Top 5 Tips For Running A Successful Distribution Business

The distribution business is always changing, which is why you need to be constantly adapting your strategies if you want to stay ahead of the curve. Keep an eye on your competitors and see what they’re doing right (and wrong). Take inspiration from their successes and learn from their failures. Staying ahead of the competition is essential if you want your business to thrive in the long-term.

So there you have it; a few tips on how to stay ahead of your competition in the distribution business. By following these simple tips, you’ll be sure to set your business up for success.

1.??Smarter Hiring Practices

Hiring the right people is essential to success in any business, but especially in wholesale distribution. Make sure you take the time to benchmark each new position and evaluate candidates against that benchmark. Training your employees properly is also key. Once you’ve hired the right people, make sure you invest in their development. Proper training will help them be more effective and efficient in their roles,

2. Stop writing and managing orders manually.

Technology can help streamline your business and make it more efficient. Mobile order writing technology gives sales reps access to customer information, product catalogs, and an order writing interface right on their smartphone or tablet. This can save you time and money in the long run.

3.??Intelligent Inventory Management

Smart inventory management software tools constantly monitor stock levels for all products in the warehouse. As soon as stock levels for a certain product reach the set minimum, new stock is ordered either automatically or manually, depending on your preferences. By keeping your inventory levels low, you can save money and avoid stock-outs. At etree GmbH we use SAP Business One to track all orders and monitor most of the processes automatically. By keeping your inventory, you can save money and avoid stock-outs.

4.??B2B E-commerce

This one is hugely important. According to a recent report released by IT consulting giant Accenture, 86% of leading B2B companies surveyed are already offering their customers the option of ordering online. Only 14% are not.

It’s become almost impossible to differentiate between distributor and retailer websites, and the entire site is geared towards impressing new visitors. In other words, the B2B industry and finally caught up to B2C trends and practices.?This is important because modern B2B customers are nothing like the ones from 20 years ago. This younger generation expects to get the same level of value-added service and customer support that B2C companies offer to the end user. Providing a seamless online shopping experience is a large part of that.

5.??Value Added Services

The wholesale distribution industry has never been as competitive as it is today. In an effort to stand out from the crowd, most companies are resorting to the oldest trick in the business book; lower prices and higher discounts. While this strategy certainly does work, it only gives you short-term gains. For long-term growth, you need to capture a consumer’s attention and retain it through outstanding customer service. In any business, but especially in wholesale distribution, customer service is key. Make sure you have a system in place to track customer orders and queries, and that your staff is trained to handle customer concerns efficiently.

By following these simple tips, you can set your wholesale distribution business up for success.