How to make the most of B2B Marketplaces

B2B e-commerce has grown rapidly in recent years, opening up new sales channels - including B2B marketplaces. But are they something you should consider as part of your e-commerce business plan? Read on to find out the potential benefits of these services - and the risks you should be aware of.

B2B e-commerce: your big opportunity

In 2020, annual business-to-business purchases exceeded USD$100TR¹. Of this, only USD$12TR were online transactions², but change is coming - and fast.  

Traditional methods of B2B operations – from sales to customer interactions; from fulfilment to order delivery – are becoming digitalized, driven by the pandemic and a new influx of millennials in decision-making roles, who are seeking business interactions more aligned with their B2C experiences. In fact, 64% of B2B buyers now place more importance on experience than price, whilst 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a better experience³. So, can you really afford to not invest in your e-commerce channels?

Your B2B e-commerce platform 

The advancement of B2B e-commerce software means it has never been easier to build a high quality, user-friendly platform. You can offer your website in multiple languages and include a powerful search engine, detailed product descriptions, interactive support, how-to videos and multiple payment options. In fact, all the features customers have come to expect from a B2C website. This will save your business time and money, whilst boosting sales. 

Although they're not a replacement to your e-commerce website, B2B marketplaces could be worth considering as a useful addition to your sales channels. 

What is a B2B marketplace?

One of the many digital B2B sales channels opening up to your business is the B2B marketplace. This type of e-commerce platform brings together corporate sellers and buyers. Vendors can be wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers and brands who sell finished and semi-finished products, parts, raw materials and services to other businesses - in volume. This means the selling dynamics of the B2B marketplace are different to B2C:

B2B marketplaces - the right sales channel for your business?

For suppliers, B2B marketplaces can seem appealing. SMEs with limited marketing budgets are given access to a wide customer base and increased bulk sales. For customers, there’s the convenience of not having to vet and manage a multitude of suppliers.

Yet, there are also challenges. B2B transactions tend to involve higher average order values. As a result, the stakes are much higher - a single bad transaction can reflect poorly on the supplier. B2B businesses looking to integrate marketplaces into their e-commerce strategy will need to carefully weigh up the benefits versus the risks involved. You may prefer to invest your time and money into your own e-commerce website - from digitalizing your full product catalog to integrating a powerful search engine that will help customers have a better path to purchase. 

Source: https://www.digitaldoughnut.com/articles/2020/october-2020/10-best-global-b2b-e-commerce-websites

What sellers should look for in a B2B marketplace

Obviously, every marketplace should give you the opportunity to grow both bulk sales and your network. For SMEs on a limited budget, it should also allow you to reduce the amount of time and money spent updating catalogs or monetizing marketing channels. It’s also important that your marketplace should allow you to connect and converse with buyers directly - owning business relationships - and utilize automated solutions that save time spent gathering leads and orders by email or phone.

• Start with a payment model you can afford - a B2B marketplace offering a low-cost baseline - at least to start with:
  - Commission based models charge a percentage in commission on every order you receive.
  - Subscription-based models charge you a membership fee which might also include services like account management, advertising and logistics support.
  - Listing Fees based models charge an extra fee for each product you list.
• Find a straight-forward, easy-to-use interface you find intuitive - you want to get up-and-running ASAP, not spend hours trying to work out how to upload product and business information.
  
• Check for a range of seller features that keep you in control - such as product management and CRM (Customer Relationship Marketing) software, shipping tools and payment options. 

Sell Direct

Of course, B2B marketplaces won't be right for every business, and that's where investment in your own e-commerce website is a must. If you consider that 38% of B2B customers said the ability to place orders via an online sales portal is their top criterion when choosing a new supplier⁴, can you really afford to not have one?

Whether you already have an e-commerce website that needs an upgrade, or you're starting from scratch, our exclusive White Paper, The Ultimate B2B E-commerce Guide, will help your business navigate the B2B digital revolution and optimize every new sales opportunity. Download it now.