Industry · Industry & logistics
B2B ordering portals and automation for wholesale distributors
In wholesale distribution, orders often arrive by phone, WhatsApp photos of handwritten lists and messages to sales representatives. Every one of them is retyped into 1C by someone, mistakes happen and clients call to ask what is in stock and when delivery will come. A B2B ordering portal and a sales rep app move this routine into a system clients and reps can use themselves.
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In short
In short
- 01
Each client sees their own prices, discounts, credit limit and outstanding balance.
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Ordering must be fast for repeat buyers: previous orders, favourites, ordering by product codes or list upload.
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Stock and prices come from 1C or the ERP; orders go straight back into it.
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Sales representatives need a mobile tool for orders, visits and collections in the field.
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Adoption depends on making the portal easier than calling — and on sales reps promoting it instead of competing with it.
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Overview
The client portal
- Catalog with client-specific prices, packaging units, minimum quantities and stock.
- Fast ordering: reorder previous orders, favourites list, search by code, bulk entry, spreadsheet upload.
- Order history and status, from confirmation to delivery.
- Documents: invoices, delivery notes, reconciliation acts.
- Finances: credit limit, balance, overdue invoices, online payment where used.
- Promotions targeted by client group.
- Several users per client — owner, buyer, accountant — with their own rights.
Sales representative app
Reps who visit shops and restaurants need:
- the client list with visit plan and history;
- order entry with current stock and client prices, even with a weak connection;
- collection of payments and returns;
- photos of shelves and competitor products, where merchandising matters;
- a daily summary sent automatically to management.
The app shares data with the portal and 1C. See mobile app development.
Integration with 1C
Products, prices, stock, clients, contracts, credit limits and balances usually live in 1C. The portal and app read them on a schedule or in near real time; orders created online go into 1C automatically for confirmation and fulfilment. See 1C integration.
Delivery
For distributors with their own fleet, delivery days by zone, route planning and delivery confirmation (with photos or signatures) can be part of the same system, visible to clients as delivery status.
Adoption
Clients switch to the portal when it saves them time: accurate stock, their prices, quick reordering, and instant confirmation. Sales reps should be rewarded for orders from their clients whatever the channel, so they encourage portal use instead of seeing it as competition. A launch plan with training for key clients helps.
What to measure
- Share of orders placed through the portal and app.
- Order entry errors and returns caused by them.
- Time from order to confirmation.
- Overdue receivables per client.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Our clients are used to ordering by phone. Will they use a portal?
Many will, if it is faster and more reliable. Some will continue to call; their orders can be entered by staff into the same system, so everything stays consistent.
Can prices differ for each client?
Yes. Client-specific prices, discounts by group or volume, and contract prices are read from 1C and shown only to that client.
Does the rep app work offline?
It can store the catalog and client data on the device and sync orders when the connection returns — important for areas with poor coverage.