Introduction
Is your ecommerce platform struggling to meet your growing business needs? One year ago, we shared North Shore Commercial Door’s (NSCD) full migration journey from Yahoo to BigCommerce, overhauling their B2C platform and laying a solid foundation for future growth.
One year after their replatform to BigCommerce, we’re exploring how NSCD capitalized on their BigCommerce tech stack to launch a strategic B2B expansion, achieving operational synergy and scalable growth. Let’s explore their B2B migration strategy and where they are today.
The Challenge: Scaling Online Business for B2B Ecommerce Growth
The B2B ecommerce sector is experiencing rapid transformation, reflecting the evolving ways businesses interact, transact, and grow.
Action Industries, the B2B sister company of North Shore Commercial Door, has secured a leading position in the garage door supply sector since launching in-house manufacturing operations in 2012. Serving a diverse range of clients—from small enterprises to major distributors—Action Industries helps customers save big through manufacturer-direct pricing.
To accommodate a growing B2B client base and evolving needs, Action Industries enhanced their ecommerce capabilities by adopting a strategic approach following their B2C counterpart’s migration to BigCommerce. Building a unified tech stack for both B2C and B2B channels was instrumental in achieving operational efficiencies and driving business growth.
B2B Solutions for BigCommerce
Get the features that convert more B2B buyers. Work with BigCommerce B2B Specialized Experts.
The Solution: Unifying B2C and B2B on a Common Tech Stack
Integrating Backend Systems for a Unified Ecommerce Platform
A robust B2B ecommerce platform hinges on the integration of various backend systems, ensuring cohesive business operations and a consistent customer experience.
Integrating essential systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Product Information Management (PIM) was a key component of Action Industries’ B2B expansion:
- SAP ERP Integration: Allows for efficient management of inventory, orders, and business operations across both B2C and B2B markets. Streamlines data exchange between NSCD’s ecommerce platform and backend systems, minimizing manual interventions and reducing redundancies.
- Jasper PIM Integration: Ensures accurate and comprehensive product information across all channels, simplifying product catalog management and enhancing the shopping experience for both B2C and B2B clients.
Our developers bridged the gap between these backend systems and BigCommerce using our proprietary middleware, BigCore.
This solution automates data exchange between SAP ERP and Jasper PIM, streamlining order processing, product information updates, and shipment tracking. Key highlights include:
- Product Flow: Data flows smoothly from SAP through the middleware to Jasper PIM and BigCommerce, ensuring consistent product information and pricing across all channels.
- Order Processing: Orders flow from BigCommerce through the middleware to SAP, where they are formatted and processed efficiently. A smart wait/retry system prevents overloads.
- Shipment Updates: SAP updates on order status and shipments are relayed back through the middleware to BigCommerce, allowing customers to track their orders accurately.
Essential B2B Add-Ons and Customizations
Several key functionalities were developed to make the B2C platform suitable for B2B transactions.
Log in for Pricing: The “Log in for Pricing” feature is a common way B2B ecommerce merchants restrict pricing visibility to registered users. This creates an exclusive environment that encourages account sign-ups and reserves detailed pricing for high-intent visitors.
Segment-Specific Pricing: B2B clients often require negotiated pricing that reflects contract terms or purchase volumes. The log in for pricing feature can also be used in conjunction with tailored pricing for different customer segments.
Quick Order Page: Time is a critical factor for B2B clients who often know exactly what they need and prefer to bypass browsing in favor of efficiency. The quick order page allows these clients to quickly locate and order products using part numbers or a saved list, significantly speeding up the purchase process.
Reorder Functionality: Repeat orders are common in B2B transactions, given the recurring need for certain products. The reorder functionality simplifies this process by allowing clients to replicate previous orders with the click of a button, ensuring continuity and saving time.
Subcription Billing: Incorporating subscription options into a B2B platform can be a transformative feature for businesses providing regular deliveries of products or services. Chargify Commerce for BigCommerce facilitates automatic payments and order scheduling, which can help stabilize revenue streams and enhance customer loyalty.
Key Takeaways
NCSD and Action Industries’ journey through ecommerce migration to a strategic B2B expansion on BigCommerce showcases the power of a unified ecommerce strategy.
By leveraging a cohesive tech stack, both companies have streamlined their operations, reduced costs, and created a consistent customer experience across both markets. This integrated approach has laid a solid foundation for future growth, highlighting the importance of aligning technology and business goals.
Are you ready to elevate your B2B ecommerce strategy and build a unified platform? Whether you’re looking to launch a new store, redesign your site, or migrate to BigCommerce, explore how BigCommerce can streamline your operations and foster substantial business growth. Start your journey towards success today by contacting our team for a complimentary consultation.
Start your journey towards success today by contacting our team for a complimentary consultation.
B2B Solutions for BigCommerce
Get the features that convert more B2B buyers. Work with BigCommerce B2B Specialized Experts.
