I am trying to create a Rails based multi-vendor e-marketplace, similar to Etsy (but for my specific niche). I did see a similar question at Etsy-like marketplace with Activemerchant? (Rails), but my needs are more than a simple payment processor as that question seems to be discussing.
Vendors would need:
Customer order management system
CMS (e.g. adding & updating products)
Invoicing system
Ability receive payments directly from customers
and the marketplace management would need:
Vendor account management system
Commission invoicing system (% of vendor-to-consumer transactions, invoiced to vendors)
To Refactor my question, given the above information: Are there any currently available solutions that could be adapted to meet my needs, and how difficult it be to make that adaption? I'm currently looking at spree http://spreecommerce.com/tour/backend
Thanks guys, any help would be appreciated!
If you haven't already, check out Jeff Dutil's work with Spree Marketplace and Spree Drop Ship. With a bit of work for stable releases and customization, they may be able to achieve what you're looking to do.