Your customers are busy, and they need to know exactly when they can expect their orders to arrive. Our B2B Buyer Report reveals that lack of accurate information on delivery times is the leading hurdle for B2B buyers shopping online.
That’s why we’re excited to announce a new feature update for Sana Commerce Cloud designed to provide unprecedented visibility into stock availability and estimated delivery times.
The challenge: lost time and unexpected stock issues
Many B2B buyers do not place their orders in one go. Instead, they gradually build their carts over days or weeks, adding items as needs arise. While they might have checked stock availability when first adding an item, by the time they finalize their order, they may forget to verify if it is still in stock.
Without real-time stock visibility at checkout, buyers risk:
Ordering out-of-stock items that delay production schedules
Spending time redoing orders or contacting suppliers to check availability
Making last-minute adjustments that force inefficient workarounds
The solution:
Our latest update tackles this challenge head-on by providing real-time stock information and estimated delivery dates directly within the shopping cart. Now, your customers can see a consolidated stock overview for all items in their order, including:
Real-time stock availability: No more guessing games! Buyers have a clear picture of what’s in stock and what’s not.
Estimated availability dates: For out-of-stock items, buyers can see when they are expected to be back in stock, allowing them to plan accordingly.
Flexible ordering options: Buyers can choose to wait for the full order to be available or proceed with partial shipments based on their immediate needs.
Real-time stock updates in action:
A procurement team needs a set of machine components and gradually adds items to their cart over a few weeks.
Without real-time updates: By the time they proceed to checkout, they realize that a critical component is out of stock, leading to frustration, potential downtime, and a rush to find alternatives. We now know 75% of buyers are willing to switch their suppliers for e-commerce convivence, so a lack of real-time stock updates can send your customers searching for competitors.
With real-time updates: At checkout, they immediately see availability and estimated restock dates. They can confidently decide whether to proceed, wait, or adjust their order.
Real-time stock updates in action:
Picture this: your customer needs a hydraulic pump. They find it on your web store, but it’s currently out of stock.
Without real-time updates: They might leave empty-handed and search for a competitor who can deliver faster.
With real-time updates: They see the estimated restock date (e.g., “Available next Wednesday”). Now they can decide to wait, order other in-stock items, or contact you to explore alternatives.
The bottom line: Real-time stock information empowers customers and builds trust. This leads to:
Larger orders: They may purchase additional items knowing when out-of-stock items will be available.
Reduced customer service inquiries: Stock information is readily available, minimizing questions.
By giving customers the information they need, you create a smoother, more efficient buying experience for everyone.
Benefits for your buyers:
Simplified purchasing decisions: With all the information readily available, buyers can make informed choices with confidence.
Reduced customer service inquiries: Upfront visibility into stock availability minimizes the need for buyers to contact customer support.
Improved trust and transparency: Accurate stock information builds trust and strengthens the buyer-seller relationship.
How to implement real-time stock updates on your web store
It’s easy to set up real-time stock information within your Sana Commerce Cloud store. Just follow these simple steps:
Enable the feature: Navigate to Setup > Products > Stock and assortment settings and enable the real-time stock update feature.
View the updates: Head over to your shopping cart or checkout page. You’ll notice a new column or section displaying real-time stock availability and estimated delivery dates for each item in your cart.
That’s it! With just a few clicks, you can empower your buyers with the accurate information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
Ready to give your customers the clarity they crave?
This latest update is just another example of how Sana Commerce Cloud is constantly evolving to meet the needs of B2B businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how this feature can enhance your online store and improve the buyer experience.
Note:
While we’ve worked hard to make this feature as comprehensive as possible, there are a few limitations in the initial release. For example, stock visibility is not yet supported in large basket calculations, and estimated availability dates may not be accurate in certain scenarios involving multiple units of measure. We are continuously working to improve and expand this functionality.
