Multichannel Insights Guest Author
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Does Your 3PL Provider Have Technology Needed to Grow & Keep Business Running?
(This is a guest post from our friends at ReTrans Freight, provider of integrated transportation technology solutions, focused on simplifying LTL B2B/B2C online commerce.)
When evaluating 3PL providers and logistics companies, technology should arguably be one of the primary attributes to be considered. What sort of tools are available to clients and do these come at an additional cost? How secure is the environment within which your data will be housed? Now that we are deep into the internet age, it’s imperative that merchants question the ways in which their logistics partners automate, integrate and innovate. After all, freight costs are one of the largest line-item expenditures a company manages so it behooves shippers to ensure that their getting their money’s worth.
(more…)Get Your B2B Sales Team On Board for Your eCommerce Migration
(This is a guest post from our friends over at ES Tech Group, who offers the B2B webstore platform, EvolutionX, and web catalog service, FusionPlus.)
Uber and Lyft are taking over taxis. Self-check-out kiosks are taking over store clerk positions. B2B eCommerce webstores are taking over salespeople’s roles – or are they? The answer, in short, is no; however, some salespeople still seem to fear otherwise.
While the salesperson’s role is not becoming obsolete, it is changing; however, before we dive in to how we can get our sales team to corroborate a digital transformation, it’s first imperative that we can explain to them why this additional sales channel is essential.
(more…)8 Ways to Reduce Risk in Your eCommerce Business
(This is a guest post from our friends over at Payability, a technology firm that offers different financing options that give marketplace sellers daily access to cash.)
When you run an eCommerce business — especially one across multiple marketplaces — it’s vital to keep your risks to a minimum. In general, “risk” refers to anything that could potentially lower your business’s profits or lead to its downfall. In your case, such risk could include everything from how you operate across channels to your product strategy to how you manage cash flow — and so much more. The good news is, when you manage these (and other) liabilities well, you can more seamlessly grow your business.
To help you get there, we put together the top 8 ways to reduce risk in your eCommerce business:
(more…)Delivering Omnichannel Customer Experiences in B2B eCommerce
As B2B eCommerce continues to gain traction among B2B sellers, they are now faced with the challenge to deliver the same streamlined customer experiences at different customer touchpoints. Modern buyers are looking for simplified and convenient access to product catalogs online but they also may require personal assistance or a direct phone call with a sales rep. They search for items on their mobile phones, then send RFQs on an eCommerce portal, and negotiate prices in person on a call. They expect matching buying experience on every sales channel and this is why having a strong B2B omnichannel strategy is such a vital foundation for each company’s customer-focused eCommerce.
Delivering omnichannel customer experiences in B2B eCommerce is also important for converting offline buyers into fluent eCommerce users. B2B eCommerce market is growing fast – Forrester estimates that US B2B eCommerce has surpassed $1.1 trillion and will grow up to $1.8 trillion by 2023. The name of the game for B2B companies today is bringing more customers online and that means facilitating their eCommerce buying journey every step of the way.
So, what are the key elements of an omnichannel strategy in B2B and how to implement them? We’ll start with an overview of organizational and cultural changes, after which we’ll shortlist major technological enablers. (more…)
5 Signs You Need eCommerce Financing
(This is a guest post from our friends over at Payability, a technology firm that offers different financing options that give marketplace sellers daily access to cash.)
Are you ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level? If so, you more than likely need to invest in growth to actually get there — for example, by bulking up on inventory, or launching a new product, or expanding to another marketplace. Whatever the “next level” case may be, you won’t get there overnight or without spending some cash.
But as an eCommerce seller, it’s hard to invest in anything when your income isn’t paid out in real-time. That’s why many marketplace sellers like you turn to financing. So how do you know if it is right for you? Here are five signs you might be ready to leverage eCommerce financing, plus how to know which option is right for you. (more…)
