1/23/2025

Expand Your B2B Operations with Shopify: Mastering Shipping & Order Management

As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, the potential for Business-to-Business (B2B) commerce is rapidly expanding. With a staggering estimated worth of $7.7 trillion, B2B ecommerce stands to be a significant player in the overall ecommerce market. In 2024, a huge part of B2B sales is expected to transpire online, thanks to tools & platforms like Shopify. Not all B2B companies realize the full benefits of implementing Shopify for their operations—particularly around shipping and order management. In this guide, we're going to dive into how Shopify can help expand your B2B operations, specifically focusing on shipping & order management.

Why Shopify for B2B?

Shopify has gained a reputation as a robust platform that allows businesses to ease their transition into the digital age. It’s not just for B2C (Business-to-Consumer), but also for B2B companies looking to optimize their operations.

B2B-Friendly Features

Shopify has tailored solutions specifically designed for B2B operations, which encompass features such as:

Tailored Pricing: Create pricing models that vary based on each buyer's previous purchases or bulk order sizes.
Easy Company Profile Management: Connect multiple customer locations under one company profile. This way, each individual location can manage orders without confusion.
Flexible Payment Terms: B2B interactions often involve greater flexibility with payment terms, such as deposits or payment upon delivery. Shopify has tools to help set such terms easily.
Draft Orders: Create draft orders for customers and send them via email for approval.
APIs: Utilize Shopify's extensive API library to customize features or integrate with existing systems.

Further, Shopify has been recognized as a leader in the 2024 Forrester Wave™: Commerce Solutions B2B, proving it’s well-versed in the unique requirements of B2B businesses

Getting Started with Shopify for B2B Operations

1. Understanding Your Needs

Before you launch your B2B operations, take time to assess what goals you're looking to accomplish with Shopify. Generally, B2B businesses typically struggle in order management & shipping, so consider which feature sets from Shopify could relieve those pain points.

2. Setting Up Your Shopify Store

Once you have your goals defined, it’s time to get your Shopify store running:

Choose a B2B-ready theme: Using themes such as Trade, especially designed for B2B shops, can give your store a professional look while also providing the functionality you need.
Craft Customer Accounts: Set up customer accounts that allow businesses to manage orders, view their history, and access payment options.

3. Shipping Solutions and Strategies

Shipping can be a hurdle for many B2B businesses. Here’s how Shopify can simplify it:

a. Real-Time Shipping Rates

One way to improve the efficiency of B2B shipping is to leverage real-time shipping rates which are linked directly to your sales. This includes:

Flat-rate shipping: Set a flat rate for shipping products, which simplifies expectations for both the seller & the buyer. The average B2B order size is often larger, so it’s essential to define this clearly.
Negotiated Rates: Shopify provides access to negotiated shipping rates through partnerships with major shipping brands, helping reduce costs.

b. Local Delivery

Localized options like local delivery service allow you to cut costs by serving customers either direct from warehouses or stores nearby. It's quick & effective, especially for high-volume orders where B2B buyers expect fast turnaround times.

c. B2B Shipping Rules Pro App

Consider using the B2B Shipping Rules Pro app which lets you customize shipping options based on customer segments. You can tailor shipping strategies specific to large orders or certain B2B clients, ensuring they have the best experience possible.

4. Streamlining Order Management

a. Order Management Software (OMS)

Utilizing an efficient Order Management System is crucial for successfully managing incoming and outgoing orders. Shopify integrates seamlessly with multiple software solutions:

Bulk Fulfillment: Instant access to tools that allow bulk fulfillment of orders to keep operations flowing smoothly.
Order Confirmation and Tracking: Automatically send order confirmation emails & provide tracking updates to your B2B clients keeping everyone informed and engaged.

b. Draft Orders

Make use of the draft orders feature in Shopify, allowing team members to create orders on behalf of your customers, which can be sent direct for approval before fulfillment. This flexibility can save time & is a particularly favorable feature in B2B sales.

5. Enhanced Customer Experiences

Offering an exceptional experience can encourage higher order values. Shopify allows you:

To offer bulk order discounts to incentivize larger purchases, leading to higher sales.
Provide customer-specific catalogs or pricing to cater to unique needs, enhancing the personalized approach.
Build self-service portals so clients can reorder past purchases, enhancing efficiency & making for a great user experience.

Expand Your B2B Capabilities with Arsturn

As you enhance your B2B message, don’t forget that tools exist to optimize customer engagement! Arsturn is a dynamic platform that allows you to create custom AI chatbots specifically designed for your business needs.

Why Choose Arsturn?

Effortless Chatbot Creation: No coding skills necessary! Quickly adapt your chatbot to fit your brand’s unique voice and purpose.
Insightful Analytics: Gain deeper insights into your customers' interactions, refine your strategies, and boost your engagement.
24/7 Engagement: Ensure your customers receive timely, accurate information without needing to wait for business hours.

Harness the power of conversational AI with Arsturn to connect your audience across digital channels, clear FAQs, & enhance your overall engagement.

Conclusion: The Future is B2B

The B2B landscape is continuously shifting as more businesses adapt to online strategies. Platforms like Shopify not just empower B2B companies but also optimize operations in terms of shipping and order management. Remember that tools like Arsturn can augment your engagement efforts, creating a seamless cycle from customer interaction, through order placement, to delivery. So gear up for the future—streamline your operations, provide exceptional service, and watch your B2B business soar!

Start enhancing your B2B operations with Shopify today. Don’t hesitate to check out the variety of resources available, from Shopify’s Help Center on B2B Wholesale to using Order Management tools that can streamline your processes. The potential for growth is immense; make the most of it now!