B2B Order Management: Improve Your Business Efficiency and Boost Your B2B Business

 B2B – Business to Business, is the term that encompasses all business that produces products or services for other business. B2B is those companies that offer the products or services that other companies need to operate and produce the final product for the market.  

You have B2B companies in every sector, from retail to manufacturing. Every B2C(Business to Consumer) companies need the help of B2B companies, like for example an automobile manufacturing company. It requires various products to finally produce the end product – a car or a bike or a truck. It requires batteries, tires, hoses, and a lot of other products that it gets from the companies that manufacture them. 

The B2B Ordering System

B2B orders are more complex than other business modules like B2C. They have the challenges of the higher cost of customer acquisition, the average buying cycle is long, and requires many advanced technologies. To manage B2B ordering system, the best solution is the B2B order management system. 

B2B order management can be explained as the process of tracking all orders placed by the business clients and thereby managing the needed fulfillment processes for them. The order management system is a platform, or can also be defined as a tool or a technology that helps in centralizing the entire process, track the orders received, and as well maintain proper inventory levels, including the shipment. 

The B2B order management process works in the following way:

The order is received and entered into the system. If your business is a B2B eCommerce business, then the customer directly places the order online via a customized B2B portal or dedicated B2B eCommerce platform. 

In return, the customer receives his order confirmation.

The products requested in the orders are immediately reserved and allocated. This may happen manually or automatically in the system.

The order is transported to the warehouse, where it is picked, packaged, and shipped. In the case of an out-of-order commodity, a backorder is instantaneously created. 

The order is dispatched and a dispatch confirmation is sent to the ordering customer. 

The order is finally delivered and received by the customer. 

Now, this is the normal process, but the system is also equipped to take care of tracking and managing returns (if any), including maintaining inventory levels and shipments. 

The many advantages of B2B Order Management 

As mentioned earlier, B2B has its challenges, and to overcome these challenges, the B2B order management system is in place. It can be of great help to you by:

Managing all orders over various sales platforms: The omnichannel or multichannel strategies can be adopted easily with the aid of B2B order management. This simply means that you are well equipped to accept orders from various channels and customers directly at any moment.

Centralized operations control: All orders, including your up-to-date inventory, is at your fingertips in one centralized platform. 

Fewer complexities in the supply chain: When you can keep track of every order effectively, you are placed in a better position to control your business and keep your customers happy.

Faster order dispatch: Is at any times much faster and less frustrating to manage sales order processing for both employees and customers. 

Maintain high standards through customization: The service and experience that you and your customer gain through B2B order management is far better and enhanced.