Pioneering B2B Marketplaces: Our Journey with Saudi’s Leading eCommerce Company

We had the privilege to partner with Saudi Arabia’s first online shopping and delivery service, a pioneering force in the online grocery sector. This ambitious team, comprising administrators, developers, designers, customer service representatives, and operators, is dedicated to achieving success across local, regional, and international levels in the field of electronic commerce.

The Challenge

Building on their successful B2C operations, our client aimed to revolutionize the B2B sector by uniting FMCG industry retailers and vendors on a single platform. Their vision was to streamline demand-supply processes, boost revenue, and maximize profits.

However, venturing into the B2B market required a deep understanding of market requirements and challenges. Our client needed a technology partner to help them grasp the project scope, technology stack, time-to-market, competition, costs, and other development cycle factors. They approached us with key requirements to:

- Conceptualize, design, and develop a mobile solution for merchants to register and buyers to purchase groceries.

- Build a scalable mobile app infrastructure to support a growing ecosystem of small-scale vendors.

- Create customizable web interfaces for vendor and product listings tailored to different regions.

- Provide ongoing support and maintenance to protect against security threats and data loss.

- Develop an admin panel for comprehensive business management.

Our Solution

Our pre-sales and business analysts began with thorough market research, competitor analysis, and gap identification through our proprietary Discover & Frame (D&F) program. This workshop allowed us to analyze the client’s business, considering scope, competition, time-to-market, cost, technology utilization, and resources.

We developed a mobile app for B2B selling using React Native, featuring three main user roles:

- Customers: Retailers/merchants purchasing items to stock their stores.

- Drivers/Collectors: Drivers delivering consignments or collecting from the market.

- Vendors: Vendors managing their merchant network and outsourcing collection activities.

We tackled significant challenges within the B2B model, such as ensuring vendors met merchants offering the best prices. A rule engine at the backend evaluated metrics like stock availability, ETA, distance, ratings, and order history to connect vendors with the best merchants.

To optimize logistics costs, we integrated a third-party enterprise delivery management system, which provided route optimization, proof of delivery, agent capacity management, geofencing, and behavior monitoring. Additionally, we introduced cross-docking to further reduce logistics expenses.

Multiple payment modes were incorporated, including Cash on Delivery, Buy Now Pay Later, internal wallet payment, online payment, and POS. We also integrated several third-party services for logistics management, POS collection, CRM integration, virtual account collection, online payment, and marketing.

Alongside the mobile app, we developed a web-based admin panel for vendors and merchants. The vendor panel allows users to manage onboarded users, view warehouses, collection requests, and order invoices. The merchant panel provides order status, warehouse lists, and organizational/vendor details.

The Impact

Our role-based mobile app and web application have disrupted the B2B business monopoly in Saudi Arabia, setting new competitive standards. Within five months, over 900 vendors have joined the platform. Recognizing the potential and opportunities this B2B platform offers, our client successfully raised $20 million in initial funding.

Reflecting on our journey, the CEO & Founder shared:

"The past weeks, we’ve participated in the Horeca event and launched our platform, the project you all have helped us achieve! Without each and every member of you, we would not be able to do this. I appreciate all the time put into this project to make it happen. I have attached some images that show where we are now! The warehouse, the Horeca event, and the celebration! Thanks to each and every one of your team!”

Conclusion

The successful development and deployment of the B2B marketplace for Saudi’s leading eCommerce company underscore the transformative potential of technology in the FMCG sector. By creating a scalable mobile app and a robust web-based admin panel, we have enabled seamless integration of over 900 vendors within just five months. This platform not only optimizes logistics and operational costs but also enhances the overall efficiency and profitability of the business. Our collaboration has set a new benchmark in the B2B eCommerce landscape, demonstrating how innovative solutions can disrupt traditional business models and stimulate growth.

If you are facing similar challenges or aspire to innovate in the B2B marketplace and operational efficiency, contact us at [email protected] to learn more about our expertise and how we can support your goals.