E-commerce in a different way – Ordering portals for sales partners and employees
Digital affinity within society and expectations of digital processes have sharply increased in recent years, particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the B2C environment, e-commerce has long been established and customers' expectations regarding the use of a wide variety of channels at any time and from anywhere are constantly growing. This has also implications for the B2B sector.
In many areas, the (internal) use of digital channels for procurement processes is increasingly shifting into the spotlight of companies. Internal ordering portals are used to supply employees or other locations, dealers or branches with material according to their needs. However, especially in recent years, new technologies and opportunities in the wake of increasing digitalization are taking the use of B2B ordering portals to a new level. The additional enhancements make it possible to establish new standards in the market, such as the individualization of documents and printed items. As a supply chain and IT expert, we support our customers in developing and operating individual ordering portals.
The variety of ordering portals
Via the ordering portals, branches, agencies or dealers of, for example, banks, insurance companies or even from the automotive industry can order a wide variety of materials, such as office, sales or marketing materials, as well as individualized printed pieces, for example invitations to customer events with individual seats. We develop and operate customized B2B portals that are readily suitable for various industries.
With our solution we fulfill the desire of our customers to simplify the ordering of the required materials for their employees or partners according to their needs.”
Nowadays, sales partners or employees are no longer provided with all materials. Only what is actually needed for sales talks or events, for example, is ordered. An important point in the context of sustainability and sustainable use of materials.
Usability of ordering portals
B2B and B2C portals have a number of similarities, but also some relevant differences: In both B2B and B2C environments, integration into the uniform look and feel of the company is essential in order to ensure a consistent brand identity. While the B2B portal should be visually appealing, the focus is less on dwell time and more on efficient as well as easy use. Whereas for B2C stores, dwell time is much more important and should be maximized. The focus here is on the "shopping experience". The possibility of product individualization is relevant to both sectors: In the B2C sector, for example, the individualization of bags or shoes; in the B2B sector, the individualization of flyers or catalogs and the ordering of business cards. For B2B portals, integration into existing company networks and connection to downstream systems are particularly crucial, as are the various complex authorization concepts. Both factors require a deep understanding of the system as well as cross-industry expertise.
Our customers benefit from deep and long-standing know-how in the supply chain and IT environment. Added value is generated through the integration of logistics and print management as well as holistic order management: from the development and operation of the portals, through purchasing and product consulting, to warehousing and logistics.
Holger Nitsche
Vice President