B2B Order Management Software Brings New Agility to Your Company

business_agility_conceptThe days when B2B orders all came in through one or two channels are over. Even the traditional channels are ripe for modernization.

Most businesses can see how B2C companies provide an experience that is generally far more responsive and agile than their own, but feel mystified as to how to bring that capability to the B2B world. The answer is to add B2B order management software to the company's existing systems. This software allows for the speedy processing of order information, real-time updates to inventory levels, and more. Best of all, it doesn't require adopting an entire array of new processes. Instead, it works with one of the most familiar business programs: QuickBooks.

QuickBooks already handles information like the cost of products sold, prices charged, and who ordered what. The problem is that in its default form, this information isn't readily available to everyone who needs to have it. Another problem is that changes must be entered into it manually. While it's still better than archaic systems like paper ledgers and even spreadsheets, it's still a bit cumbersome. In some situations, existing systems are also error-prone thanks to the amount of manual updates that go on.

For many B2B companies, a typical process involves many steps. A salesperson goes to a customer, gets an order, and writes it down. Then the order is either relayed to the main office by phone or the salesperson physically takes it there after a day on the road. The office person then enters it into at least one other system. In some cases, there will be at least two updates to do. One of these systems will be QuickBooks, and that'll be it at small companies.  At larger ones, another order sheet may need to be generated and sent to a different department for processing.

Once the order is processed, its status will need to be updated. Then, the order must be shipped. This requires manually entering the data into a shipper's system and printing the label. After that, the status will need to be updated again. That's almost 10 steps, with at least three or four big opportunities for typos, misheard information, and other snafus. All of this handling also makes it take longer to bring an order from acceptance to delivery - an unacceptable delay for customers who need things in a hurry.

Modernize, Improve Customer Service, and Reduce Errors

The typical lengthy process is greatly shortened when Now Commerce, a B2B order management system, is added to the mix. Our software eliminates all of that copying and transcribing. With it, your salespeople don't have to copy orders, relay them, and hope the person at the office hears correctly. Instead, they enter the information directly into their Now Commerce portal from their tablets, laptops, or other mobile devices. This is done right in the customer's office using their Wi-Fi to establish a connection. The salesperson can even show the customer the entry screen to verify the correctness of the information. Once it's verified, putting the order into process is a simple matter of hitting the submit button.

Once the order is entered into the system, Now Commerce automatically updates QuickBooks. It also makes the order available to everyone at your office who needs to see it. As the order goes through the stages of fulfillment, the various departments involved simply click through to the proper screens to update it. There is no paperwork to lose and no information to transcribe.

It's plain to see how adding this one piece of software can eliminate several steps from your ordering and fulfillment process. This will greatly improve your company's abilities to please today's time-pressed business customers. In turn, you'll find that your own business grows as it develops a reputation for speedy, accurate service.

To learn more about Now Commerce's order management solution, just give us a call. We'll be happy to show you all of the ways it can help your company.order management system