Implementing e-commerce in a manufacturing company is a complex process, but increasingly necessary to meet customer expectations and increase competitiveness in the market. Manufacturing, which until recently relied primarily on a B2B model and traditional distribution channels, is increasingly opening up to online sales. In this guide, we outline the key steps, challenges and tools to help you successfully plan and execute an e-commerce implementation in a manufacturing environment.

Table of Contents:

Why do manufacturing companies choose to implement e-commerce?

Digitalization of sales processes is becoming an indispensable part of the development strategy of many manufacturing companies. The introduction of an online channel allows not only to increase the reach and reach new groups of customers, but also to automate sales processes.

Key benefits of implementing e-commerce in a manufacturing company:

Enable online sales to different customer groups (B2B and B2C),
Better control over inventory and orders,
Building a positive user experience on the site (UX),
Reduce lead times by automating processes,
Opportunity to expand into foreign markets.

Thanks to e-commerce, manufacturing companies can respond faster to changes in demand and customer expectations, resulting in increased sales and competitiveness.

How to prepare for e-commerce implementation in a manufacturing company?

Preparing to implement an e-commerce platform requires careful analysis and planning. A key element is to analyze current sales processes and integration with IT systems.

Preparation stages:

Conducting data analysis and user behavior,
Defining an e-commerce strategy tailored to specific production and customer groups,
Preparation of integration with ERP system and warehouse management tools,
Choosing the right sales model,
Defining the assortment and presentation of product information.

It's also a good idea to plan your marketing efforts and prepare to optimize your e-commerce efforts based on data from tools such as Google Analytics.

What challenges do manufacturing companies face in implementing e-commerce?

Manufacturing companies often face specific challenges related to the nature of their business.

Most common problems:

Complexity of assortment and its variants (configurators, custom products).
Integration with warehouse and ERP systems.
Manage pricing and discounts for different customer groups.
Extended production time vs. customer expectations for delivery.
Maintain sales continuity with dynamic inventory changes.

The solution to these problems is to use the right platform that enables personalization of processes and integration with existing IT infrastructure.

What technologies and tools are essential in e-commerce for manufacturing companies?

Implementing e-commerce in a manufacturing company requires technologies to support sales management, integration with production processes and building customer relationships.

Necessary tools:

An e-commerce platform with B2B and B2C features,
PIM system for managing product information,
ERP to synchronize warehouse data, prices and production stocks,
Tools that automate sales processes (e.g., Baselinker),
Payment and delivery systems tailored to different markets,
Data analysis and optimization solutions (Google Analytics, Google Ads).

It is crucial to ensure integration with the ERP system and automate sales and logistics processes - with automation, costs can be significantly reduced and lead times shortened.

technologies and tools necessary for e-commerce

What e-commerce platforms work best for manufacturing companies?

The selection of an appropriate e-commerce platform in a manufacturing environment should take into account, among other things, the specifics of the assortment, complex ordering processes, integration with ERP and the need to differentiate offerings for different customer groups.

For manufacturing companies, Magento - a platform with a high level of flexibility and scalability - works particularly well. Magento enables advanced offer personalization, automation of sales processes, as well as easy integration with external systems such as ERP, PIM or OMS.

Based on Magento works Sellina - an e-commerce solution designed to meet the needs of the B2B sector. Sellina perfectly meets the requirements of companies that have:

An extensive product catalog,
Diversified prices and discounts for many customer groups,
The need to automate sales and order management processes,
The need for integration with ERP and PIM systems.

Sellina offers full control over product presentation, flexible pricing mechanisms and efficient management of purchasing and distribution processes - making it an ideal platform for manufacturing companies that want to successfully develop online sales in the B2B / B2C model.

When considering the implementation of a platform, it's a good idea to base your choice not only on functionality, but also on your company's sales strategy and level of operational sophistication. If you're not sure which platform will be right for your company - it's worth analyzing your e-commerce strategy with experienced consultants.

Implementation of e-commerce in a manufacturing company - summary

Implementing e-commerce in a manufacturing company is a process that requires precise planning, appropriate strategy and selection of technology. Digital transformation of sales allows you to increase competitiveness, reach new groups of customers and optimize sales and production processes.

If your company is considering implementing an e-commerce platform, it's worthwhile to analyze the available options and enlist the help of specialists. We support companies in the design and implementation of complex implementations of B2B and B2C e-commerce systems, as well as integration with ERP and PIM systems.

Do you have an idea, a ready-made specification, or a business need?

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How to implement e-commerce in a manufacturing company? A practical guide