How often do you go online for information, research, comparisons, or to purchase things related to your business? Probably quite often…right? And if you haven’t, you are missing out on an entire world of possibilities.

Did you know most business owners say that their consumers demand online experiences and purchases? Therefore, wouldn’t you say that B2B sales and interactions should mimic the B2C buying process?

Consumer behaviors have changed since the introduction and growth of digital technologies. Consumers prefer shopping online for convenience, access to more variety, and because they can get whatever they want whenever they want. And they can easily do so using mobile apps, e-commerce websites, social media, real-time suggestions, machine learning, and automation.

So let’s talk about making your B2B business a digital commerce business and the benefits of doing so. Then we will talk about Salesforce—what it is and how a manufacturing company could use it.

What Are the Benefits of Making Your B2B Business a Digital Commerce Business?

Transitioning your business to a digitally native system has some significant and distinct benefits.

  • Opportunity to Increase Sales with Your Current B2B Customers

    Use your digital assets to develop an automatic cross-sell and up-sell program. This will help grow your customer base and broaden your reach. It will also enable you to match your customers with customized experiences. Having a digital web presence means you can provide your customers with an experience that mimics in-person salespeople that can assist them digitally with whatever they need 24/7/365.

  • Manage B2B Buyer Expectations More Easily

    A growing number of businesses prefer to only purchase online and going forward will probably expect and demand it. Therefore, implementing an intuitive digital experience will help your business gain brand recognition. It will also be easier for your customers to make repeat purchases at their convenience without waiting for office hours.

  • Enhance the B2B Buyer Experience with Commerce Software and Automation

    Everyone benefits from using digital formats and automating their business. And choosing the right B2B e-commerce software is one way you can gain more control while improving the overall buying experience for everyone.

    Adding automation to your business will make all processes quicker and easier. This is because B2B e-commerce digital software will enhance your customers, suppliers, members, and major stakeholders’ buying experiences. It will also enable you to precisely manage buyer expectations because automation performance is transparent and consistent.

    Since your customers are already familiar with these types of experiences from using B2C digital purchasing, this will provide them with a more comfortable purchasing experience with your B2B business.

  • Gain Analytical Enhancements and Improvements

    Measuring your analytics might be the most important part of digital marketing. With properly organized data and closely measured campaigns, analytics will help businesses make informed decisions. Add to that the algorithms of machine learning. You now have predictive analytics based on real-time master data that enables you to have complete control over your marketing. For example, you can use your comprehensive sales data along with your product analytics to come up with your sales versus profitability to see if you have any underperforming assets.

How to Get Started Transitioning Your B2B Business to Digital

B2B commerce is powerful. However, not having a digital presence will ultimately hurt your progress and your brand’s reputation. A digital transformation and transition plan are a must for B2B companies in today’s online world.

Here are a few tips to help you start transitioning your B2B business to digital.

  • Provide Valuable, Engaging Content

    Providing high-value, interesting content to your customers and potential customers not only gives them better online experiences but also helps you build your brand’s reputation as an authority in the industry. Did you know that 80% of all B2B buying decisions are made before ever talking with a sales professional? Therefore, you will need to spend a significant amount of time creating different types of valuable, engaging content because there’s a good chance that content will be the first impression a potential customer has of your company.

    Most people will begin researching possible purchases from manufacturers and distributors using digital resources. That could be anything from buyer reviews, social media, whitepapers, research reports, etc. all of which are found digitally on the internet.

    In today’s world, it’s normal for people to not want to speak with a sales representative before doing a bit of research first. They will gather and read as much information as possible. And that includes browsing social media. Then they will talk with colleagues and influencers before reaching out to the company they have ultimately chosen based on the information they found online. That’s why perfecting your content to match the customer’s journey for your overall digital presence is important.

  • Align Your Sales and Digital Marketing Efforts

    Your marketing and sales teams need to identify and define the entire customer experience from the first point of contact to the final transaction. B2B companies need to know exactly what their customers want. And their marketing and sales teams need to be more closely aligned while producing customer resources that fulfill their need for information while on their educational journey towards a purchase. During a digital transformation, your entire marketing needs to be more strategic in nature.

  • Use A Variety of Technologies to Gather and Assimilate All Analytical Data to Guide Your Marketing Efforts

    The best way to keep track of the pulse of your brand and make informed decisions is to use a variety of emerging technologies to gather and assimilate customer data. Using customer and transactional data is just the beginning of being a digital innovator. A dedicated strategic approach to all your data management is critical.

    So how can you transition your business to digital while incorporating everything needed to make it successful?

    You might consider using a platform like Salesforce for B2B commerce.

    Let’s take a look…

What Is Salesforce B2B Commerce and Why Would a Manufacturing Company Use It?

Salesforce is a cloud-based software company that provides digital marketing automation and analytics. It helps solve B2B commerce complexities by using features that are specifically designed for B2B businesses.

Manufacturing companies thrive when using Salesforce because it’s specifically designed for manufacturers that are ready to transition their company to a digital sales channel. It will help you grow your B2B commerce channel, solidify your B2B commerce strategy, and help you identify ways to get started and get everyone onboard with the program.

What’s Next?

If you want more information about taking your B2B business digital, please Contact Us today. CLOUDSTREET has implemented B2B stores for many industrial manufacturers, IT services, and the consumer goods sector and we’d love to do the same for you. Let us show you just how quick, easy, and cost-effective our services can be.

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