The Best Automotive eCommerce Platform for B2B: How to Choose

Without question, digital transformation is ongoing in  every industry. It seems technology iterations occur at a rapid clip, much faster than ever before. With an automotive eCommerce platform, you can powerfully upgrade your current automobile sales business model. As consumers continue to prefer a digital buying experience, automotive businesses are taking note and following suit.

Customers no longer want to visit a physical car lot to “kick the tires” or negotiate for hours with a sales representative. Instead, they want instant gratification and to make a purchase as quick as a tap. For organizations with an eye on the future of automobile shopping, they are preparing now by implementing eCommerce solutions that serve the needs and expectations of the digitally-based consumer.

This piece will expand upon how B2B automotive eCommerce is the right choice for the automobile sector.

What Are the Main Challenges to Choosing the Best Automotive eCommerce Platform? 

It’s critical to choose a B2B automotive eCommerce platform that matches the unique needs of your organization. Consider what types of features are most vital for your target consumer. Further, it helps to implement a platform with built-in features, including:

• Marketing 
• Order processing
• Accounts receivable
• Automated shipping and routing

As consumers adapt further to the conveniences offered by eCommerce, they will continue to expect to shop for cars online. Is your company ready to handle an influx of online shoppers? Magento platform example, when you have problems, Magento experts help you with Magento support and Magento maintenance service.

What Are the Advantages of a B2B Automotive eCommerce Platform?

• Structured formatting of pertinent product data
• Instant integration between physical and digital storefronts
• Increase in brand trustworthiness
• SEO-optimized online storefronts and landing pages
• The capacity to incorporate product bundles
• Advanced filtering options based on user need
• Digital display on any device
• Real-time inventory management
• Dynamic pricing models at any time
• Connected to artificial intelligent
• Intelligent order management

It’s vital to understand your requirements for an automotive eCommerce platform. It would be easier to find the right solution once you have determined what you want to achieve. Further, customers demand an omni-channel experience, so using a platform that can provide that option is important.

How B2B Automotive eCommerce Offers a Competitive Advantage

If you’re already selling in the brick-and-mortar space, you understand the costs of scaling and integration. Yet, an B2B Automotive eCommerce platform offers the ability to sell through multiple channels and target your audiences more effectively from a central portal. And, you can sell 24/7.

Various storefronts may include:

An online store: Access responsive web design for unique layouts for every market with advanced features.

Physical/Offline Store: Incorporate real-time inventory management of both digital and physical location whether a customer makes a purchase on your eCommerce site or on-premises.

Online Marketplaces: Create a virtual marketplace for all your automotive products much like eBay or Amazon.

Social Media: Customers also buy from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Expand your reach with the right B2B automotive eCommerce solution.

Integrated email marketing systems: Incorporate strategic email marketing campaigns with your eCommerce platform to increase brand awareness, customer retention, and customer loyalty.

Integrate Your B2B ERP System

Frictionless Data Sharing

If data is currency, then it’s vital to ensure you can access the right data at the right time–especially in the digital space. Therefore, it is crucial to use an automotive B2B eCommerce platform that routes and centralizes real-time data on inventory, orders, payments, client purchasing habits, shopping, and more. Also, it’s essential that your eCommerce platform can integrate with your ERP system.

Updated Order Processing

Cars are considered high-ticket items so consumers will take more time saving money and researching the automobiles, makes, models, and price. Moreover, the buyer’s journey in the automotive industry is much different from retail clothing. Thus, it’s vital to provide advanced filtering so customers can find any make, model, color, and other features important for them. A robust B2B automotive eCommerce platform will offer advanced filtering to streamline the B2B automotive purchasing process to ensure the customer experience is what your consumers expect.

User-Friendly Product Navigation

Selling via eCommerce requires easy and convenient navigation. B2B customers are working with time constraints. As a result, they are drawn to sites that are user-friendly and provide product listings that are easy to navigate. Therefore, it’s crucial to have options that can narrow searches so customers can find what they want rapidly.

Customer-Based Marketing and Product Recommendations

Advertising in the B2B automotive industry does not have to be daunting. With the right eCommerce platform, you can use automation to make it easy. The key is to use segmentation and detailed data-driven reporting so you know exactly what to offer your clients and when. 

Further, you will know when it is the right time to offer discounts, specials, and clearances, and send updates to subscribed customers at the right time. Thus, you can adjust your marketing strategies based on B2B car-buying trends.

Segmented Marketing

The typical B2B automotive customer is switching between devices as they perform research and browse. Long gone are the days when most B2B customers had the same needs. In the era of hyper-personalization, it’s more crucial than ever to use a B2B eCommerce platform that can segment your customer base for you based on purchase patterns, demographics, and even negotiated rates.

Dependable Payments and Shipping Information and Processing

Undoubtedly, a major aspect of B2B automotive sales are the effective tracking and management of orders, shipping addresses, guarantees, warranties, and payment receipts. Without the right platform, these data points can get lost and negatively impact the customer experience and expectations. So, it’s vital to monitor payments, shipping information, and processing using automation to ensure everything is on track and with minimal human error.

In conclusion

Fortunately, our B2B automotive eCommerce platform is designed specifically for your business, and within your budget. Fast-forward to the future, and you will have your eCommerce space ready to pivot to any market. However, it can feel complex without an experienced partner to help. Thus, we suggest working with an automotive eCommerce consultant who can help you integrate the right solution to increase profit margins and your ROI.