The manufacturing and distribution industry has faced many challenges as a result of the pandemic, leading to businesses prioritising digital transformation much earlier than anticipated.
Traditionally, B2B manufacturers, distributors and retailers have relied on print materials, face-to-face meetings, live events and conferences.
In fact, before the pandemic, trade show attendance reached a record high with events being the best way to network and build relationships with customers.
Since then, many businesses have turned to B2B eCommerce solutions, such as OroCommerce, which provides a diverse range of B2B features and capabilities, such as personalisation, localisation, built-in multi-channel CRM, powerful workflows, and a pricing engine.
OroCommerce is an enterprise-grade B2B eCommerce platform, built with a comprehensive set of features ready for any B2B commerce model, helping to digitally transform businesses and revolutionise the eCommerce landscape.
The platform has been specifically designed for manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and multi-channel brands.
It’s not only the pandemic that has driven digital transformation within the industry.
More than 73% of B2B transactions now involve millennials as decision makers , meaning that the change in online B2B buying behaviour is here to stay.
This demographic is comfortable with making everything from small to sophisticated purchases online and as a result, B2B buyers are demanding more control of their purchasing experience, turning to the internet to research, self-educate, and self-serve.
As a result, the number of eCommerce users is expected to grow by 7%, to 61 million users in the UK by 2024.
That’s why many manufacturing and wholesale companies are turning to platforms such as OroCommerce to ensure their websites don’t get left behind.
Yoav Kutner, CEO and Founder of Oro, Inc, said: “The manufacturing and distribution industry has faced many challenges as a result of the pandemic, from spikes in demand to disruptions and supply shortages.
“The biggest challenge for most though has been the digital transformation which has allowed businesses to continue trading throughout numerous lockdowns.
“For businesses that haven’t yet made the move to digital channels, there is no better time than now.
“The shift in customer preferences is here to stay and a digital strategy is essential for providing long-term value and remaining more resilient to uncertainty, supply chain shifts, or pandemic-style disruptions.
“It has never been more important for businesses to have a B2B eCommerce platform that supports their digital strategy and we’re pleased to be able to offer our flagship platform to UK businesses looking to improve their online offering to remain competitive within the industry.”
While going back to normal is inevitable, it’s debatable how much manufacturers and distributors will be able to return to their old means of trading.