How do B2B portals become a place of interaction?

[ayshakhatun3113]

It wasn't yesterday that the expectations of customers and suppliers in the B2B environment changed radically. The expectation that digital content and services are discoverable in real time is an expectation that originated in the B2C sector and that users do not dismiss at the threshold of the office, but also retain in the business context. Whereas in the past the quality of products alone could be decisive for a purchasing decision, today the entire customer experience plays an important role in the decision-making process.

First of all, what is a B2B portal and who is it suitable for?
Before we look at the possible success factors and possible services of a B2B portal , I would like to agree with you on a common definition. Because as different as the functions and requirements of a B2B portal may be, they have one thing in common: As a rule, a B2B portal is a self-contained platform that focuses on communication and interaction with the various stakeholders. The primary goal is usually to maintain or develop new business relationships .

In particular, companies for which the two-way exchange of part time data information with their business partners is of great importance for their daily activities appreciate the convenience of a B2B portal. But companies that have a strong interest in keeping the flow of information to their business partners up to date also use B2B portals as a central organ of language and thus complement already proven communication channels such as newsletters, social media channels or the website.

What should be taken into account already at conception?
As is usual in software development , one thing is paramount at the beginning of the development process of a B2B portal: the conception. This phase should be given sufficient attention and time because in many software projects it represents a crucial point of the overall project. Part of the conception is to record the requirements for a future B2B portal. Even though we could define page-filling requirements, I would now like to share with you my top 5 requirements for a B2B portal and thus inspire you for your conception phase:

A well thought-out and cutting-edge user orientation with a modern and responsive design: What we have learned in the B2C sector is here to be found again.
Enable two-way communication between all stakeholders, thereby strengthening and improving customer relationships.
Ensure constant and rapid control of the flow of information and content on the B2B portal: both internal editors and your clients appreciate it.
Consideration of individual rights and role construction - different groups of users will likely access your portal
Effort savings through optimized and integrated processes: integrate internal product owners of connected systems at an early stage.
What features does my B2B portal need?
The scope and selection of the respective features depends, of course, largely on the individual needs of your interlocutors and your own company. That's why I recommend that you engage in dialogue with your customers and stakeholders and find out what their needs and wishes are. This is the only way to ensure that you create a customer experience that meets the expectations of your stakeholders. So if you were expecting a "top 10" list at this point, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you.