B2B: a platform for the food industry
Automated stock management, expiry date monitoring and efficient generation of commercial documents — for food manufacturers and FMCG distributors.
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Orders at any time
Being able to place an order late in the evening or on a non-working Sunday is a huge convenience for your customers.
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Checking expiry dates
Automatic notifications about the approaching expiry date.
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Actual stock figures
Real-time insight into current stock levels, without the need for phone calls or emails.
An integrated FMCG ecosystem
Key benefits of implementation for the food industry
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Full control over price lists
Individual discounts, volume thresholds and bespoke promotions for specific customer groups.
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No errors in the projects
The automatic transfer of data from the ordering panel directly to the warehouse shortens the order fulfilment process.
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Optimising sales representatives’ performance
CRM’s seamless integration provides a comprehensive understanding of the client’s needs.
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24/7 availability
A self-service portal providing access to invoices, payments and delivery status.
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Variable weight and production batches
Support for units of measurement such as variable weight, production batches and refrigeration conditions.
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Module for sales of items with imminent expiry dates
Instantly reduce the price of a selected batch and offer it to selected customers.
If you want to spread your wings, the B2B platform for the food industry is a solution designed precisely to meet your needs. The digitalisation of the wholesale trade is becoming the norm, allowing you to stay ahead of the competition and build lasting relationships with your customers. Thanks to modern technologies, you can offload the burden of repetitive tasks onto a dedicated system, taking the pressure off your team and giving customers the freedom to place orders at any time. The ‘B2B’ system for food manufacturers facilitates automated stock management, expiry date monitoring and the efficient generation of commercial documents. Whether you supply goods to local shops or manage an extensive distribution network, a carefully selected ordering system for food wholesalers will simplify your day-to-day operations and open up entirely new opportunities for scaling your business.
An ordering system for a food wholesaler – a revolution in FMCG e-commerce
The fast-moving consumer goods sector demands exceptional precision and the rapid flow of information between the warehouse and the distributor. The comprehensive purchasing platform B2B gives your business partners real-time insight into current stock levels. They no longer need to ring the customer service desk or send emails to enquire about the availability of a pallet of their favourite drink or a consignment of fresh dairy products. They can see everything at a glance in their intuitive dashboard.
The implementation of digital technologies significantly reduces the risk of errors when transcribing data from emails or paper forms. When it comes to the wholesale trade in products with a short shelf life, every minute counts. The efficient B2B platform for FMCG manufacturers helps to reduce order fulfilment times by as much as several dozen per cent, which directly translates into higher levels of satisfaction amongst trading partners and a lower risk of stock losses.
FMCG wholesale platform – why is the automation of commercial processes essential?
Traditional sales methods often lead to bottlenecks, particularly during peak seasons. When properly implemented, system solutions make e-commerce B2B in the food sector an exceptionally efficient channel for generating revenue. Your customers value flexibility – the ability to place an order late in the evening or on a non-trading Sunday is a huge convenience for retail shop and restaurant owners, who focus on serving their own customers during the day.
Using the sales ecosystem is also beneficial for mobile working. When a professional app for sales representatives is used on a daily basis, field staff gain immediate access to a full history of their working relationship, personalised offers and individual pricing terms. Less administration means more time for genuine interaction with partners and building long-term business relationships.
Did you know that the food industry was one of the first to widely introduce automated notifications about products nearing their use-by date? Thanks to dedicated promotional modules, you can instantly reduce the price of a selected batch of products and offer it to selected customers, thereby minimising disposal costs.
B2B’s system for food manufacturers – the benefits of a bespoke platform
If you opt for off-the-shelf software, you will soon come up against limitations specific to the food retail sector. Dedicated solutions for this sector offer features that take into account units of measurement, such as variable weight (e.g. when selling cheese or meat), production batches and special refrigeration requirements. An effective B2B for a food distributor eliminates any ambiguity regarding VAT rates, sugar levies or deposits on returnable packaging.
Key benefits of implementing an integrated ecosystem:
- Full control over price lists: the ability to define individual discounts, volume thresholds and bespoke promotions for specific customer groups.
- No errors in order fulfilment: the automatic transfer of data from the ordering panel directly to the warehouse shortens the order picking process.
- Optimising sales representatives’ work: seamless integration ensures that customer relationship management CRM runs smoothly, providing a comprehensive understanding of the client’s needs.
- 24/7 availability: the self-service portal gives buyers the freedom to view invoices, payments and the current delivery status without involving your staff.
Seamless data exchange – integration with your system ERP
At the heart of any efficiently run trading or manufacturing enterprise lies an ‘ERP’ system. For a sales portal to fulfil its purpose one hundred per cent, stable integration B2B with the wholesaler’s databases is essential. The transfer of information regarding stock levels, invoices, credit limits and settlements must take place seamlessly, preventing situations where a customer orders goods that are out of stock.
B2B’s modern platform for the food industry interfaces seamlessly with warehouse and accounting software. As a result, the entire process – from the customer adding items to their basket, through to reserving the goods and issuing the sales document – runs automatically. A correctly implemented B2B platform ensures full data consistency and streamlines sales management across all channels simultaneously.
By gaining a consistent architecture and a single point of responsibility on the part of the technology provider, you avoid the problems associated with disputes between several software developers. Your business gains a stable foundation for scaling up, entering foreign markets or expanding its product range to include new categories.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Which ‘B2B’ platform should you choose for the food industry?
It is best to opt for a tried-and-tested, modular solution designed specifically for the FMCG sector. We recommend the Centoro software. This is a stable procurement platform (B2B) which combines, within a single ecosystem, a customer portal, support for sales representatives (SFA), customer relationship management (CRM) and order processing (OMS), ensuring the company’s smooth growth without any technological barriers.
What is the B2B platform for the food industry, and how does it work?
This digital trading environment is designed for self-service wholesale trade between manufacturers, distributors and retail outlets or catering establishments. It operates on the basis of seamless synchronisation with warehouse systems, presenting business partners with a dedicated range of products, their individual prices, credit limits and current stock availability 24/7.
What are the benefits of implementing the B2B platform in the food industry?
The main benefits include a significant increase in the value of shopping baskets, the elimination of errors when entering orders, and the automation of processes. Furthermore, a carefully selected platform such as B2B for an FMCG manufacturer takes the pressure off the customer service department and sales representatives, allowing them to focus on advising customers and acquiring new clients.
What features should a modern ‘B2B’ platform for food businesses have?
First and foremost, flexible handling of prices and discounts, management of weight units and product variants, support for use-by dates, as well as the ability to quickly reorder based on purchase history. The option to set credit limits and the built-in analysis of purchasing behaviour are also useful.
Can the B2B platform for the food industry be integrated with the ERP system and the WMS?
Yes, this is indeed a key element of a successful project. The B2B system connects to ERP and the WMS to automatically exchange information on product records, stock levels, prices, orders and sales documents.
How does the B2B platform streamline collaboration with wholesalers, distributors and shops?
The FMCG wholesale platform gives customers full insight into the product range without having to wait to be contacted by a sales representative. Buyers can check the order status, download invoices or view available promotions at any time. A well-designed ordering system for food wholesalers significantly reduces the time needed to process a single enquiry.
Does the B2B platform allow you to manage price lists, discounts and product expiry dates?
Absolutely. The system allows you to create advanced pricing rules for specific customer groups, offer tiered discounts and automatically flag batches of goods with shorter use-by dates, which makes it easier to manage sales.
How much does it cost to implement the B2B platform for the food industry?
The cost depends on the complexity of the business processes, the chosen billing model and the scope of the required integrations. It is worth bearing in mind that a secure B2B system for food manufacturers delivers a rapid return on investment thanks to a significant reduction in operating costs and an increase in sales volume.
What is the step-by-step process for implementing the B2B platform?
The process begins with a needs analysis and the mapping of business processes. Next, the system is configured and integrated with the ERP software, followed by a testing phase, staff training and the launch of the portal for key business partners.
How does the B2B platform automate ordering and sales in the food sector?
The e-commerce platform B2B, which is being developed efficiently for the food industry, automates the entire process: from the moment a customer adds products to their basket, through the immediate reservation of stock levels in ERP, to the dispatch of the picking order directly to the warehouse. The whole process takes place without the need for staff to manually re-enter data.
What does the implementation look like?
A step-by-step guide to implementing the B2B platform
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Analysis and mapping
Analysis of business processes.
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System configuration
Preparing the platform.
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Integration with ERP
Integration with the company’s systems.
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Tests
Pre-start check.
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Team training
User onboarding.
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Launch of the portal
A head start for key business partners.
