As an online merchant, you’ve probably heard the term B2B software floating around at some point or another. Whether it’s been in a conversation or in a business article, it may have left you wondering what exactly it means. The first and possibly most important thing you should know is that no, it’s not a British boy band. Now that that’s out of the way, we can move on to what it actually is and why your ecommerce business should get familiar with it.
What is it?
Simply put, it’s a software integration that makes your online business run smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Just in case you didn’t already know, those are all incredibly desirable adjectives for your business. Integrating B2B software can mean everything from automating a wide range of tasks to improving your customer’s online experience, but above all, creating more sales.
The bottom line? B2B software companies are there to make your business to business sales an easier process for everyone.
What Kinds of B2B Software Are Out There?
So, what is B2B software, exactly? There are several options out there that can offer tailored software solutions for your business. Depending on your unique business needs, B2B software can consolidate all of your needs into one single platform. Let’s explore some of the different B2B software varieties.
Ecommerce Software
An online store is only as strong as the platform behind it. To stand out from your competitors, a good ecommerce software provides you with your unique online store designed to do everything for you. All you need to worry about is creating your product without having to manage any of the technical aspects of operating an online store.
An ecommerce software like FastSpring provides customers with a full-service platform that’s smooth, easy to navigate, and integrates seamlessly into third party applications like Google Analytics and WordPress. The result isn’t just less of a headache for you, but more money in your pocket.
CRM Software
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management software. As the name suggests, its purpose is to improve your relationship with your customers. CRM software provides all sorts of functions, from seeing what your customers are browsing in real-time to routine analytics reports.
Not every CRM software is right for your particular business, however. You’ll find that there are some CRM capabilities out there that are must-haves for some companies that yours could easily live without. It helps to look meticulously at places where your business could make improvements in keeping your customers happy, and chances are there is a solution for it.
For example, suppose you’ve had problems in the past with customers being bounced around from multiple customer service representatives resulting in unimpressed prospects. In that case, there’s software available that automates and manages customer information.
For businesses that want a more centralized process for sending quotes and proposals to potential clients, there’s also software for that.
Although there may be nuances of CRM software to explore, they all share the same blanket objective: improving customer relationships.
For a more in-depth look at how CRM’s work, check out Zapier’s FastSpring provides customers with a full-service platform.
ERP Software
ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. Think of ERP as a single application for integrating all the components of your business operation. By collecting data from various processes, an ERP automates and streamlines your functions into one single framework.
ERP software’s main benefit is taking a potential galaxy of data and making it available immediately for your employees and prospects.
ERP packages aren’t just for large operations, either. Even small businesses can benefit from managing their business better by saving time through ERP integration.
Not only can it be a significant asset for your employees to do their best work, but it can also be a valuable resource for customers making a purchase decision.
Email Analytics and Monitoring
Despite all of the technological advancements and various marketing channels out there today, email remains perhaps the most reliable form of communication between you and your customers.
Email campaign monitoring software permits your company to test what emails perform the best and which ones could use some tweaking. Seeing what emails get the most opens, clicks, and conversions is an incredibly powerful tool at your fingertips.
Beyond being able to monitor your email campaigns, you can also connect your email software to your other B2B software, such as your CRM. This makes creating customized and specifically targeted emails a breeze. The result? More email engagement and increased sales.
Cloud Storage Software
Gone are the days when businesses had to store all of their files in hard drive space. Cloud storage software now makes it possible to access everything from spreadsheets to demos wherever you are in the world, all at the drop of a hat.
In today’s mobile-driven business world, people are constantly on the move. Rather than hauling around your documents, clouds are an all-in-one solution for accessing all the information and files you need anywhere, anytime.
Along with increased mobility also comes increased security. All it takes is one click-happy employee to delete a precious file. A cloud keeps your files backed up so that you never have to worry about losing precious information again.
Accounting Software
If there’s one thing you want to avoid getting wrong at all costs in your ecommerce business, it’s your accounting process. Accounting related tasks are the backbone of your business, and luckily there is software out there to ensure that nothing falls between the cracks.
B2B accounting software can be your one-stop solution for accelerating and improving your accounting process while minimizing the risk of errors.
Beyond just automating otherwise tedious tasks, accounting software can also give you a 360-degree view of your business’s overall financial picture. By having full access to an analysis of your financial data, you can seize new opportunities by understanding where you can make improvements.
Depending on what kind of business you’re running, you may choose to opt for a general accounting program or one with more specific features tailored for your industry.
Take Your Ecommerce Business To The Next Level With B2B Software
The ecommerce world is more competitive than ever. As demands for online shopping grows, so does the need for a smarter and faster shopping experience for your customers.
The best way to ensure your company’s growth, attract the right kind of customers to your online store, and convert them into sales is by having the right digital tools on hand.
B2B software is the magic key that will take your ecommerce business from good to outstanding.