In our B2B trend paper from 2018, we predicted that B2Bs that have not developed an e-commerce strategy by 2020 will lose access to markets. Today, it can probably be argued that B2B brands without an online shop and marketplace strategy will lose access to customers, depending on the product. In 2018, 1,300 billion euros were traded electronically between business customers via websites, online shops, marketplaces and EDI. Electronic B2B procurement continues to grow strongly and has grown by an average of 15% per year since 2012 (source: IFH Cologne). The greatest growth impulse in B2B e-commerce comes primarily from the areas of online shops and B2B marketplaces.
According to a study from 2019, 45% of respondents philippines phone number list see sales platforms (marketplaces) as an opportunity for their business model (source: Bitkom). Between 2015 and 2020, the number of platforms in B2B trading increased by 150% (source: Ecom). These developments in the B2B sector make it clear how important it is to develop a strategy for using established marketplaces such as Amazon Business, Mercateo, Alibaba, Contorion and Aera.
The relevance of orders by phone and in writing or via field service/sales will hardly play a role in five years. for years as companies simplify and digitize their purchasing processes. Another issue to consider is payment (on account, prepayment, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, Paypal, Ratepay, etc.), which can simplify processes and reduce risk. An e-commerce strategy and the integration of marketplaces such as Amazon Business, Mercateo, Alibaba, Contorion, Aera is essential.