B2B eCommerce Workflow Automation: Where Flexibility Meets Efficiency

When businesses buy from other businesses, the process often involves several decision-makers and steps, such as getting approvals and checking the buyer’s credit. OroCommerce’s workflow engine can handle these steps smoothly. It lets customers manage their accounts and choose a user administrator who can set roles for other users. This makes it easier for customers to approve purchases internally, including credit checks, while the sales team keeps an eye on the transaction, making things more efficient for everyone involved.

With a flexible workflow engine, you can A/B test different checkout methods to see which works best for certain customers. If your business uses quotes, the checkout can begin once a quote is accepted. For repeat purchases, like regular orders of the same items, the system can offer re-order forms to speed up the process. The checkout can also start with shopping lists or wish lists that customers have created on your site.

A Request for Quote (RFQ) process allows customers to start a negotiation with a sales representative. When a customer asks for a quote, the system can either gather more information to provide an accurate quote or treat the RFQ as a sales opportunity in a CRM, complete with management oversight and an internal approval process that ensures the right people are informed every time.

When a sales order is placed, a digital system records it and alerts the accounting department if the new customer’s credit needs approval. Once approved, it tells the warehouse to prepare the order. After shipping, it updates the sales team, accounting, and the customer. This digital approach replaces inefficient manual methods like handwritten notes and phone calls.

For customers who order regularly, like monthly or weekly, OroCommerce enables them to set and stick to a purchasing budget. It can alert them when they’re close to reaching their budget limit, such as when they have 10% or 20% of their budget left, to prevent overspending.

Immediately after an order is placed, OroCommerce can send a shipment notification to the customer, streamlining the delivery process. This reduces common shipping inquiries to customer service and sales teams. An integrated ecommerce and ERP system updates accounting and inventory in real-time, ensuring efficient order processing and timely updates for sales reps and customers.