Part of the growth of the global economy is B2B ecommerce.
According to the 2020 Statista report, the manufacturing and wholesale sectors were leading in revenue generation in 2016 and 2017, going from £161.2 billion to £173.6 billion.
The B2B ecommerce sector is evolving, and the audience is changing, since more millennials are now the key buyers. They are adept at using technology because it is a part of their growth years. Millennials are informed buyers and they want a more personalised buying experience. This new group of B2B ecommerce consumers appreciate the different payment options the sector offers.
Thus, B2B companies need a flexible, scalable and robust ecommerce platform to ensure the efficient and smooth flow of the business processes. There are various b2b ecommerce solutions, but you can find a robust, scalable ecommerce platform that will fit all your requirements at the b2b.store.
Why use a B2B ecommerce application
There is no denying that ecommerce is a booming business sector today. More B2B companies are moving to the online market. It is vital to provide your clients with an excellent consumer experience, so an ecommerce platform is what your company needs.
But you should look for the essential B2B ecommerce application features.
- Account onboarding ? option to segregate B2B site users. The platform offers separate registration process according to customer category.
- Segmentation of customers based on profiles – using the customer profiles to assign them to different groups. This will allow the company to set pricing, minimum order requirements and information and materials specific to each group, like payment options, shipping, and promotions. Other options include order volume, geographical location, reorder frequency, quantity of products ordered, and catalogue selection
- Customer-specific pricing and catalogue ? the platform should allow you to sell your products at different prices according to the customer group.
- Integration of ERP – Enterprise resource planning integration will facilitate your business processes like invoicing, purchasing, stock management, supply chain, product inventories, accounting, and more in real time.
The B2B ecommerce platform should provide different payment options, shipping options, quick order processing, sample product ordering, multiple pricing schemes, automated quotations, and order tracking.
Importance of B2B ecommerce software
A B2B company needs to use B2B ecommerce software to stay on top of the game. With the advancements in internet and digital technologies, a company should boost its online presence. Right now, more customers prefer purchasing products from a company website instead of dealing with sales representatives. They can easily check online, especially prices and product availability. Many customers can place orders beyond the regular business hours, which is conducive to many buyers, especially those from other countries.
When you choose a B2B ecommerce software solution, find one that meets these requirements:
- It should be scalable. The software should meet the demands as your business grows. It should have functions to accommodate service expansion, integration of other business systems, and channels of customer engagement. Find a program with a strong application programming interface (API), powerful, flexible engine and scalable software architecture for smooth integration.
- The software should be flexible, reliable, and secure. Another important feature is usability and transparency. It should have the functionality for a promotion service engine with easy to use powerful tools to optimise your offers and drive conversions. It should have a clear ticketing system, optimised content management and quick order management, which are all essential for an online shop. The software should likewise have stats tracking and reporting features to help you and your sales agents know the product status immediately.
Several B2B ecommerce platforms have similar practices but differ in functions and features. Before investing, do your research and examine the features of the application that will be vital to your business-to-business ecommerce operations.
