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Overcoming the 4 Key Challenges to B2B E-Commerce Success

Data, omnichannel, technology and customer relationships are the four key challenges B2B companies face when developing their B2B E-Commerce. Learn how to overcome them.

Introduction

Even after COVID-19, most revenue is generated offline and relies on people, but the paradigm has clearly shifted to e-commerce. Digital transformation to meet customer expectations has accelerated across all B2B industries.

Offering net prices and availability online are a no-brainer for B2B companies. But the expected time of delivery, tailored products, and sequenced project deliveries are challenges typically handled by people. And while management and the finance department will see the benefits of e-commerce, people on the floor may doubt its efficiency and even fear for their jobs. The organization needs to grow along its digital ambitions.

Set your house in order

The primary challenge to getting B2B e-commerce right is to run an easy-to-use commerce site that supports complex business workflows and offers a personalized experience, payment and delivery options and quick checkout. All the traditionally offline processes that flow through the organization between departments and into the customer’s departments need to become digital. Only when the product, logistics and financial processes are digitized, can the order by telephone or fax be switched to online order. To offer the B2B e-commerce experience that B2B buyers expect, B2B companies need to set their houses in order. The four key challenges lie internally. 

1. Laying and maintaining the data foundation

In the digital age, data is key. Qualitative data enables e-commerce and allows you to understand the B2B buyer better. The starting point for your B2B e-commerce success is considering the way you manage your data for products and customers. Read more about the data challenge in Blog 5 of this series

2. Offering a personalized omnichannel experience

B2B buyers expect a personalized brand experience across all channels. B2B organizations need to put the customer first in their processes to accomplish this. All your channels need to exchange data in real-time to keep the customer conversation going and relevant to customer needs. Read more about the experience challenge in Blog 6 of this series.

Download the Infographic: B2B E-Commerce Challenges

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Overcoming the 4 Key Challenges to your B2B E-Commerce Success


Identify and address the bottlenecks preventing your organization from reaping the maximal benefits of B2B e-commerce.

3. Making technology work for you

Changes in customer needs and trends are happening faster, and your organization has to keep up to stay relevant. The architecture which embraces change will enable your business to set the right pace. However, many B2B companies are still stuck with a rigid architecture. The big challenge is embracing change. Read more about the technology challenge in Blog 7 of this series.

4. Building lasting customer relationships

Bringing your business online is not all about e-commerce. Online transactions are one thing; building a customer relationship that lasts is another. The key to success is to let your B2B e-commerce transcends transactions by transforming into a customer-centric organization.  Read more about the customer relationship challenge in Blog 8 of this series.

This is the fourth blog of our article series on B2B e-commerce. Click here for the next article.

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