This article was adapted from our on-demand webinar 5 Ways to Reduce B2B Commerce Complexity, presented in partnership with Kibo. Watch the webinar now and discover how you can streamline your operations and drive business efficiency
As B2B businesses scale, complexity and costs tend to rise alongside growth. The need for faster, more efficient data access has driven many merchants to adopt new technologies and operational strategies. These efforts often introduce additional overhead–whether this is new personnel or systems. To combat this, centralizing data and operations has become a critical strategy for reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).
The Role of Centralized Visibility
One of the biggest benefits of centralizing data is the ability to react faster and more effectively to business needs. Integrating real-time data access into modern systems can help businesses make informed decisions that optimize inventory and procurement. For example, if a company identifies a shortage in one location, it can quickly adjust purchasing strategies from another region, reducing unnecessary expenses and improving overall efficiency.
Beyond inventory management, centralizing data simplifies acquiring and integrating new businesses. Many distributors operate multiple ERP systems as the result of different acquisitions, leading to fragmented data structures. Implementing a central OMS can provide a unified view across all business units, streamlining operations and creating consistency in data handling.
Automation and Process Optimization
Another key advantage of data centralization is automating manual processes contributing to operational costs. Despite having the technology available, many businesses still rely on manual approval processes for online orders or subscriptions, creating inefficiencies that drive up TCO. Merchants can leverage centralized data to implement automated workflows for order approvals or other manual processes, reducing the need for human intervention and ultimately accelerating order fulfilment.
As businesses continue to expand and acquire new companies, a strong data centralization strategy will be imperative for reducing operational complexity and controlling costs. Investing in modern, integrated systems and leveraging automation can significantly lower TCO while improving efficiency and scalability.