{"id":7798,"date":"2019-05-28T15:41:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-28T15:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dclcorp-phase2\/blog\/amazon-fulfillment\/difference-b2c-b2b\/"},"modified":"2021-05-03T11:11:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T18:11:12","slug":"difference-b2c-b2b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dclcorp-phase2\/blog\/fulfillment\/difference-b2c-b2b\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Difference Between B2C & B2B Fulfillment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you are fulfilling orders for a single end customers or for a retail store, it may seem on the surface there won\u2019t need to be much difference between the two. An order is an order, right? Wrong. B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business) each require very different operations and processes. Each order delivery, whether to one single consumer or to a business, needs to reflect your brand, otherwise you might lose customers. Working with a 3PL that aligns with your brand will help you navigate the differences between fulfilling B2C orders and the complexities of B2B orders. <\/span><\/p>\n

B2C Order Fulfillment Defined<\/b><\/h2>\n

As the acronym indicates, B2C orders will go directly to the end customer. <\/span>B2C generally has a lower average order value than B2B does, and the<\/span> the process of <\/span>order fulfillment<\/span><\/a><\/span> for B2C is also often simpler <\/span>since there aren\u2019t as many regulations and specific requirements to follow when fulfilling single orders. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>B2C typically has set pricing and will display the same price for all customers, excluding seasonal or promotional activities that might occur. B2C payment processing is also more streamlined, typically because online checkout process has been made easy for payment transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

With B2C customers you are generally fulfilling one-off purchases from individual end users. This type of order fulfillment has relatively low barrier of entry because customers are typically buying direct from your website, and at this point many people are very comfortable with online shopping. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you work with a 3PL (<\/span>third-party logistics provider<\/span><\/a><\/span>) to outsource your B2C order fulfillment, their role is to ensure \u00a0that all orders are delivered damage-free, on time, and with accurate documentation\u2014some also handle returns and refunds. Partnering with a 3PL can bolster your company\u2019s ability to deliver ordered products to customers faster\u2014sometimes on the same day. Mismanagement, delays or errors on the part of a 3PL can lead to bad reviews for the manufacturer and additional costs in terms of refunds and returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

B2B Order Fulfillment Defined<\/b><\/h2>\n

In B2B fulfillment, products are shipped directly to a business or other retailer (sometimes called B2R). Orders are generally large so that the receiving business will have enough inventory to sell from. <\/span>When businesses place orders, it\u2019s usually more efficient for them to do so in advance, and to order in bulk, so they don\u2019t have to make purchases for more orders frequently. <\/span><\/p>\n

Accuracy is extremely important with B2B order fulfillment. Businesses may have compliance requirements, such as tax rules, product restrictions, SKU codes, parcel labels, or specific invoicing structure. Because orders are bigger and in bulk, shipments can be expected to cost more and have longer delivery lead times. \u00a0Expect to get more familiar with carrier information that you\u2019ll need to ship your products far and wide, like sea freight or air freight, and international <\/span>trade barriers like taxes, tariffs, and subsidies. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you choose to have your B2B orders fulfilled by a 3PL they should focus on providing <\/span>fast and reliable delivery<\/span><\/a><\/span>. Since businesses deal with other companies, they expect these fulfillment providers to be optimized for cost-cutting and increased efficiency. They also play a crucial role in the ability to meet orders in time. Delays and mismanagement on the part of a 3PL can harm the reputation of the company they represent, as well as incur penalty fees and refund losses that they might have to provide. <\/span><\/p>\n

Main Differentiators Between B2C and B2B Order Fulfillment <\/b><\/h2>\n

There are three stages in order fulfillment, that always occur: :<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Pre-purchase<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Purchase<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Post-purchase<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In each of these stages there are differences in the way order fulfillment functions for B2B versus B2C.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Pre-Purchase<\/b><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \n

      Product price:<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      B2B orders are priced based on the needs and requirements of the end business, this can vary greatly depending on the size of an order, recurring orders, payment terms, and duration of the contracted relationship. With B2C on the other hand, \u00a0orders are more straightforward; the price per unit is set by the product company and that price rarely varies. <\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Revenue per customer<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        B2B shipments mostly involve large-scale, bulk orders of raw materials and parts while B2C order fulfillment handles smaller items like personal electronics or appliances. Because of this, B2B orders can be in the millions of dollars and be recurring, while B2C orders are usually in the tens or hundreds and are usually a one off purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Sales Assistance<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          There is often an account manager or sales coordinator who helps facilitate the B2B exchange of goods. This lends itself to having more service and support around B2B order fulfillment, there are just more people ushering this interaction. In B2C there is usually little or no sales assistance necessary since orders are often placed by the end consumer, directly through an ecommerce platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Purchase<\/b><\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. \n

            Buying\/Sales Process<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            The sales process for B2B often takes longer as it involves requests for quotes, department approval, negotiation, etc. For B2C, the customer can shop around at a few places if they like, or just buy whatever they want the first place they see it.<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \n

              Order Size<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              B2B shipments are generally large-scale volume, but purchased in fewer orders. The products will be sold individually through the retailer\u2019s store front or online store, so the retailer will order more only when they need to restock their own distribution center inventory. B2C purchases are much smaller orders, and are often handled in a single transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n

                Payments<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                B2B payments usually occur over an agreed upon period of time using traditional payment methods such as credit, purchase orders or CODs (cash on delivery). For B2C, they are paid immediately at the time of purchase via credit card, check or cash.<\/span><\/p>\n

                Post-Purchase<\/b><\/h3>\n
                  \n
                1. \n

                  Order fulfillment and shipping<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Since B2B transactions involve larger shipments, the order fulfillment shipping processes take longer, cost more, and require sophisticated handling equipment for loading and unloading pallets of products. \u00a0In contrast, B2C order fulfillment offers low-cost (because parcels are light, or sometimes free shipping can be included), and the single order fulfillment can be a much faster \u00a0placement time, usually in just a few days.<\/span><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. \n

                    Customer Relations<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Personal relationships are essential to form with retailers who are selling your products. Most B2B contracts involve large, recurring shipments and close partnerships which are negotiated over extended periods of time, and require constant follow up and monitoring. Those good personal relationships aren\u2019t to be confused with the type of customer satisfaction that is required to cultivate for B2C orders. Customer satisfaction is front-loaded, with marketing, customer service, clear product displays and information, plus on-time delivery and accurate order fulfillment. <\/span><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. \n

                      Returns<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      All businesses must have a system in place for the return and exchange of products, regardless if it is B2B or B2C. B2C transactions usually involve clear return and refund policies that are possible in the more transparent retail market. The process gets more complicated in B2B orders due to the larger order size, contract type and obligations that are negotiated.<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Bottom Line<\/b><\/h2>\n

                      Depending on the type of business you run, you may have to deal with B2B order fulfillment, B2C order fulfillment, and likely both. Navigating the differences between each can be challenging, but hopefully now that you are more familiar with the terminology and concepts that make each one unique you are better equipped to make the right decisions for your brand. <\/span><\/p>\n

                      If you are looking for order fulfillment support we\u2019d love to hear from you. Send us a note<\/a><\/span> to connect about how we can help your company grow. You can read <\/span>DCL\u2019s list of services<\/span><\/a><\/span> to learn more, or check out <\/span>the many companies we work with<\/span><\/a><\/span> to ensure great logistics support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Whether you are fulfilling orders for a single end customers or for a retail store, it may seem on the surface there won\u2019t need to be much difference between the two. An order is an order, right? Wrong. B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business) each require very different operations and processes. Each order delivery, whether to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[178,179,26],"class_list":["post-7798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fulfillment","tag-b2b","tag-b2c","tag-inventory-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstand the difference between B2B and B2C order fulfillment - DCL Logistics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Working with a 3PL that aligns with your brand can help you navigate the differences between fulfilling B2C orders and the complexities of B2B orders.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understand the difference between B2B and B2C order fulfillment - 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