Downeast Bicycle Specialists

An Activant B2B Buyer Success Story

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Activant Trading Partner Connect's B2B Seller Site Helps a Distributor Reach More Customers

If someone told you that you could provide detailed customer information, process orders, and market your product 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without hiring any new staff, what would you say?

As crazy as it may seem, providing this level of around-the-clock service to customers is entirely within the reach of any distributor with an Internet connection.

Challenge:

Help a Fryeburg, ME-based distributor reach more customers while reducing operating costs

Solutions:

Activant B2B Buyer

Benefits:

Increased sales without increased operating costs
Managed a storefront open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Reached customers regardless of their location
Improved customer service through real-time inventory and pricing

Derrek Schlottmann, system administrator for Downeast Bicycle Specialists in Fryeburg, Maine implemented Activant B2B Seller, a fully-hosted and integrated Web-based storefront, to help Downeast Bicycle increase sales, improve customer service, and reduce operating costs, all while expanding their geographic reach.

All the Convenience, None of the Expense

Most distributors view Web-based storefronts as a value-added service they offer their customers. It isn't until customers start using the site that they realize just how much an online storefront can help increase sales.

Since the Internet knows no geographic bounds, a Web site can open new markets to your business without the expense of hiring additional staff or building new warehouse space.

Furthermore, integrating your site with your solution can bring additional benefits. For example, if a customer places an order for four fixtures, your Web site can automatically recommend the accompanying eight lamps. Or, if you are out of stock of an item, your customers can browse your inventory and find replacement items.

In addition, a Web-based storefront can shorten the sales cycle dramatically by speeding order processing. And, since orders are taken and processed much more quickly, you can reduce the amount of safety stock you keep on your shelves.

Meeting the Demand

Web-based storefronts save you time as well, even as customer service demands increase. Since your solution is tied to your site, customers can view inventory in real time, as well as check the status of any open orders. This is a convenience that not only breeds loyalty in a customer, but also saves your customer service representatives from spending their time re-keying orders or answering questions. And that, in turn, frees them to focus on what most benefits your bottom line - growing your business by selling to new customers.

Schlottmann has seen significant benefits since implementing a Web-based storefront: "B2B seller has enabled us to meet our customers' needs during the busy summer season. Real-time pricing and availability have been extremely helpful," he says. "These factors allow our customers to order at their convenience without taking away from their own selling time."

Technology is constantly changing the way people do business, and more and more customers are demanding the kind of convenience a Web-based storefront provides. It's sink or swim time for many distributors, and those who have already taken their business to the Web are sailing smooth seas, while those that haven't are treading water.

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