Choosing and Installing 1C-Bitrix Business Edition
"Business" is the workhorse for a medium-sized online store with normal assortment. Trade offers (SKU), 1C integration, marketing tools, warehouse management—all of this appears precisely in the "Business" edition.
Key Capabilities Compared to "Small Business"
Trade offers (SKU). One product—multiple variants with different prices, inventory, photos. Implemented via b_iblock_element linked to parent element by IBLOCK_SECTION_ID and binding property. The bitrix:catalog.element component automatically aggregates variants into one card with switches.
1C integration. Exchange via CommerceML 2.10 protocol through standard exchange module. Loading products, prices, inventory from 1C. Exporting orders to 1C. This is the main reason most serious stores choose "Business" or higher.
Warehouse management. b_catalog_store_product—inventory by warehouse. In the product card, you can show availability at specific warehouses or pickup points.
Marketing. Coupons, conditional discounts (by user group, by order amount, by product category), cumulative discounts. Via CCatalogDiscount and CCatalogDiscountCoupon.
Affiliate program. Partner program with sales source tracking.
When "Business" Is the Right Choice
Clothing, footwear, electronics store (need SKU). Company that uses 1C:Enterprise and wants to sync inventory and orders. Store with multiple warehouses or pickup points. If you need coupons and loyalty program.
For a B2B portal with personal account and complex pricing—"Business" may already be insufficient; you need "Business+" or "Enterprise" with extended access control capabilities.
After Installation
Edition-specific "Business" settings: 1C exchange configuration (/bitrix/admin/1c_exchange.php), creating trade offers in catalog structure (SKU infoblock is linked to main catalog via infoblock settings), warehouse configuration (/bitrix/admin/catalog_store.php), configuring discount application rules.
Installation and basic setup: 2-4 days. 1C exchange configuration is separate work, usually 1-2 weeks.