{"id":34274,"date":"2018-08-02T11:51:30","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T18:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oroinc.com\/b2b-ecommerce\/?p=34274"},"modified":"2022-05-20T03:35:01","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T10:35:01","slug":"why-b2b-ecommerce-merchants-should-abandon-their-own-shopping-carts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oroinc.com\/b2b-ecommerce\/blog\/why-b2b-ecommerce-merchants-should-abandon-their-own-shopping-carts\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Should B2B eCommerce Merchants Consider Creating a Custom Checkout?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post was contributed by Laura Gayle of Businesswomanguide.org.<\/em><\/p>\n

E-commerce has revolutionized the way consumers and businesses shop. Many businesses cater to both demographics, but it\u2019s a mistake to treat them the same way when it comes to checkout procedures. The online shopping cart is ubiquitous in B2C e-commerce, but it\u2019s not a great fit for businesses that are purchasing materials or supplies.<\/span><\/p>\n

The B2B segment tends to bring larger profits and more lifetime value to e-commerce companies than traditional B2C sales. If you want to court this lucrative audience, you need to understand the needs of B2B customers. Industry leaders are finding that the best way to deal with B2B transactions is to build a custom checkout flow that would cater to each important B2B client or a group of clients. While this can be time-consuming, the benefits outweigh the time and costs. Here\u2019s why.<\/span><\/p>\n

How B2B Differs from B2C<\/span><\/h2>\n

B2C purchases are often quick decisions that require very little need for a follow-up. The customer has a need for a specific product. They may shop around for the best price and read reviews, but in the end, the customer places the item in a shopping cart and checks out. <\/span><\/p>\n

B2B transactions<\/span><\/a> are completely different. Quite often there are multiple people involved in the decision-making process. A business might need a binding quote that can be reviewed and approved. Some clients might require modified products, extremely large quantities, or products sent on a fixed schedule directly to a job site or office. <\/span><\/p>\n

While individual consumers often check out using credit cards, many businesses pay with purchase orders. The purchasing process is different, so the e-commerce infrastructure needs to be as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of B2B eCommerce Portals with Customizable Checkout Process<\/span><\/h2>\n

Custom B2B eCommerce portals give the user more control and freedom over their own experience. They take into consideration repeat purchases, high-volume discounts, and provide greater customer satisfaction. <\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional B2C commerce sites allow the consumer to check out as a guest to save time and eliminate hassles. Businesses require a little more attention to detail and <\/span>strategies for B2B e-commerce checkout<\/span><\/a>. Each customer should have a My Account page that details past purchases, scheduled orders, invoices, reorder options, and contract terms. Including past information in an easy-to-use location helps purchasers make buying decisions quickly and efficiently. Besides, as usually\u00a0there are several roles and positions involved in the purchasing process in a company, B2B clients would appreciate different access levels and thus would require an even more customized checkout process. For example, automatically triggering an extra approval step in case a user with an inferior role is trying to submit too large or too expensive order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Items for Customization<\/span><\/h2>\n

When upgrading your <\/span>B2B checkout flow<\/span><\/a>, there are several items to take into consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n