7 ways B2B ecommerce can help meet your operational challenges during peak season
Just like retailers, business to business (B2B) ecommerce companies need to be ready to cope with increased demand during peak season.?
However, inflation, supply chain disruptions and staff shortages will all add to the operational challenges this year. A recent survey found that many businesses are expecting even more disruption.?
Here are seven ways the team at Cloudfy think B2B ecommerce can help.?
1.Risk – you have a wealth of data from last year, so use it to see if there are issues and risks you could be better prepared for this year. Look at the performance of your sales channels and products. Have backup strategies in place and use omnichannel sales to stay ahead of your competitors.?
2.Inventory – you will want enough inventory to meet demand but buying extra stock can put temporary pressure on your cashflow. Make sure you aren’t over-extended with effective inventory management. Integration with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system will also give you a reliable view of your actual versus forecast sales.?
3.Supply issues – delays in deliveries could mean you can’t meet peak season demand. You could also be affected by industrial action at ports or another coronavirus outbreak. Look for multiple alternative options to help maintain your stock levels and keep up with demand.?
4.Fulfillment – you know it’s going to be busy, so make sure your warehouses and fulfillment centers are ready to respond to last-minute issues. Accurate financial reporting will help you make good decisions to optimize storage of your inventory, improve your warehousing processes, and streamline onward deliveries.?
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5.Customer experiences – using your B2B ecommerce platform to encourage additional purchases from your existing customers makes good sense. Integrating your ecommerce software and your customer relationship management (CRM) system can help you promote more frequent or higher volume purchases. You can also test and gain insights into effective strategies for target groups of customers and products.?
6.Deliveries – accurate delivery information is important to your buyers and they might also be interested in alternative options to collect and return purchases which could increase flexibility and reduce costs. Above all, effective and transparent communication will help to manage customers’ expectations and minimize additional delivery status enquiries during your busiest period.?
7.Returns – product returns add to your costs and, if the process isn’t well managed, you could lose future sales and damage your reputation. Make sure you have a transparent returns policy and an effective returns logistics process. Information about the reasons for returns can also help improve your overall processes, so make sure you collect and use customer feedback.?
About Cloudfy: A leading-edge software as a service (SaaS) solution like the Cloudfy B2B ecommerce platform helps you manage the additional business challenges you face at busy times to stay ahead of your competitors.?
Cloudfy is a scalable solution with a powerful suite of tools designed for B2B operations that will help streamline your business and keep things running smoothly, no matter how busy you are.?