Features that every B2B online business must have

There has never been a better time to start an online store, whether you have a physical store or not. According to a number of research, the B2B e-commerce market will be worth $301 billion by 2025, and 65% of B2B companies across industries will transact entirely online in 2023. A separate report found that nearly half of B2B purchases in the U.K. and the United States are now done online.

The most alarming statistic is that more than half of B2B customers are frustrated with online shopping, citing outdated online store designs, poor payment terms, and awkward UX design. Do you want your online store to stand out and provide customer satisfaction as well as increased sales? Then don’t hesitate to include some of the following top functionalities in your online store.

Order tracking

When developing an online store, it is good to anticipate order tracking. More than half (59.3%) of customers say real-time customer order tracking has a positive impact on brand loyalty, and allowing customers to monitor the status of their orders can also reduce inquiries.

Whether you’re building an online store or an e-commerce app, make sure your customers can track the status of their orders. New technology in Apple’s iOS 16 even allows brands to integrate their order tracking into Apple Wallet.

Pricing

Pricing based on market and analysis can help your business and increase sales. Most researches show that dynamic pricing can increase profit margins by up to 8%. Use tracking platforms to strategize and move to dynamic pricing when possible. Not only do they allow you to generate higher profits and sales, but you can keep track of the competition.

Business-oriented payments

Your enterprise customers don’t work the same way as B2C customers, so your checkout page and payment terms should reflect that. You probably use Klarna on your B2B online store, but you may also need to integrate PayPal Credit.

Mobile-friendly user interface

The majority of B2B e-commerce is done using the desktop version, but your online store must be properly optimized for mobile devices. Whether you have a mobile app or an existing website for mobile devices, take the time to review each process to make sure it works the way you expect. For example: test the product pages, test your live chat function, and place an order as a new customer. Work with your team to optimize, test, and pay attention to your online store’s user interface.

According to Handshake, 88% of B2B companies believe that B2B M-commerce is the future driver of the industry, and 84% of B2B buyers use mobile devices. And most importantly: 55% of customers will switch to another online store if your web store is not mobile-friendly. If mobile shopping doesn’t meet their expectations, you can lose customers before your online store takes off.

Bulk Buying

To stay competitive, offer group discounts – such as a 5% discount for bulk buyers. Group discounts not only incentivize new customers to place an order but can also significantly increase your sales.

When it comes to buying in bulk, it’s also good to be aware of your product availability. Adding a real-time inventory feature to your online store makes it easy for shoppers to track the availability of your merchandise so they know exactly what quantity they can order. Real-time inventory also ensures you don’t sell products that aren’t available, which will limit negative customer feedback. A recent survey by Statista shows that half of the customers say that the availability of desired items is the most important option when shopping online.

Looking for support building or optimizing your B2B eCommerce online store? Contact our team to learn more and book a consultation.