What is a Product-Based Marketplace?

There are many different types of marketplaces around the world, serving various purposes. Some bring together service providers and customers, while others connect businesses such as hotels, airlines, and car rental companies with potential customers.

However, the infrastructure and necessary features for product-based marketplace software like Amazon or Aliexpress are much more complex than other service-based marketplaces.

In the simplest terms, product-based marketplaces or shortly called as “product marketplace” must handle millions of product listings, constantly update stock and pricing, manage shipping and return processes, run promotions, and more. These features are essential for any marketplace focused on product sales and are not typically found in other marketplace models.

Developing these features is challenging and time-consuming. Considering the high cost of development, many software companies hesitate to invest in creating the infrastructure for product-based marketplaces.

At Sofomi Product-based Marketplace Software, we recognized this gap in the market and have been investing in this sector for years. Below, we will summarize some of the must-have features for a product-based marketplace. It’s important to note that many software companies may not even be aware of the need for these features. When we first started developing marketplace software, we also didn’t foresee such needs. However, after working with over 450 companies, we’ve had the opportunity to identify and develop new features in each project.

Must-Have Features of a Product-Based Marketplace E-Commerce Site

1. Attribute Combine (Merging Synonymous Features)

Let’s assume a seller wants to upload their products via XML. This seller may already be selling products on platforms like Shopify or Wix. To upload their products to your marketplace, they need to export them via XML from their store management panel and import them into your seller panel.

During this process, the attributes (e.g., color) used by different sellers may vary. One seller may label the attribute as “Color,” while another calls it “Colors” or “Product Colors.” This can lead to confusion on the front end, where customers see multiple options for the same attribute, such as four different choices for “Color.”

With Sofomi’s Attribute Combine feature, marketplace owners can merge synonymous attributes. This ensures that the front end only displays one “Color” option, making it easier for customers to navigate and trust the site. Products from sellers using different attribute names will still appear, but the customer experience remains smooth.

2. Option Merge (Merging Synonymous Options)

Similarly, different sellers may use different names for the same product options. For example, one seller may call a shoe size option “Size,” while another uses “Sizes” or “Shoe Size.” This can also create confusion for customers when filtering products.

To solve this, Sofomi developed the Option Merge feature. As the site owner, you can select a preferred option name (e.g., “Size”) and merge all synonymous options under that name. This ensures that customers can easily find the right product, enhancing their shopping experience.

At Sofomi Marketplace Software, we have developed many essential features like these over the years. These features are critical to the success of a product-based marketplace, and we’ll continue to share more in our future blog posts.

To explore all of our features, visit our Sofomi Product-based Marketplace Software Packages page.

For immediate insights into our features, you can request a demo or speak with our software consultants.