Choosing a B2B eCommerce solution for your manufacturing operation is a difficult but important decision. Add in the choice of selecting an implementation partner to ensure your solution is successful and it gets very easy to feel overwhelmed.
In order to make this transition as easy as possible, you should consider these items when selecting your implementation partner.
1. Complexity
B2B eCommerce is a relatively new field, and it comes with many challenges. Any business looking for an implementation partner should make sure that their proposed eCommerce solution can deal with a complex business environment like yours. This ensures that your software doesn’t assume redundant transactions while it integrates and interacts seamlessly with your ERP system.
Equally important is that your solution can showcase dynamic catalogs so that your customer can easily identify needed parts. Additionally, the B2B eCommerce platform should be able to not just create the transaction, but actively promote your parts, and give customer-specific pricing. It should support multiple physical sites and delivery locations while providing warehouse inventory levels. Last but not least, it should generate reports easily, so that you can get a picture of your business climate at any given point.
If you’re looking for a solution that can seamlessly address the complexities of your manufacturing business, GenAlpha’s Equip360 eCommerce solution offers the tools to handle all of these and more. Request a demo today!
2. Accessibility and Communication
Implementing a new manufacturing eCommerce solution is never a simple process. It requires a lot of diligence and care from your implementation partner. Make sure the provider you’re considering is consistently available for questions.
Before you begin, verify that both parties are in agreement about their availability once the site is up and running. Confirm that their commitment to customer service is on par with their commitment to the eCommerce solution. You can also ask for references from past clients to evaluate their experiences.
3. User Experience
Today’s customers are becoming more and more discerning when it comes to their shopping experience; a low-budget feel often leads consumers to believe that the product they are researching is of lesser quality than the competition. Your B2B eCommerce website should be easy to use for customers of any tech-savvy level; it should be intuitive and streamlined. Each component of the site should be visually appealing and make the customer notice your capacity for detail management. The site should also have advanced search capabilities—make sure each facet of the design is easy and beautiful.
Remember: the modern B2B customer is not stationary and does not sit at a workstation to purchase their materials. More and more business is done on the go—from tablets or mobile devices. Make sure that your B2B eCommerce platform is fully responsive and has the capability to sell your products across any device at any time.
4. Integrated Solution
Make sure your eCommerce software solution will be integrated into your existing business systems instead of having to adjust your systems and processes based on this addition. Whether you utilize a robust ERP solution like SAP S4 Hana or a product lifecycle management tool, your eCommerce software should be able to supply relevant information to your existing and potential online customers.
5. Configurable
One of the most nuanced parts of launching a new eCommerce website is making sure it represents the offerings you give to your customers. A B2B eCommerce solution should be adjustable and personalized for various types of customers—including different content based on their past buying habits. You’ll also want to check with your implementation provider to ensure your selected solution can deal with the scale, size, and scope of your industry.
6. Customizable
Most out-of-the-box eCommerce solutions fall flat in their ability to address the unexpected. As a team, GenAlpha has a long history of serving manufacturers, so we understand that every manufacturing business is unique and will pose different business requirements. Whether you need specific pop-up messaging capabilities to address customer account issues or a one-off user experience for a “Contact Us” form, your implementation partner and eCommerce solution should be able to address your various needs.
These attributes are all important to keep in mind as you talk to different B2B eCommerce partners. If you have questions about any of these considerations or any others you think are important, schedule a consultation with our team today.