Global Building Technology B2B eCommerce Growth Opportunities

The Advancement of B2B Online Sales is Crucial to Distribution Channel Optimization

This Frost & Sullivan research service focuses on B2B eCommerce in the building technology (BT) industry and its related business growth opportunities. Frost & Sullivan segments the BT industry into building automation systems (BAS); light-emitting diode (LED) lighting; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment; and facility management (FM). The study examines B2B eCommerce as an independent online sales channel owned proprietarily by BT industry participants. Third-party online channels or third-party marketplaces are excluded from the scope of the study.

B2B eCommerce acts as an additional and important avenue in BT companies' omnichannel marketing strategies, which establish an integrated and modern sales method that enhances the customer experience. However, the buying process is a hybrid one, and purchases above a certain value or with extensive requirements will require offline transactions and advice from sales personnel. In addition, customers expect a B2C experience when buying from BT companies. Virtual tours are trending alongside the online simulation of select products and services. Moving forward, product and service customization through B2B eCommerce is likely to see improvement with the increased adoption of virtual simulation due to technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI).

Companies with B2B eCommerce channels or digital service offerings mentioned in this study include: Siemens, Schneider Electric, Carrier, Trane, Signify, Acuity Brands, JLL Technologies, and Edgenta NXT. Six growth opportunities are identified, and they cover 3 major strategic imperatives, that is, Customer Value Chain Compression, Innovative Business Models, and Disruptive Technologies.