B2B is rapidly changing. Several B2B retailers are relying on e-commerce for processing orders and managing daily operations. Do you want to know the reasons why B2B has taken off online, taking into consideration the opportunities that companies could find to increase their revenue and gain new customers? Keep on reading.B2B has been around online for 20 years. Its initial purpose was to operate as an online catalogue.In fact, almost 75% of B2B buyers would prefer to buy online rather than having a sales representative help them; they’d rather not deal with a person, and have their transactions move efficiently and securely. This approach also saves time and money to businesses.Now, there are some pros and cons of B2B e-commerce:Pros
- Bigger sales
Right now, B2B companies are starting to understand how the e-commerce industry works and that’s how they find better opportunities. Current B2C transactions are predicted to double in size. B2B e-commerce will be no different; it’s predicted it will reach $1.2 trillion and held accountable for 13.1% of all B2B sales in the US in 2021.
- Bigger orders
The nature of B2B invites to have bigger orders or mass buying. You’re most likely to expect some hefty numbers of the same product. You’re most likely to expect a bigger conversion rate, taking into account that consumers are most likely to buy here than on most B2C sites.
- Streamlined suply chain
B2B have transformed supply chain management into something efficient thanks to the use of advanced software. Some tools, especially automated ones, can submit orders, send notifications to warehouses and process any type of transaction. And your process of customer fulfilment will be sped up. Some B2B companies have integrated cloud-based platforms to compare and contain stock information, inventory, and orders & returns. You’re also reducing the margin of error when you’re using technology to help your operations, transactions and stocks.Now, what are the cons?
- What’s the limit?
B2B have a limited reach, taking into consideration deals that only occur between business, so the field isn’t as open as a B2C. While the B2B orders are higher, it’s also harder to secure deals and generate long-lasting relationships. It can also be very difficult for small and medium-sized business, as each wholesaler is important that relationship; the loss of a partnership could be detrimental.
- B2B customers require another type of user experience
The attitude of buyers had changed a lot. And what they’re looking for is a digital experience when it comes to trading. It’s a smart choice to invest in self-service tools to classify restocks instead of consulting with sales.
- Product information and quantities
The quality of product information is very important, since customers are looking for some content behind the product as well. Content is key in B2B e-commerce sites. Buyers also need a lot of information and understanding of quantities to be convinced to part with the money. Provide adjustable quantities, por instance, or provide the option for guest checkout, or adding reviews or testimonials.
- Wholesale setups and their complexity
Buyers, sometimes, can expect certain discounts related to the amount of times they order on the site. E-commerce isn’t an easy place to negotiate and some business might feel that by doing this, could lose online business partnerships. So you can optimize and ask experts, like Startup Slang to help you organize that complex structure.