Marketplace solutions provider Mirakl has launched online marketplace Mirakl Marketplace B2B to help distributors and manufacturers create their own online marketplaces.
Founded in 2012, Mirakl has helped some of Europe's leading retailers, including Auchan, Carrefour and Galeries Lafayette, to drive eCommerce and offer greater scope for expansion.
Mirakl says it developed the digital platform as a response to the changing behaviours and needs of B2B operators.
Due to the popularity of same-day delivery, price transparency and first-class customer service in B2C from pure-players such as Amazon, this has meant that buyers and procurement teams in business now also expect that same convenience, price and service at work.
With online marketplaces being a major growth area in retailing, those operating in the B2B space can now embrace the opportunity to increase their product range by offering products from third-party sellers on the new digital platform.
“Whether a manufacturer is offering a new innovative sales channel for its distributors, or a distributor is wanting to offer its customers more choice with complimentary or related products and better pricing, the future of B2B eCommerce is linked to online marketplaces,” said Adrien Nussenbaum, CEO and co-founder of Mirakl.
“The key to successful eCommerce is providing a first-class customer service and with the launch of Mirakl Marketplace B2B, this is now possible for B2B firms as well as traditional retailers." Online marketplaces are as well-suited for B2B as they are for B2C, he said.
“The fundamentals are just the same, offering customers more choice, better service and more competitive pricing. With B2B firms feeling the pressure from pure-players such as Amazon Business or Alibaba, Mirakl Marketplace B2B delivers a host of specific features tailored for the B2B market, enabling those organisations to meet their customer needs, without cost or inventory.”
The rise of digital has had a strong impact on the B2B market because it facilitates peer to peer exchanges, he said. "B2C eCommerce has induced a change in behaviour and today B2B consumers expect the same kind of experience as B2C consumers. B2B companies must address this eCommerce challenge. Creating their own online marketplace allows a B2B organisation to adapt to changing markets, remain competitive and relevant in the face of stiff competition from new players.”
A recent Forrester report showed that 82 per cent of B2B buyers would buy again from the same supplier because of that supplier’s broad selection. Additionally, 84 per cent of B2B buyers said they would buy again from the same supplier because of consistently low prices.
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