What is B2B Ecommerce? Types, Examples, and Platforms

Whether companies will embrace going digital or not, most customers undoubtedly have. 

That's why modern businesses need ecommerce to stay current. 

While most ecommerce talks center on B2C (business-to-consumer) sales, B2B ecommerce is worth 5 times more, globally valued at US$17.9 trillion, and is expected to grow.

If you're curious about B2B ecommerce, stay tuned. This article breaks down definitions, examples, pros and cons, types, platforms, and what the future looks like.

What is B2B Ecommerce?

Business-to-business electronic commerce or B2B ecommerce is the online transactions that happen directly between businesses. 

Let's say a law firm purchases a legal software license through a provider's website. That's B2B ecommerce.

Or a furniture manufacturer orders essential materials from a supplier's online store. That's also B2B ecommerce.

Some key characteristics of B2B ecommerce include:

• Bulk buying: Businesses typically buy in large quantities to get wholesale prices and cut investment costs.
• Tailored solutions: Certain businesses may need customized materials or services, such as specific cuts of wood or fabric, to make their unique products.
• Streamlined processes:  B2B ecommerce automates activities like browsing catalogs, submitting requests, placing orders, proceeding to payment providers, and more. 
• Long-term buyer-seller relationships: Business-to-business relationships tend to be long-term, relying on trust and communication to secure sales.

Difference Between B2C & B2B Ecommerce

The main difference is B2C (business-to-consumer) sells to individual customers while B2B (business-to-business) sells to other business buyers. 

However, the target is not the only distinction. B2B ecommerce is also more complicated since the business-to-business model typically involves longer selling cycles, more customized products, and a more complex supply chain.

This table summarizes the key differences:

Examples of B2B Ecommerce Companies

B2B ecommerce comes in many forms. Among those could be wholesalers, manufacturers, online marketplaces, and digital or software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers. 

Here are some prominent names that you might have heard of, such as:

Alibaba

Led by Jack Ma and first launched with the vision to bring small and medium-sized businesses international sales, Alibaba has grown into one of the biggest online B2B marketplaces in the world with around 900 million active buyers. This giant store offers a vast bulk selection of products, from electronics to clothing, catering to businesses. 

Microsoft

Aside from making Bill Gates a billionaire and selling software and services that everyone on the internet knows (Windows, Office, Xbox), Microsoft makes a fortune through enterprise licensing of Office 365, Azure, and Dynamics.

DocuSign

DocuSign is an electronic signature technology and digital management service used by brands like Unilever, UCSF, Aon, and more.

Perks of a B2B Ecommerce

Many factors make B2B ecommerce a great model. Here are some of the unique benefits of doing business-to-business on online platforms.

Increased brand awareness

Compared to a physical storefront discoverable only in local areas, a well-established online store allows businesses to be discovered by a much broader audience at any time and from anywhere. Targeting specific audiences with relevant ads can accelerate this process.

Scaleability

B2B ecommerce can reach more customers and broader markets by optimizing an online storefront or creating new sales channels, which are much more flexible and cost-effective than physical ones.

Automation that boosts sales

Automated sales processes help keep the customer journey smooth and possible 24/7. Customers can place orders and make payments outside of business hours. That is where convenience comes in to retain customers and increase sales opportunities.

A wealth of business and marketing tools

Going online enables access to a suite of ecommerce tools, such as data analytics tools, advanced reporting tools, and more.

Multi-location capabilities

B2B ecommerce allows sales to be made simultaneously through multiple online channels and marketplaces, which won't be imaginable for a physical storefront.

Product catalogues, pricing, and content can be managed across all sites from a single interface. Consistency is maintained while reach and exposure expand.

Drawbacks of a B2B Ecommerce

B2B ecommerce comes with unique challenges, and major ones are the following 

Security and payment concerns

Business-to-business transactions involve large purchases and sensitive financial information, which can be challenging online. Payment gateways must prevent fraud and ensure authorized access. Extra verification and authorization steps may be required. Therefore, choosing the right payment gateways or payment methods is extremely important.

Price comparison and negotiation

High-value purchasers want the best deal available and can compare the rates more easily than ever, just with clicks. Therefore, businesses may need to be more flexible with their list prices to win contracts or sustain partnerships. This is also why the B2B ecommerce market is improving its price configurations.

Still, even with price configuration, the opportunity to negotiate seems more limited than face-to-face interaction. Many B2B ecommerce stores counter this by encouraging buyers to contact for more customized options.

Customer's doubts about physical products

While B2B ecommerce increases visibility, the inability to physically examine goods may hinder online sales or lead to after-sales disputes for some products. Many businesses provide detailed product descriptions and video demonstrations to address this.

Despite this limitation, ecommerce remains a convenient choice for many people, especially for various services and repeat purchases by existing customers.

Complex supply chain management

With bigger exposure, bigger orders, and customer expectations may come, which require even more effective supply chain coordination to meet business needs while managing cost and delay.

💡Tips: Going online may bring bigger orders and more complex supply chain management, but digitalization is catching up fast as well. A number of supply chain solution catering to B2B is available, such as IBM and Achilles.

Types of B2B Ecommerce - With Examples

Businesses that sell to other businesses online fall into one of the many types of B2B ecommerce models, and some may fit into more than one category. 

Here are the 4 major types of B2B.

B2B2C

B2B2C (business-to-business-to-consumer) is when two companies collaborate to sell products or services to the same end consumers. Typically, one company produces goods while another handles marketing, fulfilment, and customer experience.

Another scenario of B2B2C is when wholesalers or manufacturers produce goods and then sell them to another business that sells directly to consumers without an intermediary.

Examples of B2B2C

Amazon

Amazon is one of the biggest public companies existing and it accounts for 49% share of the U.S. e-commerce market. It caters to B2C, B2B, and, you guessed it, B2B2C.

Amazon’s ecommerce hosting and product inventory service is a B2B2C model that allows business to reach larger audiences and their customers to benefit from Amazon’s fast shipping and 24/7 customer service. 

Instacart 

Instacart is a full-service order fulfilment that lets customers order from its grocery store partners’ catalogues, and Instacart gets them delivered.

Wholesale

Wholesale B2B is when one business sells products to another business in large quantities, typically at discounted or wholesale pricing. Many wholesale customers resell those products at retail value.

Examples of Wholesale

Sysco

Sysco wholesales food and non-food products to independent and chain restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.

Costco Wholesale

One of the largest wholesalers, offering a diverse selection of products from technology to jewellery. It advertises affordable warehouse costs and caters to both businesses and individuals.

Manufacturer

Manufacturers produce goods in large amounts, using raw materials, labour, and machines, and then sell those products to businesses, wholesalers, or other manufacturers. 

Examples of Manufacturer

Samsung Electronic

A phone and home appliances, yes, but also a major manufacturer of electronic components such as batteries, camera modules, and displays. Those components are supplied to various other brands, Sony and Apple included.

Kohler

A company and manufacturer of bathroom and kitchen products sold to home goods warehouses, hospitality, and service establishments like hotels and restaurants. 

Distributor

A distributor buys in bulk from manufacturers and resells to B2B consumers. 

This partnership exists because distributors handle tasks that manufacturers don’t do in-house, such as packaging, shipping, and marketing. Therefore help manufacturers achieve more streamlined supply chains, resulting in better customer experiences.

Examples of Distributor

Ingram Micro 

Ingram Micro is one of the largest distributors of IT products. It offers technical support, financing, and marketing to IT resellers.  

Grainger

Grainger sources industrial supplies and equipment from manufacturers and sells them to businesses and institutions. It manages inventory, fulfilment, and technical support for its business customers.

🔍Tips: While there are other ways to categorize types of B2B ecommerce, these 4 types categorized by the nature of the enterprise and its prospective audience, are the most popular.

What is a B2B Ecommerce Platform?

A B2B ecommerce platform is an online marketplace or medium that allows businesses to list their products and services, find potential business buyers, manage collaborations, gain network insights, and expand their reach into wider markets.

Examples of B2B Ecommerce Platforms

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is one of the most well-known ecommerce platforms, catering to both B2C and wholesale B2B. It advertises frictionless processes, fast checkout, and everything needed for a smooth and scalable online business. 

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a platform for businesses that sell to wholesale and retail customers. It focuses on integrating businesses’ existing software, customized experience, and ecommerce features.

OroCommerce

OroCommerce is a B2B ecommerce platform and CRM software that advertises robust B2B back-end and impressive customer experience on the front end. It comes with Enterprise Edition meant for mid to large-size businesses. 

💡Tips: When choosing an e-commerce platform, look for both user base and functions. Most B2B Ecommerce platform goes beyond an online marketplace by offering in-house tools to optimize sales and commerce operation, such as automating buyer signups and syncing inventory and orders.

B2B Ecommerce Myths

Although the B2B ecommerce model grows at an impressive rate, many misconceptions hinder businesses from taking its advantage. 

The most common ones that we hear often are: 

"B2B ecommerce is for large corporations with big budgets."

B2B ecommerce is not just for giant companies. It is accessible to businesses of most sizes and industries, with numerous platforms and solutions available to meet a wide range of demands and budgets.

"B2B ecommerce is risky and insecure."

It has its risks but not without solutions. Most B2B ecommerce payments today are secure and trustworthy. Data and online transactions can be protected from unauthorized access or misuse by using encryption, authentication, and verification technologies. 

"Business clients don't shop online or aren't comfortable making big purchases online."

Not necessarily true. Forbes points out that 70% of buyers are open to spending over $50,000 digitally, remotely, or through self-service, without meeting a sales rep. 

If your site and payment process are secure, and you manage to communicate to customers about it, there's not much to be scared about.

"B2B ecommerce stores need to display prices upfront."

Since the B2B market is small and fierce, many fear disclosing sensitive information like prices to competitors. However, most B2B ecommerce websites actually require potential business buyers to log in before revealing the custom pricing.

"B2B online store is only complimentary."

McKinsey & Company report that 60% of business buyers are willing to place orders through digital platforms, which could be why almost two-thirds of B2B sellers are looking to further execute online transactions. Those numbers seem more of a must-have opportunity. 

The Future of B2B Ecommerce

B2B ecommerce is great today but what are the trends that will shape its tomorrow? 

See the quick answers below.

Mobile commerce

Smartphones made up 50% of B2B searches. There's no doubt businesses must ensure their online platforms are as mobile-friendly as they are quick and secure. 

Personalization

52% of B2B marketing leaders are looking to invest more in personalization technology. Evidently, personalized customer experience is becoming more important in B2B ecommerce. 

Businesses must consider account-based, context-based, and dynamic personalization. This means segmenting business clients by account, understanding their industry-specific needs, and tracking customer behaviour to tailor solutions.

User experience

User experience is critical for any ecommerce business, and B2B is no exception. Avionos reports that 87% of B2B clients prioritize an effective online sales portal and would pay a premium for a good experience. 90% will even change suppliers for a better ecommerce experience. 

Data Analytics

These days, nothing can go online without talking about data. Customer data helps businesses understand and predict customer behaviour and generate personalized recommendations, which lead to better experiences, and increased satisfaction, retention, and revenue.

Buy now, pay later

While this is a B2C trend, it's getting more popular among business customers. A company like Resolve that offers buy now pay later specifically for B2B has risen in popularity due to customers showing greater interest in this option. This could easily be a new way to boost the checkout conversion rate.