Commerce Solutions
Commerce is any business where customers pay for products or services online. The right platform depends on the commerce model: one seller or many, one-off purchases or recurring, delivered in days or in minutes.
This page helps you identify your model and shows where to read more about each.
Alive Inc. builds the technology behind five common models and the payment layer they all share: online stores and marketplaces, subscriptions, on-demand and delivery apps, and direct selling platforms.
What we build
Capabilities
What Do Commerce Solutions Cover?
Commerce solutions cover the systems that let a business sell, take payment and fulfil orders online.
They typically include:
- Storefronts, catalogs and search
- Carts, checkout and payments
- Order, inventory and fulfilment workflows
- Vendor, seller or partner management
- Recurring billing and account portals
- Customer accounts, notifications and reporting
- Integrations with CRM, ERP, shipping and accounting
Which Commerce Model Fits Your Business?
Start with how you sell, not with the technology.
Some businesses combine models, for example a store that also offers a subscription. The pages below explain how each piece works.
You sell your own products online
- An e-commerce store, from a simple catalog to complex pricing, B2B ordering or custom checkout.
Many sellers sell through your platform
- A multi-vendor marketplace, with seller onboarding, commissions and payouts.
Customers pay repeatedly for ongoing access or supply
- A subscription platform with plans, recurring billing and access control.
Orders are fulfilled quickly by nearby providers
- An on-demand or delivery app with real-time tracking and dispatch.
Sales grow through a network of distributors
- A direct selling platform with member structures, commissions and payouts.
You already sell but need to accept payments better
- Payment gateway integration, added to an existing site or app.
E-commerce & Marketplaces
Online stores and multi-vendor marketplaces, approached from the commerce model first: catalog, customers, vendors, checkout, payments and operations.
Best when you:
- Sell products online to consumers or businesses
- Want to connect sellers and buyers on one platform
- Need inventory, shipping and ERP or CRM integration
Explore
Payment Gateway Integration
The payment layer every commerce model shares: secure checkout, webhooks, refunds, reconciliation and support for the methods your customers use.
Best when you:
- Are adding payments to a website or app
- Need recurring or marketplace split payments
- Want reliable order updates and reconciliation
Explore
Subscription Platforms
Recurring billing and member access for software, media, memberships and services, with plans, renewals, failed-payment recovery and customer portals.
Best when you:
- Charge customers on a repeating schedule
- Need access that follows the plan
- Want to track recurring revenue and churn
Explore
On-Demand & Delivery Apps
Apps that connect customers with nearby providers, drivers or services in real time, including ordering, dispatch, tracking and payment.
Best when you:
- Run food, grocery, courier or service delivery
- Need customer, provider and admin apps together
- Depend on live location and status updates
Explore
Direct Selling & MLM Platforms
Platforms for network-based sales, covering members, genealogy, compensation rules, commissions, wallets and payouts.
Best when you:
- Sell through distributors or independent representatives
- Need configurable compensation and payout logic
- Want dashboards for members and administrators
Explore
What Every Commerce Platform Needs
Whatever the model, a few foundations decide whether the platform works day to day.
Foundations include:
- Fast, mobile-friendly pages and checkout
- Secure handling of payment and customer data
- Clear order states and customer notifications
- Accurate inventory or availability
- Reporting on sales, customers and performance
- Integrations that avoid re-entering data
Commerce and Search Visibility
A commerce site earns customers through search and advertising as well as direct visits. Clean structure, fast pages and clear product information help both.
Explore
Commerce in Your Industry
Commerce needs look different in each sector.
For example:
- Retail and e-commerce: catalogs, stock and delivery
- Hospitality and tourism: bookings and packages
- Media and entertainment: content access and subscriptions
- Education: courses, memberships and fees
- Real estate and services: listings, bookings and enquiries
Explore
How we deliver
How a Commerce Project Runs
Discovery
We learn your products or services, customers, sales channels and existing systems.
Choose the model
We confirm which model, or combination, fits how you sell.
Design
Journeys, catalog or plan structure and admin tools are designed and reviewed.
Build and integrate
The platform is built with payments, shipping, CRM, accounting and other integrations.
Test the money path
Checkout, payments, refunds, stock and notifications are tested end to end.
Launch and grow
We go live, monitor and extend as sales grow.
Why Alive Inc
Why Choose Alive Inc. for Commerce Solutions?
Model-first advice
We start from how you sell and choose technology afterwards.
Range of models
Stores, marketplaces, subscriptions, on-demand and direct selling under one team.
Payments done properly
Webhooks, refunds and reconciliation are part of the build.
Connected to your business
CRM, ERP, shipping and accounting integrations reduce manual work.
Support after launch
Maintenance, security and improvement continue once you are live.
Questions
Frequently asked
What are commerce solutions?
They are the systems that let a business sell, take payments and fulfil orders online, including stores, marketplaces, subscriptions, on-demand apps and direct selling platforms.
What is the difference between an e-commerce store and a marketplace?
A store sells your own products. A marketplace lets many independent sellers list on your platform, adding seller onboarding, per-seller orders, commissions and payouts.
Can I add payments to an existing website?
Yes. Payment gateway integration can be added to an existing site or app, including refunds and reconciliation.
Can one platform combine models?
Yes. For example, a store can also offer subscriptions. We design the pieces to work together.
Do you build mobile apps for commerce?
Yes. Web and mobile apps can share the same back end, so products, stock and orders stay in sync.
Can the platform connect to our ERP and CRM?
Yes. Depending on available APIs, products, orders, inventory and customers can be synchronized.
Which model suits a delivery business?
On-demand and delivery apps, with customer, provider and admin apps, real-time tracking and payment.
Do you support the platform after launch?
Yes. Maintenance, security updates, performance work and new features are available.
Keep exploring
Related pages
Launching or Growing an Online Business?
Get a Quote
Tell us how you sell and who buys. We will help pick the right commerce model, then build the platform, payments and integrations around it.