B2B self-service portal — give business customers the opportunity to order and manage information themselves
Your business customers want to get an answer about prices and stock and order now, not wait for a sales representative to answer. The B2B self-service portal brings together products, prices, inventory and invoices in one environment where the customer can do everything he needs himself.
Lumav has been building B2B ordering environments for over 15 years for companies operating in very different fields. As Erply’s only Gold level partner, we can offer Erply customers fully integrated B2B environments.
Why business customers need a self-service portal
B2B sales in Estonia often work via phone, e-mail and Excel spreadsheets, larger solutions often require custom quotes. The sales representative re-enters the order, checks the stock and sends the invoice from a separate system. Each step takes time and each reprint creates errors. Also, some critical information about the products or services purchased by the customer may be available on another portal, which the sales representative must “mediate” to the customer.
Manual ordering wastes time and creates errors
A business customer calls and asks if there is X product, is it available in stock, at what price and when? During the phone call, the salesman checks the information from the ERP and if he does not receive it immediately, he calls back.
The second case — a business client sends an e-mail “Please send the same products as last time, but 50% more.” The salesperson opens the business software, searches for the previous order, copies the lines, changes the quantities, checks the inventory and sends a confirmation. This process is repeated for every client, every week. This time could be used to make a new sale instead.
B2B volumes are high
In the Nordic countries, the volume of B2B business is estimated to be 7 times larger than B2C business. Volumes are high, margins are tighter, and companies cannot afford the extra time and errors of manual re-entry.
Business customers expect convenience at the B2C level
A B2B buyer is the same person who buys from Amazon, Barberry or Klick every day. They expect to be able to find the products quickly, see prices and stock immediately and order with a few clicks. If your ordering process requires three emails and two phone calls, the customer will go to a competitor where ordering is easier. A good business customer self-service portal is a strategic competitive advantage because it offers good service even during non-working hours.
What a B2B self-service portal gives your business
A B2B self-service portal is not just an “e-shop for business customers”. It is a complete self-service environment where the business customer can get everything they need without the intervention of a sales representative. It is possible to make customer service even more convenient by displaying the information needed by the business customer from other sources and by creating customer (or entire device) specific catalogs.
Sales are increasing — the customer orders himself, around the clock
The self-service portal accepts orders 24/7. The customer does not have to wait for the start of the working day or the sales representative’s response. Automatic cross-selling suggests suitable additional products — something the salesperson may not remember. The result: bigger shopping carts and more repeat orders.
Costs are reduced — less manual work and mistakes
Orders go directly into the system. There is no manual re-entry, so the resulting errors also disappear. The sales team can use their time to do what they are really good at — finding new customers and maintaining relationships.
All data in one place
The business customer logs in and sees: who has used the service, how much, when and where. He can also see his invoices, order history and credit limit. The customer can manage his own subdivisions and employees with ordering rights. A higher price may also be paid for convenience.
Ask for a free consultation to map your B2B portal needs
We map out whether an Erply-based B2B portal, a Magento/Adobe Commerce solution or a special solution is suitable for your company.
How Lumav creates a B2B self-service portal
Lumav has been building ordering environments for business customers for over 15 years. We know the domains of different customers and what are the main technical constraints. The business customer’s ordering environment requires a slightly more ambitious interface project, and according to the requirements and size, we also propose a solution for the customer. We offer three solutions in this order: Magento/Adobe Commerce e-store, B2B portal for Erply customers and special solutions.
A B2B portal built on top of Erply
Lumav is Erply’s only Gold level partner at all. The cooperation has been ongoing since 2014, a closer partnership was entered into in 2023, and several joint software products have been developed since then. Including the business client’s self-service environment and e-shop software.
What it gives the customer:
If your company already uses Erply, the introduction of the B2B self-service portal is particularly affordable and fast.
Magento and Adobe Commerce B2B solutions
For larger companies and projects with more complex B2B logic, we offer solutions on the Magento/Adobe Commerce platform. Magento allows you to build very ambitious solutions for very large catalogs (500,000 products), and the desired B2B functionalities can also be implemented in a lighter version. Read more about how companies serving business customers, both large and small, can make the most of it.
Special solutions
A special solution is a good choice if the requirements are more non-standard, specific catalogs and/or if you want to use the capabilities of artificial intelligence in depth. We will write more about these opportunities in our blog and portfolio.
Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce B2B capabilities
Lumav has experience in creating solutions for business clients, both in the creation of free Magento Open Source and licensed Adobe Commerce B2B solutions. Here’s an overview of the B2B capabilities of both platforms:
Magento Open Source B2B Solutions
A simpler and more affordable solution for small and medium-sized companies.
Adobe Commerce B2B Suite
Enterprise-level solution for companies with more complex B2B logic.
Integrated B2C and B2B solutions
It is also possible to create integrated solutions that serve both B2C and B2B customers.
Which platform is right for you? Magento Open Source is a good choice if you need basic B2B functions with a cheaper budget and a faster deadline. In the case of Open Source, we would be 100% responsible for the solution, in the case of Adobe Commerce, you are assigned a separate Account manager, you receive invitations to events, and Adobe is also responsible for the B2B module. The special solution allows greater flexibility and the possibility to use AI technologies more flexibly.
Our B2B experience
Lumavi has a long experience
Lumavi has long-term experience in creating B2B self-service environments in various fields.
Frequently asked questions
What is a B2B self-service portal and what does it do?
The B2B self-service portal is an online environment where your business customers can independently browse products, see prices, place orders and manage invoices. Unlike a regular e-store, the portal is designed for the needs of business customers: personalized prices, credit limits, order history and role-based access.
What is the difference between a B2B e-shop and a B2B self-service portal?
A B2B e-shop mainly focuses on selling products online. The self-service portal goes further — it gathers all business customer information in one place: orders, invoices, usage statistics, credit limit and service analytics. The self-service portal replaces several different systems where the customer would otherwise have to log in separately.
Can B2C and B2B customers be served on the same portal?
Yes, several of our customers have used either different e-store views or user account solutions to enable both functionalities on the same technological solution. We have also created solutions where a board member’s private client account can also manage orders for their own companies. When logging in with a business customer account, the corresponding price list, assortment and units are displayed.
How is the B2B portal compatible with Erply business software?
Lumav is Erply’s only Gold level partner. In cooperation with Erply, we have developed a product that allows you to set up a business customer’s ordering environment directly on top of Erply very cheaply. This means that products, prices, inventory, customer price lists, credit limits and orders are synchronized bilaterally and in real time, ensuring a complete omnichannel experience. There is no need for separate interface analysis and development — this saves both time and money.
Can a small company also afford a B2B portal?
Yes. Magento Open Source B2B solution offers basic B2B functions (payment by invoice, personalized prices, assortment hiding) in a freeware version, making small compromises — read the blog post here. The Erply-based box product is also designed in such a way that even smaller and medium-sized businesses can afford it.
How long does it take to develop a B2B self-service portal?
It depends on the complexity of the solution. The Erply-based boxed product is ready to use in weeks, because the basic functions are already ready — we adapt them to your needs. A Magento/Adobe Commerce B2B project can last 2-6 months, depending on the number of features and the volume of integrations.
Didn’t find an answer to your question? Contact us and we will answer you personally.
Related services
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