What is B2B (business-to-business)?
Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is “business-to-business” (B2B) involves the exchange of goods, services, or information between businesses rather than between businesses and customers (B2C).
A business-to-business transaction takes place between two businesses, such as online merchants and wholesalers. Each company often benefits in some manner and has comparable negotiation power in most B2B business structures.
According to Grand View Research, worldwide B2B e-commerce is anticipated to reach $20.9 trillion by 2027, indicating a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 17.5% for the projection period (2020-2027).
How does B2B perform?
A business sells a variety of goods or services to another business in a B2B transaction. Usually, the vendor’s goods and services are used by a certain team or division. On occasion, a single user on the buying side completes a transaction to help the commercial objectives of the organization. Additionally, some B2B transactions include the usage of the items by the entire business, such as office equipment, computers, and productivity software.
A buying committee made up of the following members handles the B2B product selection process for bigger or more complicated product purchases:
- A decision-maker in the firm, such as the budgetary officer;
- aAdecision-maker with technical expertise or someone who assesses the potential goods’ capabilities; and
- Influences, such as those who contribute to the choice.
A request for proposals (RFP) may be used for large acquisitions, in which the buyer asks potential vendors to submit bids outlining their goods, conditions, and prices.
B2B is important, but why?
B2B is significant because, in order to start, run, and expand, every firm has to buy goods and services from other companies.
Office space, office furniture, computer gear, and software, and other items are provided by a company’s B2B suppliers. Suppliers are where businesses get the food they have on hand in their kitchens and the signage they hang on their office buildings.
Several B2B company types
B2B businesses come in a variety of forms, including the following:
- Producers are those who design, develop, and produce their own goods. Producers have the option of selling their goods to enterprises directly or indirectly via merchants or resellers.
- Direct sales to businesses are done by retailers and resellers of goods and services produced by other firms. Retailers and resellers, including B2B e-commerce providers, may sell online, from physical storefronts, or both.
- Agencies and consultants provide firms with guidance, supervision, and contractual services. For instance, a consumer brand’s multimillion-dollar advertising budget is managed and carried out by an advertising agency. For the same brand, a website firm creates both the website and the mobile application.
B2B Industries
B2B companies operate in many industries, such as:
- Financial services
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Retail
- Telecommunications
- Insurance
- Healthcare
- Education
- Engineering
- Marketing and sales
- Real estate
- Food and beverage
What types of businesses are B2B examples?
Here are some instances of B2B businesses:
- Amazon
One of the most well-known B2C corporations, Amazon, also has a B2B company named Amazon Web Services (AWS). Businesses may use AWS to get capabilities like content delivery, database storage, and computational power. One of the top cloud service providers, it has GE, Hess, Expedia, Philips, and BP are among its clients. 80 availability zones and 25 geographical areas make up AWS Cloud’s worldwide footprint.
- Caterpillar
Construction and mining equipment, diesel and gas engines, industrial turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives are among the things that Caterpillar makes and sells to other companies. Through its Caterpillar Financial Services business segment, the organization furthermore offers financial services to enterprises.
- Alibaba
One of the biggest firms for internet shopping is Alibaba. Global buyers and sellers interact on the Alibaba B2B marketplace and do business.
- Quill
Quill is a B2B e-commerce startup that offers office supplies to small and midsize enterprises and is owned by Staples. Under the Quill brand as well as the labels Medical Arts Press, Mead, Coastwide, Snack Jar, and Java Roast, Quill sells over 100,000 goods.
- Upwork
Upwork is a website that links companies with freelancers for jobs in a variety of fields, including online and mobile app development, social media marketing, content creation, graphic design, and more.
Advantages of B2B:
B2B has the following advantages:
Average transaction size is large:
When compared to B2C businesses, which may need hundreds or even millions of modest sales, B2B businesses may increase revenues with a smaller number of high-value agreements. The typical B2B transaction is roughly $491 as opposed to $147 for a B2C sale since B2B organisations buy and sell in bulk.
Greater switching expenses:
If a B2B customer is happy with the product and service, they are likely to remain a loyal customer. Contrarily, B2C clients may be picky and disloyal, leading to high churn rates.
Substantial commercial potential.
A wide range of businesses may be targeted by B2B organisations, creating a level playing field. Or they might concentrate in a single sector, like technology, and get to the top of that business.
B2B businesses promote and transact business online, making it simple for customers to make large orders using a reliable digital transaction model.
Quicker delivery Tools for B2B:
E-commerce speed up the sales process for buyers by streamlining it for sellers. The transactional organisations can manage complex orders, automate fulfilment and inventory modifications, and sync data across channels thanks to integrated technologies.
Cloud-based e-commerce:
Integrated order management Platforms for cloud-based e-commerce are simple to link with order management or back-end systems. This makes it possible for B2B merchants to synchronise client and order data across all channels.