What is B2B Ecommerce? Platforms, Companies, Trends

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

B2B ecommerce, or桂business-to-business ecommerce, is桂the桂sale of桂physical goods or桂services online through a桂website or桂other platform from one business to桂another.

As桂the桂landscape of桂buying and桂selling evolves online, businesses of桂all types must adapt and桂follow suit to桂stay relevant.

As桂customers, businesses expect a桂similar experience to桂what consumers do: simple and桂foolproof. Fortunately, finding products and桂solutions via ecommerce can offer a桂great user experience and桂be桂cost-effective for桂both parties.

Types of桂B2B Ecommerce

Each type of桂B2B ecommerce is桂unique and桂has its drawbacks and桂benefits. It�셲 common for桂some B2B companies to桂fall into multiple ecommerce types, depending on桂their business model and桂goals. Here are the桂common types of桂B2B ecommerce business models.

B2B2C

A桂bit of桂a桂tongue twister, B2B2C means . In桂this scenario, manufacturers sell a桂product to桂other retailers, who sell the桂product directly to桂consumers.

This partnership typically happens because one company can�셳 reach the桂same audience alone. By桂teaming up桂with another company, both parties save money, and桂the桂end consumer can access more products or桂services. It�셲 a桂win-win!

Many businesses opt for桂this ecommerce model because of桂the桂benefits it桂provides to桂their bottom line. Perks include:

A桂reduction in桂operation costs
Restocking faster
Resolving issues related to桂budget
Access to桂critical customer data and桂insights

A桂great example of桂a桂B2B2C business model is桂grocery delivery apps partnering with supermarkets.

In桂this scenario, consumers want the桂convenience of桂their groceries delivered to桂their doorstep without having to桂shop in桂person. Grocery stores don�셳 have the桂staff to桂support this venture, but a桂separate entity can offer it.

Wholesalers

Wholesalers buy goods from manufacturers and桂re-sell them to桂retailers and桂other businesses to桂sell to桂end-consumers.

Most wholesalers offer discounted pricing for桂their buyers based on桂the桂amount they�셱e buying and桂how often. Running a桂successful wholesale B2B ecommerce model requires a桂functional system for桂managing products, shipping, and桂payments.

The best wholesale companies also offer stellar customer service, so桂buyers can rely on桂these teams to桂get their products purchased, shipped, and桂delivered promptly.

Distributors

Distributors are wholesalers that stock a桂large number and桂variety of桂products to桂be桂purchased by桂retailers. Many retailers prefer doing business with distributors because it�셲 easier to桂get all their products from one place rather than shopping around to桂various wholesalers for桂what they need.

Distributors also offer storage and桂shipping to桂retailers, a桂convenient bonus that makes those logistics more straightforward to桂manage. Distributors utilize systems that update orders, track shipments, and桂manage inventory to桂keep everything on桂track.

Manufacturers

Lastly, manufacturers produce the桂goods sold to桂wholesalers or桂distributors directly. This spans t-shirts, sports equipment, furniture, car parts, beauty products, and桂more.

Manufacturers likely face more challenges than other entities to桂evolve with the桂times. Many suppliers expect digital access to桂their product updates, including pricing options, checking order statuses, and桂more.

B2B Ecommerce Trends

As桂technology evolves, consumer behavior follows suit. In桂the桂same way that B2C has drastically changed thanks to桂online shopping in桂recent years, B2B ecommerce is桂also shifting.

Invest in桂new technology

2023桂is桂undoubtedly the桂year to桂invest in桂functional, sustainable B2B ecommerce solutions for桂your business. B2B ecommerce platforms like 붚죕쳔 offer robust features, including:

Inventory and桂delivery management
Inventory and桂catalog expansion
Payment processing
Advanced data and桂security protection
Advanced checkout options

Let go桂of桂outdated systems

It�셲 time to桂kiss your old systems and桂processes goodbye and桂join the桂21st century.

Many B2B companies on桂the桂distributor level are all facing this same challenge. As桂customers demand more user-friendly and桂advanced systems for桂ordering inventory and桂tracking shipments, many need to桂catch up.

Utilize social media

Believe it桂or桂not, B2B buyers use social media to桂find the桂services and桂solutions they need to桂improve their bottom line. From and桂pricing to桂reading reviews, social media can be桂a桂powerful and桂effective tool for桂buyers and桂sellers.

Meet buyers�� demands

Demand for桂products immediately is桂higher than ever (thanks, Amazon!), and桂B2Bs must follow suit. Investing in桂software and桂more staff for桂fulfillment can help to桂satisfy customers�� expectations.

How B2B Ecommerce Companies Can Find Success

Finding success as桂a桂B2B ecommerce company takes work, but utilizing effective digital strategies can make all the桂difference.

Create a桂strong online presence

From creating a桂compelling website to桂a桂functional ecommerce store, a桂 is桂essential to桂find success as桂a桂B2B ecommerce company.

What�셲 essential with an桂ecommerce website? Ease of桂use and桂straightforward navigation are at桂the桂top of桂the桂list. Your website should be桂simple to桂use, with clear language and桂branding that fits your product offering.

Implement SEO best practices

Utilize SEO tools and桂best practices to桂ensure your website ranks well in桂the桂search engines so桂the桂right companies can find you online. Improving online visibility will ensure the桂right buyers can find your business when they�셱e ready to桂buy.

Be桂transparent about policies

Make your policies clear so桂businesses know exactly what they�셪l get when working with you. Include information about your payment options and桂gateways, shipping policies, and桂other processes that may be桂important.

Creating a桂B2B Ecommerce Strategy For Your Business

Like any桂other business model, having an桂ecommerce strategy in桂place is桂critical for桂the桂success of桂your business. Here are a桂few considerations as桂you build your B2B ecommerce strategy.

Optimize the桂user experience

When customers make it桂to桂the桂end of桂the桂shopping experience, make sure the桂purchase is桂smooth and桂seamless. Your platform can make product recommendations, flexible shipping options, and桂more to桂satisfy your customers throughout the桂sales funnel.

Prioritize content marketing

Content marketing is桂an桂effective tool to桂use on桂many fronts. It�셲 great for桂SEO and桂brand visibility, educates customers, and桂provides value to桂your business. You can provide the桂content to桂educate leads and桂customers on桂your products.

Offer a桂unique value proposition

Above all else, an桂ecommerce site should be桂functional and桂easy to桂use. Provide value through product descriptions, site search capabilities, an桂efficient customer service team, and桂active social media platforms.

These will add value to桂every step of桂the桂customer journey. From their first interaction with your business, researching your competitors, and桂making a桂purchase, every effort should be桂tailored to桂their unique needs.

Leveraging a桂B2B Ecommerce Platform

Many B2B companies enlist the桂help of桂B2B ecommerce platforms to桂support their sales goals, streamline tasks, and桂drive brand awareness through a桂compelling website and桂ecommerce store.

Here are some of桂the桂best B2B ecommerce platforms on桂the桂market today.

B2B ecommerce platform examples

Adobe Commerce
SalesForce
붚죕쳔
OpenCart
Shopify

Create Your Own Success With B2B Ecommerce

Launching a桂B2B ecommerce store is桂not a桂daunting task. Creating a桂B2B ecommerce website is桂an桂effective way to桂increase sales and桂profits for桂your business.

Looking for桂some guidance when building a桂B2B ecommerce website for桂your business? 붚죕쳔 is桂here to桂help! Explore our blog and桂learn all about best practices in桂ecommerce marketing. If桂you�셱e ready, you can start building your online store with 붚죕쳔 today.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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