The CPQ Blog

The B2C Influence on B2B Sales and the Rise of Self-Service Tools

Written by Magnus Fasth | Oct 11, 2023 6:00:00 AM

"Think B2B sales can't feel like a B2C experience? Think again."

The days when a business transaction could hide behind its complexity, delaying customers with drawn-out processes and jargon-filled interactions, are quickly becoming a relic of the past. Because guess what? The B2C world has set a new standard, and B2B clients now expect – no, demand – the same ease and efficiency.

The Self-Service Surge: A B2C Gift to the B2B World

The essence of a consumer's shopping experience is heavily rooted in independence. Configuring your new car or designing that dream kitchen on a slick, intuitive interface? B2C platforms have made these tasks delightfully simple. With these advancements in consumer sales, it's no surprise that the professional B2B buyer is craving a similarly streamlined process.

Why should the process of acquiring complex products or services at work feel like a throwback to the fax machine era? The answer is, it shouldn’t.

Bridging the Experience Gap: B2C Meets B2B

The success of B2C lies in its ability to give power to the consumer, allowing them to shape their purchase journey. This empowerment not only enhances user satisfaction but also streamlines the sales process. Self-quoting, a seemingly mundane feature in the B2C realm, is now a game-changer in the B2B scene.

But why now? Because businesses are waking up to the fact that a happy, empowered customer is often a repeat customer. They're beginning to see the wisdom in letting clients take the reins, even in intricate transaction processes.

The Mobile CPQ Revolution: More Than Just a Trend

Central to this change is Mobile CPQ. By leveraging the principles of guided selling and condensing complex configurations into a simplified process, Mobile CPQ promises the kind of B2B experience buyers didn't even know they wanted. But here's the rub: They don't just want it now, they expect it.

A Seamless Blend: Embracing B2C Strategies in B2B Sales

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the B2C sector's influence on B2B is this: Simplicity sells. Not in a reductionist sense, but in a way that respects the customer's time, intelligence, and autonomy. It's about streamlining without dumbing down. The end goal? To offer professional clients an experience that feels intuitive, satisfying, and, yes, even enjoyable.

 

The influence of B2C on B2B isn't just a fleeting trend. It's a call to action for businesses everywhere. If companies can rise to the occasion and embrace the tools and strategies that make this transition possible, they're not just meeting current expectations but setting new standards for the future of B2B sales.

The ball is now firmly in the B2B court. Let’s play. At cpq.se we have a SaaS offering that will have you up and running in no time.