A Practical Guide for Wholesale, Distribution & Manufacturing
Across the UK and Ireland, wholesale, distribution, and manufacturing businesses are experiencing a decisive shift in buyer expectations. Customers who once relied on phone calls, emailed orders, and manual account management now expect the same seamless digital experience they enjoy when purchasing in their personal lives – real-time stock visibility, accurate pricing, simple reordering, online invoices, and a fully self-service account portal.
The Challenge?
Most organisations want to modernise, but without committing to a multi-year digital transformation or a high-risk custom development project.
In this guide, we explore a practical, low-investment pathway to B2B eCommerce modernisation – one built around the systems UK and Irish businesses already rely on every day: Intact iQ, SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and the wider ERP ecosystem.
Why B2B Buyers in the UK & Ireland Expect More Than Ever
The modern B2B buyer compares your ordering experience not only with competitors, but with every intuitive interaction they have on digital platforms.
They expect:
- Contract, volume, and customer-specific pricing in real time
- Accurate stock and availability data
- Quick repeat ordering and saved baskets
- Online invoice retrieval and payment
- Instant access to order history and delivery tracking
- Self-service returns and queries
- Clear account information and credit limits
The Hidden Advantage: Your ERP Is Already Built for This
Businesses across the UK and Ireland rely heavily on systems like:
- Intact iQ
- SAP Business One
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Digital Modernisation Doesn’t Have to Be a Big Bang”
One of the biggest barriers to B2B eCommerce adoption is the belief that digital transformation requires:
- Large budgets
- Long development cycles
- Risky system replacements
- Substantial training and operational disruption
Why ERP-Integrated eCommerce Works Better for B2B
- Real-Time, Always-Accurate Pricing
- Stock Accuracy Without Manual Updates
- Orders Go Straight Into Your ERP
- Live Account Information & Payment Features
- A Seamless Customer Experience Across All Touchpoints
- Rapid Deployment
Where WebShop Delivers an Advantage in the UK & Ireland Market
- Certified, deep integrations with Intact iQ and SAP Business One
- Real-time connection to pricing, stock, orders, invoices, and customer accounts
- Fastest time to value with quick deployments
- Modular platform – add Punchout, eProcurement, app extensions, and digital catalogues as needed
A Recommended Digital Roadmap for UK & Irish B2B Leaders
- Start With ERP-Integrated eCommerce
- Deliver Quick Wins
- Introduce Self-Service Workflows
- Add Advanced Capabilities IF Needed
- Evolve Based on Customer Use
Conclusion: Modernising Without Overinvesting Is a Competitive Advantage
By leveraging your existing ERP system and pairing it with a platform like Experlogix WebShop, you can improve customer satisfaction, reduce admin pressure, accelerate the order-to-cash cycle, enable 24/7 self-service, and achieve ROI faster than traditional eCommerce projects.
