The Difference between B2B and B2C E-commerce Business Websites

The shift of business practices from offline to online platforms led to the development of several e-commerce platforms around the globe. And, not to mention that everyone is enjoying the convenience offered by e-commerce platforms that we cannot figure out the state of the business world without them.

It is easy to consider e-commerce as one market for selling business products and services, but some differences between B2B and B2C e-commerce websites do not let us ignore them. Although both work on a similar business model, the customers experience differences that are explained in this article.

What is B2B E-commerce?

Business E-commerce website facilitates business transactions between two or more businesses. Here, other business firms purchase to resell or make products using the raw materials they bought. And, as the buyers in a B2B e-commerce platform are wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers, a long-term partnership is established.

Characteristics of B2B E-commerce

• Allows price negotiation.

• The purchase has a defined set of terms and conditions.

• The business process includes multiple decision-makers.

• A long-lasting relationship between customers and manufacturers.

Example: Alibaba

What is B2C E-commerce?

Business to Consumer is an online website that facilitates business and customer transactions. B2C e-commerce became popular in the last 1990s during the boom of dotcom and since then, it is one of the very popular marketplaces globally. The B2C website lets the customers make purchases to fulfill their needs, 

Characteristics of B2C E-commerce

• Prices are fixed.

• Purchase frequency is low.

• Payments are made during purchase.

• There is a quick buying process.

Examples: Amazon, Shopify, and Kibo

Now that we know the definition of both e-commerce platforms, let us learn the significant differences between them curated by the professional developers of the leading mobile app development company Bangalore to get more familiar with them.

The Difference between B2B and B2C E-commerce Business Websites

There are various factors to look around when it comes to finding the difference between the two platforms. Some of them are discussed here such as the needs of the customer, their preferences, and interests. All the target areas are discussed according to both websites so that there is proper attention from the audience.

#1- Detailing of the Product

This is one of the necessary parts to differentiate between B2B and B2C e-commerce platforms as the buying behavior under detailing of the product gives the right information about the two.

In the B2B purchase process, the business decisions are well-informed and take a lot of time. Also, many decision-makers are included in the entire complex process. So, a B2B business website focuses on imperativeness where the business decisions take more time. The B2B business websites always consider expert customer support, articles, blogs, etc.

In the B2C business process, the decision-making is easy, fast, and timely as the setup is fully focused on users. So, product detailing in a B2C business website focus on defining product images, videos, features, and reviews.

#2- Design of the Homepage

One can clearly outline a clear difference between B2B and B2C business websites through the design of the homepage as both have different customer bases.

B2B e-commerce platform focuses on attracting other business firms that can bring long-term partnerships with an entire focus on business problem-solving. Therefore, there are no extra flashy designs, instead, the homepage is very informative and offers a clear and simple design. The website provides detailed product information such as description videos or blogs to help customers complete their research.

On the other hand, B2C websites have creative, flashy, and loud homepage designs to get the attention of the users. The platform also includes information about the product, but they limit to basic descriptions like color, size, and dimension. B2C business website homepage designs focus on self-service and offer quick checkout processes.

#3- Customer Support

B2B business websites have more elaborate customer support teams as they offer complex products and services. The support here involves Chatbots, agents, FAQ pages, demos of the product, and community forums. The customers of B2B business platforms have a high customer lifetime value and business owners invest in strong infrastructures to solve their issues.   

B2C e-commerce business platforms also need customer support, but the customers only focus on asking simple questions. Here, Chatbots and FAQ pages can easily handle common queries by the customers such as issues related to return policies where there is no need for extensive knowledge about the product.

#4- Pricing Model

B2B business organizations provide negotiable pricing as the focus is on long-term sales cycles with a high CLV of customers. For instance- if a growing startup company with a small budget wants to get CRM software, then the vendor might offer a low price if it expects the company to grow in the coming time. And, as the company grows, the vendor can sell it more in the future.

B2C pricing, on the other hand, is fixed. The products are less customizable and complex as compared to B2B products, so sellers do not need to set prices according to product customizations. Although, retailers provide discounts and other customized offers such as coupons on birthdays to engage more customers.

#5- Checkout Process

The last difference that we will discuss in the article is the checkout process of both e-commerce platforms. B2B websites have a strategic process to check out reliable, live, and timely customer support. Here, the integration of social intervention is necessary to build trust for the business.

And, the checkout process of a B2C business setup is simple that lets the customers enjoy a smooth navigation flow to carts and payment gateways. The overall checkout process of a B2C e-commerce website includes easy ways of navigation for smooth functioning. Therefore, the difference between the two is derived from elements such as changes in the product, the checkout process activeness, the process of payment, and the timely re-order of the products.

Summing Up

It can be concluded that B2B and B2C websites have distinct backgrounds according to their target audience, purchase, and decision-makers. The main difference between the two lies in areas such as website purpose, product details, pricing model, and other areas. Having a supporting background in finding the difference between B2B and B2C websites is necessary to have the right understanding of each of them. This will also help you create a good target audience and build trust for the business.

Therefore, to understand more about B2B and B2C websites for your business, connect with the top app development company in Bangalore and know about them more. Also, the app developers will guide you about how your website will suit your organizational needs and the demands of the customers.