When we think of e-commerce, the first thing that comes to mind for most of us are online retail stores that sell their goods directly to customers, but this is not the only application for e-commerce.
Businesses can also transact with each other via a B2B e-commerce platform. These platforms are designed especially to make it easier for companies to perform transactions such as placing stock orders, viewing item prices, and arranging deliveries.
What advantages do B2B e-commerce platforms offer to corporate businesses?
E-commerce platforms make it much easier for staff to order stock and whenever and wherever it suits them to do so. This is especially handy when your business deals with smaller firms that may not have a dedicated procurement department. It allows orders to be placed outside of business hours and makes it possible for entrepreneurs to focus on building their business during business hours while taking care of administrative tasks after hours.
Another significant advantage of using B2B e-commerce is reduced errors and problems during the ordering process. Since most of the ordering process can be performed by the customer, there is a significantly lower risk of incorrect orders or quantities being delivered due to human error. Leading e-commerce platforms like Shopify can easily integrate with other computer-based systems such as ERP systems and accounting software so that data can be synchronized across systems easily and quickly without the need to copy data across manually.
When it comes to costs, B2B e-commerce also makes sense. E-commerce platforms make use of a modular system that allows for the expansion and addition of modules as your business grows. This negates the need to purchase a full system with modules that you do not need and saves you money since you only pay for what you use. Additional modules can be added to the system as and when needed, which makes it possible for your business to expand at its own pace.
Is it easy to add e-commerce functionality to your business?
Yes, in general, e-commerce can be added easily and quickly to an existing business. E-commerce platforms are designed to be user-friendly so that they can be used by almost anyone without the need for complicated training procedures. More and more businesses are choosing to adopt e-commerce technology to make it easier for their customers to transact with them, this trend is set to continue well into the future, and because of this, it is definitely advantageous to invest in getting your company online. A web development agency can assist you in ensuring your website and any applications run as smoothly as possible.
E-commerce platforms offer a fast and relatively easy way to expand your sales channels. It can take as little as a few hours to get your e-commerce platform up and running, dependant on the size of your business. In general, larger and longer established businesses will need more time to get their e-commerce setups ready, but smaller companies can have a working e-commerce platform in a much shorter time.
