Your questions, answered.
1. What is my ROI with MPSToolbox and e-commerce?
Answer: The main point here is that we, in the office print and IT industry are no different than any other industry. People prefer to buy online. If they can’t, eventually, they will go somewhere else. If not already. Don’t lose customers because it’s hard to buy from you!
We also see anywhere from a 17-23% uptick in revenue per account when exposed to an e-commerce environment. Typically, because current customers aren’t always aware of other product offerings. They also prefer to buy some things in a transactional manner. We should not stop that. It’s a sale and a lead!
Through our integrations with PrintFleet and FMAudit, MPSToolbox also allows resellers to leverage fleet data they already have. Using the Supply Cupboard upgrade we’ve helped many partners drive significant revenue through unmanaged devices. We automate the customer experience via a Supply Cupboard dashboard to let them buy pre-populated SKUs per device based on supply levels in most need of replacement.
Finally, ask yourself this question: “In 2-5 years how many purchasers will actually do business with a technology company that can’t sell their products/services online?”
Would you? Imagine if your main distributor demanding all sales come over the phone and/or email. Ridiculous right?
2. Why should I show my prices online? Wouldn’t my customers be able to price shop me if I do this?
Answer: Your customers can shop price anytime. Price will always a major factor in purchasing decisions. The real area other online resellers are taking business is that they have made the acquisition of technology products so much easier. Your customers should not have to wait 2,3,4 plus days to action a supply or simple technology hardware purchase!
3. What vendors do you integrate with?
Answer: MPSToolbox integrates with many distributors. We also continue to look for vendor opportunities for our reseller partners. Check out our current integrations below:
- Ingram Micro
- Synnex
- Tech Data
- Supplies Network
- D&H
- SP Richards / Essendant
- LD Products
- Clover Imaging Group
- ACM
- Genuine Supply Source
- Tarsus
- Rectron
- Arlington
- LMI
4. Does the MPSToolbox software automatically place orders with your vendors?
Answer: No! MPSToolbox is an e-commerce software and therefore responsible for obtaining the online order and passing the information along to your company via email and in an order dashboard within the software. We also have integrations into certain accounting packages and ERP’s that will allow for orders to be pushed into those systems.
5. What if my customers don’t buy supplies online?
Answer: There are a minority of business purchasers who still prefer to buy via phone or email. In this case, nothing needs to change. This small minority will continue to shrink. Everybody buys everything online. They probably don’t from you now because they do not have the ability.
6. Do you integrate with my accounting software or ERP?
Answer: Probably! MPSToolbox integrates with both Forza SAP and ECi’s E-Automate in terms of industry ERP’s. There are also integrations that exist for standard online accounting packages like Simply Accounting, Sage, and QuickBooks.
7. What’s the difference between a portal and a completely integrated e-commerce website?
Answer: We always recommend a fully integrated e-commerce website. This means that the entire website (content and e-commerce functionality) are built on one platform. The platform we use is Shopify (insert link to US site). In this workflow, the customer never has to click away from the website to buy.
The portal option is often popular among companies that have recently put an investment into their website, but still need e-commerce. In this case, the e-commerce portal is still built on Shopify but uses a different URL (example: store.company.com). The portal is built to match your current website branding so customers feel like they are in the same spot.
8. Can you insert your “cart” into my current website?
Answer: No. We would use the portal option as described above. I-Frames look bad and can be difficult to manage within websites. Especially something as integrated as a digital sales process.