B2B e-commerce websites are vital assets for businesses of all sizes and industries. But what exactly is a branded e-commerce website, and why should it matter to you?
In this blog, we will answer the most common questions about e-commerce sites and how they can elevate your wholesale company, boost your sales, and redefine your online presence.
What is a Wholesale or B2B E-Commerce Website?
Broadly speaking, an e-commerce website is a platform designed for buying and selling products or services online. This specialized website integrates features like product listings, shopping carts, secure payment processing, and order management systems. It is essentially an online store that enables businesses to conduct customer transactions.
Within the umbrella of e-commerce sites are business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platforms. These sites are online channels where businesses can sell products to other businesses. A wholesale e-commerce site takes it a step further, where companies sell products to retailers (typically in bulk and at a discounted price), who then turn around and sell individual products for a profit.
What Are the Benefits of Having an E-Commerce Website?
A B2B e-commerce website offers several significant benefits for sellers (sales agencies and brands) and buyers (retailers). Here are some of the key advantages:
- Increased Accessibility: B2B e-commerce websites are available 24/7, allowing buyers to browse products, place orders, and access information at their convenience. This eliminates the constraints of traditional business hours and time zones.
- Efficient Order Processing: Automated order processing and real-time inventory management can streamline purchasing, reducing errors and processing time. Buyers can also track orders and access order history easily.
- Better Product Information: Detailed product listings with images, specifications, and pricing information help buyers make informed decisions.
- Scalability: B2B e-commerce platforms can accommodate growing businesses and changing needs. With the right platform, it’s easy to add new products, expand product lines, and reach new markets.
- Analytics and Insights: E-commerce platforms provide valuable insights that can help sellers understand customer behavior, track sales performance, and make data-driven decisions to improve their business strategies.
- Customer Self-Service: Buyers can independently browse products, check pricing, access account information, and place orders without direct communication with sales representatives.
- Competitive Edge: E-commerce enables sellers to stay competitive by offering modern, convenient buying experiences that align with market trends and customer expectations.
- Adaptation to Industry Changes: E-commerce allows businesses to adapt quickly to market changes, such as sudden shifts in demand or evolving industry regulations.
What Are the Key Features of the Best B2B e-commerce Platforms?
Some key features that make B2B websites valuable to retail business owners include:
Showcasing All Products
With B2B e-commerce platforms, you can easily upload your products with descriptions, pictures, and videos, and you can set product categories for buyers to navigate your website with ease.
Using Hotspotting and Shoppable Catalogs
The easier your website is to navigate for potential customers, the more you will effectively enhance their experience and promote purchases. With B2B websites, you can create shoppable catalogs in just a click, thus driving further customer engagement and growing sales.
Enabling a Multi-Brand Experience
Multi-brand features let customers select items from all of your lines and place them all into one convenient shopping cart, while still meeting each brand's purchasing requirements, making checkout a breeze. Giving buyers a “one-stop shop” experience can boost client retention.
Highlighting Exclusive Promotions
B2B wholesale software lets you promote best sellers, closeouts, and promotions on your e-commerce site, encouraging purchases. For example, you can create callouts like “Made in America,” “Back to School,” or “Closeouts” to highlight deals on specific products.
Enabling One-Click Customer Reorder
With a reorder feature, customers can easily re-purchase the products they love whenever they like while also respecting your established business rules and your defined commission structures.
Capturing Payment and Shipping Terms
When retailers place orders on your website, MarketTime’s B2B order management software will capture their payment and shipping terms along with their contact information. As a result, your sales reps will always have the most up-to-date customer and order details.
Customization Made Easy
Customizing your B2B website can enhance its visual appeal to potential buyers. You can easily change the theme and feel of your site, toggling color palettes, changing font displays, and activating which lines and products you want to sell.
Creating Brand Profiles
Setting up profiles for the brands of each manufacturer you represent on your B2B e-commerce site allows customers to learn more about each label as they browse their products.
Configuring Headers
Enhance the user experience by defining the header categories, which help your customers shop by brand or category. These work to help customers find the items they’re looking for while also encouraging them to discover new ones.
Everything in One Place
With MarketTime, your e-commerce orders will interface directly with your account. They will show up immediately, and the appropriate salespeople will be notified that they are ready for processing. With everything on one convenient platform, you’ll save valuable time that you can use to focus on other aspects of your business.
How Long Does It Take to Launch a B2B E-Commerce Site?
With MarketTime, configuring and launching a B2B e-commerce site is simple, thanks to the help and support of your dedicated Implementation Specialist. You can upload all product information to our platform and go live in weeks, not months.
Who Can Use B2B E-Commerce Platforms?
Brands, suppliers, and sales agencies that sell multiple lines can benefit from B2B wholesale software and similar B2B solutions.
Business owners in the following industries are taking particular advantage of such platforms:
- Fashion and Accessories
- Floral
- Footwear
- Apparel
- Lighting and Fans
- Pet Supplies
- Toys
- Furniture and Home Decor
- Gift and Accessories
- Baby and Kids
- Cosmetics
- Jewelry
- Gourmet
- Housewares
- Publishing
- Outdoor
With such a wide range covered, your business is bound to benefit from convenient and easy-to-use B2B software, no matter what industry it’s in.
How Secure Are B2B Websites?
B2B platforms don’t mess around when it comes to data protection. All websites require a secure login to view wholesale pricing, and all payment details captured through the site are protected and PCI-compliant.
Can Having a B2B Website Increase B2B Sales?
Absolutely: Forrester’s B2B e-commerce forecast found that B2B e-commerce sales are growing and that U.S. B2B e-commerce will reach an estimated $3 trillion by 2027. In other words, people are shopping online, and a well-structured, easy-to-navigate B2B website can enhance user experience and increase conversions.
Additionally, B2B e-commerce platforms allow you to gather data about your customers in real time, which can give you insight into customer behaviors, activities, and engagement that would be nearly impossible to obtain on your own. Loyal customers also spend more than new purchasers, so you can use client data from B2B platforms to improve your business operations and retain more customers, leading to an increase in B2B sales.
How Do I Choose the Right B2B E-Commerce Platform for My Needs?
Picking the right B2B e-commerce platform for your unique needs can prove challenging, but there’s one company that offers B2B wholesalers, sales agencies, and retail buyers a unified, top-tier B2B order writing platform and B2B e-commerce platform, and that’s MarketTime. To learn more about our B2B omnichannel commerce platform, contact us today.
