Published: 05-10-2020
In today’s technology world, e-commerce is booming. It is widely used by companies to improve their operational efficiency.
The growing trend of digitization in commerce, and the normalization of the B2C marketplace experience, are driving significant growth in B2B marketplaces across the globe.
The B2B e-commerce market is changing rapidly. More and more companies are adding an online sales channel to sell their products and services to grow their business.
With mobile technology constantly evolving, how can B2B e-commerce survive and work better, is the most important area of interest for industry experts and researchers?
For a successful e-commerce company, a strong platform is essential. A perfect and strong B2B e-commerce platform not only helps boost sales and satisfy users but also proves to be a cost-effective option.
When it comes to B2B e-commerce, there is much more to say. How will this change in the future? How can it improve customer shopping experience? Will it be revolutionized or censured with the emergence of new technologies day by day? Well, there are three key elements that should accelerate and improve the future of B2B e-commerce.
A self-service platform
B2B buyers prefer e-commerce platforms to create their order. It provides all the information required by B2B buyers that are necessary to make an informed and thoughtful purchasing decision. With various e-commerce websites and mobile apps, users can access all the details they find needed – whether is it the price, volume, quality, size, expected delivery date, or even comments and reviews. Therefore, using this information, they can place their order themselves via using any device such as PC, phone, etc.
Self-service shopping offers several advantages:
• This is profitable because several products can be compared with their prices and the best to be selected.
• It also frees up sales staff because it manages these order-taking activities and greater concentration can be given higher value-added tasks and business development.
• This site is available 24/7. Buyers no longer must wait for offices to open so they can place their orders.
Engagement cross-canal
Fluid cross-channel experiences for B2B e-commerce platforms are essential, no matter how the customer or prospect contacts you, whether online, over the phone, or through one of your distribution partners.
The customer chooses how, when, and where to engage with you and these cross-channel commitments must provide the expected experience for all customer needs and requests. The e-commerce site must make it possible to take an order easier, regardless of the channel chosen by the customer.
The sales team can continue conversations, respond to objections, and can also offer a valuable human connection to build a relationship and loyalty with the customer. An e-commerce platform can also meet other customer needs than the direct ordering, such as a simple quote request.
Smart customization
The customer now expects the seller to know his purchase history and quickly offers him the right products at the right price.
This is the purpose of customization: products and solutions must be configurated to meet the requirements and needs of the company, the presentation of the right components, and spare parts according to the solutions of previous purchases.