BigCommerce B2B Edition: The New Era of B2B Digital Commerce

The industry is entering a new era of B2B digital commerce growth. With the rise of eCommerce and the ever-evolving needs of businesses, the traditional methods of conducting B2B transactions have undergone a significant transformation. In this age of digitization and connectivity, companies are seeking efficient and scalable solutions to streamline their operations and stay ahead of the competition and the latest BigCommerce B2B Edition has the potential to be the game-changer for the B2B digital commerce industry. Built upon their existing robust eCommerce platform, the BigCommerce B2B Edition brings forth a comprehensive set of tools and features designed specifically to meet the unique requirements of business-to-business transactions. In this blog we will explore what features BigCommerce B2B Edition brings for B2B enterprises, how to get started with the platform, and how to maximize profits with the help of BigCommerce B2B integration!

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What is BigCommerce B2B Edition?

In 2021, the global B2B eCommerce market was valued at US$17.9 trillion, which was over 5 times that of the B2C market for that respective year. To empower traditional B2B merchants to get onboard and maximize their business revenue through online B2B commerce, BigCommerce B2B edition brings together robust eCommerce functionalities for the B2B industry. The latest BigCommerce B2B Edition presents an ideal solution for businesses aiming to enhance their online customer experience. It brings together a comprehensive suite of essential B2B features that elevate the online purchasing process for both customers and store owners. With functionalities like corporate account management, quoting, shared shopping, and more, this edition ensures a seamless and enhanced online buying experience that caters specifically to the needs of B2B transactions. By offering these essential features, businesses can effectively manage their B2B relationships, streamline operations, and provide customers with a highly tailored and efficient purchasing journey.

The New BigCommerce B2B Features

The latest BigCommerce B2B edition brings along with it a wide range of enterprise-grade capabilities and offers the flexibility and customization B2B brands need to elevate online selling experiences and meet digitally native buyers where they are. The range of features brought along with this edition includes:

Multi-Storefront Setup

The new BigCommerce B2B edition offers the functionality of Multi-Storefront capabilities to B2B merchants. With this feature, merchants can enable functionalities such as company account management, shared shopping lists, quoting, and invoice portal on any storefront they create. Additionally, by selling across multiple regions or brands, merchants can further reduce their operational and maintenance costs by consolidating systems that are typically required for multiple sites. The streamlined approach simplifies operations and enhances the management of customers, products, order fulfillment, and storefront analytics, saving considerable development time.

Modernized Buyer Portal

Another feature introduced with the latest BigCommerce B2B Edition is the Modernized Buyer Portal to deliver a personalized buying experience for both merchants and buyers. The feature enhances customer satisfaction, increases loyalty, and fosters repeat business, which is crucial for B2B merchants. The expanded buyer portal is compatible with any BigCommerce theme and can be quickly set up and utilized. It revolutionizes how buyers manage their orders, quotes, invoices, shopping lists, and other administrative tasks related to their relationships with the merchant, such as address books, user logins, and approval workflows.

The new buyer portal will also enable merchants to:

• Greater Operational Flexibility: Merchants will be able to set up specific access for either companies or users, to streamline operations with a view into past company orders and easy-to-reorder functionality based on previously ordered items, quotes, lists, and past company orders.
• Faster B2B Order Placement: Users would be able to expedite the order entry process by eliminating the tedious manual data entry process and leveraging the Quick Order Pad feature, which allows for swift entry of SKU numbers or bulk order uploads.
• Streamline Lists and Quotes: Businesses can increase their speed of operations and increase successful sales conversions by streamlining lists and quotes through preset prices and intuitive conversion of shopping lists into quotes, saving time and improving overall efficiency.
• Optimize Mobile User Experience: Lastly, with mobile commerce becoming the predominant channel through which customers make online purchases, prioritizing mobile optimization to cater to modern buyers who prefer handheld devices and self-service transactions should be a priority. Users can effortlessly implement a mobile-friendly buyer portal experience to effectively meet the demands of digitally native buyers and their shopping preferences.

Headless Functionality

The headless functionality update will allow the deployment of B2B Edition onto any framework. The feature benefits merchants by leveraging Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless (MACH) architecture, along with compostable elements, to build agile storefronts. The headless agnostic nature of B2B Edition enables integration into existing BigCommerce HTML themes or CMS platforms using the buyer portal API, further personalizing the buyer purchasing experience.

With the new headless functionalities, merchants will be able to do the following:

• Easier Customization: Merchants can easily customize the buyer experience through a configurator designed for digital-native merchant users. Robust APIs facilitate advanced customizations of the buyer portal, allowing for unique buyer interactions tailored to each merchant.
• Seamless Integration: Additionally, developers can seamlessly integrate with any headless framework and back-office systems using the buyer portal’s Storefront, Server-to-Server, and JavaScript API, maximizing the benefits of the new headless functionality (beta).

How can B2B Edition improve my B2B experience?

BigCommerce B2B Edition makes selling to other businesses easier. It has tools built for business needs that regular online stores don’t have.

Streamlined Ordering Process

B2B Edition makes ordering faster. Buyers can find products quickly and place orders without wasting time. Customers can upload orders from spreadsheets or type product codes directly. This cuts down on mistakes and saves time for everyone.

Ways it saves time:

• Quick Orders: Enter multiple items at once
• Upload Orders: Use spreadsheets to place big orders
• Repeat Orders: Copy old orders with one click
• Save Lists: Keep track of items you buy often
• Order Templates: Create standard orders for regular buying

A company can use APPSeCONNECT to link their store with their main business system, so all orders update in both places right away.

Custom Pricing and Catalogs

B2B Edition lets you show different prices to different customers. Each buyer only sees their special deals. You can set up special rates for each customer. This helps you give better prices to your best customers.

Pricing options:

• Group Pricing: Set prices based on customer type
• Bulk Discounts: Lower prices for bigger orders
• Special Quotes: Make custom deals for big orders
• Long-term Pricing: Save agreed prices for regular customers
• Better Rates: Give bigger customers better deals

A parts supplier can use APPSeCONNECT to keep prices the same in their store and billing system, so customers always see the right prices.

Improved Account Management

B2B Edition gives businesses control over who can buy what. Companies can set rules about who can spend money and how much. Account managers can add users, track spending, and set limits. This stops surprise purchases and helps control costs.

Control features:

• User Roles: Give different access to different staff
• Approval Rules: Get sign-off for large orders
• Spending Caps: Limit how much people can spend
• Order History: See all company purchases in one place
• Payment Terms: Set up delayed payment options

A building supplier can use APPSeCONNECT to connect their store with their customer system, keeping all account info up to date everywhere.

Self-Service Portal Access

B2B Edition gives customers a dashboard to handle their own needs. They can check orders, pay bills, and update info without calling you. This means buyers can work any time, not just when your office is open. Self-service tools mean fewer support calls.

Portal tools:

• Track Orders: See where orders are in the process
• Pay Bills: View and pay bills online
• Handle Quotes: Ask for, look at, and approve quotes
• Shipping Places: Save multiple delivery addresses
• Team Access: Add or remove staff members

An online food seller can use APPSeCONNECT to link their store with their delivery system, so customers can see when their food will arrive without calling.

Data-Driven Decision Making

B2B Edition shows you what’s working and what’s not. See which customers buy most, what products sell best, and where to focus next. These insights help you stock the right items and target the right customers based on facts, not guesses.

Report benefits:

• Best Customers: Find out who spends the most
• Top Products: See what items make the most money
• Almost Sales: Follow up on carts left at checkout
• Search Trends: Learn what people are looking for
• Marketing Results: See if your campaigns work

A medical supplier can use APPSeCONNECT to combine store data with warehouse info to make better stock decisions based on what customers actually buy.

B2B Edition Features

BigCommerce B2B Edition has tools for both sellers and buyers. These tools make business selling and buying easier.

Seller Tools

Seller tools help manage business customers. They make it easier to give each buyer a custom experience. Sellers can set up pricing, approvals, and accounts more quickly. The dashboard shows all customer activity in one place.

Main seller tools:

• Company Setup: Create and manage business accounts
• Make Quotes: Create custom price offers
• Credit Limits: Set how much each company can spend
• Custom Prices: Create different prices for different customers
• Staff Access: Control what your team can see and do
• Sales Teams: Assign sales people to specific accounts

Buyer Tools

Buyer tools make purchasing easier for business customers. They help companies find and order products without confusion. The checkout process is quick for busy professionals. Account features keep everyone on the same page in buying teams.

Main buyer tools:

• Company Page: See all account activity in one place
• Team Lists: Work on orders with coworkers
• Ask for Quotes: Request special pricing for big orders
• Order Approval: Set up rules for purchase approval
• Quick Reorder: Buy the same things again with one click
• Payment Choices: Pay with terms, credit card, or purchase orders

Getting Started with BigCommerce B2B Edition

The latest BigCommerce B2B Edition is available to all Enterprise store owners in the App Marketplace and comes packaged as default with the B2B Edition package. For users creating a store using the B2B Edition, the BigCommerce B2B Edition app will come pre-installed for the user under the control panel.

To separately install the BigCommerce B2B Edition, the steps are as follows:

Connecting the BigCommerce B2B Edition with a Store

• Log in as store owner, go to B2B edition, and select the store for which you wish to install the app.
• On the installation page for the BigCommerce B2B edition, click on the “Install” button and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the connection.

Obtaining the BigCommerce B2B Edition Credentials

Once the app is installed for the selected store, the BigCommerce B2B edition will assign the user as the app owner. The user will then receive an email from noreply@bundleb2b.com with the subject line, “Welcome to B2B Edition” that will contain all the login credentials. The user can then return to the B2B Edition app in their control panel, and log in using the provided credentials.

Setting up Seller User Accounts

After receiving the login credentials as the app owner, the owner can begin adding users for the BigCommerce B2B Edition account. For adding new users, the owner will have to configure their control panel user permissions to access the app. User accounts in the control panel can only be modified by the store owner or individuals who possess the Manage Users, Edit Users, and Add Users permissions.

The steps for setting up seller user accounts include:

• Go to Account Settings › Users and select Edit from the action menu of the user you wish to add or create the user account if it is not there already.
• Scroll down to Single Click Apps, then check the box next to B2B Edition.

Creating User Accounts in B2B Edition

Once the new users log in to their BigCommerce control panel and access the B2B Edition from the Apps area, they will directly get access to the BigCommerce B2B Edition user account created for them. The user accounts will have the default role configured in the Roles & Permissions area of the B2B Edition dashboard.

Seller Roles and Permissions

The owner can assign sellers specific roles and permissions to control what actions they can take within the app. The BigCommerce B2B edition offers the following predefined roles that can be assigned to users:

• Sales Rep: Users with this role can only view and manage the companies, orders, and quote requests of Company accounts assigned to them.
• Accountant: Users with this role can view and export invoicing data, such as invoiced orders and invoice payments, but cannot create or edit them.
• Financial Manager: With this role, users can view and export invoicing data, such as invoiced orders and invoice payments, but cannot create or edit them.
• Administrator: Users can access all Company account information and manage users, roles, and settings with this role. There can be more than one Administrator user.
• Store Owner: This role offers the highest level of authority and is assigned by default as the store owner user in the BigCommerce control panel. The Store Owner has access to all areas of the B2B Edition dashboard and there can be only one user assigned as Store Owner.

The owner can set up default roles for all users in the store through the Roles & Permissions area of the dashboard. To assign the default roles, click Manage Default User Role and select the role to be automatically assigned to new users.

In addition to the predefined user roles, to create a custom role, go to Roles & Permissions in the dashboard and click Add New Role.

Setting up Buyer User Accounts

BigCommerce B2B edition also offers precise control of access and capabilities of users for a business. It also provides B2B customers or buyers with the ability to assign roles to create, approve, and manage orders from the storefront.

For adding a new buyer to a Company account use the following steps:

• Go to the Companies section under the dashboard and select View Details from the Action menu.
• Under the Company User(s) tab, click Add User, fill out the details in the pop-up window and then save the changes when finished.

Buyer Roles and Permissions

Under a Company account, customers can be assigned one of the following roles assigned to them:

• Junior Buyer: Customers with this permission can submit Shopping Lists for approval by Senior Buyers or the Company Admin but cannot make purchases on their own.
• Senior Buyer: This role gives buyers permission to approve Shopping Lists from Junior Buyers or create their own. Senior Buyers also get the ability to place orders on the storefront and view the Company order history. This role can be used by Company managers that regularly make purchases on behalf of their business, or who oversee teams that create purchase lists to be approved.
• Admin: In addition to the permissions and actions available to Senior Buyers, Admins can manage additional aspects of the Company account, such as setting up business addresses and adding new users.

To learn more in detail regarding cup the latest B2B edition for BigCommerce, you can check it out here.

Unlocking Advanced Features with BigCommerce B2B Integration

In the rapidly growing faster pace of the industry, business process automation (BPA) and integration have become quintessential pillars of technology for enterprises to achieve greater efficiency, improved time to market, and faster scalable growth. In the B2B eCommerce industry, where businesses operate on a larger scale and deal with complex processes, the importance of business process automation and integration cannot be overstated. Thus, implementing BigCommerce B2B integration through a robust BPA platform is essential for any business using the platform to operate and grow their business.

APPSeCONNECT as a low-code BPA platform, offers robust ready-to-use integration packages to enable the bidirectional integration of two or more business applications seamlessly. With the BigCommerce B2B integration offered by APPSeCONNECT, enterprises can unlock greater efficiency and scalability for their business. The advantages businesses can achieve by implementing BigCommerce B2B integration through APPSeCONNECT include the following:

Automated Business Data Management

B2B eCommerce businesses manage and utilize extensive volumes of business data. This data encompasses various crucial information such as customer information, product details, inventory levels, order statuses, delivery logistics, and invoice generation. Enterprises can guarantee seamless and effective operations through the incorporation of BigCommerce B2B integration. For these businesses, it is crucial to synchronize data from these parameters with other applications in areas such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for optimal results. By doing so, B2B eCommerce businesses can achieve enhanced operational efficiency and gain comprehensive real-time insights into all their business operations.

Reduced Cost of Operation

Through BigCommerce B2B integration, enterprises can significantly reduce their cost of business operation. By synchronizing data between various systems such as ERP and CRM applications, businesses can automate repetitive tasks and eliminate manual data entry. This automation leads to increased operational efficiency, reducing the need for additional labor and minimizing human errors. Furthermore, integration enables streamlined inventory management, allowing businesses to optimize stock levels and avoid costly stockouts or overstock situations. By centralizing and automating processes, B2B eCommerce integration helps businesses save time and resources, reducing overall operational costs.

Improved Customer Experience

B2B eCommerce success is primarily driven by effective and engaging customer experience. Having loyal B2B customers is the key to ensuring long-term perpetual growth of Annual Recurring Income (ARR). With BigCommerce B2B integration, customer data from the eCommerce platform can be integrated with CRM applications for businesses to gain a comprehensive view of their customer’s preferences, purchase history, and communication preferences. This information allows for targeted marketing campaigns, personalized product recommendations, and tailored customer service interactions. Integration also enables real-time order tracking, providing customers with up-to-date information on the status of their orders. By delivering a personalized and transparent experience, B2B eCommerce integration helps businesses build stronger customer relationships, enhance satisfaction, and foster loyalty.

Increased Ordering Efficiency

With BigCommerce B2B integration, B2B businesses can greatly streamline and automate their ordering process. By integrating order data between the eCommerce platform and ERP systems, businesses can automate order processing and fulfillment. This automation eliminates the need for manual data entry, reduces errors, and accelerates the order fulfillment process. Integration also provides real-time visibility into inventory levels, ensuring that customers can only place orders for available products. This eliminates the risk of backorders or delays due to out-of-stock items. Additionally, integration enables efficient order routing and accurate order tracking, allowing businesses to fulfill orders faster and provide customers with timely updates.

Integration and automation are exponentially accelerating B2B digital commerce growth and with the help of APPSeCONNECT, you can get started with your digital transformation journey today!

Maximizing Success with BigCommerce B2B Edition

The B2B eCommerce industry is becoming ever more competitive, and businesses need to deploy industry-tested strategies to stay ahead of the competition. With its robust features and tailored functionalities, BigCommerce B2B Edition has emerged as a game-changer for companies looking to thrive in the B2B eCommerce landscape. With the following strategies and best practices, businesses maximize their success with BigCommerce B2B Edition:

• Build a User-friendly and Intuitive Platform: One of the key strategies for maximizing success through B2B eCommerce is to create a user-friendly and intuitive platform. B2B buyers often have complex purchasing needs, so it is crucial to design an intuitive eCommerce platform that is easy to navigate, search, and make purchases. With the Page Builder offered by BigCommerce users can easily customize their storefront with a drag-and-drop solution for creating and managing page content.
• Offer Personalized and Targeted Content: B2B customers expect tailored experiences that address their specific business needs. Provide personalized content such as product recommendations, pricing options, and relevant industry insights. Leverage customer data and analytics to segment your audience and deliver targeted messages that resonate with their pain points and objectives. This personalized approach helps build trust, foster long-term relationships, and drive more sales.
• Focus on Customer Support and Engagement: B2B buyers value excellent customer support and engagement throughout their purchasing journey. Providing multiple channels for communication, such as live chat, email, and phone, to address their queries and concerns promptly can have a long-term positive impact on the customers. Additionally, implementing self-service features, including order tracking, return management, and online product documentation, empowers customers and reduces support requests.
• Optimize for Mobile Devices: On January 2022, mobile commerce accounted for nearly 65.7 percent of all global eCommerce retail sales and the share has continued to grow for the market. With the continued rapid growth of mobile commerce, even in B2B environments, businesses need to ensure their B2B eCommerce platform is mobile-responsive and optimized for various devices and screen sizes. BigCommerce offers mobile-friendly themes, and optimized shopping carts for mobile interfaces. A mobile-friendly experience allows buyers to conveniently browse, research, and make purchases on the go. Additionally, consider leveraging mobile-specific features like push notifications and location-based offers to enhance customer engagement and drive conversions.

By following the above strategies and keeping up with the top trends shaping B2B eCommerce, enterprises can fully leverage the benefits of the latest B2B Edition of BigCommerce and achieve greater business success!

Embracing the New Era of B2B Commerce with BigCommerce B2B Edition

The era of B2B commerce is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and with the advent of BigCommerce B2B Edition, businesses have an unparalleled opportunity to embrace this new era and thrive in the digital landscape. Throughout this blog section, we have explored the strategies and best practices that can help businesses maximize their success by harnessing the power of BigCommerce B2B Edition.

By understanding the unique features and benefits of BigCommerce B2B Edition, businesses can unlock the full potential of this platform. From its advanced pricing options and personalized catalogs to its robust integration capabilities, BigCommerce B2B Edition empowers organizations to deliver exceptional user experiences, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth.

The time is now to embrace the new era of B2B commerce with BigCommerce B2B Edition. Stay ahead of the curve, adapt to changing customer expectations, and unlock the full potential of your B2B eCommerce business. With BigCommerce B2B Edition as your ally, the possibilities for growth and success are endless.

If you are using BigCommerce to manage your eCommerce operations and want to seamlessly integrate them under a single platform to automate and streamline your business processes, then employ APPSeCONNECT’s pre-configured BigCommerce integrations to automate business processes efficiently and amplify your growth.