So what is the difference between B2B and B2C?
A B2B (Business-to-Business) e-commerce portal requires the user to have a account before they can view pricing and shop with you - the primary focus of B2B is thus existing customers (although new customers can still register) - not "unknown buyers".
B2B is an easier route into internet trading as it builds on your value proposition and existing client relationships - it helps retain customers, offer better service, and helps you acquire a larger % share of your customer's overall printing spend (which may be going elsewhere). Furthermore it can (and should) be used as a sales tool to tender for NEW contracts.
The B2B e-commerce concept still has to be "sold" to existing customers - so they understand the benefits for them, and are inclined to use it.
B2C (Business-to-consumer) - adds a new dimension where (as well as existing customers) "unknown buyers" can browse your site, view pricings and shop online anonymously, then pay by credit/debit, at which point their account is created.
B2C customers can be NEW businesses OR private individuals. A B2C roll-out can be more challenging than B2B as it relies on you investing into making your site "visible" on the internet. Methods include Email-marketing, Google Ad-words, and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) - this requires investment, skill on an ongoing basis.
Think of your B2C site as (initially) a new store down a quiet side street. It's looks great, and you sell quality products at cheap prices, BUT no-one knows you're there. - That's your challenge.
B2C has the potential to bring in higher volumes of work, but usually working on tighter margins - so it's even more important to streamline and automated these orders, or they will become loss-making. |
