Marketplace eCommerce

The Benefits of a B2B eCommerce Mobile App for Marketplaces

Updated   |  5 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • B2B mobile apps can provide several benefits to a B2B marketplace, including increased accessibility, improved user experience, enhanced communication, personalization, and competitive advantage.
  • By providing a mobile app, businesses can offer users the convenience of accessing the marketplace from anywhere, at any time.
  • B2B mobile apps can offer a streamlined and intuitive user interface, making it easier for users to find and purchase products.
  • In-app messaging and chat features can facilitate communication between buyers and sellers, as well as communication using social media accounts.
  • Personalization can help businesses target and engage their ideal customers via social media marketing.
  • A mobile app can set a B2B marketplace apart from competitors and provide a unique selling point to attract and retain existing customers.
Mobile applications need key features for better customer satisfaction

Give Customers What They’re Looking For

Mobile applications and omnichannel experiences can dramatically increase customer loyalty and their experience for B2C, C2C, B2C, and really any type of interaction. One thing to consider is that users are looking for the most self-service, non-confrontational, high-value interaction they can have with your marketplace.

Therefore, the extent that we can enable a seamless, powerful, well-governed interaction with a B2B eCommerce mobile app and omnichannel improve the breadth and depth that B2B marketplace software can bring. In short, mobile devices drive business growth.

B2B mobile apps can take advantage of marketing strategies

B2B Apps Improve Bidding Capabilities

In particular, with B2B offerings, a B2B mobile application can vastly improve the customer's experience especially where they may have more functionality than the website itself.

For example, if the marketplace offers some form of B2B auction, the user can set up a notification in the mobile app to notify them when something is in stock. Then they can make a bid on that item right away.

They can also use B2B apps to scan barcodes at an in-person event or see a picture of the item. This interaction allows sellers and buyers to extend their reach with B2B auctions. Users can also receive apush notifications if they're outbid, or if they've received a quote request that's time-sensitive.

Having a notification go to their mobile application can make or break their ability to purchase with your B2B marketplace. If they don't receive the notification in time, they may not be able to make the purchase, as they may have otherwise missed it via traditional means like email. Mobile commerce alliviates many of these concerns, especially when you make full use of push notifications.

B2B mobile apps empower businesses in mobile commerce.

Interact on Any Device with the B2B App

In addition, having a B2B marketplace application can be particularly helpful for interacting with an augmented reality type of experience. Most B2B purchasers and sellers are going to be quite busy, and they may find that they don't have a lot of downtime in front of the website. They may be traveling or in a meeting, etc., and have their smartphone or tablet readily available.

Therefore, having the core offerings available on those devices is a game-changer to keep it top of mind, and it's essential to keep the buyer and seller engaged in the marketplace and facilitate the exchange between them.

To the extent that we can make this consistent and a self-serve operation, we can enable the business operations to expand and grow naturally. So, having this omnichannel experience for the buyer and seller to interact is a key factor to a successful B2B business.

B2B mobile apps can analyze user behavior.

Discussions via the App’s Messaging System

The buyer may be requesting something that requires a logistics estimate. Maybe it's an intermodal shipment, a unique shipment, etc. The seller needs to get a shipping estimate. To have immediate interaction, the buyer and seller can leverage the chat tool within the marketplace application.

Well, it's easy to do this via mobile devices that link to your eMarketplace. This would be important for the sellers because oftentimes a buyer may initiate a quote request and want to chat about the logistics estimate or some other portion of the process of the sales team.

Notifying the seller and waiting for them to see their email could be frustrating for the buyer. The buyer may be looking to get an answer right away—we don't want to set customer expectations that all sellers will respond immediately, but if we give the seller a mobile commerce application and make it available to multiple people within the seller's organization, the odds are that can be a game changer for the value the marketplace brings.

Even if there are manual business processes that have to occur, if we can provide a lot of interactivity and immediacy to that interaction, that can differentiate the marketplace business model and place it above other options.

Locate Physical Stores Using the B2B App

On the seller side of things, having an omnichannel experience can be critical for an eMarketplace platform. Many sellers have physical brick-and-mortar locations within a marketplace, so they may choose to leverage a point-of-sale system so that whenever folks are purchasing in the marketplace, they could actually pick up in-store. Offering them such customer engagement can vastly improve customer loyalty. When you increase customer loyalty, anyone involved with sales channels—an indeed any part of the sales process—will thank you!

Although this may not be very common and it may be the exception more than the rule, this could have a big impact on a particular set of buyers in a particular region.

They might want to make purchases online through the B2B website and check for inventory remotely, but then immediately go pick up the items from the physical location.

Many sellers aren't going to have the resources to put this infrastructure in place. Therefore, it's valuable to allow sellers to have point-of-sale integration as well as location lookup and inventory lookup within your marketplace. This adds value to the seller and to the particular market you're serving. It can help you capture a niche and penetrate a particular market more rapidly. 

B2B mobile apps can helpa sales teams with marketing strategies.

Manage Fulfillment with B2B Phone & Tablet Apps

One of the key things for B2B marketplaces is making sure that sellers have the ability to upload accurate product data, including pricing and inventory information. It's also crucial that the data and uploads are easy for them to manage.

Identify Trends

With tablet and smartphone applications, the seller or sales team can quickly see app analytics so they can identify trends, manage orders, and deal with fulfillment. They can also easily manage their inventory and pricing.

Mobile Data Collection

By enabling them to manage things with additional tools, they can be out on the warehouse floor and use these omnichannel mobile apps to do fulfillment. You could enable a robust solution with your mobile commerce marketplace where the vendors have a major advantage in working with your B2B marketplace platform versus another.

Fulfillment on Mobile Devices

It's important to take advantage of not just the traditional dashboard and reporting tools, but also robust capabilities around fulfillment, scanning items, and doing pick-and-pack through your omnichannel B2B application that ties into their vendor dashboard and allows them to complete fulfillment steps. Push notifications can bring customers to your app immediately to finish the sale.

Whenever there's a store lookup and a need to make something available for someone to pick up from a store, for example, the B2B marketplace could allow them to complete these workflow steps very easily. There may be a need for a refund or return, and having apps can extend the ability of the internal team of the vendor so they can quickly complete these steps of refund, accrediting, or returning items.

 

Custom B2B Apps for Your Marketplace

Fundamentally, with a base B2B eCommerce mobile app and tablet application that has capabilities for buyers and sellers, we can adjust and customize these applications over time to match what your particular buyers and sellers are looking for.

This is why working with a company like Clarity Ventures helps your marketplace be successful but B2B mobile apps. We have an off-the-shelf set of tools that we can then cater to your particular market and match the needs and changing demands that your buyers and sellers will have. We'll give you the advantage you're looking for over other businesses.

Talk to an Expert
Sales team of android devices

FAQ

 

Developing a B2B eCommerce mobile app typically involves hiring a team of developers or working with a mobile app development agency. The process may include designing the app interface, developing the app's functionality, testing and debugging, and launching the app on the App Store and/or Google Play Store. The native apps may also be integrated with the accompanying eCommerce platform.

The cost and timeline for developing a mobile app will depend on factors such as the app's complexity, features, and platform compatibility. In nearly every case, though, it's worth it to add mobile commerce to a business model.

 

A B2B eCommerce mobile app can provide several benefits to a business marketplace, including:

  • Increased accessibility: A mobile app allows business users to access the marketplace from anywhere, at any time, which can increase engagement and sales.
  • Improved user experience: Native B2B eCommerce mobile app can offer a streamlined and intuitive user interface, making it easier for users to find and purchase products. This improves customer engagement and will increase customer loyalty.
  • Enhanced communication: A mobile app can facilitate communication between buyers and sellers, such as through in-app messaging or chat features.
  • Personalization: Mobile commerce apps can offer personalized experiences based on user preferences, search history, and other real-time customer data, which can help businesses target and engage their ideal customers.
  • Competitive advantage: A mobile app can set a B2B marketplace apart from other businesses and provide a unique selling point to attract and retain customers.

Adding the ability for a customer to shop from their mobile phone or tablet can help your eCommerce platform boost sales. It can also vastly improve customer engagement and loyalty, letting them shop from anywhere with an internet connection.

 

While a mobile app is not necessary for all B2B marketplaces, it can provide several benefits for businesses looking to reach a wider audience and increase sales. A mobile app—as an extension of an eCommerce platform—can offer greater accessibility and convenience for users, allowing them to access the marketplace on the go and make purchases quickly and easily. Also, a mobile app can provide a more personalized and user-friendly experience, helping to increase customer engagement and loyalty.

However, developing and maintaining a mobile app requires a significant investment of time and resources, so businesses should carefully consider their goals, key features, target audience, and budget before deciding whether or not to develop a mobile app for their B2B marketplace.

 

Some examples of B2B marketplaces with apps for mobile devices include Alibaba, Amazon Business, Thomasnet, and TradeIndia. These eCommerce businesses allow shopping on the online store via the app and optimized mobile website.

Such a B2B eCommerce business app will allow all of the features that the mobile website offers, such as order history, account balances, product details, shopping carts, and everything else a custom needs to use the online store.

 

A B2B mobile app is a software application designed for business-to-business transactions that can be accessed and used on a mobile phone or tablet. It is developed to facilitate communication and transactions between businesses by providing features such as product search, messaging, and ordering.

Most mobile apps can enhance the user experience by providing a streamlined and intuitive interface, improving accessibility, and offering personalized experiences based on user preferences. They can also provide a competitive advantage for B2B marketplaces by offering a unique selling point to attract and retain customers. Other apps include the Salesforce mobile app.

 

B2B mobile apps refer to applications designed for business-to-business interactions, facilitating communication and transactions between companies.

Mobile device apps cater to specific business needs, such as supply chain management, CRM, inventory tracking, and collaboration tools. They aim to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and foster better relationships between partners. A B2B eCommerce mobile app often incorporates features like secure data sharing, real-time analytics, and integration with existing software systems.

They enable seamless communication, enabling businesses to engage in procurement, sales, and service interactions while on the go. Mobile device apps play a vital role in modern commerce by empowering enterprises to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and ultimately drive growth through enhanced collaboration and data-driven insights.

 

Building a successful B2B mobile app for a business can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Developing B2B native apps requires careful planning, design, and execution, as well as a deep understanding of the target audience's needs and preferences (such as "do they want push notifications?"). It's also vital that any B2B eCommerce tool set customer expectations in order to improve customer relationships.

It is important to identify the specific pain points and challenges that the app can solve and offer unique value propositions to differentiate it from competitors. Successful B2B native apps also require continuous updates and improvements based on user feedback and market trends. Selling online often requires a personalized customer experienced, which means including different marketing strategies.

While it may be difficult to build a successful B2B mobile app for B2B eCommerce, with the right eCommerce technology, strategy, resources, and dedication, it is possible to create an app that drives business growth and success with business buyers.

 

B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) mobile apps differ in their target audience, features, and user experience.

In terms customer satisfaction, B2B apps are designed for businesses to conduct transactions and communicate with each other, while B2C apps are designed for consumers to purchase products and services.

B2B mobile apps typically offer more complex features, such as product catalogs, inventory management, and invoicing, to support the needs of businesses. B2C apps, on the other hand, focus more on user experience and convenience, with features such as one-click purchasing, personalized recommendations, and social media integration.

User experience also differs between the two types of apps. B2B apps are often used by trained professionals who require a more detailed and data-driven interface, while B2C apps focus on ease of use and visually appealing design to engage and retain customers.

 

Yes, B2B apps can be paired with social media accounts to enhance their functionality and user experience. Social media integration can provide several benefits for a B2B app, such as allowing users to sign in with their social media credentials, share products and reviews with their social media networks, and even make purchases directly through social media platforms.

Social media integration can also help businesses increase their brand awareness, engagement, and customer loyalty by providing a seamless experience between the mobile app and social media channels. However, it is important to ensure that social media integration is aligned with the overall business strategy and target audience preferences before implementing it in a B2B eCommerce mobile app.

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Written by Autumn Spriggle
Autumn Spriggle is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures who stays up to date on the latest trends in eCommerce, software development, and related topics to provide readers with the latest and greatest. She strives to help people like you realize the full potential for their eCommerce business.

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