Distributors are Facing a Changed Competitive Landscape
The distribution game has changed. B2B industrial manufacturers have begun focusing on delivering a B2C-like experience for the complete customer journey. Instead of competing primarily with other distributor partners, some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have implemented digital experiences for lead generation, web shops, and e-commerce sales that can change your relationship from partner to competitor.
So, what’s a distributor to do? You must up your game too. The problem is that distributors often have tighter margins and less cash to splash on marketing and digital tools. But don’t despair! You have a secret weapon: your customer relationships. Now’s the time to double down and create amazing customer experiences by building a sleek online experience without breaking the bank. Many leading distributors are finding success by focusing on top-notch content that makes buying a breeze.
Considering that large distributors typically sell hundreds of brands and thousands of products, often custom and configured, it can seem daunting, if not impossible, without a significant investment of time, money, and resources. Many of our distributor customers have focused on improving their e-commerce experience through enhanced visual content that makes it easier for buyers.
The Content Conundrum: Content is King, But It Has to Be the RIGHT Content
Here’s the thing: most distributors struggle to create content that truly grabs customers, especially at the product level. Monotonous descriptions and static images (or no images at all) just don’t cut it anymore. Buyers need more to understand what they’re getting and how it solves their problems.
A recent study from HackStack Labs found that the average B2B deal takes a whopping 220 touchpoints! That’s a lot of chances to influence buyers with content that engages and influences your customers.
Weak content leads to:
- Confused customers
- Missed sales
- Higher support costs
- Blending in with the competition (yikes!)
Forget just listing specs or posting product photos. You need content that keeps customers engaged and instills the confidence they are making the right purchase. Give your customers the kind of content that makes them click “buy now.” If your online shop doesn’t feel as smooth as B2C sites, you’ll lose customers, even the loyal ones, to your rivals. Content has evolved to give people endless information at their fingertips, and you need to stand out and be helpful at every interaction.
Enhancing Content for Distributors with CAD-Based Interactive Visual Experiences for Standard and Configured Products.
Interactive visual product content is a game changer for your business. Product visuals where customers can manipulate, explore, explode, and customize equipment within a viewer on your website are now crucial for distributors to remain competitive. Enhanced product content goes beyond static pictures and videos by offering immersive interactive visual experiences that empower buyers to make informed decisions, ultimately boosting conversions and sales confidently.
By implementing enhanced product content into your website, you’re not just providing information; you are giving customers the power to truly understand and connect with your offerings, leaving them confident and ready to buy. With interactive visualizations, customers can explore equipment, rotate it 360 degrees, zoom in on intricate details, and see how different components fit together. They can “explode” a product to see its inner workings, configure it with other options, identify specific spare parts, add new accessories, and even simulate its operation in a virtual environment.
Giving your customers this level of engagement fosters a deeper understanding of your offerings and builds confidence in purchasing decisions. Customers can truly grasp the features, functionalities, and how the equipment can solve their specific needs – all without leaving your website. Incorporating 2D and 3D interactive visualizations into your online strategy ensures you are delivering an immersive experience that sets you apart from the competition.
By incorporating 2D and 3D enhanced product content into your website and customer portals, you can address these challenges head-on to provide a dynamic and interactive experience.
Enhanced product content visualizations help you:
- Clearly showcase the equipment’s features and functionalities.
- Demonstrate how the equipment operates by allowing customers to engage, explode, and explore product details on your website.
- Allow customers to configure equipment to their specific needs virtually.
- Provide a more immersive, engaging, and confidence-building buying experience.
You’re empowering customers to explore and interact with your products in a way that was never before possible, which translates to increased customer satisfaction, reduced support costs, and, ultimately, higher conversion rates. Enhanced product content visualizations are a game-changer for distributors. They enhance the customer journey experience, drive sales growth, and position your business as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.
CDS Visual: Your Content Power-Up Partner
Distributors struggling with static content have found a helpful partner in CDS Visual. Our software solution transforms static CAD assets into realistic, dynamic product visualizations that empower customers to explore, configure, and better understand complex equipment. The interactive experience leads to a dramatic shift, with our customers reporting significant increases in customer engagement and conversion rates. By bridging the gap between dry specs and immersive experiences, CDS Visual is ready to help you rewrite the rules of the industrial buying journey.
One of our clients, a Fortune 500 distributor, saw a massive jump in engagement and conversions after using our solution. We’ve helped them boost customer engagement by 70% and increased conversion rates by 19%.
Ready to ditch the old and embrace the new? Let’s talk!
