How to Choose the Right B2B Digital Wholesale Solution

Now is the time to maximize your business strategy by digitalizing your wholesale process. Here’s your 4-point checklist for choosing the right digital platform.

The B2C side of the fashion industry has been transformed with omnichannel efficiencies and immersive experiences, but wholesale has lagged behind. Now more than ever, wholesale needs to digitalize—not only to keep pace with innovation, but to maximize revenue streams via distribution channel diversification. And the increased knowledge and speed it brings to every level of decision-making and operations can turn an ever-changing and hyper-competitive environment into a land of possibility.

This post will share the key features and functions to consider when searching for your best B2B digital wholesale solution.

1. An Advanced and Flexible Virtual Showroom

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For reasons ranging from convenience to exposure potential, your business can thrive by having a virtual showroom. A digital wholesale solution should offer an immersive experience of your brand that engages your customers in this new way. It should include the ability to curate dynamic selections for individual appointments, a seamless, ecommerce-like shopping experience, and automated order management. In addition to hosting virtual appointments, you can refer clients to your virtual showroom following a tradeshow or in-person appointment, so they can easily reference your linesheets and easily build assortments.

For a high performance virtual showroom, ask yourself these 3 questions:

·   Does your brand want to support confident buying and generate more orders?‍

If yes, then look for 360° imagery with spin and zoom options, and the capability to post dynamic brand video of runway shows and more. 

·   Is personalization important to your buyers? 

Buyers react positively to curated selections. Ensure you can send them customized shoppable 3D assortments, invite them to personalized virtual collection walkthroughs, and/or collaborate in real time to develop a common vision and finalize looks and orders. Look for an automated tracking hub to send out and calendar all appointments from a central location with the ability to share conference links and shoppable linesheets.   

·   Is increasing average order value an important business goal?

This seems like a no-brainer, but many brands don’t realize how much a direct and efficient business model supports this. Look for automated order processing that utilizes bulk tools to communicate and replace dropped styles. This will not only increase buyer response, it will also give your sales team the ability to stop chasing order confirmations, and refocus on nurturing existing collaborations, and generating new business.

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2. A Simple, Digitally Connected Way to Work Faster and Smarter

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An ideal B2B online wholesale platform improves your entire wholesale process, end to end. It integrates seamlessly with your ERP or backend system, and provides a centralized dashboard view of all your order process and business metrics in real time. It streamlines, automates, and organizes vital tasks so your team can focus on building the collaborative partner connections that will grow your brand’s revenue, and future.

Choose a platform built on open-source technology and APIs to share data seamlessly across business functions and departments, and support connectivity with future technology solutions and partnerships.  Make sure to adopt a SaaS platform that has a simple and clear implementation process, and will integrate easily with your current systems and workflow. And finally, opt for a platform with a seamless payment solution to meet the demands of cash flow management, simplify foreign transactions, and allows you to avoid chasing down payments.

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3. A Partner To Go With You As You Grow

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With the right B2B digital wholesale platform, your team will work much more efficiently and intelligently, freeing up time, money, and team members to shift out of the day-to-day and invest into strategy and growth. Pick a wholesale platform that can scale with you, support your company at every stage and one that easily integrates, allowing data to flow seamlessly. Digitally-driven insights and efficiencies cannot exist within silos. So when it comes to going digital, it’s important to think big. 

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 4. A 24/7 Support System

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Looking for a team with unparalleled customer service? Onboarding a new technology can be intimidating, it’s best to secure a trustworthy partner who’s available to support you with platform and integration queries, able to anticipate your needs, and invested in seeing your business thrive. Within the global community, it’s wise to choose a partner with offices around the world, able to provide expedient localized support in a variety of languages. 

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Digitalized Wholesale is the Path Forward

Your B2B digital wholesale platform should function as a gateway to new partnerships and opportunities. It should make your wholesale process smoother, smarter, and faster, removing obstacles while driving growth and scalability.

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Choose a platform that suits you and your goals, your business could depend on it. Request a demo to learn more.