The rise of business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce has transformed the wholesale and distribution industries, replacing traditional bricks and mortar stores and paper-based transactions with digital technologies and online marketplaces. In 2020, B2B eCommerce sales amounted to $12.2 trillion, accounting for over 80% of total B2B sales. Market statistics project that the global B2B eCommerce market will reach $20.9 trillion by 2027, with a 17.5% growth from 2020 to 2027. This shift not only changes the way businesses operate but also creates new opportunities for growth and expansion.
B2B eCommerce platforms like DJUST have emerged as powerful solutions for streamlining operations, reducing costs, and reaching new customers in the wholesale and distribution industries. DJUST, a flexible, agile, and ultra-simple SaaS B2B eCommerce solution founded by Arnaud Rihiant, aims to help businesses of all sizes facilitate a seamless buying experience to meet their customers’ needs and grow their business.
Understanding wholesale and distribution in B2B eCommerce
The eCommerce sector relies heavily on two key components: wholesale and distribution. Wholesale focuses on the B2B trade of large quantities of goods, setting it apart from retail. Distribution, in contrast, is tasked with ensuring the efficient delivery of these goods to the end customer. Together, these elements play essential roles in the smooth functioning of the eCommerce supply chain.
Wholesalers are key intermediaries within the global supply chain, bridging the gap between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers by facilitating the distribution of bulk goods. Despite the significant downturn in 2020, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant trade restrictions, the wholesale sector is projected to rebound and experience growth through 2026.
Advancements in technology, including dropshipping platforms, eCommerce website builders, and the rise of social commerce, have streamlined the connections between manufacturers and consumers, eliminating the need for traditional retail and logistics infrastructure. Nonetheless, B2B-focused eCommerce platforms must incorporate features tailored to business needs, such as bulk ordering, pricing tiers, and inventory management tools.
Rihiant explains that having a reliable B2B eCommerce platform helps businesses add value to their wholesale and distribution businesses sector, one that is vital in today’s challenging and stiff competition. “When a business has an agile, efficient, and effective B2B eCommerce platform, it establishes trust from their customers and makes them stand out among the vast competition,” he adds.
The advantages of a B2B eCommerce platform
One of the primary benefits of B2B eCommerce in wholesale and distribution is the ability to reach a wider audience. With an online presence, wholesalers and distributors can expand their customer base beyond their local area and even across international borders, opening up new opportunities for growth, revenue, and competition with larger players in the market.
B2B eCommerce also allows wholesalers and distributors to operate more efficiently by automating many processes once done manually. In the wholesale industry, where operations focus on handling bulk orders, managing and fulfilling large orders can be daunting and time-consuming. “This is where B2B eCommerce platforms come into play, automating the tedious process and making huge workflows happen seamlessly,” Rihiant says.
In addition, B2B eCommerce platforms can handle inventory management, order fulfillment, and shipping, resulting in better customer management and a more personalized experience. The wholesale industry often struggles with managing customer data and preferences’ sheer volume and complexity. With the help of B2B eCommerce platforms, wholesalers and distributors can have complete knowledge and control of thousands of customer records effectively and quickly without missing out on anyone.
Elevating the wholesale and distribution process
DJUST aims to address the wholesale and distribution industries’ need for a robust and secure technology infrastructure to maximize eCommerce’s benefits. Its B2B features provide a one-stop shop for businesses to manage inventory, accept payments, track suppliers and orders, and offer fast stock turnaround and fulfillment.
“Through our cutting-edge technologies, we aim to help businesses stay in control of their eCommerce business and scale their business as they grow in existing or new markets,” Rihiant says.
B2B eCommerce platforms have disrupted traditional distribution channels and traditional ERP and legacy IT systems, creating new opportunities for businesses to streamline their supply chain processes and delight their customers with online offers. By simplifying the B2B eCommerce process, it has the potential to revolutionize the wholesale and distribution sectors, creating new opportunities for growth and expansion.
