B2B eCommerce is revolutionizing how businesses operate in the digital age. B2B eCommerce provides a powerful platform for companies to manage their purchasing and sales activities, eliminate manual tasks and create bespoke customer experiences. With great external growth, comes great internal operations complexity. B2Bs need internal b2b eCommerce solutions so that businesses can empower their teams and make data-driven decisions that lead to profitable growth across different markets. From streamlining inventory management to automating order processing, b2b eCommerce enables companies to simplify operational complexities and optimize business workflows for improved productivity. 

What is B2B (business-to-business)?

B2B, or business-to-business, refers to the exchange of goods and services between two businesses. This type of commerce is naturally different from consumer purchasing as the operations are likely to be on a much larger scale and involve greater complexity. 

B2B transactions require two companies to develop strong partnerships, negotiate successfully for both parties, and manage contracts effectively throughout their relationship, all to ensure successful collaborations over time. B2B relationships are also typically more entrenched than consumer business deals, as they usually involve long-term contractual agreements that benefit both companies engaged in the exchange.

How B2B eCommerce Works?

B2B eCommerce is a rapidly growing area of digital business, providing businesses with an efficient and cost-effective way to transact. The basic concept involves a company buying goods or services from another business online, paying for them securely and delivering them on time. 

This method of purchasing gives b2b customers the option of searching for the best deals according to their needs and expectations by comparing prices, product offerings and customer service levels among vendors. Businesses can also automate specific tasks in b2b purchases, such as bid management and lead harvesting, allowing for faster processes that can save time and money. All of this has revolutionized b2b purchasing behavior and made b2b eCommerce a popular choice.

Types of B2B eCommerce

Business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce is becoming increasingly popular for companies of all sizes. A few different types of B2B eCommerce solutions are available, each with advantages

• B2B: Business to business or B2B refers to commerce between two businesses rather than between a business and an individual consumer. Transactions at the wholesale level are usually business-to-business.  B2B dollar value transactions are significantly higher than B2C because businesses will purchase large quantities, higher priced goods, and with larger complexities.

• B2B2C: This refers to a business model where a B2B company sells its products or services to another business, which in turn sells them to end consumers (B2C). This model is often used by companies that want to expand their reach beyond their existing customer base. It can be an effective way to leverage a third-party retailer’s marketing and distribution channels.

• B2B2F: This refers to internal B2B ecommerce transactions that often occur in multilocation brands and the area of expertise for ’47Concepts. The internal ecommerce operations is mission critical for businesses that need to manage everything from brand standards, digital assets, house important documents, to marketing swag between corporate headquarters and their many store locations.
  

• Wholesale: This type of B2B eCommerce involves selling products in large quantities to retailers, resellers, or other businesses. Wholesale eCommerce platforms often offer bulk pricing and ordering capabilities and features for managing customer accounts, tracking inventory, and fulfilling orders.

• Manufacturer: In a manufacturer-focused B2B eCommerce model, the manufacturer sells its products directly to other businesses or to end customers. This model can benefit manufacturers who want to control the customer experience and build closer customer relationships.

• Distributor: A distributor-focused B2B eCommerce model involves a mediator that buys products from manufacturers or wholesalers and resells them to retailers or other businesses. Distributors often specialize in a particular industry or product category and may offer value-added services such as product customization, logistics, or technical support.

Ultimately, each type of B2B eCommerce offers a valuable opportunity for businesses looking to optimize the buying and selling experience and leverage the digital economy.

Stages of a B2B Business

Starting a business-to-business (B2B) venture is exciting, but it requires navigating several distinct stages.

1. Startup: This is the initial stage of a B2B business, where the focus is on developing and testing a product or service, establishing a customer base, and generating revenue. In this stage, the business is often characterized by high uncertainty and risk, limited resources and a small team.
2. Growth: The growth stage is characterized by a rapid revenue and customer acquisition increase as the business gains traction and scales. This may involve expanding into new markets, developing new products or services, and increasing marketing and sales efforts. During this stage, the business may also need to hire and train additional staff, improve operational efficiency, and optimize the customer experience.
3. Expansion: In the expansion stage, the business seeks to increase revenue and market share by expanding into new territories, developing strategic partnerships, and acquiring complementary companies or technologies. This may involve significant investments in research and development, marketing and sales, and infrastructure, as well as a focus on maintaining high customer satisfaction and retention levels.
4. Maturity: The maturity stage is characterized by a more stable and established business with a well-defined market position, loyal customer base, and sustainable revenue streams. During this stage, the company may focus on maintaining profitability, optimizing operations, and improving customer engagement and retention. This may involve investing in new technologies or processes, diversifying product or service offerings, and exploring new markets or customer segments.

What is ’47Concepts?

’47Concepts is an internal b2b eCommerce platform that manages the complexity of multilocation brand growth.  With every location you add, you grow your brand.  You also increase your internal operations complexity. This is where 47C tech can save you time and money – empowering you to focus on strategic tasks to grow your brand.  Companies can set up their internal custom branded storefront through the platform, gain 100% accurate store profiles, manage inventory, and more.

How can 47C help B2B eCommerce?

47C is an effective tool for b2b eCommerce businesses to take advantage of. It provides many features, allowing businesses to boost their process efficiency and effectiveness. Some capabilities include the following:

1. Provide an eCommerce platform specifically tailored to the needs of B2B companies rather than trying to adapt B2C technology to fit those needs. This is important because B2B customers are considered the most lucrative and complex for 3PL companies, and their needs require specialized software to ensure a seamless customer experience.
2. Offer multi-location shopping, which allows customers to shop from different locations using a single shopping cart. This is especially important for B2B companies with multiple warehouses or distribution centers.
3. Enable easy branding of the eCommerce platform to reflect the B2B company’s unique branding and messaging.
4. Use a robust ruleset engine to customize the user shopping experience according to specific business rules and requirements.
5. Helping B2B companies plan for future mass distributions is critical for companies with large order volumes or seasonal demand fluctuations.
6. Provide budget management with configurable billing options, essential for B2B companies that may require more complex billing structures than B2C companies.
7. Use intelligent shipping method logic to optimize shipping options and costs, which is especially important for B2B companies with unique shipping requirements based on the nature of their products or customers.
   

Conclusion

’47Concepts  is an excellent tool for B2B eCommerce businesses to streamline operations and offer customers a personalized shopping experience. It has the capabilities that B2B companies need, such as multi-location shopping, branding options, budget management, ship method logic and more. With ’47Concepts, B2B companies can confidently expand their reach. If you’re looking for a reliable partner that puts your success first when implementing strategic tactics explicitly tailored to your business needs, contact us today and let us show you how partnering with us can benefit you!