B2B Software: Choosing the Right Software for B2B

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

For years, software designed specifically for听businesses (and sometimes consumers) has changed the听modern landscape as听we听know it.

Regardless of听industry, companies must strive to听stay one step ahead of听the听competition to听stay relevant. In听today鈥檚 market, this means finding and听utilizing the听latest and听most influential technology available.

What is听B2B Software?

B2B software describes the听technology sold by听businesses to听businesses to听streamline their operations. B2B software can help sell products, manage teams, run payroll, communicate internally, launch Marketing campaigns, and听much more.

What is听SaaS?

SaaS, or听, is听a听way for听third parties to听offer their apps and听services to听online businesses. SaaS technology allows employees and听users to听access the听technology from any听device with internet access.

Cloud-based services have taken the听world by听storm, offering convenience and听security to听businesses globally. Most SaaS services are provided as听a听subscription, meaning companies pay monthly to听utilize the听offerings.

B2B SaaS refers to听the听businesses that sell their cloud-based software and听apps to听other companies. Rather than downloading software to听a听computer, subscribers can access the听SaaS service through an听app or听website anywhere in听the听world.

Some B2B software solutions intersect with other business models, including B2C (business to听consumer). These overlaps offer services that can be听used by听individuals and听organizations, like Slack for听communication and听PayPal for听sending or听receiving payments.

Benefits of听Using B2B Software

In听today鈥檚 business landscape, most companies are streamlining their operations and听leaning on听technology to听improve various facets of听the听business to听bridge the听gap.

Here are some benefits of听using B2B software for听any听company, regardless of听size, industry, or听audience.

Accessibility

The beauty of听SaaS solutions lies in听their accessibility and听convenience. No听matter where you run your business, you can access a听SaaS platform anywhere you have the听internet.

Accessibility makes it听possible to听manage teams across multiple time zones simply by听logging in听to听the听platform. In听turn, productivity and听efficiency will increase, making companies more successful and听profitable.

Add-ons &补尘辫;听辫别谤蝉辞苍补濒颈锄补迟颈辞苍

Looking for听add-ons or听new functionality to听improve your processes or听offer customers more personalization? No听problem! SaaS platforms provide tiered plans, so听you can upgrade whenever you need more features.

Customer focus

Some companies pay for听a听professional services team member who can support their users. SaaS businesses often staff entire teams whose sole focus is听customer support for听this reason. Customer issues can be听resolved quickly whether you open a听ticket online or听contact your customer support representative.

Cost-savings

As听mentioned, most SaaS companies are subscription-based, so听businesses pay monthly to听use the听service.

In听doing so, budgets aren鈥檛 drained by听a听substantial upfront investment, making it听easier to听justify the听financial investment to听key stakeholders. As听you require more from the听platform, you can scale up听in听usage, saving money in听the听long term.

Security

For companies that handle sensitive customer data, security is听of听the听utmost importance for听the听safety and听privacy of听their clients. Being cloud-based, SaaS providers take security and听privacy very seriously.

Credible SaaS companies deploy advanced software infrastructure, protocols, and听encryption methods to听avoid data breaches, phishing, and听cyber-attacks.

Flexibility

Both small and听large B2B companies require a听certain level of听flexibility in听the听software they use daily. Fortunately, SaaS platforms offer impressive flexibility and听robust customization options.

Businesses can utilize various APIs and听integrations to听connect the听platform to听other systems they have in听place, like a听CRM, website, or听marketing automation tools.

Challenges of听Using B2B Software

While the听benefits and听advantages of听using B2B software are apparent, there are some common challenges that many businesses face when deploying and听using the听software. Here are a听few of听those challenges.

Onboarding

Onboarding is听critical for听retention and听total adaption of听the听platform, regardless of听the听organization鈥檚 size and听how many users will be听accessing the听service. Most SaaS providers offer assisted onboarding and听setup (sometimes for听an听additional fee) and/or a听customer support contact to听guide businesses as听they get started.

Proper training and听onboarding are essential to听ensure the听platform鈥檚 value and听longevity in听any听organization.

Pricing model

As听more and听more SaaS providers adopt the听subscription-based model, more financial tracking and听budgeting tasks become the听client鈥檚 responsibility. Companies are adding more SaaS platforms to听their arsenal, making it听challenging to听manage budgets and听juggle the听various services and听functionalities.

Integrations

With multiple software solutions being used within the听same organization, some issues may slip through the听cracks. Designing a听cohesive system that integrates all the听necessary features and听functionality from various platforms is听a听massive undertaking for听some businesses.

Many SaaS providers offer seamless integrations and听APIs with popular business systems to听simplify business processes.

B2B SaaS Software Examples

You may be听surprised at听the听number of听B2B SaaS software companies in听the听market today! Here are some of听the听best examples of听software and听services for听B2B companies and听how to听implement these services into your own business.

B2B marketing software

Many B2B software apps and听services facilitate various marketing tasks and听functionality.

Companies like Hubspot, Marketo, and听Sprout Social are all great examples of听B2B marketing automation software. Using these services, businesses can run email marketing campaigns, manage social media, and听SEO to听reach a听wider audience.

Brands like Mailchimp and听Brevo support companies with B2B email marketing software to听send tailored messages to听customers and听leads throughout the听buying process. Unbounce is听a听popular B2B lead generation software tool that allows businesses to听create powerful lead gen campaigns through data enrichment and听lead scoring.

For workflow automation, companies like Zapier and听IFTTT offer B2B integration software with over 5,000听apps to听increase team productivity and听efficiency.

Lastly, what鈥檚 a听business without its CRM? Brands like Salesforce, Zoho, Hubspot, and听FreshWorks all offer businesses powerful features related to听lead gen, customer management, email, and听much more.

Business management &听analytics

SaaS solutions for听business management include a听wide range of听tools, from data collection and听visualization to听identifying trends within their market. BetterCloud and听Zomo are strong leaders in听this field.

Ecommerce software

With over global ecommerce sites in听operation daily, the听software industry has a听huge opportunity to听provide support through technology. Ecommerce platforms and听software that support businesses have endless growth potential and听can serve many purposes for听small and听large businesses in听any听industry.

At听the听top of听the听list is听黑料门, a听powerful B2B ecommerce software platform that empowers B2B and听B2C companies to听sell anywhere online.

Managing customer data, inventory management, order tracking, fulfillment, and听more requires the听support of听B2B order management software like Veeqo, OrderHive, and听Linnworks.

Building and听retaining customer loyalty takes effort and听incentive, and听that鈥檚 where B2B loyalty program software solutions come in. Companies like Kangaroo and听GrowSurf help brands establish loyalty through rewards programs, referral programs, and听incentives.

You can鈥檛 run an听effective ecommerce website without multiple payment gateways for听transactions. B2B payment software tools like Square, PayPal, and听Stripe make processing payments simple, quick and听secure for听any听sized business.

Productivity &听team tools

Outside of听tools for听building customer relationships and听selling, many B2B software apps are used internally. These include team communication via Slack, one of听the听most popular B2B communication software tools to听Trello, a听powerful B2B project management software that supports tasks and听campaigns from launch to听completion.

Many teams deploy B2B customer support software like Zendesk for听ticket management and听to听handle all customer service tasks.

Final Thoughts on听B2B Software

B2B software continues to听evolve and听change as听the听needs of听businesses and听their customers do. The growth opportunities are rampant when utilizing this kind of听software for听your business. Whether you鈥檙e looking to听improve productivity, drive sales, power new marketing campaigns, or听anything else, B2B software can help.

Are you interested in听launching a听B2B company? 黑料门 is听here to听help. Access our library of听resources, tools, and听free articles to听start selling online 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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