The B2B procurement process for a buyer has undergone a big change, going from a largely manual process to something that can be streamlined and digital.
The way business transactions take place has changed over the past 15 years and there is no going back. Gone are the days when a cheque book and fax machine could carry a company and handle the complexities of doing business. So how are businesses transacting now? What expectation do wholesale buyers have? How can your business stay competitive in a changing procurement process? To fully answer those questions, let’s begin with a definition.
Business-to-business procurement is most likely a buzzword you’ve heard a lot, but haven’t been able to find a concrete definition to, because everyone tailors it to their unique situation.
In essence it is the entire process of sourcing the goods, materials, parts or products you need from vendors. This includes the selection of goods/products, making the order, receiving and paying for that order, as well as creating all the required documentation along the way.
Procurement for the sake of B2B, encompasses all interactions your business has with another business.
The buying journey for a B2B customer isn’t all that different from a regular consumer; they start with an online search. Immediately, a company who doesn't have an online presence is at a severe disadvantage.
Among the sites the search engine finds, greater importance (and better listing) goes to wholesale businesses who have further invested in their websites. Greater depth of information goes a long way to helping your company’s website climb the ranks of search results. Once your buyer visits your site, that information needs to be easy to find and digest.
According to Accenture’s 2014 State of B2B Procurement Study “Only 37 percent of B2B buyers who research a supplier’s website feel it’s the most helpful tool for research.”
Generally speaking, wholesalers are behind the curve, and it is costing them customers.
A wholesale customer's expectations in 2020 are different, and updates to marketing and sales processes need to take place to meet those expectations. Your website is how you need to make an excellent first impression, and it should no longer be overlooked as a secondary access point for customers.
When a customer lands on a wholesalers website they are looking for:
It should come as no surprise that the majority of your customer’s decision-making process takes place well before they contact you. Failing to provide the information they are seeking is almost as bad as saying “No, thank you. We don’t want you to call us.”
Since the purchasing journey starts online, wholesale businesses should be able to accommodate online sales. Despite what some wholesalers believe, online catalogs don’t jeopardize your customer relationships, but actually strengthen them. After all, providing what your customers want is the key. Forrester Research estimates “93 percent of B2B buyers prefer to buy online when they’ve already decided what to buy.” An online catalog is the ultimate sales and marketing tool that can be configured based on specific customer segments to provide them with their particular pricing, specials and real-time product and inventory information.
“80% of B2B Buyers Have Switched From Suppliers That are Unable to Align Their Services with Buyer Expectations”
Source: Accenture’s 2019 State of B2B Procurement study
Today, those expectations are even more important. A significant shift is taking place with the sales and marketing departments of wholesale businesses as they move away from print catalogs and manual ordering processes toward a digital catalog and online ordering.
Why is this shift happening? B2B buyers are not only asking for it, but consider it essential to business purchasing and order management. As online ordering becomes an integral part of the B2B buyer's purchasing process, they will favor the companies that fit with their preferred way to order.
Read why your business should commit to online ordering
Embracing and exceeding customer expectations will benefit both parties. Online sales and marketing channels offer efficient and meaningful transactions that provide a streamlined order management process.
“Coca-Cola reported that it reduced its average cost-per-interaction by 85% by moving offline B2B customers online.”- Forrester Research 2017.
The initial investment to accommodate online purchasing is relatively inexpensive compared to the overall saving and increased revenue it offers over time. Online ordering removes costs, improves customer satisfaction and drives greater income, so there is little risk to an investment in technology. B2B buyers are eagerly awaiting your arrival to the world of online ordering and it is up to you to take the next step and invest in your business future.
With the modern B2B procurement process going digital and physical trade shows not being as popular (because gatherings have been limited or restricted by government/law, or from a personal safety aspects) virtual trade shows are an effective way to condense the business to business buying process to a set amount of time. These can be strategically scheduled by season, or on a regularly recurring basis to promote new products, hot buys or just to stay top of mind for buyers with promotions.
In the current international climate taking businesses online is critical for continued success and sustainability. The wholesale world, while not as quick to jump on trends, was moving in the direction of a complete digital experience, the recent happenings of COVID-19 has forced the industry to catch up.
The B2B procurement process has been a very manual process, especially when you look at the garden, lumber & building materials and tools industries. The ability to take B2B procurement digital will allow for easier visibility into the process, in real-time, as well as eliminate those pesky manual entry errors that always happen no matter how careful you are.
In the 21st century the buyers have more sway than ever before. They have expectations and aren’t willing to jump through as many hoops as they were in the past. So get out there, streamline the process and grow your business.
Nursery and Greenhouse growers need to think of themselves as manufacturers; plants go through a manufacturing process before being sold.
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