I will not relate to "How apps looks like" questions because, firstly, apps is different and from different vendors (including precise company-savvy) and "plain" Accounting and Trade could be only to micro-companies. Secondly, there's not only manufacturer apps, but any company can develop their own.
So, what's benefits of 1C as a platform?
1. Object-oriented database.
Simple "Copy()" method could be used for copying a document, for example. Compare to bunch of code in self-written app in C#. Also, the reference consistency is preserved—even if broken, could be repaired by the standard processor.
2. Object-oriented database can morph itself.
If the mission goes to Mars, and there's a need instead of one yes/no "bad partner" attribute for 5 describing the kind of bad, so platform will automatically change the database model and save all precedent data. All is needed is to click-click in Designer. Moreover, if quickly rollback to old app version, yes/no attribute is saved with all of data.
3. The predecessor of SAP:Crystal Reports.
What is sold for extra money by SAP, 1C has by default. The report or print form developing task is available even to receptionist. Yes, there will be programming needed, but there's no need for break-down spec of rows' height to tax invoice.
4. DCS (Data Composition System)
User reports designing system. Wanna group sales by partners? Click-click, no programming. Totals by partners? Too. Sales peer-to-peer as pivot table? Too. Filter? Already. Colorise? Just name the colour.
5. Managed Application and Taxi interface.
For one side, interface is automatically rearranged by the user's access rights settings. Some lacunes, footprints of rearranging? Nope.
For the other, the app could be opened in the browser. Yes, in the browser from anywhere in the world, if the rights is granted, of course. Looks exactly the same. Almost no difference, albeit hotkeys of the browser.
6. Accounting Register, Calculation Register.
Do accounting by any country standard? Of course some programming is required, but there's no a database object problem. So no, not like SAP: you have elementary records, wrap them in code and write anything. Accounting Register fully supports Russian accounts alignment as well as US GAAP complex transactions. And there even masking the number of account by default.
The same to Calculation Register. This is for periodic calculations, including compensation, that has a main event and displacing it additionals. Standard method calculates the amount of hours in the main event. But you don't need to break in parts in the prime record, it even not recommended.
Therefore, 1C platform exceed all present by quality. Why 1C doesn't conquered the world still? Because of State lobby, and CIS is conquered, by the way. But, in Russia, there's a problem when the project budget is lower than SAP one, still requiring all the features. Of course it's not right. Yes, a beautiful 1C app cost in developing the same as an ugly SAP one, but not cheaper.