B2B customers increasingly expect the same convenience online that they get when buying from consumer websites. They want to be able to log in, see their own pricing, place orders and manage their account without having to phone or email every time they need something.
A well-designed B2B ecommerce website can make ordering much easier for your trade customers while also reducing the amount of administration for your sales team.
Some of the most useful B2B ecommerce features include:
- Customer-specific pricing – Different customers can see their agreed trade prices, discounts or product ranges automatically when they log in.
- Credit accounts – Approved customers can place orders against agreed credit terms rather than having to pay online each time.
- Purchase orders – Customers can enter their own PO number during checkout, making it easier for both sides to match orders and invoices.
- Bulk ordering – Quick-order forms, SKU searches and quantity entry tools help regular trade customers order large numbers of products much faster.
- Repeat-order tools – Customers can view previous orders and quickly reorder the same products, saving time on regular purchases.
- Account management – Customers can access order history, invoices, delivery information and account details whenever they need them.
For businesses that still rely heavily on orders being taken over the phone or by email, B2B ecommerce does not necessarily replace the sales team. Instead, it gives customers another convenient way to place routine orders while allowing staff to spend more time dealing with enquiries, larger opportunities and customer relationships.
Most importantly, your ecommerce website remains available **24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers can place orders when it suits them, even when your office is closed.
For established B2B businesses, adding the right trade functionality to an ecommerce website can improve customer service, reduce administration and make repeat ordering considerably easier.