B2B eCommerce is becoming one of the most efficient ways for wholesalers to reach customers. Even smaller companies can afford to benefit from the opportunity that B2B eCommerce software offers. Giving your customers and sales reps an online order management system will ensure your wholesale business is poised for growth.
Growing With the Trend
Is your wholesale company growing? Have you been thinking about ways to stay competitive by offering customers more? Are your employees reaching their maximum capacity? If any of these sound familiar, then it's time to think about an online order management system. An order management system can be a game changer for your company.
Here are some things to consider when selecting an online order management system.
Seamless Integration
An online order management system should seamlessly integrate with your current accounting software, like QuickBooks. With a simple setup process, you should be able to securely display selected customer and item data to sales reps and wholesale customers so they can answer their questions without contacting your inside team. Sales reps and wholesale customers can also place orders online, which will get written directly into QuickBooks without requiring manual order entry in the office.
An online order management system should not replace your website, but you should have a link to it so customers can find it easily. It should be simple to use so that customers feel comfortable using it immediately without instruction.
Maximizing Employees
In a smaller company, a handful of employees are typically responsible for all facets of the business, and anything that helps them do their jobs more efficiently is a welcome addition. An online ordering system is an easy and affordable way to help your employees maximize their time and work efficiently.
An automated online ordering system will reduce your employees’ workloads by shifting some tasks onto the customers and outside reps. Online ordering will reduce the workload of your sales reps because customers can service themselves. Through the system, they can create, monitor, and adjust orders without the assistance of one of your employees. Instead of answering simple questions for current customers, your sales reps can focus on finding new customers.
Key Features
Because sales reps and wholesale customers will be using the system, it should be easy to navigate and need little explanation.
Some features to look for include:
- customized customer order forms
- customized customer pricing
- access to order history
- displays real-time inventory levels
- displays tracking information
- easily searchable
The goal is to make your new order system easy to use so that customers can place and track orders and answer their questions anytime.
Growing For the Future
Finally, looking for an ordering system that can grow with your company is important. A well-developed online ordering system will be able to support rapid growth while maintaining a high level of customer service. A wholesale portal can delay the need to hire a dedicated customer service person.
Get More with an Online Ordering System
Can your wholesale business benefit from an online ordering portal? Look for an affordable system that automatically integrates with QuickBooks, gives sales reps and customers the ability to create orders without data entry, instantly answer their own questions, and watch your efficiency and customer service improve.