B2B ecommerce is a strange beast — in many ways, it is extraordinarily similar to B2C ecommerce, and in other ways, it couldn’t be more different.
It’s never a bad thing when you get new orders. After all, orders are what keep your business running.
Manufacturing, wholesaling, and distribution companies all have similar requirements in their order process. These companies use internal and external sales people to build long-term relationships with B2B customers, manage customer inquiries, and customer information.
For these businesses, finding a great sales and order processing system to help your employees and customers is crucial. Customer order software delivers specific functionality to B2B companies looking to increase customer service while decreasing administrative costs. Finding customer order software that will integrate with your accounting software like QuickBooks, will allow you to expand your reach with your customers.
Sometimes, we get the question of why a B2B business should use a customer order management add-on for QuickBooks for a better customer experience. The answer is simple when you consider how a small upgrade to your order process can elevate the customer experience.
Using a little creativity in your approach to how you present your products and deliver more responsive services to all clients can increase loyalty among your customers. If you aren't using the reporting features in your QuickBooks order management system, you aren't maximizing your relationships with your customers.
Small and medium-sized businesses, especially, are asking this question for good reason. Trying to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology fueling modern business isn't easy. Most businesses simply don't have the resources to do it (or so they think), because their resources are mostly used in the production and distribution of the products they offer. The good news is: integrating simple add-on order management software to your QuickBooks Desktop will vastly improve your business and exceed your customers' expectations.
Creating that personal connection is a key driver in online marketing and B2C companies. The B2B industry is noticing. Seeing online B2C growth, coupled with the lack of personal connection, is one reason the B2B world feels more compelled to change. Many B2B companies are attempting to nurture more personal relationships with buyers today, and are looking for quick and easy ways to do this.
The B2B industry still struggles to find better ways to connect with buyers after so many years of more formal relationships. Things have slowly started to change with B2B buyer connections in the world of e-commerce, though the buying process still isn't always made easy enough. Some B2B companies don’t realize what customers need in a B2B order site and sometimes make placing orders too confusing of a process. Also, the process of just "buy and go" ruins the ability of developing relationships with you and the buyer.
According to Christopher Muther of the Boston Globe, "the demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives, and not just virtually. Retailers are jumping into same-day delivery services. Smartphone apps eliminate the wait for a cab, a date, or a table at a hot restaurant. Movies and TV shows begin streaming in seconds."
Today, there are many similarities between B2C and B2B customers. Both expect a good customer experience from the business, and how successful you will be depends on how well you meet those expectations with what you offer. The B2C experience has improved with web, social, and mobile solutions. B2B customers are looking for more, too.
Customer service can make or break a business. Excellent service can create loyal customers, and loyal customers will gladly give referrals. Customers can disappear quickly with bad customer service.
