Overcoming Challenges
Addressing the most common concerns of B2B business owners considering e-commerce opportunities is a good place to start.
Preventing Channel Conflict
Will selling via e-commerce be seen as poaching sales from my channel partners or distributors?
Avoiding channel conflict starts with clear pricing. Manufacturer e-commerce sites don’t compete with their partners by selling at list price. Distributors and other channel partners purchase at a significant discount and can sell for much less than the list price. So, if customers are willing to pay more by buying directly from the manufacturer, what value are their channel partners adding?
For channel partners, there may be geographic limitations or other restrictions on selling new equipment online. While you might not be able to drop-ship to certain locations, manufacturers generally permit you to sell new equipment if you keep it in stock, or you can focus instead on selling aftermarket products, such as replacement parts and consumables.
Streamlining Implementation & Launch for Faster ROI
Is the return on investment worth the expense and trouble of implementing it?
First introduced in 1979 by Tesco in the UK, e-commerce predates Amazon and has evolved into a seamless, intuitive user experience. When executed by an experienced partner, the process is now quicker and more cost-effective than you might expect.
When combined with a custom marketing program, the payback period for e-commerce is typically 6-12 months. E-commerce can also work well for services in addition to products.
Less Obvious E-Commerce Benefits
Beyond the clear advantage of boosting revenue, there are several other reasons to adopt an online store:
- Expand your geographic reach
- Attract customer segments you didn’t know existed
- Streamline the purchasing process
- Sell 24/7 – it even sells while you sleep
- Sell to competitors lacking inventory
- Accept purchase orders from pre-approved customers
- Establish discounts tailored for specific customers
- Calculate and gather sales tax and shipping fees automatically
- Sell services in addition to products
- Enhance your brand’s recognition
- Increase the value of your business for potential buyers
Start Your New Revenue Stream
What are you waiting for? Consult with an e-commerce expert today to explore the opportunities available for your organization.
Innovaxis is experienced in implementing and optimizing WooCommerce (WordPress), Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce, Wix, and other e-commerce platforms.
