Modern Functionalities of a Single-Vendor B2B Store

In our last article, we looked at adding B2B capabilities to Shopify.

But let’s back up a little. If you’re still in the process of exploring what makes a single-vendor B2B marketplace truly effective, you need to first understand the core functionalities that set it apart. 

Rather than focusing on the typical B2B functionalities like bulk ordering, quote management, purchase order processing, etc., this article looks at modern capabilities, providing you with the insights needed to build a robust B2B platform.

With a great approach, you can elevate your store by incorporating advanced functionalities. Businesses that get it right attract big customers, build strong relationships, and enhance their market presence.

Don’t worry. You’ve done this before – just not with this level of focus.

Here are some insights to help you get started.

Multi-Account Management for Scaling with Ease

In a single-vendor eCommerce website, the app owner (seller) manages the store and sells products to multiple businesses (buyers). They set up the portal and create accounts for different customers.

The businesses log into their individual accounts on the portal. They can browse products, manage their profiles, manage sub-accounts, and make purchases, but they do not sell products themselves.

To purchase products on this portal, users must have an account. The portal owner is the only person with the authority to create new accounts. Each account can have a unique company name, email, phone number, license number, etc. 

For example, an eCommerce vendor can create individual accounts for different businesses. Each account can then be used by the business to log in, manage their profile, browse through the list of products available, access product pages, etc.

Hierarchical Account Structure

The portal supports a hierarchical structure where the main account owner can create sub-accounts for staff members.

Each user within the portal can be assigned a role that dictates their access level. This ensures that sensitive information and critical functions are only accessible to authorized personnel.

Owner

• The Owner is the top-tier user of the portal and has full control over all aspects. Typically, the owner is the app owner who manages clinics through this portal. 
• The owner has the ability to oversee all activities within the portal, including managing clinics, viewing orders, and controlling permissions for all users under them.

Clinic

• Clinics are the customers of the owner. Each clinic operates as a separate entity within the portal but is managed under the owner’s account.
• Clinics can place orders, manage their accounts, and oversee their staff. All orders placed by a clinic, including those made by staff members, are visible within the clinic’s account. 

Admin

• Admins within a clinic have comprehensive access to the portal. They can manage orders, oversee other accounts, and handle the clinic’s settings.
• The admin role is typically assigned to senior staff members who need full access to ensure smooth operations. They have the authority to assign roles and manage permissions for other staff members.

Staff Members

• Staff Members are users within the clinic who assist with day-to-day operations. Their access is more limited, depending on the roles assigned by the clinic admin or owner.
• For example, a staff member might only have access to manage orders or assist in managing other accounts but might not have the authority to change overall clinic settings.
• Clinics and Admins can view all orders placed by their staff members, complete with order numbers, the name of the staff member who placed the order, and other relevant details. 

eCommerce Customized Pricing Options for Different Customer Needs

One of the standout features of a modern B2B store is its ability to allow the store owner to manage pricing flexibly. There are three primary custom pricing options available:

Bundle Pricing

What It Is: Bundle pricing involves offering discounts when customers purchase specific bundles or fixed quantities of items. 

How It Works: Product bundling pricing is typically structured around predefined sets or quantities. 

Example of Bundle Pricing: A clinic might receive a discount when purchasing exactly 10, 20, or 40 units of a particular medical supply. The pricing is linked to these specific quantities, making it clear what discounts are available based on the purchase amount.

Benefits:

• Encourages Bulk Purchases: By offering discounts for specific quantities, product bundle pricing motivates customers to buy more in one transaction.
• Inventory Management: Businesses can better manage inventory by predicting which bundles are likely to sell and adjusting stock levels accordingly.
• Simplified Promotions: Predefined bundles make it easier to plan and execute marketing promotions, as discounts are clearly tied to specific quantities.

Single Pricing

What It Is: Single pricing provides a fixed price for individual items, regardless of the quantity ordered. This straightforward approach ensures that the price per item remains consistent, making it easier for customers to understand and plan their purchases.

How It Works: Each item has a set price that does not change based on the quantity ordered. This model is ideal for products where a consistent price is preferred or where purchasing larger quantities does not warrant a discount.

Benefits:

• Simplicity: Single pricing is easy to understand and manage, both for customers and for the business. There are no complex calculations or tiered pricing structures.
• Predictable Costs: Customers can accurately calculate the cost of their orders without worrying about changing prices based on quantity.
• Ideal for Standard Products: This model is well-suited for products with consistent demand and pricing, where quantity-based discounts are not necessary.

Example of Single Pricing: A retailer offers single pricing for their consumer electronics. Whether a customer buys one or several units, the price per item remains the same, providing a straightforward purchasing experience.

Volume Pricing

What It Is: Volume pricing offers progressive discounts as the number of items ordered increases. This model includes different price levels or “slabs” for various quantity ranges.

How It Works: Volume pricing eCommerce structures apply tiered pricing based on the number of items purchased. 

Benefits:

• Increases Sales: By offering better rates for larger orders, the volume pricing strategy encourages customers to buy more. Moreover, the low-margin high-volume pricing strategy complements this by driving up sales volume.
• Enhances Customer Loyalty: Customers who frequently purchase larger quantities benefit from lower prices, fostering repeat business and customer loyalty.
• Flexible Pricing Strategy: Businesses can tailor the discount slabs to align with their sales goals and inventory management.

Example of Volume Pricing: A wholesale distributor uses volume-based pricing for their bulk materials. Orders of up to 10 units are priced at $50 each, while orders of 11 to 50 units are priced at $40 each, and orders over 50 units are priced at $30 each. This volume discount pricing strategy incentivizes larger orders and maximizes revenue.

Why Volume Pricing is Better

Volume pricing is generally more beneficial to customers than bundle pricing in projects where flexibility and cost savings are important, especially for larger purchases.

This option allows customers to get discounts as they increase the quantity, without strict thresholds. The more they buy, the lower the price per unit, with no need to fit into a specific “bundle.”

For example, a customer needs 150 units. Under the bundle pricing model, there’s no exact bundle for 150 units, so they might have to buy a 200-unit bundle, leading to excess inventory and higher costs.

With volume pricing, the customer can purchase within a range that includes their desired quantity and still benefit from a discounted rate that’s better than the 200-unit bundle rate.

Multiple Shipping Addresses for Streamlined B2B Orders

Implementing multiple shipping addresses is a strategic feature in B2B eCommerce platforms that significantly enhances operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. This functionality is particularly valuable for businesses that regularly need to distribute products to multiple locations, such as different offices, warehouses, or client sites. 

This feature allows businesses to place a single order and ship parts of that order to various locations. This is crucial for companies that manage multiple facilities or need to send products directly to their customers or partners at different addresses. 

For instance, a business could order bulk supplies and have them delivered to several regional offices, all within the same transaction.

Here’s how it works:

1. Product Selection: Businesses start by selecting the products they need. As they add items to their cart, the option to ship to multiple addresses becomes available, typically after selecting a quantity greater than one.
2. Entering Multiple Addresses: During the checkout process, users are prompted to assign different quantities of each product to specific addresses. For example, a company ordering 100 units of a product might choose to send 40 units to one distribution center and 60 units to another.
3. Shipping and Fulfillment: Once the addresses and quantities are set, the order is processed, and the platform automatically splits the shipment accordingly. Each address receives the designated products, and the user receives separate tracking information for each shipment, ensuring transparency and ease of management.

This feature offers several benefits for B2B store owners. 

• Boosting Order Volume: Offering multiple shipping addresses within a single order encourages bulk purchasing, as businesses find it easier to manage large orders distributed across multiple sites.
• Happy Customers: Providing this functionality meets the complex needs of B2B clients, leading to better customer relationships and repeat business.
• Smooth Logistics: Vendors can optimize their logistics by managing bulk shipments more effectively, ensuring timely deliveries to multiple destinations.

Identity and Access Management for Secure B2B Environments

When running a B2B store, managing user access effectively and securely is key. One of the best ways to do this is by incorporating advanced IAM features. 

These tools help you control who can see and do what in your store, making sure that only the right people have access to the right things. Here’s a rundown of what modern B2B identity and access management solutions can do for your store:

Centralized User Management

Centralized user management is a cornerstone of modern IAM solutions. It allows administrators to manage user identities, roles, and permissions from a single interface. 

This functionality ensures that all user data is up-to-date and accurately reflects the user’s current status within the system. It simplifies onboarding new customers, updating roles, and offboarding users who no longer need access.

Why It’s Great:

• Streamlined Administration: Easier to handle user updates and role changes.
• Consistency: Ensures uniform access policies across the platform.

Role-Based Access Control 

RBAC is essential in a B2B store where different users require different levels of access. 

With RBAC, you can define roles based on job functions and assign permissions accordingly. 

For example, a senior sales rep might have access to pricing information and order history, while a junior rep might only see order details. This way, everyone gets just the right level of access they need.

Why It’s Great:

• Granular Control: Restricts access to sensitive data based on roles.
• Security: Reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

Single Sign-On

SSO enhances user experience by allowing users to log in once and gain access to all their authorized applications without needing to authenticate multiple times. This functionality is particularly beneficial in a B2B context where users might interact with various integrated systems.

Why It’s Great:

• Improved User Experience: Reduces password fatigue and simplifies access.
• Enhanced Security: Reduces the risk of password-related breaches.

Multi-Factor Authentication

MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access. This might include something they know (password), something they have (a smartphone), or something they are (fingerprint). 

MFA is crucial for protecting sensitive business information and ensuring that only authorized users can access critical functions.

Why It’s Great:

• Enhanced Security: Provides an additional barrier against unauthorized access.
• Compliance: Helps meet industry regulations for data protection.

Customizable Access Policies

Customizable access policies allow businesses to define specific rules for different user groups, departments, or customer tiers. These policies can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each organization like setting access limits during certain hours or defining data access based on geographic location.

Why It’s Great:

• Flexibility: Adapts to diverse business needs and scenarios.
• Compliance: Ensures access policies meet regulatory requirements.

Audit Trails and Reporting

Audit trails and reporting functionalities track user activities and changes within the system. This feature is critical for monitoring access patterns, identifying potential security issues, and ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations. 

Regular reports help administrators assess the effectiveness of access controls and make informed decisions.

Why It’s Great:

• Transparency: Provides visibility into user activities and system changes.
• Accountability: Helps identify and address security issues promptly.

Integration with Existing Systems

Modern IAM solutions can integrate with your other business systems like CRM, ERP, and analytics platforms. This ensures a seamless flow of information between systems and enhances overall operational efficiency. 

For example, integration with a CRM system can streamline user provisioning based on customer data.

Why It’s Great:

• Efficiency: Reduces the need for manual data entry and synchronization.
• Consistency: Ensures accurate user information across all systems.

Self-Service Capabilities

Self-service capabilities empower users to manage their profiles, reset passwords, and request access changes without needing administrator intervention. This functionality reduces the administrative burden and improves user satisfaction by providing greater control over their accounts.

Why It’s Great:

• Convenience: Users can manage their own accounts and resolve issues quickly.
• Efficiency: Reduces the workload on IT and administrative staff.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re considering multi-account management, customized pricing, or access and identity management, these features are not just nice-to-haves – they’re crucial for creating a seamless and scalable B2B experience. 

They help manage complex setups, adapt to different needs, and keep things secure. Together, they make running your business easier, more flexible, and secure, which is exactly what you need to stay ahead.

To make your store even better, consider adding integration capabilities to connect with other business systems, analytics and reporting for detailed insights into performance, AI chatbots to handle queries, and automated workflows to streamline repetitive tasks. 

Want to take your B2B game to the next level? Let’s talk about how these features can work for your business. Reach out today, and let’s make your B2B experience better and more secure!