The problem
Did you know that by 2024, subscriptions are expected to fuel 20% of revenue growth for digital commerce businesses? And that a whopping 75% of organizations selling direct to consumers already offer subscription services? It’s clear that subscriptions are transforming the way we buy and sell, and B2B is no exception.
In the B2C world, subscriptions are everywhere. But in B2B? Not so much. Many businesses still rely on manual reorders and one-time purchases, missing out on the recurring revenue and customer loyalty that subscriptions can bring.
Think about it: your customers need certain products regularly. Why not make it easy for them to automate those purchases and free up your sales team to focus on higher-value tasks?
The solution
Sana Commerce Cloud’s Subscriptions feature bridges the gap. It’s a powerful tool that lets you offer recurring product deliveries right through your web store, giving your customers the convenience they crave while boosting your bottom line.
Here’s how it works:
- Customer-centric ordering: Subscriptions allows your B2B buyers to receive orders straight to their door, without lifting a finger. This functionality enables end-users to customize order frequency, pause or cancel subscriptions, and selectively include or exclude products.
- Flexible scheduling options: Some customers may prefer weekly deliveries, while others opt for monthly ones. Improve customer satisfaction by offering easily adjustable subscription settings in the “My Account” section. Customers can also pause or cancel subscriptions and exclude specific products from their orders.
- Bill of Materials (BOM) support: Even complex products with multiple components can be included in subscriptions, making it easy to manage recurring orders for kits and assemblies.
- Streamlined payments: With Automated Order Payments, buyers can pay for their subscriptions with a few clicks, directly through email, using providers like Sana Pay+.
Sana Pay+ users: Unlock even more subscription power
If you’re already enjoying the benefits of Sana Pay+, you’re in for a treat! Our Subscriptions feature integrates seamlessly with Sana Pay+ to deliver an even smoother and more efficient payment experience for your customers.
Here’s what you get:
- Lightning-fast checkout: No need for your customers to log in to pay for their subscription orders. They can simply click the payment link in their email and complete the transaction in seconds, using digital wallets like Google Pay for added speed and convenience.
- Effortless collaboration: Need to share payment responsibility with colleagues? No problem! The payment link can be easily shared with other team members, making it simple to manage subscriptions across your organization.
- All-inclusive value: This enhanced functionality is included as part of your Sana Pay+ subscription, so you can enjoy these benefits at no extra cost.
With Sana Pay+ and Subscriptions working together, you can create a truly frictionless experience for your customers, boosting satisfaction and driving recurring revenue.
The impact
Subscriptions are a way to empower buyers with flexible purchasing options that both secures recurring revenue and provide you with actionable data insights.
- Increased predictability and convenience: In a B2B use case, set delivery schedules ensure that suppliers always have the necessary items on hand without the hassle of constantly reordering. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of stockouts, helping maintain a seamless workflow and keeps customers happy.
- Save costs: As a result of this increased predictability, the procurement department can order goods in bulk, which often reduces cost per unit (CPU) and increases profit margins. Additionally, the streamlined ordering process minimizes administrative work, further cutting operational expenses.
- Improve customer loyalty by building lasting relationships between suppliers and businesses. To encourage buyers to use their online platform, many B2B web stores offer discounts or incentives for subscribing, helping suppliers build closer relationships with buyers.
- Gain competitive advantage: By showcasing commitment to innovation and meeting customer needs, you both attract new customers to your web store and enhance brand reputation as you position yourself as a leader in your industry.
Implementing subscriptions: a practical guide
Implementing subscriptions in Sana Commerce Cloud is a straightforward process. To enable subscriptions in your Sana Admin, follow these steps:
- Click on “Setup” in your Sana Admin
- Navigate to “Ordering”
- Within the Ordering section, you’ll find the “Subscriptions” tab
- In the Subscriptions tab, you can enable subscriptions and configure their frequency
By default, the “Enable subscriptions” option is disabled. It’s important to note that several dependencies can influence the availability of the subscriptions feature.
Note: this feature does not support the usage of credit cards to renew subscriptions yet.
For the time being, all payments are processed on the B2B buyer account. This means there is a need for manual oversight from our Sana customers. This is to ensure that buyers are correctly paying for the products they are receiving.
Drive recurring revenue and optimize sales operations
Offering hassle-free repetitive ordering processes increases web store adoption and frees up valuable time for your internal teams to focus on tasks that require a human touch. With regular, reliable deliveries, your B2B buyers will trust you as a supplier that meets their needs consistently.
Build customer loyalty with thriving web stores
Learn more about how Sana Commerce Cloud can help your business today.