Defining Digital Service Layer in B2B Commerce

Vipul Aggarwal

Building up ambitious commerce community to discuss and solve complex use cases.

A digital service layer (DSL) is the backbone of modern B2B commerce infrastructure. It sits between frontend interfaces and backend systems—enabling realtime orchestration of product data, pricing, orders, inventory, and customer logic.

It works as a unified abstraction layer that decouples the frontend experience from core operational platforms like ERP, PIM, OMS, or CRM. Instead of modifying these systems directly, the DSL enables businesses to expose services as APIs that are more scalable, flexible, and performant.

This architectural pattern has become increasingly critical as more B2B companies move toward composable commerce or modular setups. It allows businesses to adopt new channels (like mobile or conversational commerce), plug in third-party apps, or scale without being blocked by legacy backend limitations.

Why Traditional B2B Systems Struggle Without a DSL

B2B platforms often run on legacy ERPs that were not designed for omnichannel or Realtime interactions. As a result, any new requirement—such as showing livestock, customizing a product, or routing by depot—requires custom coding, middleware, or batch processing.

Limitations include:

Sluggish performance during peak load
Delayed data sync between systems
Inflexible business logic hardcoded in monoliths
Dependency on IT teams for every change
High cost of integration across departments

A digital service layer solves these issues by becoming the orchestration engine for APIs and business logic—reducing hardcoded dependencies and improving time to market.

Key Components of a Digital Service Layer

A robust DSL abstracts business capabilities into modular, reusable services that can be consumed by different channels—eCommerce, mobile apps, partner portals, or IoT devices.

Component	Functionality	Benefits
API Gateway	Routes and secures API traffic	Centralizes governance and throttling
Business Logic Engine	Executes rules for pricing, inventory, checkout, etc.	No need to modify ERP for logic updates
Integration Services	Connects ERP, PIM, CRM, WMS, etc.	Realtime data without batch syncing
Authentication Layer	Manages tokenized access across services	Role based access for partners, reps
Caching Layer	Stores frequently accessed data temporarily	Reduces load on core systems
Event Stream/Message Bus	Triggers workflows asynchronously (e.g. order status)	Enables Realtime updates and automation

Benefits of Implementing a Digital Service Layer

B2B businesses that implement a DSL gain agility across both IT and commercial operations. They can build faster, scale cleaner, and deliver consistent experiences across touchpoints.

Increased Speed and Flexibility

Add new sales channels (e.g., field apps, WhatsApp ordering) without changing the core ERP
Rapidly iterate frontend experiences by decoupling them from backend constraints
Push Realtime product updates or price changes via exposed APIs

Stronger Data Governance

Centralized rules for pricing, inventory, contracts, and permissions
Better auditability and change tracking across distributed systems
Reduce version drift by standardizing service contracts

Cost Efficiency and Lower TCO

Avoid rebuilding the same logic for multiple platforms
Cut down on middleware or manual integrations
Enable business users to trigger workflows without IT bottlenecks

Improved Developer Velocity

Use prebuilt APIs for cart, quote, price, search, etc.
Sandbox environments to test features before pushing to production
Modular services make testing, debugging, and scaling easier

How BetterCommerce Uses Its Digital Service Layer

BetterCommerce offers a modular, API first architecture where its DSL powers all major commerce functions—from cart logic to RFQ workflows. This is particularly useful for complex B2B operations with specific needs like:

Branch specific pricing and inventory
Quote to order automation
Custom buyer roles and permission sets
Punchout catalogs and procurement integrations

BetterCommerce DSL handles all backend orchestration, so the frontend remains fast, composable, and futureproof. For example, when a field sales rep builds a quote on mobile, the system pulls real-time inventory from OMS, price rules from PIM, and customer terms from CRM—without any frontend lag or ERP calls.

Use Cases Where DSL Brings Competitive Edge

B2B brands are increasingly moving toward a DSLled approach because it helps meet evolving customer and operational expectations. Here’s how it creates an advantage:

For Distributors

Centralize contract pricing across 1000s of SKUs and sync it to storefronts and apps
Route orders by location availability and supplier dropship logic

For Manufacturers

Power custom product configurators without hardcoding logic into frontend
Enable live CPQ quotes based on account level discounts or MOQs

For Field Sales Teams

Place orders on behalf of clients through a rep portal with access to stock, pricing, and promotions in realtime

DSL Is No Longer Optional for B2B Growth

The pace of B2B transformation requires companies to decouple their innovation from their legacy systems. A digital service layer is not just a technical upgrade—it’s a business enabler.

It lets companies standardize their logic once and deploy it across multiple channels, markets, and experiences without fragmentation. As commerce grows more API driven, having a solid DSL becomes the foundation to scale, optimize, and compete.