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Everything You Need to Know About Salesforce B2B Commerce

The previous ten years have seen a significant increase in e-commerce as a sales channel. As consumers, we're used to placing online goods orders and delivering them right to our door. But, a while ago, it would be challenging to picture putting an item in an online shopping basket, making a payment online, and then seeing the product delivered to your front steps a few days later.

By Ella Published 3 years ago 5 min read
Salesforce B2B Commerce

Compare that to interacting with a salesperson and using their assistance to place an order. Which procedure takes less time and is more efficient?

Sales between businesses are more accessible and convenient thanks to Salesforce B2B Commerce. Let's examine this well-liked and full platform's definition, attributes, and advantages.

B2B Commerce

Business-to-business orders can total thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars for hundreds of pieces. Businesses would prefer to place orders for goods online, just as individual consumers do unless the item is unique and needs special attention.

Salesforce has produced Salesforce B2B Commerce to enable your company's customers to purchase directly from your website. To provide your business clients with a superior online purchasing experience, the Salesforce B2B e-commerce platform is tailored to the complex B2B buying path, including negotiated prices, account-specific terms and conditions, and discounts.

What is B2B commerce on Salesforce?

A low-maintenance solution that adapts e-commerce for business purchasers is Salesforce B2B commerce. It enables businesses to create individualized eCommerce shops designed for high-volume purchases, with quick setup and a smooth, self-managing user experience that maximizes profitability.

The Benefits of Salesforce B2B Commerce

Salesforce B2B Commerce adds vital B2B functionalities to the already robust platform. With a wide selection of products available in the Salesforce Commerce Cloud, other Salesforce tools already meet the demands of B2B businesses. For instance, Salesforce CPQ handles complex bundles and pricing, and Salesforce Sales Cloud assists with tracking leads and prospects.

A self-checkout online storefront is a final component needed to complete the picture. By bridging the gap between the other technologies and the Salesforce B2B Commerce CRM, an end-to-end purchasing experience is created for self-checkout and sales rep-assisted orders. It is the best B2B ecommerce platform available today.

Advantages of Salesforce B2B Commerce

Salesforce B2B Commerce increases income by lowering selling expenses and improving the large-volume purchasing process. The platform enables commercial clients to receive what they require more quickly, with less effort, and while interacting with sales representatives less frequently.

The following are the main advantages of selecting Salesforce B2B Commerce:

Reduce Selling Expenses

Selling using an internet gateway is far less expensive than utilizing sales personnel. Your sales team will have more time to focus on higher-order activities and generate more money if your customers can place orders without needing supported selling.

Salesforce for B2B is pre-integrated with the Salesforce CRM and is built on the Salesforce Lightning platform. This enables sales, service, and marketing to provide advanced 360-degree customer insights.

User-Friendly Interface

Built on the Salesforce Lightning Platform, Salesforce for ecommerce B2B provides a modern and helpful user interface. It offers many user-friendly functions and a relatively easy learning curve.

Individualized Suggestions

Based on previous orders, volumes, prices, and client patterns, the Salesforce B2B commerce cloud can predict customer needs automatically. Straight out of the box, quick reorder options, customized discounts, and promotions are available.

Various Methods of Payment

The Salesforce B2B Commerce platform accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, ACH, and purchase orders. Your company clients will find it simpler and quicker to receive what they require in a method that works with their processes.

Suitable for B2B Company Needs

B2B businesses must adjust their offers to accommodate large-volume demands. The business-customer experience is streamlined by features like various delivery options, stock availability checks, and notifications for newly available products.

Characteristics of the Salesforce B2B Commerce Platform

The following essential elements of Salesforce B2B Commerce are provided to assist you in building a robust B2B online shop for your clients:

Data about products and catalogs:

Salesforce enables you to create numerous catalogs with various product families and categories. Salesforce B2B Commerce can manage all product categories, regardless of their complexity.

Personalized pricing for each client:

Depending on their contracts, B2B buyers might have access to various prices. By account segment, Salesforce B2B Commerce supports the maintenance of agreed-upon prices.

Individual Storefronts

High-value clients can use their customized storefront, including their brand themes and colors.

Complicated Shipping Features

Companies frequently make simultaneous purchases of goods and supplies for various locations. You can place orders for numerous locations within a single order using Salesforce shipping groups.

Reordering Quickly

Companies purchase the same list of goods once a month or every 15 days. Repeat orders can be swiftly placed with just a few clicks, thanks to rapid reorders.

Top Tips for Using Salesforce B2B Commerce to Its Fullest

Salesforce B2B Commerce Lightning offers several beneficial features and functionalities for businesses to start enabling their clients to place purchases online. Yet to get the most out of this powerful platform, you must adhere to a few best practices.

The most crucial best practices to adhere to when setting up and maintaining your Salesforce B2B online storefront are listed below.

Avoid using the "big bang switchover" method:

Make sure the switch to B2B Commerce Salesforce Lightning happens gradually rather than abruptly if your clients are used to making purchases through salespeople. Firstly, it's a good idea to continue offering your clients offline and online sales channels. When you make the switch, assist your consumers in placing their initial online orders. Establish a communication channel as soon as the update takes effect so that customers may report any problems or defects they encounter while using the online store.

Use default features, AppExchange apps, and templates as much as possible.

To speed up the launch of your online store, Salesforce B2B Commerce offers templates and built-in functionality. Using as many of these capabilities as possible will benefit you because doing so is far simpler than completely personalizing every element of your store.

Get a skilled Salesforce Consulting Partner to assist you:

Salesforce advises working with a skilled Salesforce Consulting Partner or Salesforce Professional Service to implement the store. A number of settings must be made, including catalogues, product families, goods, and prices. A Salesforce partner can help you through the process and prevent costly errors.

Use Additional Salesforce Tools

Use the strength of other Salesforce applications, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, CPQ, and Marketing Cloud, to manage leads and opportunities, provide service, create campaigns and promotions, and price complex product bundles. When combined with B2B Commerce, these helpful apps offer a complete answer for running your company efficiently on the Salesforce platform.

Sync Up with Other AppExchange Programs

Applications from Salesforce To help you get started with B2B commerce, AppExchange can offer ready-made solutions. AppExchange apps can handle tasks that Salesforce does not handle, such as accounting or ERP. With Accounting Seed, which handles accounting, billing, payables, receivables, inventory management, and ERP in a straightforward package, significant time and money can be saved. Accounting Seed is built natively on the SF platform.

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About the Creator

Ella

Experienced Salesforce Developer with expertise in Apex Programming, Visualforce Pages, Lightning Framework, Lightning Web Components, SOQL, SOSL and Apex Testing.

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    Written by Ella