
B2B Ecommerce Website Development: A Guide
Learn essential strategies and features for successful B2B ecommerce website development to boost digital revenue and satisfy business buyers.
Learn essential strategies and features for successful B2B ecommerce website development to boost digital revenue and satisfy business buyers.
Over the next two years, B2B leaders expect more than half their revenue to come from digital channels. To make that happen, they’ll need to make it easier than ever for business buyers to purchase and reorder online. How will leaders do it? B2B ecommerce website development.
Business buyers deserve the same sophisticated digital shopping experiences as consumers. Nobody should have to jump through hoops, talk extensively with a sales team, or navigate complex purchasing orders to buy what they need. With the right B2B ecommerce website development strategy, you can create an intuitive website and ordering portal that drives return business.
Many B2B buyers are shaped by their personal online shopping habits, and they have come to expect the same seamless digital transactions in their professional purchasing. Just as they wouldn't think twice about ordering from their smartphone at midnight, they now expect a convenient, seemingly effortless experience when making a B2B purchase. This shift has changed B2B ecommerce websites from a nice-to-have into a critical business imperative.
Although B2B ecommerce initially grew at a slower pace than B2C ecommerce, more than one-third of B2B buyers now complete their entire sales journey online . Business buyers now use digital channels to discover new suppliers, evaluate product options, and place orders. What does this mean for your business? Without a B2B ecommerce website, you may fail to capture the growing number of buyers who prefer a digital self-service experience.
If you’re serious about growing revenue, you shouldn’t rely wholly on in-person sales or third-party B2B platforms. Having your own online store lets you control how you connect with customers and nurture their loyalty over time.
See how leaders are navigating the new era of AI.
One of the main benefits of B2B ecommerce is convenience, so features that enable a smoother experience can be significant competitive differentiators. The key features to prioritize in B2B ecommerce website development include:
Great features matter little if your online store is difficult to navigate. Poor website design can lead to a high bounce rate, so make sure your site adheres to the following best practices:
A great B2B ecommerce website is like an iceberg: There's so much more to it than meets the eye. Beneath the surface is an extensive network of backend systems and apps that keep the site running and guarantee a smooth customer experience.
This typically includes systems for customer relationship management (CRM), inventory management, and enterprise resource planning (ERP). Organizations new to B2B ecommerce often integrate their website with the fewest apps necessary to launch it. While a quick launch is tempting, comprehensive system integration from day one sets your B2B ecommerce platform up for sustainable growth.
A fully integrated B2B website ensures your site draws from accurate data and a single source of truth. It also makes life easier for your customers by reducing the risk of mix-ups with their orders.
First things first: It’s crucial to have a solid plan before you get started with your B2B ecommerce website development. Here are some best practices for developing a plan of action that works for you.
The B2B ecommerce market is expanding and changing. Some of the key trends defining it today include:
Developing a B2B ecommerce site with features that drive business goals is no longer a “nice-to-have” when it comes to B2B sales — it's essential. Buyers expect to complete their purchases in a fully online, self-service fashion. The right platform can help you achieve significant revenue growth and customer satisfaction. Salesforce Commerce Cloud gives you a unified platform that makes it easy to bring your team, customers, and data together. Go beyond launching your B2B ecommerce website and scale your business with seamless integration that grows with you.