Struggling with Manual Orders? There's a Better Way

In today's fast-paced business environment, relying on manual order processes—such as phone calls and emails—can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and missed opportunities. Transitioning to an online ordering system not only modernises your operations but also enhances customer satisfaction and drives revenue growth.

The Challenges of Manual Ordering

Handling orders manually often results in:

• Diverted Sales Team Effort: Sales staff can spend their valuable time calling customers to take routine orders, when they really should be focused on more proactive tasks.
• Increased Administrative Burden: Manual data entry consumes time and resources, which has to scale to support any business growth.
• Higher Error Rates: Human errors in order processing can lead to incorrect shipments, dissatisfied customers, and potential revenue loss.
• Limited Customer Insights: Without digital records, tracking customer preferences and purchasing patterns becomes challenging, hindering personalised service.
• Reduced Competitiveness: In an era where 81% of B2B buyers prefer to buy online, manual processes can make your business appear outdated.

The Advantages of Online Ordering

Many successful B2B companies are turning to ecommerce as a solution for these common problems. Businesses across a huge range of sectors have found that allowing their customers to order online means they experience revenue growth, optimise costs and can offer a far superior customer experience.

Implementing an online ordering system offers numerous benefits:

• Operational Efficiency: Automated order processing reduces manual tasks, allowing your team to focus on value-added activities.
• Enhanced Accuracy: Digital systems minimise errors, ensuring accurate order fulfilment and improving customer satisfaction.
• Improved Customer Experience: Customers can place orders at their convenience, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.
• Data-Driven Insights: Digital records provide valuable data on customer behaviour, enabling personalised marketing and sales strategies.

Real-Life Examples

Many B2B companies have successfully transitioned to online ordering:

"Integrating Apparatus with our ERP system has allowed us to increase sales without the need to increase admin entering the orders. Along with this, giving new customers access to our order portal is now becoming a great selling point for our business." – Garth Stacey, Sales Director.

"It's helped our internal admin so much - orders arrive in the warehouse ready to be picked, and nobody's had to interact with them until they're actually on the picking phase." - Bruce Harmer, IT & Systems Manager.

The shift towards online ordering isn’t just theory; it’s backed by data from masses of studies and surveys. It’s clear that B2B sales are moving online, and that the shift is driven by both customer behaviour and operational efficiency requirements.

• 61% of B2B transactions are expected to take place online.
• 82% of B2B companies are investing in e-commerce capabilities to better serve their customers.
• B2B companies with e-commerce platforms are 1.5 times more likely to report revenue growth above 10%.

Transitioning from manual to online ordering is not just a technological upgrade; it's a strategic move that can lead to significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. By embracing digital solutions, your business can stay competitive and meet the evolving expectations of today's B2B buyers.

Are you ready to take your B2B eCommerce strategy to the next level? Schedule a consultation with us today and discover how we can help your business thrive in this dynamic market.