Headless marketplace architecture with Next.js on Vercel for ISR-powered storefronts, Supabase PostgreSQL with row-level security for multi-tenant vendor isolation, and Stripe Connect for automated split-pay commission processing. Event-driven inventory pipeline handles 100K+ SKU sync via Supabase Realtime and edge functions, with dedicated search indexing through Algolia or Meilisearch for sub-10ms faceted catalog queries.
How does Stripe Connect handle split payments across multiple vendors in a single checkout?
We create a PaymentIntent with a `transfer_group` that links all vendor splits. On successful charge, individual transfers go to each vendor's connected Stripe account minus the platform commission. Commission rules—flat, tiered, category-based—are stored in Supabase and calculated at checkout. Refunds automatically reverse the correct proportion to each party.
Can this architecture handle 100,000+ SKUs without performance degradation?
Yes. Product catalog pages use Next.js Incremental Static Regeneration, so they're pre-built and revalidated on inventory changes rather than rendered on every request. Search runs through a dedicated index (Algolia or Meilisearch) that handles faceted queries across 100K+ SKUs in single-digit milliseconds. Database queries are optimized with Postgres indexes and materialized views.
How do you handle vendor onboarding and KYC compliance?
Vendors onboard through Stripe Connect Express or Custom accounts, depending on your compliance requirements. Stripe handles identity verification, bank account linking, and ongoing KYC. We build the onboarding flow into the vendor dashboard with status tracking, document upload, and automated progression through each step. Platform admins can review and approve vendors before they go live.
What's the timeline and cost for building a custom enterprise marketplace?
Typical enterprise marketplace builds run 12-16 weeks across three phases: foundation (payments, auth, basic storefront), scale (inventory pipeline, search, vendor dashboards), and polish (performance, analytics, monitoring). Project investment ranges from $100K to $300K depending on vendor count, integration complexity, and custom commission logic requirements.
Why choose a custom headless stack over SaaS marketplace platforms like CS-Cart or Sharetribe?
SaaS platforms work fine for early-stage marketplaces but hit performance and customization walls at enterprise scale. At 100K+ SKUs and 200+ vendors, you need custom commission engines, vendor-scoped RLS at the database level, and frontend architecture that doesn't degrade under load. Our stack gives you full code ownership, linear infrastructure costs, and the ability to evolve without SaaS vendor constraints.
How does real-time inventory sync work across hundreds of vendors?
We build an event-driven pipeline that ingests vendor feeds via API push, CSV upload, or webhook. Updates flow through validation and conflict resolution, then propagate to the storefront via Supabase Realtime subscriptions and search index updates simultaneously. This handles thousands of SKU updates per minute without blocking the buyer experience.
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