Every wholesaler, manufacturer, and distributor welcomes growth, but transitioning from a small to a mid-size operation brings several challenges. One of the biggest issues is the burden of increased data entry. The more orders you take, the more data you enter and need to share with various departments. Eventually, the amount of information being entered and shared will become overwhelming, and a new process for entering data will be needed.
Increasing B2B sales is about more than just marketing. The world is changing as B2B buyers turn to online purchasing more than ever. This trend isn't limited to the world of prominent corporations, either. Many small and mid-sized manufacturing and distribution businesses now offer electronic order fulfillment options to accommodate these buyers.
The speed of your sales cycle is one of the most influential factors that can significantly affect your wholesale business's growth and success. Although the actual cycle can be complicated, a simplified outline can help you better understand how an efficient B2B sales portal can speed up your sales cycle.
Order entry software can take your business processes from ponderous and sluggish to streamlined and dynamic. The change can be dramatic for small and mid-size B2B operations, and you’ll start seeing results quickly. You’ll wonder why you waited so long to adopt this valuable technology tool - especially considering how easy it is to implement and use.
The more time you spend answering routine customer service questions and doing data entry, the less time you have to devote to the activities that generate revenue for your wholesale business. Since today’s business environment is more competitive than ever, streamlining business functions has become a top priority for companies that want to grow. An automated order management system can be the key to a smoother, more efficient process.
Wholesalers, manufacturers, and distributors have to be talented jugglers. You wear many hats during the day, trying to keep one eye on daily operations and the other on business growth opportunities. You can’t afford to waste time wondering where you stand, especially regarding wholesale orders. Order entry software puts everything right at your fingertips.
Mistakes. Everyone makes them, right? Unfortunately, when running a wholesale business, a few innocent little mistakes can quickly add up to a serious expense. The wrong order gets shipped, and you have to pay to replace it. Or an order gets delayed and arrives late, and you have to cut the customer a break to keep them happy. These things happen.
If you're like most business owners, you understand that your employees, sales reps, and even your customers will make mistakes, but you'd also like to find a way to reduce these costly errors.
Independent sales reps can significantly enhance the growth of SMBs in the manufacturing, importing, and wholesale sectors. They extend your market reach and effectively communicate your offerings to new customers. As your strategic partners in the field, these reps provide valuable insights into customer feedback and competitor activities. They drive sales and serve as the frontline for addressing customer service concerns. Additionally, new reps can swiftly introduce a ready-made customer base.
Many companies utilizing QuickBooks for wholesale operations also cater to individual consumers through a shopping cart system. However, order fulfillment and billing processes differ significantly between these customer types. eCommerce platforms designed for wholesale transactions must address the distinct needs of B2C and B2B sales. Additionally, setting up these customer categories in QuickBooks requires careful consideration to enhance reporting and streamline order management.
When you run a product-based business, it's critical that you have a firm grasp on supply and demand, your inventory levels, plus purchase orders to your suppliers or work orders to your production floor. It's easy to make errors when you don't have an accurate view of your inventory. You could sell products that you don't have in stock or fail to order or produce products on time. You can also make errors if you don’t have an accurate view of your current and future sales.
