Why Custom App Development and B2B E-commerce Go Together Perfectly (Part 2 of 2)

This is a continuation from the blog article posted on Thursday, November 1, which discussed the need for custom software development and programming to streamline the order and fulfillment process. You can read it here.

You’ll Get Tighter Inventory Control

With custom programming, you can more accurately forecast future sales and keep better track of what you have in your inventory. That means fewer lost items and orders, better order fulfillment (see above), and even fewer products lost to theft or breakage.

Depending on what you sell, inventory control can be an enormously pressing challenge. Many of the business owners who initially come to us admit they don’t actually know exactly how much product they have on hand to sell or how quickly they could replenish their inventory if needed. In those situations, developing custom apps that yield the proper insights can become a huge priority.

In today’s B2B e-commerce world it pays to automate inventory. You want figures adjusted automatically after purchases, returns, and deliveries. Most of all, you want to save money on orders for manufacturers by knowing what’s sitting in your warehouse at any given moment.

CRM Apps Build Better Buyer Relationships

Although we have focused on the technical and back-end aspects of custom app development so far, some of your biggest gains could be realized through more efficient marketing, increased repeat orders, and stronger customer service. That’s because you can use programming to improve or replace existing CRM solutions and build better buyer relationships in the process.

Some businesses are really embracing the overlap between artificial intelligence and buyer engagement. It’s not hard to see how software that allows you to track customer interactions, tailor your marketing, or zero in on smarter pricing strategies could boost sales. And, when you’re able to automate things like regular purchases and returns you can entice customers to place bigger and more frequent orders.

CRM apps can take many different shapes and forms and can be integrated with other pieces of software you already use. You can even use them in tandem with mobile devices to make purchasing your products convenient for your best customers.

Better Info Means More Detailed Reporting

One side effect of getting the custom app you need to run your B2B e-commerce company is that you’ll get immediate access to more (and more accurate) information. You’ll have a better idea of where orders are coming in from, what you have in inventory, which buyers have the most valuable accounts, and how much time and money you're spending on fulfillment. Those are just obvious examples; you could get all kinds of insights in other areas of your business, too.

With all of that data at your fingertips – presented in customizable, easy-to-use reports – you can start to make better and more informed decisions on where to spend your time and money. You can invest more heavily into campaigns that are showing a positive rate of return, offer bigger incentives to your best customers, and find ways to deliver orders faster while reducing costs.

These are the nuts and bolts benefits that allow you to grow your bottom line for years to come. However, you can’t realize them until you stop relying on the generic software your competitors use and give custom programming a try.

Ready to Put Custom Programming to Use in Your B2B E-commerce Business?

We have seen time and time again that the owners of B2B e-commerce businesses tend to get very excited when they understand the possibilities presented by custom app programming. However, we can’t give you personalized recommendations through an article. To see what kinds of benefits and possibilities are out there, you have to take the first step to learn more.

Contact the WebRevelation team today so we can schedule a no-obligation consultation and talk about the goals you would like to meet. You might just come away from our meeting amazed at what we can do to help your company make the next leap forward.