B2B Commerce UnCut: The Unvarnished Truth About B2B eCommerce Oro Inc

In this episode, we welcome Kevin Pearson, eCommerce Project Manager, and Sean Cummings, Director of eCommerce, both of UFP Industries. This recording is from a panel at B2B Online, repurposed for this episode. Kevin and Sean discuss the journey of adopting digital commerce within UFP Industries, driven by the demands of major customers like Home Depot and Lowe's. They share insights on overcoming internal resistance, the importance of internal marketing, and the steps taken to implement a successful B2B eCommerce platform.

Key Takeaways:
(01:08) Internal marketing for digital transformation in manufacturing or distribution is crucial.
(04:16) Current users of the new eCommerce site include independent retail customers and sales teams.
(05:06) Benefits of the new site include online ordering, order history, invoices and updated pricing.
(05:40) Home Depot and Lowe’s forced UFP into eCommerce, leading to strategic transformation.
(08:17) The discovery phase with Access Digital helped gather necessary information and plan the site.
(10:21) Stakeholder involvement and the agile approach to help keep everyone updated and engaged.
(12:27) Continuous internal selling and media blitz to maintain momentum post-launch.
(14:16) Quick pivots based on feedback to address user experience and interface issues.
(15:06) Empower project managers to be marketers and prepare for unknown challenges​​.

Resources Mentioned:
Kevin Pearson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-pearson-338b06260/
Sean Cummings - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancummingsil/
UFP Industries - https://www.ufpi.com/



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#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce

In this episode, we’re joined by Giles Taylor, Founder, Owner, and President of Trans-Solutions, Inc., an expert in online marketing, supply chain and logistics. Giles accrued his experience from his maritime academy days to his leadership roles in various sectors. He offers an in-depth insight  into the complexities and solutions in logistics and supply chain management.

Key Takeaways:

(03:51) Explanation of Transportation Management Software and its tiers.
(05:19) Adoption trends of TMS, highlighting affordability through SaaS solutions.
(06:08) Introducing a two-phase approach for evaluating and implementing TMS.
(08:44) Case study: A food retailer saves on logistics by changing shipping terms.
(10:13) Case study: A company reduces transportation costs by switching to rail.
(17:28) Disadvantages of shipping consolidation with a single carrier.
(20:02) Significant changes are predicted in supply chain through advanced AI and ML.
(25:16) Understanding true service delivery costs for supply chain optimization.
(29:56) Diversify information sources to enhance business decisions.

Resources Mentioned:

Trans-Solutions, Inc. - https://www.linkedin.com/company/trans-solutions-consulting/
Freight Rate Negotiation: Five Things Carriers Don’t Want You to Know - https://22211407.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22211407/5-Things-Carriers-Dont-Want-You-To-Know-fnl.pdf



Thanks for listening to the B2B Commerce UnCut: A Journey Through Change, powered by Oro. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.


#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce

In this episode, we’re joined by Simon Rakosi, CEO and Co-Founder of Butterfly.ai. Simon delves into the pivotal role of managerial relationships in employee engagement and turnover and the impact of AI and automation on the workforce and supply chain management.

Key Takeaways:

(02:08) Butterfly AI’s focus on real-time workforce insights.
(04:40) Human flexibility is a necessity in automation.
(06:35) Automation’s impact on onboarding costs and time.
(07:09) Butterfly AI improves client productivity and engagement.
(11:43) The importance of workforce management alongside technology.
(12:00) Equipping managers for employee engagement is crucial.
(14:19) Provide engaging jobs for workplace satisfaction.
(19:03) Managers directly impact employee satisfaction and company reputation
(24:02) The future role of AI and automation in supply chain.
(30:36) Invest in managers and promote from within to improve engagement.

Resources Mentioned:

Simon Rakosi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/srakosi/
Butterfly.ai- https://Butterfly.ai
Dark Matter: A Novel - Blake Crouch - https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Matter-Novel-Blake-Crouch/dp/1101904240



Thanks for listening to the B2B Commerce UnCut: A Journey Through Change, powered by Oro. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.



#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce

In this episode, we explore the world of B2B digital transformation with Andy Wagner, Executive Director of AAXIS. Andy shares novel insights on leveraging digital commerce platforms for operational efficiency, enhancing customer service and empowering sales teams in the B2B sector.

Key Takeaways:

(05:49) The role of efficient online platforms in cost-saving and operational efficiency.
(06:21) Essential tools for increasing eCommerce platform benefits.
(09:16) How CRM and commerce integration benefits account managers and customer service reps.
(11:32) Innovative approaches to integrating and automating order processes.
(13:34) MVP approach for implementing eCommerce projects without initial online selling.
(17:13) Reducing human error and enhancing operational processes with workflows.
(22:44) Utilizing eCommerce platforms for efficient quotation and proposal processes.
(24:25) Exploring upstream benefits of B2B eCommerce platforms for various departments.
(26:23) The impact of data consolidation on operational efficiency and decision-making.
(32:56) The critical role of user experience in B2B eCommerce success.
(40:08) Benefits of workflow engines in managing complex B2B processes.

Resources Mentioned:

Andy Wagner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wagner/
AAXIS - https://aaxis.io/




Thanks for listening to the B2B Commerce UnCut: A Journey Through Change, powered by Oro. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.


#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Mark Brohan, Senior Vice President of B2B and Market Research at Digital Commerce 360. Mark shares his insights into the evolution of B2B eCommerce, emphasizing the importance of digital transformation and the role of omnichannel strategies in meeting buyer expectations.

Key Takeaways:

(02:38) The role of journalistic researchers in tracking eCommerce trends.
(03:15) Evolving trends in B2B eCommerce with digital transformation.
(05:20) The lengthy and detailed buyer's research process in B2B transactions.
(07:19) The concept of unified commerce as a holistic approach to customer engagement.
(10:24) The fundamental eCommerce mission across different organization sizes.
(11:58) The importance of appropriate technology and strategy for B2B sellers.
(15:51) The current state and future potential of AI in eCommerce.
(22:37) Challenges faced by businesses in adopting composable eCommerce technologies.
(25:31) The urgency of having ready data and platforms for effective eCommerce engagement.
(29:49) The diversity of needs in B2B eCommerce, ruling out a one-size-fits-all solution.
(32:00) Advice for eCommerce growth: listen to customers and serve your niche effectively.

Resources Mentioned:

Mark Brohan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-brohan-86b53a93/
Digital Commerce 360 - https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/





Thanks for listening to the B2B Commerce UnCut: A Journey Through Change, powered by Oro. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.



#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kevin Creese, Director of eCommerce at Wastequip, the leading North American manufacturer of waste handling equipment.

He’s here to talk about his experiences building solutions to better manage data for internal use via analytics.

Topics covered include:

- Kevin’s background at Wastequip and what the company does.
- His decision to implement Wastequip as a digital commerce channel.
- Benefits and challenges of digitization.
- The potential for generative AI to save time.
- How to optimize the supply chain.
- Advice for manufacturers looking to start a digital sales channel.
- How to overcome resistance internally.
- The importance of communication and good leadership.
- The next steps for Wastequip’s digital journey.

Resources Mentioned:

Kevin Creese -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevincreese/
Wastequip -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wastequip/


Thanks for listening to the B2B Commerce UnCut: A Journey Through Change, powered by Oro. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.


#eCommerce #B2BeCommerce #DigitalCommerce