Managing B2B accounts doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, like BigCommerce, businesses can streamline their processes and give clients a smooth experience. In this guide, we’ll break down how to optimize your B2B account management, using BigCommerce’s handy features to make everything run more smoothly.
Introduction to B2B Account Management on BigCommerce
Regarding B2B account management, BigCommerce helps businesses organize customer relationships and transactions. It’s all about handling big orders, custom pricing, and managing multiple buyers. BigCommerce allows you to simplify these tasks while keeping things flexible and scalable. Whether you’re offering personalized pricing or integrating with existing systems, BigCommerce provides the tools you need to stay efficient. In fact, nearly 65% of B2B companies now offer eCommerce capabilities, a significant jump from 53% in early 2021. This shift shows how digital channels are becoming the primary route for B2B transactions, with eCommerce driving 18% of all revenue for B2B companies.
Understanding the Unique Needs of B2B Businesses
B2B businesses work differently from B2C businesses. They need tools to handle larger orders, multiple buyers, and custom pricing. So, what do these businesses really need?
- Bulk orders: Most B2B clients order large quantities.
- Multiple users: One account might have many users, each with different roles.
- Custom pricing: Prices aren’t one-size-fits-all; they depend on the client.
- Ongoing partnerships: B2B deals are about long-term relationships, not just one-time sales.
- Complex orders: There are often several steps in the ordering process, including approvals. It’s noticeable that 83% of B2B leaders now believe that an omnichannel approach is more successful than traditional sales methods, further highlighting the unique needs of these businesses.
These are the challenges BigCommerce addresses with its tailored solutions for B2B businesses.
Why BigCommerce is Ideal for B2B Account Management
Why choose BigCommerce for B2B account management? It’s flexible, scalable, and user-friendly. It lets businesses manage their customers more effectively, providing tools to automate tasks and create a seamless buying process. Hybrid sales models are becoming increasingly common, with 64% of B2B leaders planning to increase hybrid seller roles in the next six months, reflecting BigCommerce’s ideal fit for evolving business needs.
- Flexible: Customize it to suit your specific needs.
- Scalable: BigCommerce can grow with your business.
- User-friendly: It’s easy for both businesses and customers to use.
- Automated workflows: Save time by automating repetitive tasks.
- Great integrations: BigCommerce connects easily with ERP and CRM systems.
In short, BigCommerce offers everything you need to keep your business running smoothly as you scale.
Key Features of BigCommerce for B2B Account Management
BigCommerce offers plenty of features that make B2B account management easier. From managing multiple users to simplifying B2B bulk orders, the platform has a tool for every task.
Multi-User Account Management and Permissions
Managing multiple users within the same organization can be tricky. BigCommerce helps by allowing you to set permissions for different users, ensuring the right people have the right level of access.
- Admin controls: Designate one user as the account manager.
- Buyer roles: Create different levels of buyers with various permissions.
- Approval workflows: Ensure large orders go through an approval process.
- User-specific permissions: Only allow access to the necessary parts of the account.
- Order history: Track purchases by user within the account.
With these features, you can easily manage customer accounts while keeping everything organized and secure.
Customer-Specific Pricing and Custom Catalogs
Personalized pricing is a must in the B2B world. BigCommerce lets you create custom prices and catalogs for different clients, ensuring each customer gets a tailored shopping experience.
- Tiered pricing: Offer different prices based on the volume ordered.
- Exclusive catalogs: Show certain products only to select clients.
- Volume discounts: Automatically apply discounts for bulk orders.
- Contract-based pricing: Set special pricing for clients based on agreements.
- Automated pricing: Let the system update prices based on customer contracts.
This flexibility means your customers will always see the right price, making it easier to do business with you.
Streamlining Bulk Orders and Quick Reordering
B2B clients often need to place large orders or reorder the same products. BigCommerce simplifies this with features designed to make bulk ordering fast and easy.
- Quick order pad: Let customers input product codes to speed up their shopping.
- Saved order lists: Customers can save frequently ordered items for future purchases.
- Minimum order quantities: Set minimum order limits to ensure profitability.
- One-click reordering: Let customers quickly reorder past purchases.
- CSV uploads: Allow clients to upload their bulk orders via a spreadsheet.
These features save time for both you and your customers, making it easier to manage large or repeated orders.
Improving Customer Experience through B2B Account Optimization
A smooth experience is just as important for B2B customers as it is for retail shoppers. BigCommerce has several features that can improve the customer experience and make managing accounts easier for both sides.
Empowering Customers with Self-Service Portals
Self-service portals let customers handle their own orders and account details, freeing up your team for other tasks. It also gives customers more control over their interactions with your business.
- Order history: Customers can see all their past orders.
- Account management: Clients can update their shipping and billing information.
- Shopping lists: Customers can create lists of frequently bought products.
- Shipment tracking: Keep customers informed about their orders.
- Self-service quotes: Customers can request quotes without needing to contact sales.
This level of access helps customers feel more in control and makes it easier for them to do business with you.
Personalized Pricing and Advanced Quoting Features
Personalized pricing can make a big difference in customer satisfaction. BigCommerce offers tools to help you manage custom quotes and pricing without needing manual intervention.
- Automatic quotes: Generate quotes based on the products in the cart.
- Custom pricing for repeat customers: Offer discounts for long-time clients.
- Flexible payment terms: Set custom payment terms for each client.
- Price negotiation: Let customers request price adjustments on large orders.
- Quote tracking: Keep track of quotes and their status.
These tools make it easy to offer personalized pricing, which can improve customer loyalty and increase sales.
Automating Account Approval and Role Management
BigCommerce automates many of the administrative tasks that can take up time, making B2B account management faster and more efficient.
- Automatic account approval: Approve new clients based on specific criteria.
- Role assignments: Automatically assign roles and permissions.
- Streamlined onboarding: Make it easier to bring new clients on board.
- Approval workflows: Automate the approval process for large orders.
- Custom notifications: Keep customers updated with BigCommerce automated emails.
These automation features reduce manual work, allowing your team to focus on building relationships with clients.
Integrating BigCommerce with Enterprise Systems
One of the best things about BigCommerce is how well it integrates with other systems. Whether you need ERP, CRM, or accounting tools, BigCommerce can connect everything for a more streamlined workflow.
ERP and CRM Integration for Centralized Management
Integrating with your ERP and CRM systems can make managing your business easier. BigCommerce allows you to sync your data across platforms, so you don’t have to manually update information.
- ERP integration: Sync orders, inventory, and financial data seamlessly.
- CRM integration: Keep track of customer interactions and manage sales pipelines.
- Real-time updates: Ensure that data is updated in real-time across systems.
- Unified data: Manage customer and order information from one platform.
- Custom workflows: Create workflows that link your ERP or CRM with BigCommerce.
These integrations make it easy to keep everything organized, ensuring that your team always has access to the latest information.
Payment Methods and Net Terms Customization
Payment options for B2B customers are different from B2C. BigCommerce makes it easy to customize payment methods and offer terms that meet your clients’ needs.
- Credit terms: Offer payment terms like Net 30 or Net 60.
- Purchase orders: Let clients pay using purchase orders.
- Flexible payment options: Support bank transfers, credit cards, and more.
- Automated invoicing: Generate invoices automatically after each sale.
- Payment tracking: Track outstanding payments and send reminders.
Offering flexible payment options makes it easier for businesses to manage their cash flow while ensuring timely payments from clients.
Seamless Shipping Solutions for B2B Clients
Shipping for B2B customers can be complex, especially when dealing with large or custom orders. BigCommerce offers several features that simplify the shipping process.
- Custom shipping rates: Set shipping prices based on the size or destination of an order.
- Freight shipping: Support for larger shipments that require special handling.
- Multiple addresses: Ship orders to multiple addresses within the same transaction.
- Carrier integration: Automatically calculate shipping costs with FedEx, UPS, or DHL.
- Real-time tracking: Let customers track their shipments in real-time.
These tools ensure that your clients receive their orders on time and without hassle, keeping them happy and coming back for more.
Leveraging BigCommerce’s Analytics for Account Management
Knowing how your customers behave and tracking purchase trends can give you valuable insights. BigCommerce’s analytics tools help you make informed decisions about your B2B account management strategy.
Tracking Customer Behavior and Purchase Trends
Understanding what your customers buy and how often they make purchases is key to optimizing your business.
- Purchase history: See what your customers are buying.
- Customer lifetime value: Track how much each client spends over time.
- Order frequency: Find out how often clients place orders.
- Abandoned carts: Track incomplete orders and follow up with customers.
- Customer segmentation: Group customers based on their purchasing behavior.
These insights can help you improve your services and offer better deals to your most valuable clients.
Using Data to Improve Inventory Management
Managing inventory can be tricky, but with the right data, you can make smarter decisions about stock levels and product availability.
- Stock tracking: Keep an eye on your current inventory.
- Demand forecasting: Use past trends to predict future sales.
- Automated stock alerts: Get notified when products are running low.
- Reorder automation: Automatically reorder products when stock is low.
- Backorder management: Allow customers to place orders even when items are out of stock.
These tools ensure that you never run out of the products your customers want, keeping your clients happy and your business running smoothly.
Optimizing Your BigCommerce B2B Store for Success
A successful B2B account management strategy isn’t just about handling accounts—it’s about creating a smooth shopping experience for your customers. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your BigCommerce store.
Customizing the Checkout Experience
The checkout process is a key part of the customer experience. BigCommerce lets you customize this process to make it as easy as possible for your clients.
- Custom fields: Add fields for purchase orders or special instructions.
- Saved payment methods: Let customers save their payment info for future orders.
- Invoice generation: Automatically create invoices at checkout.
- Multiple shipping options: Give customers a range of shipping methods to choose from.
- Simplified checkout: Create a quick and easy checkout process to reduce cart abandonment.
By optimizing the checkout experience, you can make it easier for customers to complete their purchases.
Enhancing Omnichannel and Mobile Shopping Experiences
More and more B2B buyers are using their mobile devices to make purchases. BigCommerce helps businesses optimize their stores for mobile shopping.
- Responsive design: Ensure your store looks great on all devices.
- Mobile-friendly catalogs: Make it easy for clients to browse products on their phones.
- Push notifications: Send order updates and promotions straight to customers’ phones.
- Mobile payment options: Support payment methods that work well on mobile.
- Easy account access: Let customers manage their accounts from their smartphones.
By focusing on mobile optimization, you can ensure that your customers have a smooth shopping experience, no matter what device they’re using.
Providing Detailed Product Information for Informed Decisions
B2B customers need detailed product information to make the right purchasing decisions. BigCommerce makes it easy to provide this information in a clear and accessible way.
- Detailed product descriptions: Include all the key details about each product.
- High-quality images: Show products from multiple angles with clear images.
- Product specs: Provide important information like size, weight, and materials.
- Customer reviews: Let clients see what others have said about your products.
- Comparison tools: Help customers compare different products side by side.
With clear, detailed product information, your customers can make better buying decisions, which can lead to higher satisfaction and more repeat business.
How GritGlobal’s Atom8 B2B Can Optimize Your B2B Account Management
Atom8 B2B from GritGlobal offers additional features to help with B2B account management on BigCommerce. This BigCommerce Wholesale App simplifies everything from onboarding to sales management, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Automation of Customer Onboarding and Approval
This app automates the process of bringing new clients onboard, saving you time and effort.
- Auto-approve clients: Automatically approve new customers based on specific criteria.
- Simplify onboarding: Reduce the manual work needed to set up new accounts.
- Send welcome messages: Automate email workflows for new clients.
Sales and Quote Management
Managing sales and quotes can be time-consuming, but this tool automates these tasks to make things easier.
- Automate quotes: Generate and approve quotes based on set rules.
- Assign sales reps: Automatically assign staff to manage quotes and follow-ups.
Personalized Pricing and Segmented Catalogs
With this app, you can automate the process of updating pricing and catalogs for different customer groups, making it easier to offer personalized experiences.
- Update prices automatically: Keep pricing up to date for each customer group.
- Segment catalogs: Show different products to different clients.
Bulk Ordering and Order Management
The tool streamlines the process of handling large, complex B2B orders.
- Automate reordering: Set up workflows for frequently ordered items.
- Manage bulk orders: Automatically track and process large orders.
Integration with External Tools
The app integrates with third-party tools like Mailchimp and Google Sheets to make your workflows even more efficient.
- Sync data: Keep everything in sync across platforms.
- Automate workflows: Reduce manual tasks by automating cross-app workflows.
Enhanced Analytics and Reporting
Atom8 B2B helps you track customer behavior and sales data, so you can make better decisions.
- Track customer behavior: Gain insights into how customers interact with your store.
- Improve decision-making: Use data to guide your marketing and sales strategies.
Conclusion
Managing B2B accounts can be a breeze with the right tools. BigCommerce and Atom8 from GritGlobal offer everything you need to simplify B2B account management. Whether it’s automating tasks, offering personalized pricing, or providing detailed analytics, these tools make it easier to serve your clients and grow your business. If you’re ready to take your B2B operations to the next level, contact us at GritGlobal and start optimizing your store today!
