Reach farther with a webshop and online payments

When we as private consumers seek information about a specific product or service, we have gotten used to having access to vast amounts of information - such as descriptions, images, recommendations, related products, accessories, spare parts, documents etc. Most often we find this information at the online retailers we visit on the web because it has long been a parameter in attraction business to provide great information in retail.

This is not necessarily a typical experience with B2B webshops, where especially product information is sparse. It may be so because product data is provided by an accounting software that is not suited to store the type of information that should be presented online. Or maybe it is because the company expect that it’s B2B customers already know all about the products on offer, and that details are unnecessary.

The reality is that the options we have when shopping as private consumers very much affect what we expect when we are using webshops professionally. In other words: The requirements of product presentation at B2B webshops can be considered identical with the requirements of a B2C webshop.

This is exactly why Nexus has so strong PIM-functionality, and getting your product catalog online in the best possible quality is the first step to successfully running a webshop.

Good reasons to distinguish between B2B and B2C

Even though the demands posed on product presentation is the same, we still believe that that are fundamental differences between B2C and B2B e-commerce that needs to be accommodated. Private consumers expect simple online trading around the clock and have no expectations of reaching special terms, a credit line or to clarify other matters prior to placing an order. Corporate customers are a different story.

At the same time, both private and professionals have expectations to be able to go back in a transaction log, find previous orders, invoices, claims, favorites and other functions that makes daily life more simple and provide an overview.

Most often it will be difficult to communicate in a meaningful way to both dealers and end users (or professionals and private consumers) at once as the motives to buy are vastly different. By having more advanced platforms and interfaces towards these different market segments, that fulfill the technical demands as well as possible for each segment, you can adapt and target your messages more precisely and gain a larger and better efficiency in your communication.

With Orbit, Raymeon offers a B2C.oriented platform that pulls all product data from Nexus.The private consumers register directly in Orbit and will experience simple, fast and powerful online shopping with focus on eliminating doubt - a prerequisite for getting an order. You will gain a separation of your B2B and B2C customers, each belonging in Nexus and Orbit respectively, but both having the same benefit from your centrally maintained product data for all your sales channels.

Orbit encompasses functionality for freight estimation, export (including VAT-registrations outside your own country), handling of returns, order and invoice overviews for your customers, a high level of information regarding order processing, payment handling as well as loyalty systems.

B2B and B2C in the same workflow

Because Orbit is so tightly integrated with Nexus a new order from a private customer in Orbit will most often automatically create an order in Nexus. You could choose to see you Orbit as a dealer in Nexus, on who’s behalf you are fulfilling the order. That concept makes it very easy for your warehouse staff to process orders for both B2B and B2C in the same workflow.

Negotiated B2B terms online

When it comes to B2B transactions, quite often certain negotiated terms and conditions apply, and you are quickly dealing with many different prices for the same product. When an existing customer logs in to Nexus you can provide all the details of your agreement online and provide a vital overview of the products you have decided are the main products the customer will buy. And then you need to show what else your company can provide and stimulate sales of other products, too.

Online payment

Whether you only use online payment for new customers, or if you see an advantage in getting paid up front also from existing customers, it is completely up to you to define this, both company-wide and customer to customer. Via secondary payment methods, at customer level you can also offer online credit card payment of invoices with credit terms, after they have been issued.

Webshop and credit terms

In B2B-relations there are often agreements made on pricing, a credit term and payment conditions. Because Nexus can reflect your agreed terms when your customer logs in, your B2B customers will feel safe and have their guards down when placing orders online. If you had shown incorrect prices or terms, most customers believe that they subsequently also will receive an incorrect invoice and then have to fight for a credit note later - and then it is much better to call tomorrow with the order. Of course you should not make a point of not wanting to talk to your customers - but use the time available for a more interesting conversation that just receiving an order by phone.