spiceworks article was released on April 1, 2024 As businesses blend strategies, EDI and APIs collaborate for seamless data exchange across industries. Traditionally, EDI is used to exchange standardized, structured business data between trading partners. Meanwhile, APIs provide an interface that allows different software applications to communicate and exchange data….
Boss Magaziness article was released on February 9, 2024 In the intricate landscape of business management, the decision to adopt a Product Information Management (PIM) system becomes a pivotal one, especially for startups. While the benefits of PIM are apparent, timing is crucial for optimizing return on investment. Implementing a…
The Global Treasurer’s article was released on February 1, 2024 APIs are revolutionizing corporate banking by integrating banking transactions with ERP systems. This enables real-time data access, streamlined processes, and improved decision-making. Building a robust tech stack is crucial for treasurers to leverage this digital transformation effectively. The role of…
Inc Magazine’s article was released on January 24, 2023 e-commerce has had a major impact, particularly for brand manufacturers. It has influenced business in three waves, at roughly 10-year intervals: The first wave of e-commerce began in the 1990s, with the creation of websites of brand manufacturers and retailers like Amazon. At…
Boss Magazine’s article was released on January 11, 2024 Product information management (PIM) software has become an essential tool for companies operating in the digital world, especially those involved in e-commerce. Product information acquisition Centralized management Multi-channel distribution Improved customer experience By simplifying and automating the process of collecting,…
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on November 7, 2023 MSC reached a milestone during its 2023 fiscal year ended Sept. 2, surpassing $4 billion in annual net sales for the first time. But ecommerce sales, which account for more than 60% of total sales, slid by 3% year over…
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on October 3, 2023 B2B buyers do their homework before making an online purchase. But once they do commit, B2B buyers are placing more frequent orders online, according to results from a new survey of 150 buyers from Digital Commerce 360 and Forrester Research….
Descartes’ article was released on September 21, 2023 EDI eliminates the need for manual data entry by automating the exchange of business documents. EDI minimizes the risk of errors associated with manual data entry. EDI enables real-time or near-real-time communication between trading partners. EDI eliminates the need for physical documents,…
Pimcore’s article was released on April 18, 2023. Here’s delving deeper into what constitutes the best practices in product taxonomy and how to ensure it does not get too taxing for your customers. Visualizing Hierarchies Well ‘Naming’ Is the Name of the Game Automation Is the Best Policy READ…
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on October 18, 2022. Marketplaces are growing in popularity. The Top 100 U.S.-based marketplaces recorded 18.7% growth in total gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2021 to reach a record high of $917.79 billion, according to Digital Commerce 360 estimates. READ MORE Related posts: Get…
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on October 14, 2022. Doing what it takes to manage a brand’s products across marketplaces requires a considerable number of tools and a sizeable amount of manpower. Given the various approaches that marketplaces take to product pages, sellers like CPO must dedicate considerable resources…
CXO Today’s article was released on October 17, 2022. In a day and age where data sources and models are getting increasingly complex, the quality of data and its standardization assumes great importance. With PIM, businesses have a central location for their product information, facilitating efficient data handling and processing….
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on October 10, 2022. Headless commerce is a way to de-couple the front-end presentation layers (and other components) of your ecommerce experience to leverage the best-in-class content management system (CMS), site search, shopping cart, personalization, etc. Headless commerce is a great approach to keep…
Modern Distribution Management’s article was released on October 7, 2022. What do Grainger and Amazon have that most distributors don’t? A deep, rich online catalog. They give online buyers all the information they need to make a buying decision — extensive product data with supporting details and insights. And because…
Digital Commerce 360’s article was released on September 9, 2022. Of the public bellwether distribution companies that break out actual metrics, 2022 won’t be a breakout year for digital sales. But it will accelerate a shift that makes it an even bigger priority to serve an increasingly digital-first customer. Digital…
McKinsey & Company’s article was released in June 10, 2022. Like top retailers, the most profitable distributors have detailed end-to-end views of category performance. This helps them manage complexity and supply constraints, keep costs down, and meet customers’ needs while driving profitable growth. But few truly understand how to extract…
Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s article on Revenue Management was released in December 2021. This report finds that Amazon is exploiting its position as a gatekeeper to impose steep and growing fees on third-party sellers. Even as these exorbitant fees bankrupt sellers, they are generating huge profits for Amazon, a fact…
Digital Commerce 360’s article on Revenue Management was released in January 2022. Rather than being “an invisible cog” in an online marketplace operated by a large tech company, B2B sellers should build their own ecommerce portal designed to address the complex purchasing needs of today’s buyers, writes Boris Lokschin. “I…
Strategic Finance’s article on Revenue Management was released in November 2021. Over the past century, accountants and analysts have been successfully employing management models and establishing causal drivers in partnership with executives to achieve strategic objectives involving costs and investments. This same work can and should be extended to sales…
Customer Think’s article on EDI was released in December 2021. By replacing paper-based documents or records such as purchase orders or invoices, EDI allows business users to transact faster, and ultimately transform their ease of doing business. Along with that, it allows businesses to minimize errors, save time and ultimately…
An essential part of Digital Transformation is identifying which technologies can best help you unlock new opportunities and equip your business to absorb future challenges. The Epicor eBook will introduce you to six key technologies essential to Digital Transformation, what to consider when choosing each solution, and how to track…
A product experience platform focuses on four critically important components that, when used in combination, deliver truly personalized product experiences: Product Information Management (PIM) – Enables you to manage hundreds of thousands of SKUs, UPCs, titles, descriptions, prices, categories and a growing number of new attributes. Digital Asset Management (DAM)…
These are golden times for e-commerce entrepreneurs. Those who want to automate cannot ignore EDI and API. According to Fred van der Heide, Vice President, Product Strategy at Descartes: Reliable and secure data transfer Lightning-fast communication between applications Exploiting opportunities Time for growth READ MORE Related posts: The coronavirus…
Product information management is being viewed by enterprises as a foundational means to succeed. Why businesses should consider robust PIM systems? According to Vandana Singal, Director Solution Consulting, Pimcore: Effortless data import/export Seamless interoperability Product content syndication Vetted and validated data Measuring customer retention and churn rate The final steps…
Building an effective ecommerce experience for your customers is a journey that will undoubtedly create some exciting opportunities for your business, but it’s crucial to test and measure ecommerce performance, writes Susanne Adam, a principal solution manager at SAP for wholesale distribution. Measuring brand equity Measuring customer experience Measuring ease…
Distributors have experienced market disruptions, uncertainty, new coronavirus variants and constraints none of us could have forecasted over the last year or so. Below is what Mark Roberts predict how distributors will plan and adapt for 2022. 20% of distributors will do nothing 30% of distributors will make strategy and…
Driven by convenience and personalization, B2B buyers are flocking to more sales channels to buy the products they need. To build market share, meanwhile, distributors can follow a 3-pronged strategy to become the go-to-supplier in their market Define your strategic goals Develop an operational plan with required business capabilities Optimize…
Should distributors launch their own B2B marketplaces to take on industry titans such as Amazon Business, or are they better off sticking with their traditional business model? That was the central question posed in the latest edition of the MasterB2B “unwebinar” series, which was hosted by Andy Hoar and Brian…
As the eCommerce space gets even more crowded, brands are competing for profitability and looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Managing and presenting products well in front of the customer has become a significant part of this exercise. Customized Attribute Management Superior Category Management Batch Product Modifications…
With the e-commerce market expected to be worth a whopping $24.3 trillion by 2025, the pressure to venture into the e-commerce space is more than obvious. A powerful e-commerce website can not only aid in reaching more people globally, it can also help ensure the evolving needs of existing customers…
While e-commerce platforms and marketplaces aren’t new, the pandemic is fueling the need for distributors to take a harder look at them. The latest MDM webcast featured Zoro’s Tracy Buelow breaking down how distributors can have a successful presence online. Successful e-commerce partnerships require ongoing investments from distributors in order…
The coronavirus will slow the growth of distributor ecommerce sales in 2020. The main reason: the unevenness of growth in digital sales across vertical markets. While it was boom times in some markets, it was a bust in others. READ MORE Related posts: B2B…
NEVER assume people will use your mobile app. NEVER deliver a desktop experience on a mobile device. ALWAYS feature big, rich images that work with mobile. ALWAYS use clear, punchy copy to describe your products. ALWAYS make checkout easy. READ MORE Related posts: ID’s 2020 Survey of Distributor Operations Report,…
The study notes that “billing errors are key contributors to decreased profitability, disputes and late payments,” adding: “Over half (55%) of respondents say managing disputes is one of the most challenging tasks for their A/R team and 99% of teams say disputes contribute to late payments.” READ MORE Related posts:…
While a slowing U.S. economy has shuttered all or big portions of major industries for distributors, Watsco is reporting another quarter of growing business-to-business ecommerce sales. READ MORE Related posts: The coronavirus slows the growth of distributor ecommerce in 2020 B2B ecommerce in 2020 will grow new and different ways…
1. Protecting cash flow. 2. Gathering data. 3. Restting thresholds. 4. Diversifying buyers and sellers. 5. Moving on from legacy system. 6. Challenging your EDI solution provider. READ MORE Related posts: Get beyond the marketplaces of Amazon, Google and Facebook A lack of electronic invoicing disrupts payments, a new…
1. Brick-and-mortar stores will be slow to reopen. 2. Brands and retailers have reconsidered their omnichannel mix. 3. Buying habits have changed, and consumer trust is at an all-time high. 4. Virus-inspired products will remain strong. 5. Consumer-spending declines won’t offset progress. READ MORE Related posts: Why You Should…
Relatedly this year, “customers going out of business” was respondents’ next most popular concern, chosen by 40 percent of respondents. “Manufacturers selling direct” and “Finding more qualified people” were the next highest at 26 percent apiece, followed by “E-commerce” and “Distributor competition” each at 24 percent. READ MORE …
Brands have long been able to bid for the premier slot at the top left of Amazon’s listings, but during the pandemic the online retailer has begun using this position for its private-label items, raising antitrust concerns. READ MORE Related posts: Get beyond the marketplaces of Amazon, Google and Facebook…
Digital overtook manual in B2B sales last year, as sales processed through B2B ecommerce sites, log-in portals and e-marketplaces grew overall by 18% in 2019 over 2018. At the same time, total sales for manufacturers and distributors increased 1.5%, according to the 2020 B2B Ecommerce Market Report released this week….
EDI and blockchain share some important characteristics: Both technologies can incorporate multiple trading partners. For example, one company can have many vendors and many customers depending on whether the transactions represent the revenue or the expenditure cycle. Both technologies enable the communication of transaction details. Companies can send and receive…
Other retailers on the top 10 list are also losing share. eBay and Apple will both see their shares of the US ecommerce market drop slightly in 2020. Meanwhile, Amazon’s share will grow to 38.7%, up from 37.3% in 2019. READ MORE Related posts: B2B ecommerce in 2020 will grow…
Social-distancing measures and business closures have significantly disrupted consumer spending habits. While this has created a period of uncertainty for many, ecommerce has instead been trending in a positive direction. The buying habits that have been changing are unlikely to suddenly shift back to what they once were, even after things…
87% of distributors are now reporting a negative financial impact as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the final part of a three-part research project by Industry Insights. Industry Insights completed the latest survey on April 30. In its previous survey completed on April 9, 83% of…
April 6, 2020 We are all being affected by COVID-19 and there appears to be an emerging “new normal.” Part of that “new normal” is the eCommerce effect. Best Buy is not letting you go to a store and purchase something from an associate. By requiring you to purchase on-line,…