How Dow™ Master Connect Built A Hybrid B2B+B2C Online Marketplace For Diverse Users With StoreHippo

Challenges: Unifying a Complex Offline Network Into a Digital-First Multichannel Hybrid Marketplace

As market dynamics shifted towards digital-first experiences, Dow™ realised that sustaining growth would require more than traditional offline channels. A modern digital marketplace was needed, not just to digitise operations, but to bring structure, transparency, and central control to a multi-layered sales ecosystem.

Building such a multi vendor marketplace solution was far from straightforward. Dow™ needed a marketplace solution that could streamline processes for diverse user groups while being flexible and agile enough to scale with future demands. 

The challenges in this journey were significant:

• Managing multiple user roles - Distributors, dealers, retailers, affiliates, field sales officers, and even end users needed unique access and functionality within the same system.
• Unifying offline and online workflows - Existing offline operations lacked integration with digital channels, limiting visibility and efficiency.
• Mobile-first brand presence - With mobile commerce gaining traction, Dow™ needed marketplace apps for retail and wholesale that offered buyers a seamless way to browse, order, and engage with the brand on the go.
• Complex customisation needs - Dow™ needed heavy tailoring at both frontend and backend to match its layered business flows.
• Multiple frontends to manage - Each of the seven user groups required distinct dashboards and experiences.
• Lack of data transparency - The brand needed role-specific reports to give clarity to distributors, sales teams, affiliates, and management.
• Scalability constraints - A feature-rich, enterprise-ready platform was essential to support growth without reliance on patchwork apps or manual processes.
• Integration needs - Dow™ required a platform flexible enough to integrate seamlessly with existing and new third-party systems needed for business-critical functions in their marketplace ecosystem
  
  

Dow™ needed a robust, customisable and scalable enterprise ecommerce platform to move beyond the limitations of its offline-only model and build a future-ready hybrid marketplace. The goal was to implement the brand’s unique requirements in an all-in-one solution that could create an omnichannel presence, empower stakeholders with better growth opportunities, and drive long-term success for the brand.

Solutions

Omnichannel Sales Ecosystem – StoreHippo’s Tailored B2B+ B2C Marketplace Solution For Dow™’s Hybrid Model

With StoreHippo’s native multi-vendor marketplace solutions, Dow™ was able to bring together its B2B and B2C models, manage multiple stores, and use the platform’s agility and flexibility to transform its offline sales network into a unified hybrid marketplace. 

Backed by StoreHippo’s pure headless architecture and enterprise ecommerce solutions, the platform gave diverse user groups-distributors, dealers, retailers, affiliates, field sales officers, and end buyers-a seamless way to connect and transact. The result was an omnichannel sales ecosystem that simplified operations, strengthened central control, and unlocked scalability, efficiency, and long-term growth for the brand.

Here is what Dow was able to achieve with StoreHippo:

Hybrid B2B+B2C Multi Vendor Marketplace

Dow™ used StoreHippo’s multi-vendor marketplace solutions to bring its diverse business ecosystem onto one unified platform. The hybrid B2B + B2C model enabled distributors, contractors, field sales officers, retailers, affiliates, dealers, and even Dow™ employees to participate as vendors, each with dedicated access tailored to their role.

For vendors, the setup was seamless-giving them independence to manage their operations and engage directly with customers without friction. At the same time, built-in admin controls ensured Dow™ had complete visibility and oversight across all stakeholders, creating a transparent, scalable, and efficient sales ecosystem.

Central Unified Control And Master Catalog

With StoreHippo’s built-in tools for complete oversight, Dow™ gave its management and admin teams centralised visibility and control over the brand’s complex sales ecosystem. Administrators could oversee offline and online operations, track performance across various seller roles, and manage the entire network from a single dashboard.

A unified master catalog brought together all SKUs listed by vendors, giving Dow™ a complete view of its product portfolio in one place. This not only improved transparency but also simplified catalogue management, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across the marketplace.

Multiple Sub-Store Network

With StoreHippo’s multi-store capability, each vendor on Dow™ MasterConnect was onboarded with a unique sub-store tailored to their role and offerings. These sub-stores gave vendors the independence to manage their catalogues, orders, and customers directly, while still being connected to the main multi vendor marketplace.

For Dow™, the entire sub-store network could be centrally managed, ensuring consistency, transparency, and smooth coordination across all sellers within the ecosystem.

Multiple Frontends For Diverse User Groups

Dow™ Master Connect  leveraged StoreHippo’s flexible architecture to create separate frontends for seven distinct user groups- distributors, field sales officers, retailers, dealers, affiliates, and Dow™ employees. Each group received a customised interface tailored to its role, ensuring the right tools, workflows, and visibility without unnecessary complexity.

This role-specific approach not only simplified operations for stakeholders but also gave Dow™ the ability to manage a complex, multi-layered sales ecosystem with greater efficiency and transparency.

Android And iOS Marketplace Apps

Dow™ extended its digital presence and reach with Android and iOS marketplace apps built using StoreHippo’s inbuilt mobile app builder. Designed for both B2B and B2C users, the apps offered a seamless way to browse products, place orders, and engage with the brand on the go.

Because the apps were created with StoreHippo’s zero-code builder, they stayed auto-synced with the hybrid marketplace website, ensuring consistent updates, saving development time, and reducing costs while strengthening Dow™’s omnichannel presence.

Extensive Customisations

Dow™ Master Connect required a marketplace tailored to its unique workflows, and StoreHippo’s flexible enterprise ecommerce platform made it possible to implement deep customisations across both frontend and backend. From multiple role-based logins to custom flows for enquiry review, validation, and distribution, every process was streamlined to match Dow™’s complex operations.

Distributors, sales officers, retailers, affiliates, and dealers gained access to customised reports that gave them clarity into performance, while the central team maintained full visibility. Integrations such as Dyrect ledger automation, Tally for accounting, and campaign-based points systems further strengthened operations turning Master Connect hybrid marketplace into a truly bespoke enterprise solution.

Seamless Integrations

To support its unique business workflows, Dow™ Master Connect needed smooth integrations with third-party systems for accounting and campaign management. Using StoreHippo’s headless architecture and API-first approach, the platform effortlessly connected with Tally for accounting and Dyrect for voucher-based marketing campaigns.

These integrations made it possible to automate critical functions like tracking sales, rewarding users with campaign points, and managing ledger without disrupting operations. The result was a flexible, future-ready setup where Dow™ could plug in the tools it needed while keeping the entire marketplace ecosystem unified and efficient.

47 Sub-Stores - One Unified Hybrid Marketplace, Powering Dow™’s B2B + B2C Sales Across India

With StoreHippo powering its hybrid B2B + B2C multivendor marketplace across offline, online, and mobile touchpoints, Dow™ gained a future-ready solution to manage its complex sales ecosystem at scale. The Master Connect marketplace website and apps created a network of 47 sub-stores and unified it onto one platform, creating transparency, central control, and seamless operations for all user groups.

By digitising catalogue management, enabling custom reports, and integrating third-party tools for accounting and marketing, StoreHippo helped Dow™ streamline operations and empower every stakeholder from distributors and field sales officers to affiliates and end buyers. The result was strong business growth showing in revenue and order numbers.

Looking ahead, Dow™ is preparing to further strengthen Master Connect with new capabilities. Planned developments include WhatsApp integration and enhanced custom flows for lead management, ensuring faster communication and even more streamlined operations.

StoreHippo is proud to power Dow™’s digital transformation and looks forward to supporting the next phase of innovation in its journey toward building a scalable, future-ready commerce ecosystem.