The B2B business domain often demands efficiency and accuracy. Hence, businesses are increasingly adopting multichannel sales strategies, offering products and services through channels like online storefronts, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and even mobile apps. For this, a robust B2B multichannel order management system (OMS) is becoming paramount for streamlining operations and enhancing customer satisfaction.

An effective B2B order management system acts as the central nervous system of your order fulfillment process. It integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure, including your ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system and potentially your B2B e-commerce website like a B2B QuickBooks e-commerce website, providing real-time visibility and control across all sales channels.

However, with a variety of order management system solutions available, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. To guide your decision-making process, here are the top 10 must-have features for any B2B multi-channel order management system:

1. Centralized Order Management

Order management system features like centralized order management functionality allow you to capture and manage orders from all your sales channels (online store, EDI, email, phone) in a single platform, eliminating the need to juggle multiple systems simultaneously. Thus, it reduces errors and ensures a consistent buying experience for your customers.

2. Real-time Inventory Visibility

Accurate and up-to-date inventory data is crucial for fulfilling orders efficiently and avoiding stockouts. An efficient B2B order management system provides real-time inventory visibility across all your warehouses and fulfillment centers. Ultimately, it empowers you to make informed decisions about order fulfillment, backorders, and inventory allocations.

3. Automated Workflows

Repetitive tasks like order confirmation, shipment notifications, and invoice generation are time-consuming tasks that can be automated through a modernized order management system. With automation, you can save time and resources that can be utilized in many more strategic initiatives. It will also improve processing speed and minimize human errors in order fulfillment processes.

4. Flexible Order Fulfillment Options

Your B2B customers may have diverse fulfillment requirements as per their needs. In this, a robust order management system should be able to offer support for various fulfillment methods. These methods might include drop shipping, pick up in store, split shipments, etc. so, the flexibility offered by the system will assist you in catering to the wider range of customer requirements and enhance their purchasing experience.

5. Advanced Shipping Management

The order management system should integrate seamlessly with leading shipping carriers to negotiate discounted rates, generate shipping labels, and track shipments in real time. This particularly offers cost savings and transparency for your customers, as well as facilitates timely delivery.

6. Robust Reporting and Analytics

Data-driven insights are key to optimizing your B2B sales operations. Thus, a good B2B multichannel order management system offers comprehensive reporting and analytics tools to track key metrics like order processing times, fulfillment costs, and customer behavior. These valuable insights assist you in identifying areas for improvement and making strategic business decisions according to them.

7. Scalability and Integration

As your business grows, your order management system needs to scale with you. Choose a solution that can accommodate increasing order volumes and integrate seamlessly with your existing systems like your ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and B2B e-commerce platform like a B2B QuickBooks e-commerce website.

8. Security and Compliance

B2B transactions often involve sensitive customer data. Hence, your B2B order management system must prioritize robust security features like data encryption, access control, and regular backups to ensure customer information remains protected and your business complies with relevant data privacy regulations.

9. Mobile Accessibility

We are living in the world of smartphones, thus, it is essential that your B2B multichannel order management system should be accessible from any device. This accessibility allows your team to manage orders and track shipments on the go. Ultimately, it will result in enhanced efficiency and facilitate real-time decision-making.

10. Customer Self-service Portal

Empower your B2B customers with a self-service portal that will facilitate them to track their order status, view past purchases, and even request returns or exchanges. All these self-services will improve customer satisfaction because of the transparency they get as well as control over their orders.

The Bottom Line

The implementation of an eminent order management system with these essential features will help you gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace as it will assist you in streamlining business operations and improving the overall customer experience. Hence, it is very important to choose the right order management system and order management system features that caters to the specific requirements of your business and facilitates operational efficiency. Besides, OrderCircle, a leading B2B e-commerce software solution provider, offers a prominent B2B multichannel order management system with all essential features and advanced functionalities. Also, integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure and workflow, including your preferred applications and tools. Therefore,  with careful consideration choose the right order management system and facilitate your business growth and success.