B2B Info Center

Independent sales reps can be a great way for manufacturers and distributors to generate new sales, open new territories, and get instant access to new customers. Hiring new sales employees can be out of reach for small businesses, but independent reps and rep groups need only to be paid commissions on the sales they make. These independent reps need tools to be effective, and online rep software that integrates with your QuickBooks will give your new reps the latest info on new products, pricing, inventory, etc.  Sales reps can also inundate your inside office staff with data entry and questions regarding order status and tracking information.  One of the best ways to get the most from your new reps and keep your office running smoothly is to use sales rep software.

One of the most effective ways to streamline your order processing routine is to implement integrated order entry software. Your sales reps, customer service staff, and wholesale customers can place orders online and those orders will be automatically created in QuickBooks without any additional data entry. Order entry software can also help streamline your entire fulfillment process. 

 Every business owner knows that inventory is money. QuickBooks is an accounting program that keeps track of the business’s money, and several versions of QuickBooks are very capable inventory management programs. If you operate a product-based business one of the best things you can do is make sure that you are using the proper version of QuickBooks. Correct use of the proper version of QB may be able to give you all of the inventory accuracy and functionality you need so you can avoid the expense and complications of additional inventory management software.

Back office and front office operations are often performed by one key individual in small companies. The same person may do sales, customer service, purchasing, and accounting. They probably supervise shipping and water the plants, too! Even though one person or a small team does almost everything, it can help to plan for growth and departmentalize the different functions that they perform. Getting the most out of your QuickBooks accounting software, carefully selecting QuickBooks add-on software, and creative outsourcing can really ease the burden on your key person.

An online order management system that is specifically designed for your sales reps and B2B customers will bring you many benefits. Letting them enter orders and answer their own questions 24/7 frees up your inside staff to focus their time on problem solving and growing your business rather than order entry and customer service. An online portal also improves customer service by eliminating the wait for answers to the most common customer and rep questions, such as inventory, pricing, and tracking numbers. Most B2B customers and reps will begin using your new online portal immediately.

More business means more orders. More orders means more invoices. That means more forms, more data entry, and more transferring of information between different departments. It's easy for a form or piece of information to get lost in the shuffle.

Businesses are continually looking for ways to cut costs and increase sales.  Finding creative ways to get more productivity out of your employees rather than hiring another person is a proven strategy.  When you want to increase the productivity of your outside sales rep staff you can give them additional tools such as a sales portal.  With sales rep software, you can drive up your reps’ performance and increase customer satisfaction in the process.  Discover what a sales portal can do for your sales reps.

An order management system that syncs with QuickBooks has many benefits inside a small wholesale business. It allows B2B customers and outside reps to efficiently place orders and answer their own customer service questions so your inside staff can use their talents to grow the business instead of spending their days in QuickBooks. Your customers will benefit, too. Here are five reasons they will love an online ordering system.

Ecommerce is becoming one of the most efficient ways for wholesalers to reach customers.   According to data from Forrester, B2B ecommerce is currently a $559 billion industry, and is steadily growing by almost 19 percent each year.  Now even small companies can afford to benefit from the opportunity that B2B ecommerce software offers.   Giving your customers and reps an online order management system will ensure your business is poised for growth. 

Customer service is just as important for manufacturers and wholesalers as it is for any other type of business. It is important to consider all points of your company’s interactions with customers to ensure their experience is positive from beginning to end.  A poor experience with your company could lead to a dissatisfied customer and possibly a bad online review, and one bad review can have a bigger impact than 100 positive ones.  Create a positive customer experience with these suggestions.