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.
What was once a nice perk for smaller businesses is now a necessity. Your wholesale customers expect to be able to make purchases online, and why wouldn't they? It's more convenient on their end but also makes your job easier. Electronic order fulfillment reduces manual order entry and as well as routine customer service inquiries.
Adding electronic order fulfillment doesn't mean you have to change the way that you do business. You can still drive sales by offering great products and building strong relationships with your buyers. It's simply another tool to help make those things possible.
Electronic order fulfillment is quickly leveling the playing field for smaller wholesalers. Here are a few reasons:
Electronic order fulfillment is convenient
Your wholesale customers can place an order anytime without needing to contact you directly. The easier you make it for customers to buy, the more likely it is that customers will choose you over your competition.
Customer self-service
Your customers have their own businesses to run. Enabling them to place and check the status of purchase orders on their own schedules is good business and will be well-received. It reinforces the excellent customer service you’ve built your business on.
Minimizes mistakes
Electronic order fulfillment also helps minimize mistakes. Wholesale buyers can order precisely what they want without the potential for human error inherent to phone calls, voice messages, and emails. Confidence that their orders are placed correctly equates to customer loyalty.
Simpler Selling
It's not just about the buyer. Electronic fulfillment also boosts sales by making the task easier on your end. When buyers are placing orders electronically, they don’t have to spend as much time with your team. Instead, your team can focus on engaging new B2B customers, managing existing relationships, and using their skills to grow your business better. Better yet, if you leverage rep agencies for your sales efforts, they’ll appreciate the ease of ordering and will likely spend more time focusing on your business. An easier sales process means independent sales reps will prefer to sell your line over their other lines.
As you can see, electronic fulfillment offers many sales-boosting benefits beyond simple convenience. Your buyers will love how easily they're able to place orders and answer their own questions 24/7, while your employees will love how it minimizes the sometimes tedious aspects of B2B sales. With electronic order fulfillment, you'll drive sales and free up time to focus on growing your business. It's a win-win proposition for you, your team, and especially your customers.
