7 important digital solutions for your B2B sales in 2024

Are you in doubt about which systems you should use in your B2B eCommerce? Many companies experience confusion about which systems can help with a robust and future-proof combination of systems.

It is important that you genuinely have a need that can match the solutions we suggest.

When you have read the article, you will know:

✅ Systems that can help your B2B sales and their concrete benefits.
✅ How digitalisation can strengthen your B2B sales.
✅ Data flows between systems as inspiration.

1. The e-commerce platform

In an increasingly digitalised world, e-commerce platforms have become a central component of B2B sales strategies. They offer a range of features that can optimise and transform the traditional B2B sales process.

For example:

• Automation of orders: E-commerce platforms allow automation of order processes, which reduces manual intervention, minimises errors and makes the sales process less complex. Which is of course particularly important in B2B.
• Personalisation: Advanced e-commerce platforms offer personalisation options, which is decisive in B2B, where customers have unique needs and preferences. Personalisation can include tailored product recommendations, customised prices and contract-based purchasing.
• Integration with other systems: E-commerce platforms in B2B have to be able to integrate effectively with other business systems such as ERP, CRM and PIM to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

Be aware of whether your e-platform complies with applicable rules and standards (such as for example GDPR).

Platforms we can suggest you look at:

1. ShopifyPlus – read more about Shopify & read about the latest release of features: Winter Editions 2024
2. Magento 2 – read more about Magento 2

2. ERP

Think of an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) as the glue that binds the digital part of your company together. It helps you manage and automate many of the otherwise time-consuming tasks that your company may have.

That is why a good ERP system is also very important when it comes to B2B sales. It can help streamline business processes, increase efficiency and improve data management across the company.

For example by integrating finance, HR, purchasing, inventory management and production into one single system.

And it can help you with:

• Real-time data analysis: ERP systems offer real-time data analysis and reporting, which gives managers and employees access to the information needed to make informed decisions quickly.
• Improved use of resources: Through effective resource management, ERP systems help companies optimise their inventory, manage labour more efficiently and reduce waste.

So when you have more control of your own shop, you can more easily help your customers.

ERP solutions we can suggest:

1. Dynamics 365 Business Central – SaaS solution.
2. Trimit Business Central solution.
3. BC Express – read more about the solution

3. PIM

Product Information Management (PIM) is a system designed to centralise and manage product-related information in a company. It therefore plays a decisive role in ensuring consistency, accuracy and availability of product information across different sales channels in your B2B company.

It can especially help you when it comes to sales and marketing in the following 3 ways:

1. Consistent branding and marketing: PIM helps ensure that all product communication is consistent, which is decisive for branding and marketing efforts.
2. Faster time-to-market: With effective handling and distribution of product information, PIM systems can contribute to a faster time-to-market for new products.
3. Support for multichannel sales: PIM makes it easier to adapt and distribute product information across different sales channels, which is necessary in the modern B2B sales environment.

PIM systems are therefore not just a technological improvement, but a vital resource for B2B companies that want to optimise their product information management and improve their overall sales and marketing effectiveness.

PIM solutions we can recommend:

1. Plytix – read more here.
2. Struct – read more here.

4. DAM

DAM systems are a kind of centralised platform where all your digital assets (for example videos, images and audio files) can be stored and managed. It reduces redundancy and ensures easy access to the latest versions of your files.

In the B2B sector, where the quality and availability of marketing materials and technical documentation is decisive, DAM plays a central role.

Among other things because of:

• Effective search: Advanced search functions in DAM systems make it easy to find specific assets using keywords, tags and metadata, which saves time and improves work processes.
• Easy access and sharing: DAM makes it easy for team members to access and share assets, which improves collaboration and efficiency in projects.
• Integration with marketing and sales tools: Many DAM systems can be integrated with other business systems, such as CRM and marketing automation platforms, which improves workflows and campaign management.

Again it is of course decisive to find a system that can talk to the existing systems in your company.

DAM solutions we can recommend:

1. Bynder – read more here.
2. Digizuite – read more here.

5. 3PL

Third-party Logistics (3PL) is about outsourcing logistics operations to external providers. That can for example be services such as inventory management, transport, order preparation and distribution. For B2B companies, which handle complex supply chains and logistics operations, 3PL providers can offer substantial benefits in terms of efficiency, cost reduction and flexibility.

3 of the biggest benefits of outsourcing to 3PL providers are:

• Efficiency and expertise: 3PL providers are specialised in logistics and can often handle logistics tasks more efficiently than the company itself. Among other things because of access to advanced technologies and logistics methods.
• Scalability and flexibility: 3PL providers can adapt their services to the company’s changing needs, which gives scalability and flexibility, especially during seasonal fluctuations or growth periods.
• Cost savings: Outsourcing to a 3PL can reduce the need for investment in warehouse facilities, means of transport and technology, as well as reduce the fixed costs associated with logistics.

And it can also help your company get faster delivery times and a wider geographical reach.

3PL providers we recommend:

1. DSV, contract logistics – read more here.
2. DKI logistik – read more here

6. WMS

A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a software solution designed to optimise and manage warehouse operations and processes. It can span from warehouse layout and picking to inventory management and shipping.

In short: Everything you need when you have to run your warehouse in the most efficient way. So your B2B sales can become even sharper.

A good WMS system can help you with, among other things:

• Optimisation of warehouse layout: WMS allows more strategic planning of the warehouse layout, which improves picking efficiency and reduces unnecessary movement.
• Automation of warehouse processes: Automation of warehouse processes such as putaway and retrieval, picking and packing reduces manual effort and improves accuracy.
• Real-time inventory management: WMS gives real-time insight into stock status, which improves inventory management and helps avoid over- or under-supply.

And that can very much improve productivity and give higher customer satisfaction because of the faster order processing and delivery.

7. EDI

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a technological solution that makes it possible to automate the exchange of business documents and information between companies in a standardised electronic format.

That is pretty smart in a B2B context, where EDI can streamline communication between your company and your customers’ companies, reduce paperwork, and improve efficiency in the supply chain.

If you want something a bit more concrete, EDI can give you these benefits in your company:

• Cost savings: By reducing manual entry and paper-based processes, EDI helps lower operating costs.
• Improved processing time: Automated exchange of documents via EDI leads to faster processing times, which can improve customer satisfaction.
• Stronger business relationships: Effective and reliable communication through EDI strengthens business relationships and collaboration between you and your customers.

So if you want to communicate with your B2B customers in an efficient and secure way, it is hard to get around a good EDI system.

Wrapping up

In recent years, B2B sales have undergone rapid development, among other things with the help of the many new digital possibilities that are constantly being developed. And with the arrival of AI, that development will only get even faster over the next few years.

But at the same time there are still many areas where B2B sales lag behind B2C sales when it comes to making the best possible use of the digital possibilities. And that is exactly why it is important to follow the development closely so you do not fall behind your competitors.

And this guide should hopefully have helped you with that.

You now have a good understanding of:

👉🏼What B2B sales actually are
👉🏼What the differences (and similarities) are between B2B and B2C
👉🏼What the 3 biggest challenges in B2B sales in 2024 are
👉🏼Why strong relationships are still so important in B2B
👉🏼How digitalisation can strengthen your B2B sales
👉🏼Which 7 digital solutions can boost your sales

And remember that this is not the definitive guide to B2B sales. All companies are different and each has its own internal processes and particular circumstances that can vary from industry to industry.

See the articles more as inspiration for you if you want to get started with (or have just started) your very own B2B adventure.

If you would like to revisit the previous articles, you can find them here:

👉🏼 B2B sales in 2024 – and why good relationships are more important than ever before
👉🏼 The 3 biggest challenges in B2B sales?