Billtrust recently announced it would be moving its ecommerce platform (formerly known as Second Phase) into a maintenance and support phase, effectively sunsetting the platform. B2B ecommerce leaders understand the need to constantly innovate and evolve, so current Billtrust ecommerce users may want to consider moving to a new platform to get the features and services they need.
But where do you start? There are countless ecommerce platforms available, but most B2B organizations have very specific, complex technical needs. Many ecommerce platforms are built for B2C businesses and not ideal for supporting B2B’s unique requirements.
The right implementation partner can help you narrow down and evaluate your options. You’ll need a partner who has a wealth of experience implementing technology solutions for B2B and a deep understanding of your business. Not only should they understand your ERP and other critical systems, but they’ll need to have a clear picture of how you work with your customers and internal teams.
Get a Free Assessment to Identify Your Next Platform
Xngage has completed more than 70 ecommerce implementations for manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers. No one understands B2B ecommerce better than our team. We offer a free, no-commitment ecommerce assessment, during which our team of experts will evaluate your tech stack, analytics, goals and challenges. By meeting with key stakeholders throughout your organization, we can get a clear picture of your organization’s unique needs across departments.
How to Evaluate Your Ecommerce Platform Options
Before you start your evaluation process with your implementation partner, you’ll need to get a comprehensive understanding of your needs. What systems will need to be integrated? What processes will need to be supported? Where will data come from and how will it be utilized? How will your customers use it? How will your internal teams use it?
- Understand what you’ll need from a platform vs. an implementation partner: The first step of evaluating your ecommerce platform options is to clearly understand what you’ll need from a platform vs. what you’ll need from your implementation partner. In order to provide an excellent customer experience and align with your internal processes, you may need to build custom solutions or add separate tools that integrate with your ecommerce platform. That’s where your implementation partner can help bridge the gaps.
- Right-size your technology: Your ecommerce operation may not need – or be ready for – the top-of-the-line platforms. Those may have more features and functionality than you need given your operation’s maturity and complexity. It’s important to be realistic about what would be the best fit for your organization’s unique needs to avoid investing in more than you need. If you feel like you may be ready to level-up your operation, you still may be better suited spending your budget to build out solutions on top of your platform instead of over-investing in the platform itself.
- Think about your digital roadmap: You’ll need to think beyond your operation’s needs today. What are your goals and plans for the coming years? How will your operation evolve, and can this platform and your implementation partner help support it?
There are countless factors to consider when switching to a new ecommerce platform. The right implementation partner will help guide you through the process to find the right fit for your organization’s unique needs.