7 Business to Business Examples You Can Learn From
Business to business (B2B) is a type of transaction where one company sells products or services to another company. B2B transactions are common in many industries, such as manufacturing, wholesale, and professional services. In this article, we will look at seven examples of successful B2B businesses and what you can learn from them.
Shopify: A Platform for Online Stores
Shopify is a Canadian company that provides a platform for online stores. Shopify allows merchants to create their own websites, manage inventory, accept payments, and ship orders. Shopify also offers various tools and apps to help merchants grow their businesses, such as marketing, analytics, and customer service.
Shopify is a B2B business because it sells its platform to other businesses that want to sell online. Shopify has over 1.7 million merchants in more than 175 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $2.9 billion.
What you can learn from Shopify: Shopify is a great example of how to create a scalable and user-friendly platform that meets the needs of different types of businesses. Shopify also shows how to leverage partnerships and integrations with other platforms and services, such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Google.
Slack: A Communication Tool for Teams
Slack is an American company that provides a communication tool for teams. Slack allows users to create channels for different topics, projects, or departments, and exchange messages, files, and calls. Slack also integrates with many other tools and apps, such as Google Drive, Zoom, and Salesforce.
Slack is a B2B business because it sells its tool to other businesses that want to improve their team collaboration and productivity. Slack has over 12 million daily active users in more than 150 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $902 million.
What you can learn from Slack: Slack is a great example of how to create a simple and intuitive tool that solves a common problem for teams: communication. Slack also shows how to build a strong brand identity and culture, as well as a loyal and engaged user community.
HubSpot: A Software for Marketing, Sales, and Service
HubSpot is an American company that provides a software for marketing, sales, and service. HubSpot allows businesses to attract, engage, and delight customers through various features, such as email marketing, landing pages, CRM, chatbots, and surveys.
HubSpot is a B2B business because it sells its software to other businesses that want to grow their customer base and revenue. HubSpot has over 113,000 customers in more than 120 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $883 million.
What you can learn from HubSpot: HubSpot is a great example of how to create a comprehensive and integrated software that covers the entire customer journey. HubSpot also shows how to provide valuable content and education for customers and prospects, such as blogs, podcasts, ebooks, and courses.
Cisco: A Provider of Networking Solutions
Cisco is an American company that provides networking solutions for the internet. Cisco offers products and services for various aspects of networking, such as routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and cloud computing.
Cisco is a B2B business because it sells its solutions to other businesses that want to connect their devices and data securely and efficiently. Cisco has over 470,000 customers in more than 200 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $49.3 billion.
What you can learn from Cisco: Cisco is a great example of how to be a leader and innovator in a highly competitive and dynamic industry. Cisco also shows how to adapt to changing customer needs and market trends, such as the rise of cloud computing and the internet of things.
Adobe: A Creator of Digital Media Software
Adobe is an American company that creates software for digital media creation and editing. Adobe offers products for various purposes, such as Photoshop for photo editing, Illustrator for vector graphics, Premiere Pro for video editing, and Acrobat for PDF files.
Adobe is a B2B business because it sells its software to other businesses that want to create and distribute digital content. Adobe has over 22 million subscribers in more than 190 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $12.9 billion.
What you can learn from Adobe: Adobe is a great example of how to create high-quality and versatile software that empowers creativity and expression. Adobe also shows how to transition from selling software licenses to offering subscription-based services, as well as how to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance user experience and functionality.
FedEx: A Delivery Service Company
FedEx is an American company that provides delivery service for packages and freight. FedEx offers various options for domestic and international shipping, such as express, ground, and freight.
FedEx is a B2B business because it sells its service to other businesses that want to send and receive goods and materials. FedEx has over 600,000 employees in more than 220 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $69.2 billion.
What you can learn from FedEx: FedEx is a great example of how to create a reliable and efficient service that meets the needs of different types of customers and industries. FedEx also shows how to invest in technology
and innovation to improve operational performance and customer satisfaction.
IBM: A Provider of Technology Solutions
IBM is an American company that provides technology solutions for various domains, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing. IBM offers products and services for different functions, such as data and analytics, security, automation, and consulting.
IBM is a B2B business because it sells its solutions to other businesses that want to leverage technology to solve their challenges and achieve their goals. IBM has over 300,000 employees in more than 170 countries, and its revenue in 2020 was $73.6 billion.
What you can learn from IBM: IBM is a great example of how to be a pioneer and a visionary in the field of technology. IBM also shows how to collaborate with other organizations and institutions, such as universities, governments, and nonprofits, to advance research and innovation.
These are just some of the examples of successful B2B businesses that you can learn from. Each of them has a unique value proposition, target market, and competitive advantage. However, they also share some common traits, such as:
- Providing solutions that solve real problems for their customers
- Focusing on customer satisfaction and retention
- Innovating and adapting to changing customer needs and market conditions
- Building strong brands and reputations
If you want to start or grow your own B2B business, you can use these examples as inspiration and guidance. You can also use tools like Shopify, Slack, HubSpot, Cisco, Adobe, FedEx, and IBM to support your business operations and growth.
Business to Business (B2B) Industry Trends
The business to business (B2B) industry is the sector of the economy that involves transactions between businesses, such as a manufacturer and a wholesaler, or a wholesaler and a retailer. B2B transactions are different from business to consumer (B2C) transactions, which involve businesses selling to individual customers.
Global Demand for B2B Products and Services
According to a report by Forrester, the global B2B e-commerce market is expected to reach $20.9 trillion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% from 2019 to 2027. The report attributes this growth to the increasing adoption of digital technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and internet of things, by B2B buyers and sellers, as well as the rising demand for online procurement and supply chain management solutions.
The report also identifies some of the key drivers and challenges for the B2B e-commerce market, such as:
Drivers:
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of B2B businesses, as they seek to reduce physical contact, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience.
The emergence of new business models, such as subscription-based services, platform-based ecosystems, and direct-to-consumer channels, has created new opportunities for B2B e-commerce players.
The increasing availability of data and analytics tools has enabled B2B businesses to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, preferences, and needs, and to offer personalized and customized solutions.
Challenges:
The complexity and diversity of B2B products and services pose significant challenges for B2B e-commerce platforms, such as product catalog management, pricing and quotation management, order fulfillment and delivery management, and customer service and support.
The lack of standardization and interoperability among different B2B e-commerce platforms and systems hinders the seamless integration and exchange of data and information across the B2B value chain.
The high level of security and compliance requirements for B2B transactions limits the adoption of cloud-based and third-party B2B e-commerce solutions.
Examples of B2B Businesses
There are many examples of B2B businesses across various industries and sectors. Some of them are:
Samsung: Samsung is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electronic components and devices, such as semiconductors, memory chips, displays, batteries, cameras, and smartphones. Samsung sells its products to other businesses, such as Apple, which uses Samsung’s components in its iPhones. Samsung also sells its products to other manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and distributors.
Investopedia: Investopedia is an online platform that provides financial education and information to individuals and businesses. Investopedia offers various products and services to other businesses, such as content marketing solutions, advertising solutions, sponsored content solutions, and custom research solutions.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software that helps small businesses and freelancers manage their invoicing, expenses, payments, and reporting. FreshBooks sells its software to other businesses through a subscription-based model. FreshBooks also partners with other businesses, such as banks, payment processors, tax software providers, and accounting firms, to offer integrated solutions to its customers.
References:
https://www.infosys.com/about/knowledge-institute/insights/Documents/future-customer-engagement.pdf
https://www.freshbooks.com/glossary/small-business/business-to-business
https://www.shopify.com/about
https://slack.com/about
https://www.hubspot.com/company/overview
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about.html
https://www.adobe.com/about-adobe.html
https://about.van.fedex.com/our-story/company-structure/
https://www.ibm.com/about
