B2B marketplaces in Europe play a crucial role in connecting businesses with suppliers and buyers, enabling them to expand their reach and access a wider range of products and services. With the continued growth of e-commerce and digitalization, B2B marketplaces are expected to become increasingly important in Europe’s economy.
A B2B (business-to-business) marketplace is an online platform that facilitates transactions between businesses, where one business sells products or services to another business. These marketplaces typically provide services to support the buying and selling process, such as product catalogs, search and filter tools, payment processing, and order tracking.
Let’s hop to the top 5 b2b marketplaces across Europe and briefly review each in terms of its relevance to the European market, user base, market share, range of products and services, user experience, ease of use, support and resources for sellers, security, and payment options.
Hellopro
Hellopro is the B2B marketplace that caters primarily to European businesses. As of 2024, the platform has over 500,000 registered companies, and the number of listed products exceeds 1 million.
In terms of market share, Hellopro is one of the leading B2B marketplaces in Europe. The platform’s traffic and user engagement have increased significantly in recent years. According to the Similarweb open data, Hellopro has approximately 600K visits and $25M of annual revenue.
The platform covers a variety of categories and industries, including but not limited to
- Industrial equipment and machinery
- Electrical and electronic components
- Building and construction materials
- Office and business supplies
- Agricultural equipment and supplies
- Food and beverage products
- Health and medical equipment
- Transportation and logistics services
In addition to its extensive product catalog, Hellopro also provides various services to its users, such as consulting, sourcing, and supply chain management. Hellopro’s broad range of products and services makes it a one-stop shop for B2B buyers across various industries.
- Dedicated Account Managers
- Seller Dashboard
- Marketing Services
- Verified Supplier Program
- Buyer Feedback
Hellopro takes security seriously and offers several payment options to ensure secure transactions:
- Secure Payment Gateway
- Multiple Payment Options
- Buyer Protection
- Seller Verification
- Data Privacy (GDPR)
How to become a seller on the Hellopro b2b marketplace
To become a seller on the Hellopro B2B marketplace, follow these steps:
- Visit the Hellopro website and click on the “Become a supplier” button on the homepage.
- Fill out the registration form with your business information.
- A Hellopro representative will contact you to verify your account and provide you with access to the seller dashboard.
- Start creating your product listings, which will be reviewed by Hellopro to ensure that they meet the platform’s quality and safety standards.
Kompass.com
With over 11 million company profiles listed on its database, Kompass.com is a valuable resource for European businesses looking to expand their reach and find new business opportunities within Europe and beyond.
Kompass.com has a significant user base and market share in the B2B marketplace industry, driving approximately $200M of annual revenue.
- Kompass.com has a presence in 70+ countries, with a strong focus on Europe. It has local offices in several European countries, including France (with 25% of its employees), Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
- The platform is available in 26 languages.
- According to data from SimilarWeb, Kompass.com receives over 3.3 million visits per month.
- Kompass.com has received several industry awards and recognitions, including the Best B2B Website Award at the Digital Communication Awards in 2018 and 2019.
Kompass.com offers a range of products and services that cater to the needs of businesses looking to expand their reach, find new partners, and grow their business.
- Marketing and sales solutions, including email marketing campaigns, targeted advertising, and CRM tools.
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools
- Language and localization options
Kompass.com provides a range of support and resources for sellers to help them make the most of the platform and reach their business goals, including a dedicated account manager, training resources and webinars
Kompass.com takes security seriously and provides a range of measures to ensure the safety of its users’ information and transactions.
- SSL encryption
- Payment options for users include credit cards, PayPal, and wire transfers.
- Kompass.com’s payment gateway is fully PCI-compliant, which means that it meets the highest industry standards for payment security.
- A dedicated fraud prevention team monitors all transactions and flags any suspicious activity.
- A strict privacy policy outlines how user information is collected, stored, and used.
How to become a seller on the Kompass b2b marketplace
To become a seller on Kompass.com’s B2B marketplace, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the Kompass.com website and click on the “Register” button located in the top right corner of the page.
- Fill in the required information, including your company name, contact details, and a brief description of your business.
- A Kompass.com account manager will contact you to verify your information and provide you with additional details on how to set up your business profile.
- To set up your business profile, you will need to provide more detailed information about your company.
Made in China
The Made in China marketplace is highly relevant to the European market, as China is a major exporter of goods to Europe. It drives approximately $500M of revenue annually, plus 14M visits monthly as of January 2023, according to the Similarweb open data:
- Made-in-China.com has been in operation since 1998 and is one of the largest B2B marketplaces in the world.
- The platform offers a wide range of products, including machinery, consumer electronics, apparel, home and garden products, and more.
- As of 2023, Made-in-China.com claims to have over 14 million registered buyers from more than 200 countries and regions, and over 6 million suppliers.
- The platform allows buyers to search for products by category, supplier, and keyword and offers various tools for communication and transaction management.
- Made-in-China.com also provides trade assurance services, which offer a level of protection for buyers in case of quality or delivery issues with their orders.
Made-in-China.com provides a range of support and resources for sellers:
- Multiple membership levels for sellers, with varying levels of features and benefits.
- Product listings include detailed product information, photos, and videos.
- Advertising and promotional opportunities for sellers.
- Seller verification services, which can help boost credibility and trustworthiness among buyers.
- Customer service and support for sellers, including live chat and email support.
Made-in-China.com provides several security measures and payment options to protect buyers and sellers on its platform:
- Trade Assurance program, which provides payment protection for buyers in case of quality or delivery issues with their orders.
- Various payment options are available for buyers and sellers, including credit cards, bank transfers, and Alipay.
- There are various security measures to protect user data and prevent fraud, including SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and fraud detection systems.
- Verification system for both buyers and sellers, which can help prevent fraudulent activity.
How to become a seller on the Made in China b2b marketplace
To become a seller on the Made-in-China.com B2B marketplace, you can follow these general steps:
- Create a seller account. Go to the Made-in-China.com website and click on the “Join Free” button on the top right corner of the homepage. Fill in the required information to create a seller account.
- Verify your account: Once you have created an account, you will need to verify your email address and provide additional information.
- Choose a membership level.
- Create product listings.
- Manage your account: You can manage your account and product listings using the various tools and resources provided by Made-in-China.com.
Europages
Europages is a B2B marketplace connecting European businesses with potential customers and suppliers worldwide. It has over 3 million registered companies from 34 European countries.
Europages is available in 26 languages, making it a truly multilingual marketplace. According to their website, Europages receives over 3 million visits per month, and their company directory is consulted by more than 2 million buyers every month.
The platform’s product and service categories include raw materials, industrial machinery, electronics, fashion and beauty products, logistics and transportation services, and many others. According to their website, Europages features over 2.6 million products and services, and their product database is updated daily.
Europages provides various support and resources for sellers to help them create and manage their listings on the platform.
- Company verification
- Translation services
- Digital marketing tools
- Customer support
- Analytics
Europages is primarily a B2B directory and does not handle transactions directly. Instead, it connects buyers and sellers and allows them to negotiate and complete transactions on their own terms.
How to become a seller on the Europages b2b marketplace
To become a seller on the Europages B2B marketplace, follow these steps:
- Visit the Europages website, europages.com and click on the “Add my company” button in the top right corner of the homepage.
- Fill out the registration form with your company’s information.
- Choose a subscription plan that fits your needs.
- Once you have chosen your plan, create your company profile and start listing your products or services on the platform.
- Europages will verify your company information and contact you if any additional information or verification is required.
TradeKey
In terms of relevance to the European market, TradeKey has a strong presence and offers numerous advantages for businesses operating in the region.
With over 7 million registered users from more than 240 countries, TradeKey provides a vast network of potential buyers and suppliers. According to data from SimilarWeb, TradeKey has an estimated 265K monthly visits as of January 2023.
TradeKey’s user base is also highly engaged, with over 20,000 new products listed on the platform every day. Another notable aspect of TradeKey’s user base is its focus on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The platform features more than 30 million product listings across 30+ categories.
TradeKey provides a range of support and resources to help sellers succeed on its platform:
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Marketing Support
- Logistics Support
- Payment Processing
- Training and Resources
TradeKey takes security very seriously and offers a range of payment options to ensure safe and secure transactions on its platform.
- Seller and buyer verification
- Escrow Services
- Payment Options: credit card payments, PayPal, and bank transfers
- Secure Communication
How to become a seller on the TradeKey b2B marketplace
Becoming a seller on the TradeKey B2B marketplace is a simple process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the TradeKey website at tradekey.com and click on the “Join Free” button in the top right corner of the homepage.
- Fill out the registration form with your business details.
- After your account has been created, you will need to verify your email address and complete your company profile.
- Once you have completed your company profile, you can start listing your products on the platform.
Lessons Learned
- B2B marketplaces have become essential platforms for businesses to connect with each other and expand their reach globally.
- The top 5 B2B marketplaces in Europe suggested in the article—Hellopro, Kompass, Made in China, Europages, and TradeKey—offer businesses a wide range of features and benefits to help them find new customers, increase their sales, and grow their business.
- Whether you are a small business owner or a large corporation, these marketplaces provide a wealth of opportunities to connect with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers from all over the world. If you’re looking to expand your business in Europe, these marketplaces are definitely worth considering.
Here are a couple of recommendations for businesses using B2B marketplaces in Europe:
- Build a complete and compelling profile that showcases your products or services, company history, certifications, and relevant experience to attract potential customers and suppliers on B2B marketplaces.
- Conduct thorough research before engaging in any business transaction on a B2B marketplace.
- Be aware of language and cultural differences.
- Be responsive and professional to build trust and credibility on B2B marketplaces.
Regarding the future outlook for B2B marketplaces in Europe, the eCommerceUnboxed vision is as follows:
- More niche marketplaces: In addition to the larger B2B marketplaces, there is also expected to be an increase in niche marketplaces catering to specific industries and niches.
- Integration with other technologies: B2B marketplaces are also expected to integrate with artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and blockchain to offer more efficient and effective services to businesses.
- Increasing focus on sustainability and social responsibility.
