18 July 2024

Amazon Business and B2B Ecommerce: Differences, Benefits and Opportunities for Businesses

If you are interested in B2B commerce, you are in the right place. The article you are about to read is critical to understanding the differences, benefits, and opportunities related to Amazon Business and B2B eCommerce.

You will learn how Amazon Business works, the differences with theeCommerce Experience Platform, and why to invest inB2B e-commerce. In addition, you'll see how selling online can help you maintain full control of your business. It's time to explore new opportunities for your business!

Amazon Business and B2B Commerce

Amazon Business is a platform dedicated to businesses wishing to buy and sell goods in bulk. It offers a B2B marketplace with more than 250 million products, giving businesses access to discounts on bulk orders and flexible payment methods.

By registering for free, businesses can manage their purchases efficiently, with the ability to automatically download invoices and track business expenses through advanced tools. In addition, the Amazon Business Prime service offers additional benefits such as fast shipping and no extra charge?

These features make Amazon Business an incredibly valuable resource for B2B businesses, offering them the ability to streamline their purchasing and expense management processes easily and efficiently.

After providing you with some information on how this tool works, we will show you what other solutions can help your company manage online sales and find new buyers, without losing direct control of your business.

How Amazon Business works

Amazon Business works intuitively, allowing businesses to easily register and start taking advantage of a vast catalog of products. Businesses can create a multi-user account, delegate purchases to employees and benefit from a streamlined user experience.

The platform offers tools for managing business budgets, visibility into spending, and the ability to set purchasing preferences through Amazon Guided Buying. In addition, Amazon Business gives companies access to discounts on bulk orders and flexible payment methods, offering benefits such as the ability to automatically download invoices and track business expenses through advanced tools.

This combination of ease of use and advanced tools makes Amazon Business an ideal choice for companies that want to streamline their purchasing and expense management processes easily and efficiently.

Amazon Business offers many advantages to businesses, but it also has some limitations that may prompt businesses to consider alternatives. Here are the main negative aspects of Amazon Business:

1. Limited Control over Logistics and Customer Service.

Amazon Business manages logistics, including packaging, shipping, and returns, which may not always be aligned with the expectations of businesses selling or buying products. This can limit the control businesses have over their logistics and customer service processes. In addition, companies must rely on Amazon to resolve any problems related to returns and product quality, which can be frustrating for some businesses.

2. Commissions and Service Fees.

Although basic Amazon Business membership is free, joining Amazon Business Prime plans incurs additional fees. In addition, Amazon retains a commission on sales made through its platform. These costs can accumulate and reduce profit margins for businesses selling through the marketplace.

3. High Competition.

Amazon Business is home to a wide range of sellers, which means that companies may find themselves competing with many other vendors for customers' attention. This high competition can make it difficult to stand out and gain visibility, especially for small and medium-sized businesses that do not have large budgets for marketing and advertising.

4. Limited customization

The Amazon Business platform, while offering a well-structured user experience, may not allow the level of customization that some businesses require. Businesses may find limitations in customizing product pages, checkout options, and user interfaces, compared to a customized ecommerce solution.

5. Marketplace dependence.

Selling on Amazon Business involves a dependence on Amazon's platform. Businesses must comply with Amazon's rules and policies, which can change without notice. This dependence can limit operational flexibility and the ability to tailor sales and marketing strategies to a company's specific needs.

6. Limited Integration with Enterprise Systems.

Amazon Business offers tools for managing expenses and payments, but may not integrate seamlessly with companies' ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems. This can result in duplicate data and manual management of information, which can be inefficient and error-prone.

eCommerce Experience Platform: the differences with Amazon Business

While Amazon Business serves as a marketplace, Rewix is a customizable ecommerce platform for B2B companies. A marketplace like Amazon Business offers broad visibility and access to a global customer base, but companies must comply with Amazon's rules and logistics.

In contrast, an ecommerce like Rewix allows companies to create a tailored buying experience, integrating existing systems such as ERP and CRM, and maintaining total control over branding and logistics operations. This key difference between the two approaches is that while Amazon Business offers a standardized sales environment, an ecommerce platform like Rewix allows companies to completely customize the buying experience for their customers without having to follow rules imposed by a third-party platform. This flexibility allows companies to create an online presence that fully reflects their business identity and strategy, providing a significant competitive advantage in the B2B marketplace.

Why Invest in B2B Ecommerce

Investing in B2B ecommerce is critical for companies aiming to streamline their operations and improve customer satisfaction. A B2B ecommerce platform offers numerous benefits, including processautomation, personalization of shopping experiences, access to analytical data, and scalability of operations.

These features enable businesses to respond quickly to market needs and build lasting relationships with customers. For example, through processautomation, companies can efficiently manage orders, payments and logistics, minimizing the risk of human error and ensuring faster delivery times.

In addition, personalization of shopping experiences enables companies to offer their customers a tailored service based on their specific needs.Access to analytical data allows companies to monitor the performance of their online activities and quickly adapt their strategies based on market trends.

Finally, the scalability of operations allows companies to expand into new markets and handle an increasing volume of transactions without compromising the efficiency of their business. In conclusion, investing in a customized B2B ecommerce platform is a strategic choice that can bring significant long-term benefits to B2B companies.

Sell online and maintain full control over your business

Selling online and maintaining full control over your business, it is critical to consider the different options available. Amazon Business and B2B ecommerce such as Rewix offer unique advantages for B2B businesses.

While Amazon Business provides a ready and affordable solution with broad visibility, a customized B2B ecommerce offers control and customization. Investing in these solutions can help companies grow and thrive in an increasingly digital and competitive marketplace.

For example, if a company wants to maintain complete control over customer management, transactions, and logistics, it might opt for a customizedB2B ecommerce that allows it to create tailored shopping experiences for its customers. This level of control can lead to greater customer loyalty and better management of internal processes.

On the other hand, if the main goal is maximum visibility and speed in starting to sell online, Amazon Business may be the ideal choice. In either case, the important thing is to carefully assess the specific needs of your business and choose the solution that best fits your long-term business goals.

Finally, whether you choose Amazon Business or a customized B2B ecommerce, it is also important to consider the scalability aspect of operations: both options should enable your business to grow smoothly in the rapidly evolving B2B ecommerce market.