If your B2B ecommerce operation isn’t meeting your expectations, goals, or needs as a company, it may be time to consider switching to a new ecommerce platform. While there are a number of factors that impact your ecommerce success – your agency partner, your operation’s integration with your core business processes, and more – the wrong ecommerce platform can be a costly mistake.
At Xngage, we help manufacturers and developers transform and accelerate their ecommerce operations, so we’re sharing our top signs it may be time to switch to a new platform.
You’re Not Seeing Return on Your Investment
Your ecommerce platform is a significant investment – but you may be paying for more than you need. For example, if you’re not an enterprise organization, you may not need all the features on an enterprise platform. Let’s put it this way: if you’re taking a road trip, you don’t necessarily need the luxury sports car. In fact, it might be mostly wasted when you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the turnpike. You might be more comfortable and efficient in a mid-size sedan.
There are ecommerce platforms with lower licensing fees that still offer the features you need, and if you’re struggling to see return on your investment, they’re worth considering.
You’re Missing the Features You Need
On the other hand, you may be ready to take your ecommerce operation to the next level with more powerful features. You’ve got your ecommerce operation up and running, and you’re seeing some success. But your current platform lacks those features that can help you grow.
Or you may be using a platform that was not specifically designed for B2B. B2B businesses have very different requirements from B2C companies. They have different regulatory requirements, different buying journeys for their customers, and completely different processes for ordering, fulfillment, and shipping, for example. While a platform that caters to primarily B2C companies may help you set up a digital marketplace, it likely won’t meet many of the core demands of a B2B business.
Your Systems and Processes Are Not as Seamless as They Could Be
Your ecommerce operation should be more than just a digital warehouse for your products. It should streamline and enhance your core business processes. If that’s not the reality for your ecommerce operation, it could be that your agency lacks an innovative mindset – or your platform might not be the right fit.
Think about your most cumbersome internal process. It probably takes a ton of time, and while necessary, it’s not the best use of your resources. Your team has probably accepted that it is simply a problem that can’t be solved. But what if that’s not true? What if you could transform that process through digital means? With the help of a strategic, innovative agency partner, the right ecommerce platform will help address these painful processes.
You’re Considering Switching to a New Agency
If you’re already looking for a new ecommerce agency partner, it’s a great time to consider a new ecommerce platform, too. As they get to know your company, your new agency may recommend a new platform that better fits your unique needs. Your new agency may have innovative solutions available that weren’t offered by your previous partner.
When starting a new agency relationship, there will be a discovery process in which the agency team will look at all aspects of your ecommerce operation: what’s working, what’s not, and where the opportunities are. If your current platform is holding you back, upgrading your technology can help you get your operation on the right track.
A Free Ecommerce Assessment Can Help Identify the Right Solutions for You
Xngage offers a free ecommerce assessment that (among other goals) can help identify which B2B ecommerce platform would be the right fit for your organization. During the assessment, our team of experts gets to know your company including your goals, challenges, and opportunities. We also audit your tech stack (including your current platform), UX, and analytics to help identify any roadblocks that are impeding your success. Our experts will offer custom recommendations for technology, strategy, and innovation, all with the goal of ecommerce success in mind.