying to fix
Pick the one that sounds most like your business today. We'll point you to the kind of tool built for it, even when that isn't Concord.
Built for this
B2B self-service ordering, like Concord
Your customers order for themselves at their own prices, from order history or a saved list, and the order reaches you complete. That's Concord's core job.
The tools buyers compare, and where each one stops
General descriptions of each category. Individual products vary, so check the specifics of any tool you're considering.
Sales force automation (SFA)
- Built for
- Field reps: visit plans, routes, attendance and orders taken on the rep's phone or tablet.
- Where it usually stops
- The customer still waits for a rep to visit or call before ordering.
Distributor management system (DMS)
- Built for
- A distributor's back office: their stock, billing, claims and sales on to retailers, reported back to the brand.
- Where it usually stops
- It records the distributor's operations rather than letting your own customers order from you.
Ecommerce platforms with B2B features
- Built for
- Online stores, usually consumer-first, with wholesale pricing and business accounts added.
- Where it usually stops
- Credit limits, per-account pricing at scale and approval rules often need add-ons or higher plans.
Ordering inside an ERP
- Built for
- Your internal operations: purchasing, stock, finance and the orders your team enters.
- Where it usually stops
- It's designed for your staff, not for hundreds of customers placing their own orders.
Accounting software add-ons
- Built for
- Extending your accounting system: mobile access to reports, outstanding balances and sometimes order entry.
- Where it usually stops
- Customer-specific pricing, credit enforcement at the moment of order and customer self-service.
Concord
- Built for
- Your dealers and trade customers ordering from you at their own prices, with credit limits checked on every order and tax applied automatically.
- Where it stops
- It doesn't plan field routes, run a distributor's back office or replace your accounting.
Concord compared with specific products
Side-by-side comparisons with products buyers most often ask us about, including where each one is the better fit.
A platform for many business models, from marketplaces to multistore, compared with one built for dealer ordering.
Read the comparison Concord vs Shopify B2BEcommerce platform with B2B featuresWhen a consumer store adds wholesale, and when wholesale is the main business.
Read the comparison Concord vs PepperiSales-rep suite with B2B ecommerceRep-led selling with van sales and retail execution, compared with customer-led ordering on credit.
Read the comparison Concord vs BizomSales force automation and DMSRunning a whole consumer goods distribution chain, compared with selling to your own trade accounts.
Read the comparison Concord vs PepupsalesSales force automationSoftware for managing field reps, compared with software that lets customers order without them.
Read the comparisonHow we write these comparisons
From their own information
Every statement about another product comes from that company's website, app listings or published plans, never from guesswork.
Dated and reviewed
Each comparison shows when it was last reviewed, and we check it again as products change. If something is out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.
Honest about fit
Every comparison says where the other product is the better choice. A demo is only useful if Concord is the right kind of tool for you.
Common questions
What kind of software is Concord?
Concord is a B2B ordering platform for manufacturers and distributors. Your dealers and trade customers order for themselves at their own prices, every order is checked against the account's credit limit, and tax is applied automatically by product and delivery state. It runs on its own or above your ERP through API-based integration.
What is the difference between a DMS and B2B ordering software?
A distributor management system runs a distributor's back office, such as stock, billing and their sales on to retailers, usually so the brand can see it. B2B ordering software like Concord lets your own customers place orders with you directly, at their own prices and within their credit limits.
What is the difference between SFA and B2B ordering software?
Sales force automation helps field reps plan visits and take orders on their devices. B2B ordering software lets customers place orders themselves without waiting for a rep. Some businesses use both: reps for new accounts and relationships, self-service for routine reorders.
Is Concord an ecommerce platform?
Concord is built for B2B ordering first, with customer-specific pricing, credit limits enforced on every order and automatic tax. It can also sell to consumers from the same catalogue with separate retail prices, but it isn't a consumer-first store builder with B2B added on.
Does Concord replace our ERP?
No. Your ERP keeps running purchasing, stock records and finance. Concord handles the customer-facing ordering and syncs orders, stock and customers with your ERP through API-based integration. If you don't have an ERP, Concord runs on its own.
Can Concord work alongside our accounting software?
Yes. Concord handles ordering, pricing, credit limits and tax, and connects to other systems through API-based integration scoped to your setup. Your accounting system stays your system of record for the books.
How do I know which kind of tool I need?
Start with where your problems happen. Problems in the field point to sales force automation; problems at the distributor point to a distributor management system; problems in how your own customers order, get priced and stay within credit point to B2B ordering software like Concord.
Not sure which tool fits?
In a demo we'll look at how your orders, prices and credit work today and tell you honestly whether Concord is the right fit.
Self-service dealer ordering + credit-limit enforcement + automatic per-product, per-state tax — standalone, or above your ERP via API-based integration. Not a DMS. Not a SFA.
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