Imagine an automotive manufacturing plant where every part has a specific number. The workers rely on these numbers to find and use the right parts quickly. Now, imagine if they had to guess or remember these numbers without a reliable system. Chaos, right?
This is similar to what customers experience on many B2B after-sales portals or web stores. Customers and prospects find it difficult to locate products due to a lack of strong search functionality for 10,000+ SKUs. They’re often used to searching the numbers from their own systems, making it hard to find what they need.
Usually, only the main item numbers from the products are displayed and searchable. This means buyers need to know these exact numbers or product titles to find and order products quickly. Just like in the manufacturing plant, relying on specific numbers without a good search system can slow things down and cause frustration.
The solution
To make it easier for customers to find the products they need, we have introduced the Customer-Specific Item Numbers feature. This feature is designed to enhance convenience and streamline the buying process, making it simpler for customers to locate and order products using the item numbers they are already familiar with. The Customer-Specific Item Numbers function is available with the Advanced package of Sana Commerce Cloud.
The impact
Key benefits:
Increased customer convenience: Now, buyers can easily recognize, find, and order products using the item numbers they know from their own catalogues. This familiar approach simplifies the search process, reducing frustration and saving time.
Shorter buyer journey: Faster product discovery means customers can complete their purchases more quickly. This not only improves their shopping experience but also increases the chances of sales for your business.
Better integration with existing systems: Many ERP systems allow the setup of alternative item numbers that customers or vendors use. By linking these familiar numbers to the products in your web store, you ensure a smoother transition from browsing to buying. For example, while your system might list an item as #12345, a customer who knows it as #ABCDE will be able to find it effortlessly.
By using Customer-Specific Item Numbers, your web store or after sales portal becomes more intuitive and customer-friendly. This feature helps customers find what they need without hassle, leading to increased satisfaction and potentially boosting your sales.
How it works
Customer-Specific Item Numbers allows businesses to display and find products in the web store using item numbers that are familiar to their customers. These alternative item numbers, maintained in the ERP, make it easier for customers to recognize and locate products quickly.
Step-by-step guide:
1. Enable Customer Item Numbers in Sana Admin:
Navigate to the Products page under the Setup section.
Go to the Stock and assortment tab.
Enable the Customer item numbers feature.
2. Customer Experience on the Front-End:
When customer-specific item numbers are set up in the ERP for the logged-in buyer:
These specific item numbers are displayed throughout the web store, alongside the main item numbers. On most pages, the specific item number appears next to the main item number.
Buyers can search for products using their specific item numbers, making the search process intuitive and efficient. The ability to search using the main item number remains available as well.
Each buyer can only find products based on their specific item numbers, ensuring a personalized and tailored shopping experience.
Note:
This feature is currently only supported by Microsoft ERPs (NAV, BC, AX, F&O). Support for other ERPs will follow later.
This feature requires an ERP connector upgrade. The SAP Connector is in development.
Conclusion
Customer-Specific Item Numbers are a game-changer for B2B businesses that already maintain customer item numbers in their ERP systems. By allowing buyers to use the item numbers they are familiar with from their own catalogues, this feature significantly enhances convenience and efficiency. Customers can now find and order products quickly and accurately, reducing frustration and saving valuable time.
This personalized approach not only boosts customer satisfaction but also drives sales by making the buying process smoother and more intuitive. By integrating this feature into your web store, you can leverage existing ERP functionalities to meet your customers’ needs more effectively, fostering stronger customer relationships and promoting long-term business growth.
