The applications of the B2B sales platform extend far beyond simply running an online shop for businesses. It is a tool that automates sales processes, integrates systems and streamlines collaboration between business partners. In this article, you will learn what the B2B sales platform is, how it is used in practice, and in which business models it works best.
What is the B2B platform?
A business-to-business (B2B) sales platform (B2B) is a tool designed to facilitate trade between two companies. Unlike business-to-customer (B2C) platforms (B2C), it is aimed at business customers, enables wholesale sales and does not need to be open to the general public. We have provided an introduction to the topic of B2B platforms on our blog in an article about sales platforms: B2B.
See also: Online wholesale business – what is it and how do you set one up?
What can the B2B platform be used for?
The most common use of the B2B sales platform is wholesale, where it functions as an online shop B2B. The online shops B2B offered by www.centoro.com enable the automation of sales processes. For example, we can integrate the buyer’s warehouse system with the seller’s system and automatically send new orders when stock levels in the customer’s warehouse fall below a specified threshold. A similar mechanism can be utilised for production optimisation and planning. A manufacturing company’s B2B platform can be integrated with the systems of suppliers of parts, raw materials or semi-finished products used in the production process. When stock levels of these items fall to a certain level in the manufacturer’s warehouse, orders will be automatically placed with the suppliers.
The parameters that determine automatic actions can vary. For example, we can set a price limit within which the system can automatically place orders. If this limit is exceeded, the transaction will require authorisation; this means, on the one hand, that we will not have to constantly monitor the supplier’s prices, and, on the other hand, it will protect us from incurring excessive costs.
Read also: B2B vs B2C – find out the key differences!
The most popular use of the online shop B2B is currently wholesale. The shops at B2B are used by various sectors, ranging from retail supply and the HoReCa sector to the manufacturing companies mentioned earlier. In the case of retail supply, the online shop B2B enables business partners to order the products they require quickly and conveniently. This communication channel reduces the need to employ sales representatives, which significantly cuts operating costs. Furthermore, the sales platform B2B operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning we are not restricted by time when accepting orders.
Access to the B2B platform
When setting up a shop at B2B, we can decide whether we want it to be open to the general public or whether we will restrict access to selected users. Many business owners, for various reasons, wish to restrict access to their platforms at B2B.
Even in the case of shops open to the general public, many companies choose to partially exclude retail customers or carry out an initial verification of a potential buyer by asking for their tax identification number (NIP) at the time of registration, or by confirming the accuracy of their details by telephone or email. The aim is to prevent end retail customers from accessing the wholesale offer, so as to ensure they do not discover the intermediary’s margin.
See also: The B2B online shop and its terms and conditions – what do you need to know?
Another reason for restricting access is security or the need to maintain the confidentiality of the production process within manufacturing companies. The internal online shops B2B of such organisations are usually integrated with the systems of a strictly limited number of business partners with whom long-term contracts have previously been concluded.
B2B shop integrations
The key to the effective operation of the online shop B2B lies in the implementable integrations with suppliers’ systems. The company Centoro has extensive experience in developing online shops B2B, enabling it to integrate its platform quickly and easily with most popular stock control and accounting systems. An experienced team of developers and project managers is also capable of implementing bespoke integrations with less common warehouse, accounting or production systems.
Summary of the article
The B2B sales platform is a solution designed to support business-to-business sales by automating orders, integrating systems and streamlining customer service. It can function as an online shop (B2B), a data exchange tool or a system for ongoing commercial collaboration. Its application depends on the organisation’s business model and needs.
Questions and Answers
What is the B2B sales platform?
The B2B sales platform is a system that enables the sale of products or services between businesses,
often with customised price lists, commercial terms and conditions, and access restricted to logged-in business partners.
What are the main uses of the B2B platform?
The most common uses of the B2B platform include online wholesale, order automation,
integration with warehouse and ERP systems, and streamlining ongoing collaboration with business partners.
How does the B2B platform differ from the B2C shop?
The B2B platform is designed for business customers and offers, amongst other things,
bespoke pricing,
bulk orders, deferred payments and system integrations that are not usually available on B2C.
Could the B2B sales platform be shut down?
Yes, B2B platforms often operate on a closed model and are intended exclusively
for selected business partners, which enhances security and control over sales.
Can the B2B platform integrate with other systems?
Yes, one of the key features of the B2B platform is its integration
with warehouse, accounting and production systems,
which enables the automatic exchange of data.