[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#Article","articleBody":"Mobile is transforming the way B2B companies interact with customers. In many cases, mobile commerce helps distributors streamline order management and other processes\u2014improving backend efficiency and delivering a customer experience that parallels B2C shopping.\nB2B\u00a0Mobile Commerce Goes Mainstream\nThe mainstreaming of mobile technology in B2B is being driven by two important trends: (1) a rising demand for online tools and processes and (2) the need for omni-channel experiences that allow customers to connect across every available touch point.\nIn a 2013 Forrester study, \u201cOnline And Mobile Are Transforming B2B Commerce,\u201d more than two thirds (67 percent) of B2B brands agree that e-commerce is fundamentally changing B2B commerce. Even more telling, more than half of B2B companies report customers are using smartphones to research and purchase products.\nMobile technology supports the demand for online interactions\u2014and that\u2019s good news for B2B distributors. According to Forrester, online-only customers are more active than offline-only customers, and have higher AOVs (Average Order Values) than customers who haven\u2019t embraced the mobile channel.\nMobile commerce is also helping distributors and wholesalers minimize the cost of labor-intensive processes through the use of self-service technologies. B2B customers overwhelmingly desire greater access to Web-based, self-service capabilities, and most\u00a0B2B customers want self-service features that allow them to engage\u00a0using mobile devices.\nThe demand for increased mobile opportunities across the entire customer interaction lifecycle is a win-win for B2B brands and customers. B2B customers gain access to high quality interactions on the device(s) of their own choosing, distributors and wholesalers can leverage\u00a0mobile commerce to achieve greater efficiency and a better overall customer experience.\nKey Benefits of Mobile Commerce\nThe transition to the online marketplace presents new opportunities for distributors and wholesalers, not the least of which is the ability to deliver exceptional web-based experiences to a constantly connected customer base.\nMobile is the channel of the future for distributors and wholesalers. Propelled by customer demand for more flexible channel options, mobile commerce radically improves distributors\u2019 ability to run a more agile and customer-focused business.\n \nMobile commerce IS commerce: Smartphones drive 50% of e-commerce sales\n   Actually talking on the phone...not so much. But consumers are making smartphones the method for HALF of all e-commerce purchases today - and that number only looks to get bigger. Learn the trends behind the rise of mobile commerce.  \nStreamlined Purchase Processes\nA robust mobile commerce agenda, including a fully integrated mobile app, gives customers total\u00a0control over the purchase process. Empowered by the convenience of smartphones or tablets, customers can schedule and track deliveries in real-time, receive product invoices and make payments directly from the field.\nFor distributors, streamlined purchase processes translate into better\u00a0customer satisfaction and larger order volumes. By giving customers mobile self-service capabilities, distributors can create a more efficient order process by reducing the burden on call centers and customer service staff.\nMore Informed Sales Force\nDistributors and wholesalers struggle to equip sales reps with up-to-date product information and enhanced sales materials. Mobile technology lets\u00a0companies provide field associates with current data for pricing and product availability as well as other resources that help them better serve customers and prospects.\nMobile commerce platforms provide sales teams with up-sell and cross-sell suggestions, giving sales associates the tools they need to deliver a more effective customer experience. In some cases, mobile commerce technology makes it possible for sales reps to answer customer account questions and resolve issues that would otherwise require an interaction with\u00a0customer service personnel.\nImproved Service Delivery\nService-order processes can be inefficient. In a typical service scenario, technicians receive a predefined route or a list of service calls that doesn\u2019t take into account the cancellations and delays that occur throughout the day, resulting in wasted staff hours and customer complaints.\nMobile service orders create\u00a0a more agile and responsive service process. Rather than operating according to a static daily schedule, technicians get dynamic instructions and job assignments based on their current locations and availability.\nNot all distributors and wholesalers are embracing mobile commerce technologies at the same pace. But based on the current preferences and behaviors of B2B customers across all industries, it is clear that\u00a0companies prioritizing\u00a0the implementation of mobile commerce strategies will lead the way, while those that ignore the mobile\u00a0imperative will lose out on the opportunity to\u00a0connect with a large (and growing) segment of the marketplace.\nShine in the moments that matter. Real-time customer engagement starts HERE.","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#Article_Person","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#Article_Person_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/rick-chavie.png"},"name":"Rick Chavie","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/rickchavie","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pub\/rick-chavie\/4\/510\/3a1"],"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/rick-chavie\/"},"dateModified":"2021-12-29T05:21:55+00:00","datePublished":"2014-05-22T13:14:56+00:00","description":"Mobile commerce helps distributors streamline order management and other processes\u2014improving backend efficiency and delivering a customer experience that parallels B2C shopping.","headline":"Mobile commerce: Streamlining order management for distributors","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#Article_ImageObject","height":"630","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/mobile-commerce-order-management-ftr-1-1200x630.jpg","width":"1200"},"mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/","name":"Mobile commerce: Streamlining order management for distributors","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/","additionalType":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q1193236","description":"Relevant, timely information & analysis on commerce trends, both consumer-facing and B2B.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-new-2x.png?_=1","height":"96","url":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-new-2x.png?_=1","width":"500"},"name":"The Future of Customer Engagement and Experience","sameAs":["https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/a-call-for-a-better-experience\/id1479742201","https:\/\/twitter.com\/FutureOfCEC","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/4844282","https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/feed\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#Article"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"22","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/\/05\/\/22\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Mobile commerce: Streamlining order management for distributors","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2014\/05\/22\/mobile-commerce-can-it-streamline-order-management-for-distributors\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]