The world of business-to-business (B2B) commerce is undergoing a profound transformation, and mid-sized businesses are at the forefront of this change. As technology advances and customer expectations evolve, many mid-sized B2B companies are recognizing the benefits of moving their ecommerce operations to the cloud. In this blog, we’ll explore why mid-sized B2B businesses are increasingly embracing cloud-based ecommerce solutions and how this shift is reshaping their competitive landscape.
Locally hosted software and legacy ecommerce technology can quickly become outdated and less effective. Manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors launching an ecommerce channel or updating their platform to stay competitive have a lot to think about.
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What are Mid-sized B2B businesses looking for?
Mid-sized B2B businesses need enterprise-quality commerce technology at small-business prices. Forrester says that time-to-market (TTM) and total cost of ownership (TCO) are their top priorities. That’s why Cloud-based solutions are their preferred options.
Pace of change
Forrester says that mid-sized B2B companies are now looking for much more than online catalogues, shopping carts, and promotions. B2B buyers expect to move freely between online self-service and sales team support. They expect seamless buying journeys and innovative fulfillment options.
Increasingly, manufacturers and high-tech companies are moving into the direct to consumer (D2C) market by selling directly to customers as well as wholesalers and resellers. Their ecommerce platform is becoming a tool to manage multiple sales channels.
Rapid deployment
Mid-sized B2B companies need to respond quickly in a rapidly developing marketplace. They want to be agile and launch new sites and innovative ideas quickly. A new site in the Cloud can be live in weeks rather than months. With modern service-orientated architectures and powerful application programing interfaces (API) development and integration can be simplified and streamlined.
Personal service
For mid-sized companies that want to differentiate themselves from global marketplaces like Alibaba and Amazon Business, deep knowledge of customer needs and personalized service are essential. Research by Gartner predicts that by 2018 B2B companies that offer personalized online buying experiences will have outsold competitors who aren’t providing this level of service by 30%.
Driven by data
To meet rising customer expectations, mid-sized B2B companies are investing in tools to help their sales partners to make decisions about customer service.
Improved reporting, analytics, and data-driven decision-making tools are all helping to boost performance. Improving their ability to capture and analyze data mid-sized B2B companies can help their sales partners to make informed choices about products, services, personalization and fulfillment.
Solution choice
Forrester identifies four major elements for B2B companies choosing an ecommerce solution. Managing the ecommerce selection and ordering processes, user experience and product information management. In the future these four ‘pillars’ of ecommerce might merge into a single solution. In the meantime, companies are choosing very different approaches.
Some simplify and speed up implementation with an all-in-one approach. Others prefer to complement their ecommerce choice by integrating complementary best-of-breed solutions as part of their overall strategy. Others deliver innovation through a new customer interface and integrate existing systems behind the scenes.
Key Drivers for Cloud-Based Ecommerce Adoption by Mid-sized B2B Businesses
Now, let’s explore the specific reasons why mid-sized B2B businesses are eager to embrace cloud-based ecommerce solutions.
Cost Efficiency
Cloud-based ecommerce solutions eliminate the need for significant upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure. Mid-sized businesses can leverage the scalability of the cloud, paying only for the resources they use, which significantly reduces operational costs.
Mid-sized businesses often experience fluctuations in demand. Cloud-based ecommerce platforms can easily scale up or down to accommodate changing needs, ensuring that businesses can adapt to growth without the constraints of traditional infrastructure limitations.
Accessibility
Cloud-based ecommerce solutions are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility empowers sales teams, customers, and employees to access critical data and make decisions in real-time, whether in the office, at home, or on the go.
Cloud service providers invest heavily in security measures, often exceeding what mid-sized businesses can achieve on their own. Cloud-based ecommerce platforms offer robust security features, including encryption, authentication, and data backups, which help protect sensitive business information.
Mid-sized B2B businesses can leverage cloud-based ecommerce platforms to provide an exceptional customer experience. Personalization, real-time inventory updates, and responsive design for mobile access contribute to a seamless buying journey that keeps customers engaged.
Integration Capabilities
Cloud-based ecommerce platforms are designed to integrate with various other business systems, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems. This integration streamlines business operations, enhances data accuracy, and improves decision-making.
Data Analytics
Cloud-based platforms provide access to advanced data analytics tools that allow mid-sized businesses to gain insights into customer behavior, market trends, and operational performance. This data-driven approach enables more informed decision-making and strategy development.
Cloud-based ecommerce solutions offload the burden of IT maintenance and updates to the service provider. Mid-sized businesses can focus on their core operations instead of managing infrastructure, software updates, and security patches.
Global Reach
Cloud-based ecommerce platforms eliminate geographical limitations, allowing mid-sized businesses to expand into new markets and tap into previously inaccessible customer bases. This global reach diversifies revenue streams and reduces dependence on local markets.
Competitive Advantage
Early adoption of cloud-based ecommerce gives mid-sized businesses a competitive edge. They can deliver superior service, quicker response times, and more attractive pricing, disrupting traditional industries and establishing themselves as market leaders.
For businesses that want it all…
As technology continues to advance and customer expectations evolve, mid-sized B2B businesses that embrace cloud-based ecommerce are positioning themselves for growth and success in the digital age. The cloud is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a strategic move that allows mid-sized businesses to compete on a global scale, make data-driven decisions, and stay agile in a rapidly changing market.
In this era of digital transformation, mid-sized B2B businesses have the opportunity to redefine their competitive landscape and seize new growth opportunities, all while providing exceptional experiences for their customers. As cloud-based ecommerce continues to evolve, it will remain a driving force behind the success of mid-sized B2B businesses in the coming years.
Cloudfy can effectively support any of these business approaches. With regular updates automatically deployed in the Cloud, businesses are always up to date with the latest innovations. With out-of-the-box ecommerce and powerful integration and API there’s also the flexibility to integrate existing systems and develop for the future. New sites can be deployed quickly and costs are easy to manage with straightforward monthly fees.
For your complete B2B ecommerce solution in the Cloud, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several factors, including cost efficiency, scalability, enhanced customer experiences, and global reach, are motivating mid-sized B2B businesses to embrace cloud-based ecommerce.
Cloud-based solutions handle IT maintenance and updates, allowing mid-sized businesses to focus on core operations instead of managing infrastructure, software updates, and security.
Yes, cloud-based ecommerce platforms offer personalization features, ensuring mid-sized businesses can provide tailored experiences to their customers while benefiting from the cloud's advantages.
Cloudfy is a versatile solution that supports various business approaches, making it an excellent choice for mid-sized B2B companies transitioning to cloud-based ecommerce. Contact us today for a complete B2B ecommerce solution in the Cloud.
