What gets left behind, more often than not, is whether anyone can actually find that store in the first place.

That’s the gap EKM SEO is built to close. And there’s a reason we’re backing it rather than just pointing you towards another agency: EKM, the company behind it, sits within the ClearCourse group, the same group as GOb2b. It’s not a random third party we’ve been paid to mention. It’s a business built alongside ours, with a genuine understanding of what running an ecommerce platform actually involves, and it develops based on real feedback from stores like yours.

Why B2B stores need SEO more than most people think

There’s a common assumption that SEO matters more for retail brands than for trade and wholesale businesses. In practice, it’s the other way round.

Retail customers browse. B2B buyers search. A procurement manager looking for a supplier types a product name, a part number, a spec, or an industry term into Google, and picks from whoever shows up. There’s no browsing a homepage, no scrolling a feed, no discovery through social media. If your store isn’t visible for that exact search, you’re simply not part of the decision.

That matters more for GOb2b businesses specifically, because average order values in B2B trade tend to be considerably higher than typical retail transactions. A missed retail sale might cost you £30. A missed trade order might cost you several hundred, or a new account that reorders for years. The stakes on visibility are higher, even if the volume of searches is lower.

And large product catalogues, the kind most GOb2b businesses run, create their own SEO problems. Thin product descriptions. Duplicate content across similar variants. Category structures that make sense internally but confuse search engines. None of this is anyone’s fault exactly, it’s just what happens when a big catalogue grows faster than the SEO work keeping pace with it.

What normally goes wrong with SEO

A lot of businesses have already tried to fix this, and been let down. Usually for a few consistent reasons:

• An agency is hired, delivers a monthly report full of numbers, and nobody in the business really knows what’s actually being done behind it
• The advice given is generic, built for any ecommerce site rather than a B2B catalogue with account pricing and trade-specific buying behaviour
• A long contract locks the business in before there’s any real evidence it’s working
• When rankings don’t improve, nobody takes ownership of why
• Issues on the site never get properly fixed, because nobody’s actually looking at them

What EKM SEO does differently

EKM SEO is built to remove all of that friction. In practical terms, here’s what it actually does:

• Surfaces what’s quietly affecting your rankings, and handles updates like keyword placement, without you needing an in-house specialist to go looking for them.
• Helps make sure your product data is structured well, so search engines, and increasingly AI tools like ChatGPT, can find, understand and recommend your products.
• Builds a prioritised SEO plan, run by SEB, an AI assistant that learns your business and gets to work on what matters most first, rather than treating every page the same.
• Optimises content across your whole catalogue, not just a handful of hero pages, which matters far more for large B2B ranges than for a small retail store.
• Reports back in plain English, so you always know what’s happening and why, without needing to translate an agency’s jargon yourself.

No in-house SEO specialist required. No long tie-in before you see whether it’s working.

What it’s actually like to use: Gazegill Organics

Gazegill Organics is an independent retailer that started using EKM SEO earlier this year. Like a lot of businesses, they knew SEO mattered, but found it hard to keep on top of consistently alongside the day-to-day demands of running the business.

Early feedback has been positive. The team described the tool as “easy to navigate and offered quick insights,” and found it straightforward to get going without a steep learning curve.

So far, Gazegill has mainly used EKM SEO for automated on-page improvements, particularly meta tagging for selected keywords, with changes applied automatically within the rules they’ve set. It’s still early days for measurable results like traffic or sales, but one benefit has already stood out clearly: time saved. Instead of manually managing SEO tasks, much of the routine work now happens in the background, within whatever parameters they’ve chosen, while they stay fully in control of what actually gets published.

When asked if they’d recommend it, the answer was straightforward: it gives quick, actionable insights and automation that takes a lot of the manual burden out of SEO.

It’s a small example so far, but it points at exactly the kind of outcome most businesses actually want from SEO: less manual effort, clearer visibility into what’s happening, and a tool that keeps working quietly in the background rather than demanding constant attention.

What this could look like for a GOb2b business

Picture a wholesaler running several thousand SKUs across multiple categories, synced from Sage or Pegasus. Product descriptions were written once, years ago, by whoever had time, and haven’t been touched since. Some pages load slowly because images were never optimised. Nobody’s entirely sure which categories are actually ranking, and which have quietly dropped off the first page of Google.

That’s not a hypothetical; it’s close to the default state for most established B2B catalogues. EKM SEO‘s job is to work through exactly that kind of backlog systematically: fixing the technical debt, tidying up content at scale, and making sure new products get the same treatment as old ones, all without anyone needing to manage it page by page.

Getting started

If you’d like to see how EKM SEO could work for your business, you can explore it in more detail or get started in a few clicks. GOb2b customers get 15% off the first three months, for a limited time.

Explore EKM SEO →

Get started →

The post Why We’re Backing EKM SEO: What It Means for GOb2b Customers appeared first on GOb2b.

This is where integrated B2B ecommerce can make a significant difference. By connecting your B2B ecommerce website directly with Pegasus Opera, you can create a more efficient sales process while giving customers the convenient online ordering experience they increasingly expect. GOb2b provides a B2B ecommerce platform with integration for Pegasus Opera 3 and Pegasus Opera 3 SE, allowing information to flow between your website and accounting system in both directions.

Why integrate B2B ecommerce with Pegasus Opera?

Many trade businesses already have established systems for managing customers, products, stock and sales orders. The challenge comes when the B2B ecommerce website operates separately from those systems, as information may need to be entered or updated in more than one place. This can create unnecessary administration, take time away from customer service and increase the risk of errors.

With GOb2b’s Pegasus Opera integration, orders placed through the website can be transferred directly into Sales Order Processing, while information from Pegasus Opera can be made available to customers through the B2B ecommerce site. This allows your B2B ecommerce website to work as part of your existing sales process rather than creating another system for your team to manage, helping to streamline the way orders and customer information are handled.

What information can be shared?

GOb2b’s Pegasus Opera integration creates a continuous flow of information between your B2B ecommerce website and Pegasus Opera 3. This means customers can access important information online while your team can continue using the systems they already rely on to manage the business.

Information that can be shared includes:

• Orders and sales order information

• Product information

• Stock availability and due in dates

• Pricing and customer specific discounts

• Customer account information

• Order history

• Promotions

Keeping this information connected helps ensure customers have access to up-to-date information while reducing the need for your team to manually update the B2B ecommerce website. Instead of maintaining information separately across different systems, your website can work alongside your existing Pegasus Opera setup.

Reduce manual order processing

One of the key benefits of integrating B2B ecommerce with Pegasus Opera is reducing the amount of manual work involved in processing online orders. When a customer places an order through GOb2b, the order is placed into Sales Order Processing and allocated within Pegasus Opera, removing the need for your team to manually re-enter the online order into your accounting system.

For businesses processing a high volume of trade orders, reducing repetitive data entry can save valuable time and help reduce the risk of mistakes. It also allows sales and customer service teams to spend less time processing routine orders and more time supporting customers, managing relationships and developing the business.

Give customers live stock visibility

Stock availability is particularly important for trade customers. When customers are ordering products in larger quantities or working to specific deadlines, they need to know whether the products they require are available before placing an order. Having to contact a sales team every time they need to check stock can slow down the ordering process for both the customer and the business.

GOb2b’s Pegasus Opera integration provides live stock levels and due in dates directly from the accounts system. Businesses can also choose how stock positions are displayed and allow backorders where appropriate. Providing this information through your B2B ecommerce website helps customers make more informed purchasing decisions and gives them greater control over when and how they place their orders.

Provide customer specific pricing online

Wholesale and distribution businesses rarely have a single price for every customer. Negotiated pricing, discounts and volume pricing can all form part of the B2B buying process, making accurate customer specific pricing an important part of an online ordering system.

GOb2b supports customer specific pricing and discounts, with pricing and discount information able to be updated from an integrated accounts system for logged in customers. This means customers can access the pricing that applies to their account when ordering online, while your team can continue to manage pricing through the systems they already use. Keeping pricing connected helps provide a more consistent experience and reduces the need for customers to contact your team to confirm the price of products before ordering.

Make repeat ordering easier

B2B customers often know exactly what they need and regularly purchase the same products. Making repeat orders straightforward can improve the customer experience while reducing the amount of time your team spends processing routine orders. Rather than contacting your sales team each time they need to reorder, customers can use the B2B ecommerce website to manage their purchases themselves.

GOb2b includes features designed around the way B2B customers buy, including quick ordering using stock codes, saved baskets and access to order history. Customers with integrated accounts can also repeat previous orders, adding the products and quantities directly to their current basket. For customers placing larger or regular orders, GOb2b also supports CSV uploads to the basket. Stock codes and quantities can be uploaded, priced and stock checked before being added to the basket, helping to make bulk ordering quicker and easier.

Give customers more control over their accounts

B2B ecommerce can also make it easier for customers to manage their accounts without having to contact your team for every enquiry. With GOb2b, trade customers can access their account information online, including order history and account balances. Where accounts system integration is in place, customer account information can be updated from the sales ledger, helping ensure the information displayed online reflects the details held within the accounting system.

Customers can also view outstanding invoices and, where the relevant functionality is enabled, make payments against them online. Giving customers access to this information through their B2B ecommerce account can make routine account management more convenient while helping your team reduce the number of administration tasks and enquiries they need to handle.

Why choose GOb2b’s B2B ecommerce platform for Pegasus Opera integration?

GOb2b is a B2B ecommerce platform built specifically for wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers. Its Pegasus Opera integration connects your B2B ecommerce website with Pegasus Opera 3 and Pegasus Opera 3 SE, creating a live flow of information between the two systems. This means your online ordering process can work alongside the systems already used to manage products, customers, stock and sales orders.

Alongside the integration, GOb2b provides B2B functionality including customer specific pricing, live stock availability, quick ordering, saved baskets, repeat ordering, account management and sales order processing. GOb2b has more than 20 years of experience working with trade customers, with dedicated account management, training and support available to help businesses get the most from their B2B ecommerce platform.

For businesses using Pegasus Opera, an integrated B2B ecommerce website can provide a more efficient way to manage online orders while giving trade customers greater control over how they buy. By connecting B2B ecommerce with the systems already running your business, you can reduce unnecessary administration and create a smoother ordering experience for both your customers and your team.

If you’re using Pegasus Opera and are looking to improve your online ordering process, get in touch with our team to find out how GOb2b’s integrated B2B ecommerce platform could support your business.

The post B2B Ecommerce with Pegasus Opera Integration: A Guide for UK Trade Businesses appeared first on GOb2b.

For businesses with straightforward wholesale requirements, Shopify may provide everything they need. However, if you’re a UK wholesaler, distributor or manufacturer with more complex trade requirements, a specialist B2B ecommerce platform like GOb2b may be a better choice because it has been designed specifically for trade and integrates directly with Sage and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Shopify has evolved for B2B

Over the past few years, Shopify has invested heavily in its B2B capabilities. Businesses can now create company accounts, offer customer specific pricing, assign product catalogues, provide payment terms and allow customers to manage their own accounts through a self-service portal. Customers can also view their order history and easily reorder previous purchases.

For many businesses, these features provide an excellent foundation for selling to trade customers online. If your wholesale requirements are relatively simple, Shopify could be the right solution.

When a specialist B2B ecommerce platform is a better fit

Wholesale businesses often operate very differently from retail businesses.

Many already have established processes built around systems such as Sage or Pegasus Opera, with customer specific pricing, stock control, sales order processing and account management forming part of their day-to-day operations.

In these situations, B2B ecommerce isn’t just about creating a website. It’s about creating an online ordering system that works seamlessly alongside the software your business already relies on.

That’s where a specialist B2B ecommerce platform can make all the difference.

GOb2b has been developed specifically for wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers, helping businesses reduce manual administration while improving the ordering experience for trade customers.

Shopify vs specialist B2B ecommerce

Both Shopify and our GOb2b B2B ecommerce platform help businesses sell online, but they’re designed with different types of businesses in mind, and we have outlined the differences below.

Designed for wholesale

Shopify

Shopify is a flexible ecommerce platform with B2B functionality, making it suitable for businesses selling to both consumers and trade customers.

GOb2b

GOb2b has been purpose built for wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers, with functionality designed around the needs of trade businesses.

Customer specific pricing

Shopify

Shopify B2B allows businesses to create customer specific catalogues and pricing for company accounts.

GOb2b

Customer specific pricing is synchronised directly from Sage, helping ensure customers always see their agreed pricing when ordering online.

Quick ordering and repeat ordering

Shopify

Trade customers can reorder previous purchases through their customer accounts, helping speed up repeat purchases.

GOb2b

GOb2b has been designed specifically around trade ordering, with quick ordering features that help customers place repeat and bulk orders efficiently. CSV ordering is also available for larger orders.

Account management

Shopify

Customers can access company accounts, view previous orders and manage account information through Shopify’s customer account functionality.

GOb2b

Customers can access account information, customer specific pricing and order history through a platform that’s integrated directly with your existing business systems.

Live stock visibility

Shopify

Inventory can be managed through Shopify, while synchronising stock information with existing business systems depends on the integrations a business chooses to implement.

GOb2b

Live stock information is synchronised directly with supported back-office systems, helping customers place orders with confidence using accurate stock information.

Sage and Pegasus Opera and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central integration

Shopify

Shopify can be integrated with accounting and business management software using third party connectors and integration partners.

GOb2b

GOb2b provides integration with Sage, Pegasus Opera and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, allowing information such as customer pricing, stock levels and sales orders to flow between systems automatically.

Integration is often the biggest difference

For many wholesalers and distributors, launching an ecommerce website is only one part of the journey. The real value comes from connecting ecommerce with your existing business systems.

Without integration, businesses can find themselves manually updating pricing, entering orders into accounting software or managing stock information across multiple platforms. This creates unnecessary administration and increases the risk of errors.

An integrated B2B ecommerce platform helps eliminate much of this duplication by synchronising customer pricing, stock information and sales orders automatically, allowing your team to spend less time processing orders and more time supporting customers.

Which platform is right for your business?

Every wholesale business is different, and there isn’t a one size fits all solution.

If you’re looking for a flexible ecommerce platform that supports both retail and wholesale sales, Shopify offers an impressive range of features and continues to strengthen its B2B capabilities.

However, if your business is primarily wholesale and already relies on Sage or Pegasus Opera to manage stock, pricing and customer accounts, choosing a specialist B2B ecommerce platform can provide a more streamlined solution.

Rather than adapting your processes to fit your B2B ecommerce platform, a specialist solution will allow it to fit around the way your business already operates.

Why choose GOb2b?

Unlike many ecommerce platforms that have expanded into B2B, we have over 20 years experience and our GOb2b B2B ecommerce platform has been developed specifically for wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers.

With seamless integration with Sage and Pegasus Opera, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, customer specific pricing, live stock visibility, integrated sales order processing, quick ordering and online account management, GOb2b helps businesses reduce manual administration while delivering a better experience for trade customers.

While GOb2b has been developed specifically for B2B workflows, including repeat ordering, quick ordering and customer-specific pricing, our platform is also fully capable of serving B2C operations.

If you’re looking for an ecommerce solution that’s built around the way your trade business operates, we’d love to help. Get in touch with our team to arrange a demonstration and discover how an integrated B2B ecommerce platform can help your business grow.

The post Shopify vs Specialist B2B Ecommerce for UK Wholesalers and Distributors appeared first on GOb2b.

Manual data entry takes time, increases the risk of errors and can place unnecessary pressure on internal teams, particularly during busy periods. As customer expectations continue to evolve, many trade businesses are looking for ways to reduce manual administration while improving the ordering experience for their customers.

This shift is reflected in wider buying behaviour. Research from the B2B eCommerce Association found that 93% of B2B buyers now use ecommerce channels as part of their procurement process, highlighting the growing importance of efficient digital ordering experiences.

The hidden cost of manual order processing

Manual order entry is often viewed as simply part of running a wholesale or distribution business. However, the time spent processing orders can quickly add up across an organisation.

When staff are manually entering orders, checking stock levels, confirming pricing and updating customer records, valuable time is taken away from other activities such as customer service, account management and business development.

Manual processes can also increase the likelihood of:

• Data entry errors

• Incorrect pricing

• Delays in order processing

• Duplicate administration

• Customer service issues

Why more trade customers want to order online

Today’s trade customers expect fast and convenient ordering processes. Many buyers already know exactly what they need and simply want an efficient way to place orders, access account information and manage repeat purchases.

Features such as customer specific pricing, online account management, repeat ordering and live stock visibility are becoming increasingly important across many industries. Buyers increasingly expect the convenience of online ordering while still benefiting from the trade specific features they rely on every day.

How integrated B2B ecommerce can help

One of the most effective ways to reduce manual order entry is through an integrated B2B ecommerce platform.

By allowing customers to place orders online, businesses can significantly reduce the amount of manual processing required by internal teams. Orders can be submitted directly by customers and transferred into existing business systems, helping to streamline the entire process.

An integrated B2B ecommerce platform can help businesses:

• Reduce manual administration

• Improve order accuracy

• Speed up order processing

• Provide customers with 24-hour ordering access

• Improve efficiency across the business

• Support business growth without increasing administrative workload

How much time is spent processing orders?

For many trade businesses, the impact of manual order entry is not always obvious because it is spread across multiple departments. Customer service teams process orders, sales teams answer product queries and accounts teams manage customer information.

When these activities are repeated day after day, the administrative burden can quickly increase. Providing customers with the tools to place orders, check pricing and access account information online can help reduce routine enquiries and free up internal teams to focus on more valuable customer interactions.

The importance of Sage and Pegasus Opera integration

Many UK trade businesses already use Sage or Pegasus Opera to manage customer accounts, stock and order processing.

When ecommerce operates separately from these systems, teams often find themselves duplicating work across multiple platforms. Product updates, customer information and order details may need to be entered more than once, creating additional administration.

An integrated B2B ecommerce solution helps eliminate this duplication by connecting your website directly with your business systems. This allows information such as customer pricing, stock availability and orders to remain synchronised, helping businesses work more efficiently while providing customers with accurate information online.

Integration also helps create a single source of information across the business, reducing the risk of inconsistencies while improving visibility for both staff and customers. You can learn more about GOb2b’s integration capabilities with Sage and Pegasus Opera here.

Why GOb2b is the perfect choice

GOb2b has been helping wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers sell online for more than 20 years. Our integrated B2B ecommerce platform has been developed specifically for the way trade businesses operate, combining powerful B2B ecommerce functionality with seamless integration to Sage and Pegasus Opera.

Features such as customer specific pricing, live stock visibility, quick ordering and online account management help businesses reduce administration while making it easier for customers to place and manage orders online. By connecting ecommerce directly with your existing business systems, GOb2b helps create a more efficient ordering process for your team and a better experience for your customers.

If you are looking to reduce manual order entry and create a more efficient ordering process for your customers, contact our friendly and knowledgeable team to find out how integrated B2B ecommerce could support your business.

The post How to Reduce Manual Order Entry for UK Trade Businesses appeared first on GOb2b.

For many wholesalers and distributors, the challenge is not simply just having a website. The real value comes from having an integrated B2B ecommerce platform that works seamlessly with existing business systems and supports the way trade customers make purchases.

At GOb2b, we specialise in integrated B2B ecommerce solutions for wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers across the UK. Our platform is designed specifically for trade businesses and integrates directly with systems including Sage and Pegasus Opera.

One of the biggest benefits of integrated B2B ecommerce is the ability to reduce manual administration. Without integration, businesses often find themselves manually re-keying orders, updating stock across multiple systems, or managing pricing changes separately between their website and accounts software. This not only takes time but can also lead to errors and delays.

With integrated ecommerce, information flows directly between systems. Orders placed online can move straight into your order processing system, while customer account details, pricing and stock information remain synchronised automatically. For wholesalers and distributors, this can help improve efficiency across the entire business while also creating a better experience for customers.

As specialists in B2B ecommerce, we see that trade customers increasingly expect features such as:

• Customer specific pricing
• Live stock visibility
• Quick order functionality
• Repeat ordering
• Online account management
• Access to order history
• Fast trade ordering processes

These are all areas where specialist B2B ecommerce platforms provide significant advantages over standard retail ecommerce systems. For businesses already using Sage, integrated ecommerce can help centralise day to day operations while reducing duplicate administration. Product information, pricing and customer account details can all remain aligned between systems, helping wholesalers process orders more efficiently and provide customers with accurate online information.

The same applies to businesses using Pegasus Opera. Many wholesalers and distributors rely heavily on Pegasus Opera for managing stock, customer accounts and order processing, making seamless ecommerce integration particularly important. An integrated B2B ecommerce platform allows businesses to modernise their online ordering capabilities while continuing to work within their existing processes.

Another important area for wholesalers and distributors is customer convenience. Many trade buyers already know exactly what they want to order and simply need a fast and reliable way to place orders online. Features such as quick ordering, repeat ordering and customer specific pricing help make the ordering process far more efficient for both customers and internal teams.

Rather than spending time processing orders manually over the phone or by email, businesses can provide customers with a self-service ordering experience that is available at any time of day.

Integrated B2B ecommerce also helps businesses maintain accurate stock visibility online. Customers can view available stock before placing orders, helping reduce delays and improving overall customer confidence in the ordering process.

As more wholesalers and distributors continue to invest in digital ordering, integrated B2B ecommerce is becoming an essential part of delivering the level of service modern trade customers expect. Businesses that can offer fast ordering, accurate stock information and seamless account management are placing themselves in a far stronger position for long term growth.

If you are ready to improve online ordering, reduce administration and create a seamless experience for your customers, contact us at GOb2b, to see how integrated B2B ecommerce could support your business.

The post Why B2B ecommerce is essential for UK wholesalers and distributors appeared first on GOb2b.

In response, the focus is shifting towards improving efficiency within existing processes. Increasing headcount may provide short-term relief, but it also introduces additional fixed cost and does not address the underlying inefficiencies that exist across the order journey. In many cases, these inefficiencies sit within day-to-day ordering activity, where manual processes, repeated checks and avoidable rework continue to absorb time across sales, customer service and finance teams.

Solutions such as our GOb2b B2B ecommerce platform are designed to reduce this reliance on manual intervention by connecting ordering, pricing, stock and back-office systems, allowing information to flow more consistently and reducing duplication across teams. As part of a wider shift towards integrated B2B ecommerce, this approach enables orders to move more efficiently from customer to fulfilment, without unnecessary handling or delay.

Where cost per order increases

Cost per order is rarely driven by a single issue. More often, it increases gradually through a series of small, repeated tasks that require manual input or create delays. These tasks can sit across different parts of the business, making them harder to identify collectively, but together they contribute directly to operational cost and reduced efficiency.

Typical areas include:

• Manual data entry across multiple systems
• Repeated customer enquiries for routine information
• Internal checks, approvals and workarounds
• Correcting errors

Reducing cost per order therefore becomes less about one change, and more about removing these points of friction across the order journey.

7 common B2B ordering time sinks

The following areas highlight where time is most often lost, and where relatively small changes can help to reduce both cost and complexity.

1. Re-keying orders from multiple sources

Orders that arrive via email, phone, spreadsheets or PDFs often need to be interpreted and manually entered into back-office systems. This creates a process that takes time and introduces risk, particularly as volumes increase. Moving towards structured order capture allows order data to be entered once and flow through the business, reducing duplication and improving accuracy. With GOb2b, our customers can place orders directly through a branded online portal, with orders automatically pushed into back-office systems, removing the need for re-keying.

2. Stock checks and delivery date queries

As supply conditions remain less predictable, customers are increasingly looking for confirmation of stock and delivery timelines before placing orders. Without visibility, these queries are handled manually, creating a steady flow of interruptions. Providing access to stock positions and expected delivery dates helps to reduce this demand and allows customers to make decisions with greater confidence. GOb2b supports this through real-time stock visibility and back-order management, ensuring customers always see accurate availability.

3. Pricing queries and inconsistencies

Customer-specific pricing, contract agreements and discounts all contribute to the complexity of B2B pricing. When this information is not clearly available during the ordering process, internal teams are often required to confirm details manually. Ensuring that pricing is visible and consistent helps to reduce queries and avoid issues later in the process. We offer customer-specific pricing and price lists are automatically applied, ensuring each customer sees the correct price at the point of order.

4. Order status enquiries

When delivery timelines are less certain, customers are more likely to request updates on order progress. Without clear communication, this can lead to increased inbound enquiries. Providing visibility of the order journey allows customers to access the information they need, including:

• Order confirmations
• Current status updates
• Access to order history and documents

Through GOb2b, our customers can log in to view order progress, tracking and account history at any time, reducing the need for follow-up calls and emails.

5. Credit holds and approval delays

Credit control remains an important part of the order process, particularly in a more challenging economic climate. When approvals and checks are handled manually, orders can become delayed while moving between teams. Defining clear rules and processes helps to ensure that orders can progress without unnecessary interruption. GOb2b integrates with back-office credit control processes, allowing businesses to apply rules and manage account status without disrupting the ordering experience.

6. Requests for invoices and account information

Requests for invoices, statements and account details continue to take up time across finance and customer service teams. While each request may be simple, the overall volume can be significant. Providing access to account information allows customers to retrieve what they need without contacting your team. At GOb2b, we provide a secure customer portal where users can access invoices, statements and account history on demand.

7. Correcting errors and managing rework

Manual processes increase the likelihood of errors, which can then lead to credits, returns and additional communication. Each correction introduces further cost and complexity. Reducing the number of touchpoints and improving data accuracy at the point of order helps to minimise these issues. By validating orders at the point of entry and using consistent data from integrated systems, our GOb2b platform helps to reduce errors before they occur.

Reducing touchpoints across the order journey

Across each of these areas, the common theme is the number of touchpoints involved in processing an order. Each additional step introduces time, cost and the potential for error. Reducing these touchpoints allows businesses to operate more efficiently and respond more effectively to increasing demand.

This typically results in:

• Lower cost per order
• Improved order accuracy
• Reduced inbound enquiries
• Greater capacity across internal teams

By allowing systems to manage more of the routine activity, businesses can reduce reliance on manual processes and create a more consistent and scalable approach to order management.

A practical starting point

For many businesses, the starting point is to review where time is currently being spent within the order journey. Focusing on high-volume customers and the most repetitive tasks can help to identify where small changes will have the greatest impact.

Improving efficiency in this way does not require a complete transformation, but a gradual reduction in friction across the process. In a market where costs are rising and supply remains uncertain, this provides a practical way to protect margins while continuing to deliver a reliable customer experience.

If you are currently reviewing your ordering processes, or are looking for ways to reduce cost per order without increasing headcount, it may be worth exploring how a more integrated approach could support your business. Our GOb2b platform is designed to bring together ordering, pricing, stock visibility and back-office integration, helping to reduce manual effort and improve consistency across the order journey.

For more information please get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable team today.

The post How to Reduce B2B Cost per Order in 2026 appeared first on GOb2b.

We are pleased to share our 2026 GOb2b feature release, which focuses on strengthening three critical areas of the B2B experience including:

• Upgraded basket management
• Enhanced roles & claims functionality
• A new basket quote builder

Each development is designed to give you more visibility, more structure and more flexibility across your B2B ecommerce platform. As always, our focus is on building practical functionality that supports real trade environments, fully integrated with your accounting system and aligned with how your teams operate.

Smarter Basket Management for modern B2B Ecommerce

In many B2B environments, the basket is not just a checkout step. It is a working space where orders are built, reviewed and refined. We have always recognised that B2B baskets are often collaborative and considered, not instant purchases.

Our upgraded Basket Management functionality gives agents and internal teams greater control over in progress orders. Baskets can be edited more easily, organised more clearly and reviewed with improved oversight, all within the GOb2b platform.

This means:

• Sales teams can step in and support customers at the right moment
• Multiple in progress baskets can be managed more efficiently
• Complex or high value orders can be reviewed with confidence
• Opportunities to assist and increase conversion are easier to identify

For businesses handling repeat orders, large volumes or collaborative purchasing, this upgrade makes a tangible difference. It strengthens the connection between customer activity and sales support, helping to turn intent into confirmed revenue while keeping everything aligned with your back-office processes.

Greater control with enhanced Roles & Claims

As ecommerce adoption grows within B2B organisations, so does the need for structure and accountability. As a platform built specifically for B2B ecommerce, we understand that account hierarchies and delegated purchasing are standard, not exceptions.

Multiple users often sit under a single account. Purchasing responsibilities may be delegated. Finance teams require access to balances and invoices. Managers may need approval authority. Not every user should have the same visibility or permissions.

Our enhanced roles & claims functionality introduces more granular access control across the platform. You can define exactly what each user can see and do, aligning your ecommerce environment with your team and internal governance requirements.

This enables you to:

• Assign clear responsibilities to individual users
• Support structured approval processes
• Restrict access to sensitive financial data
• Strengthen governance without limiting flexibility

The result is a platform that grows with your business, maintaining security and clarity as your teams expand. At GOb2b, we see this as a key step in helping customers scale confidently, while protecting sensitive information.

Introducing the Basket Quote Builder

Quoting remains central to many B2B transactions. Internal sign off, budget checks and procurement processes often sit between basket and checkout. In many sectors, requesting a quote is part of standard buying practice.

With the introduction of our Basket Quote Builder, customers can now convert their basket into a formal quote instantly. No manual intervention and no unnecessary delays. This functionality sits directly within the GOb2b platform, making the journey from product selection to approval far more streamlined.

This development:

• Simplifies price requests
• Speeds up internal approvals
• Reduces reliance on manual quote generation
• Shortens the sales cycle

By embedding quoting directly into the ecommerce journey, our GOb2b B2B ecommerce platform supports the full B2B buying process from discovery to approval, to order confirmation. It is another example of how we continue to refine our platform around genuine trade workflows.

Designed for how B2B Ecommerce really works

The GOb2b 2026 feature release reflects our continued commitment to practical innovation. These are not cosmetic updates; they are targeted enhancements built around the realities of B2B ecommerce businesses.

Alongside these new enhancements, we continue to deliver feature rich functionality. Our platform provides real time integration with leading accounting systems, including Sage and Pegasus, ensuring sales orders, pricing, stock levels, VAT and customer account information synchronise seamlessly.

Other features of the GOb2b B2B ecommerce platform include:

• Product management tools such as matrix products, configurable stock display options, back-order settings and bulk product importing via the CMS
• Built in upsell opportunities including cross sell, product alternatives, price break incentivisation and automatically generated top products to encourage larger and repeat orders
• Flexible promotions with product level or order level discounts, including promo codes
• Comprehensive SEO features including editable URLs, meta descriptions, structured data and automated sitemaps

We are excited to bring these new developments to our customers for 2026, and to continue evolving GOb2b in line with real world requirements.

If you would like to learn more about the 2026 feature release or see the new functionality in action, our team would be delighted to hear from you.

The post The Latest GOb2b Feature Release – More Control Where It Matters appeared first on GOb2b.

1. Reduce human error

Integrated eCommerce dramatically reduces mistakes. With manual processes, shipping addresses can be entered wrong, incorrect inventory levels can lead to overselling and product information could be incomplete, incorrect, or even missing. This can lead to a poor customer experience and ultimately a reduction in customer retention, bad reviews and loss of profits.

2. Better customer experience

Integrated eCommerce leads to a better customer experience. Customers can be kept in the loop during the entire sales process. Customers can be contacted with updates and get access to real-time data. With up-to-date product and shipping information, you reduce potential frustrations and help build long-lasting relationships with your customers.

     3. Save time & money

With integrating with your accounts and other systems, your online sales and orders (amongst many other back-office processes) become automated, no need to input same data into multiple different systems manually saving you money as well as time. It also allows customers to service their own needs in a variety of ways, including tracking order statuses, viewing available inventory, tracking deliveries and much more. Not only does this further improve the customer experience, but it also saves on needing additional staff to handle transactions.

     4. Improve efficiency

A huge plus for integrating your eCommerce sales channels with your ERP system is how efficient it is. Your main types of data – order, inventory, item, customer and shipping/tracking – are communicated between your once independent systems. Inventory levels will automatically update at both the back-end as the product is sold on your site and at the front-end as the product gets added to your inventory. This two-way, real-time flow of data makes life better for both your in-house teams and your customers.

    5. Co-ordinated sales approach

The good news is that integration maintains that same effective and efficient nature for both the customers, sales team and back office team. Because everything in an integrated eCommerce system is synchronised and built to work in harmony with each other, managing multiple channels is simple.

    6. Scale your business more easily

Makes handling long-term growth much easier. Typically, as your business grows, so does the demand placed on you and others within the company. This can be a problem when everything has to be done manually, but integration takes that stress away and provides a much smoother overall experience as your business continues on its path to success.

Upgrading to a well-designed integrated platform is the best way to move past the limitations of a one-way system and start reaping the benefits of a smoother workflow and drive more sales.

If you’re looking to grow your B2B business with a new or updated eCommerce offering find out how we can help here.

The post 6 Key Benefits of Integrated eCommerce for B2B appeared first on GOb2b.

B2B buyers now expect the same ease and intuition they enjoy in consumer marketplaces, and if your platform doesn’t deliver it, you risk being left behind. Research shows that a large majority of B2B buyers now expect a shopping experience similar to what they’re used to in consumer ecommerce, including easy to find products, seamless navigation, transparency and self‑service. About 80% of B2B customers expect a comparable or better experience than B2C when purchasing online.

The key trends driving change in B2B Ecommerce

The traditional expectation that B2B buyers will trawl through PDF catalogues, or rely on sales support for every search, is fading fast. Modern buyers want self-service, clarity, and a search experience that feels effortless. Many are already initiating 70-80% of their research before ever speaking to a salesperson, and they won’t tolerate outdated search or confusing product data.

Product discovery has become the centre of the B2B buying journey. It’s no longer a nice-to-have, it’s quickly becoming the baseline for competitiveness.

In a world where even simple industrial parts can have thousands of variants, helping buyers quickly find what they need is mission-critical. Poor product information, missing attributes and clunky search experiences create friction, frustration, abandoned baskets and lost revenue.

Today’s innovators are moving beyond basic keyword search to more structured and intuitive browsing experiences, including:

• Search and navigation designed specifically for complex B2B product ranges
• Advanced filtering by specifications, availability, compatibility or part numbers
• Rich, structured product data that remains consistent across all digital touchpoints

Giving buyers the ability to refine results with confidence, not only speeds up the buying journey, it builds trust and increases conversion.

Data quality and enrichment are non-negotiable

One of the biggest obstacles to seamless discovery is the quality and consistency of product data on websites. Incomplete descriptions, inconsistent attributes or missing technical notes don’t just hamper search, they undermine buyer confidence.

At GOb2b we address this for our clients by integrating our B2B Ecommerce platform with your accounting system including Sage Pegasus, ensuring that product information such as SKUs, specifications, pricing, availability and documentation is consistent and accurate across your website. Take a look at our Product Data Features to find out more.

Self-service experiences are redefining buyer expectations

Modern B2B buyers want autonomy. They don’t want to wait for quotes or sales calls. They want to research, filter, compare and purchase from the platform itself.

Features that empower customers, such as digital catalogues, personalised pricing, quick re-ordering and accessible stock levels, reduce friction and drive repeat business. The better the self-service capability, the higher the likelihood of conversion.

Omnichannel discovery is essential

B2B buyers now move between multiple touchpoints, including ecommerce websites, mobile tools, sales teams and customer service interactions. When product information differs between systems, it creates confusion and erodes trust.

Ensuring consistent, discoverable product data across all channels means buyers and internal teams are always working from the same, accurate information, wherever the interaction takes place. Discovery shouldn’t stop at your website; it should be supported across every customer-facing system.

How modern technology is speeding up product discovery

Modern B2B ecommerce technology is helping businesses manage complexity more effectively. Structured product data, intelligent navigation, real-time availability and customer-specific pricing all work together to reduce buyer effort and speed up decision-making.

When buyers can quickly find, validate and order the right products without relying on manual support, the result is faster purchasing, higher order values and improved customer satisfaction.

Continuous optimisation is now a B2B priority

Even with good data and technology, ongoing testing and refinement are essential. Tracking how buyers search, which terms they use, where they drop off and what errors crop up lets you fine-tune discovery. This continuous improvement mindset is what separates good ecommerce from great ecommerce.

Too many companies still treat their product listings like digital catalogues – static spreadsheets uploaded online with minimal structure. These are not real ecommerce experiences. They don’t help discoverability, they frustrate buyers and they leave money on the table. To compete, your B2B Ecommerce platform needs to behave like a discovery engine, not merely a list of product numbers.

How GOb2b can help

At GOb2b, we specialise in transforming traditional B2B sales systems into high-performing, self-service ecommerce experiences.

We help manufacturers and distributors with:

• Structuring and surfacing rich product data through seamless back-office integrations
• Search and filtering that’s designed for complex B2B product ranges
• Discovery-ready B2B Ecommerce experiences
• Live integrations with accounting systems, so pricing, stock and product data stay accurate
• Building scalable, future-proof B2B Ecommerce platforms

Whether you’re launching a new ecommerce platform or upgrading an existing one, we bring the expertise and technology to make product discovery work for your business.

Ready to set your B2B Ecommerce website up for success? Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team at GOb2b.

The post The B2B Ecommerce trends (and why most product discovery still falls short) appeared first on GOb2b.

1. Meeting the modern B2B buyer

The most fundamental change we documented was the evolution of the B2B customer. We began the year by forecasting the changes in 2025 B2B Ecommerce Trends: A Year of Global Growth and Digital Transformation, but the reality proved even more accelerated. The modern buyer is demanding a B2C grade experience including easy navigation, instant data and self-service capabilities, which we detailed in How The B2B Buying Process Is Changing. This has now spread into other sectors, including complex manufacturing environments, as shown in this blog: Industrial B2B Buyers Embrace Digital for Online Ordering. Ultimately, successful digital transformation starts by understanding the foundational relationship dynamics we explored in our blog earlier in the year: What is B2B Sales?, applying integrated technology to enhance, but not replace, customer relationships.

2. Efficiency – The driver of integrated B2B ecommerce

Once digital adoption matured, the focus for all businesses turned aggressively toward efficiency and maximising ROI. The primary value of an integrated B2B platform like GOb2b is it’s ability to automate processes and eliminate costly errors, which is why GOb2b’s B2B ecommerce website integrates seamlessly with accounting systems including Sage and Pegasus. We outlined several key areas where an integrated B2B website delivers immediate and long-term savings:

• Automation – Drastically cutting down on time spent processing orders, leaving sales teams free to focus on growth
• Data integrity – blogs like Simplifying the Process of Bulk Data Migration With CMS Importer highlighted how integrated tools are crucial for ensuring the smooth transfer and ongoing accuracy of product and customer data
• Industry focus – We showed how integrated B2B ecommerce is essential for specific sectors in Feeding Demand: How Integrated eCommerce is Revolutionising Food & Drink Suppliers, demonstrating that real-time stock and pricing are non-negotiable for perishable goods

In essence, we found that true profitability stems from a commitment to efficiency, a topic we discussed in Lighting the Path to B2B Efficiency. The goal remains to provide a seamless, fast experience for both the customer and the sales team.

3. Payments – the final key to modernisation

A massive hurdle for B2B businesses has traditionally been cash flow and complex payment terms. In 2025, modern technology finally provided a decisive solution. We examined this shift closely in The future of B2B payments: why card is leading the way, showing how the security and convenience of card payments are rapidly replacing traditional invoicing for repeat orders. This transition is powered by embedded payment solutions that simplify the transaction from start to finish. Our blog, How embedded card payments reduce admin, risks, and headaches, detailed how these tools integrate directly into the accounting system, dramatically reducing the administrative burden. These modern payment methods offer the best defence against cash flow challenges, providing a clear path forward for businesses struggling with slow receivables, a key solution offered in our blog Late Payments Still Holding You Back? Here’s How B2B Businesses Can Get Ahead.

Looking Ahead

This year we were proud to announce a significant milestone for our platform, that GOb2b is now on the Microsoft App Source platform for integrating with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. This ensures that our integrated B2B ecommerce website platform is more accessible than ever for businesses leveraging the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem. The work done in 2025 – driving adoption, optimising processes and modernising payments sets the stage for 2026 where B2B companies can shift focus entirely from adoption challenges to aggressive, data-driven growth.

If you’re looking to go digital with a modern, efficient, time-saving B2B ecommerce website that integrates with your accounting system in 2026 then please get in touch with GOb2b.  

The post GOb2b’s 2025 Year in Review: The Digital Evolution appeared first on GOb2b.

The most significant shift is the B2B buyer’s demand for autonomy. They’re now looking to shop online, not just rely on trade shows or speaking to sales people. They’re wanting to research, compare, and order on their own timeline. From research undertaken by  TrustRadius, 100% of buyers now want to self-serve all or part of the buying journey. Gartner found that 61% of B2B buyers prefer to place and manage their orders online without a sales team’s intervention.

Also important to note B2B buyers are getting younger and are much more digitally inclined to research online first – using social media, review websites and AI tools. Forrester predicts that 70% of B2B buyers are projected to be millennials by the end this year.

As part of the buying process when evaluating potential suppliers trust, transparency, and brand recognition play a significant part. Buyers often have a preferred supplier in mind and are looking for alternative suppliers that they perceive trustworthy:

• Transparent pricing with easy self-serve access
• Real user reviews
• Free trials and demos
• Case studies

This shift in the buying process makes it essential to have a B2B Customer Portal — a 24/7 digital hub where customers can manage their accounts, track shipments, and access custom pricing and real-time inventory. This also benefits B2B businesses with improved efficiency and reduced costs, whilst boosting customer satisfaction and retention.

Flowstar, a one-stop destination for premium quality valves and exceptional service, recognised this shift however were struggling to meet it, here they engaged us to implement a fully integrated B2B eCommerce platform. The system connects directly to Sage 50, allowing real-time stock levels and pricing to be visible to customers without manual intervention. They’ve already seen benefits in:

• Reduced admin time: Customers can now check stock and pricing themselves—cutting out time-consuming phone calls and email chains.
• Improved sales efficiency: Sales staff can now focus on complex enquiries rather than simple reorders.
• Data integrity: Integration with Sage ensures product and pricing data is always up to date.
• Customer satisfaction: Early adopters have praised the platform’s ease of use and responsiveness.

Find out more here from our case studies.

If you’re looking to go digital with a modern, efficient, time-saving ordering experience website that integrates with your accounting system now is the time to take action.

Get in touch with GOb2b today

The post How The B2B Buying Process Is Changing appeared first on GOb2b.

The report indicates from their survey of industrial supplies buyers and contractors that convenience is a top priority across every stage of the buying process. Buyers are increasingly valuing the ease and efficiency that digital platforms offer. This is a key area that we strive to deliver with our GOb2b platform for B2B businesses to transform the sales process, not just provide an ecommerce site.

Key takeaways from the report include:

• Online Dominance – a significant portion of industrial B2B buyers are regularly purchasing electrical, HVAC, and various industrial supplies online.
• Efficiency and Time-Saving – the online buying experience is consistently perceived as easy and a valuable time-saver for busy professionals.
• Digital – is the preferred channel for most buyers, allowing 24/7 access via websites.

The study emphasises the critical importance of providing seamless online experiences. In today’s competitive digital environment, distributors must prioritise features such as personalised pricing, real-time inventory visibility, and intuitive navigation. The report serves as a clear warning: buyers are quick to switch allegiances if a distributor’s website fails to meet their expectations for convenience and efficiency. For industrial suppliers, embracing and excelling in digital commerce is no longer an option — it’s a necessity for sustained growth and customer loyalty.

If you’re ready to go digital with a modern, efficient, time-saving ordering experience website that integrates with your accounting system now is the time to take action.

Get in touch with GOb2b today

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