Alibaba.com and DHL Express present key trends for B2B digital exports

Promotion of internationalization through e-commerce

Alibaba.com and DHL Express have shared the results of their respective analyzes on companies in the export sector, highlighting seven key trends for B2B digital exports in 2023. In addition, the importance of millennials in this sector, who seek similar characteristics, has been highlighted. in B2B transactions than in your individual online orders.

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Last February, from EmpresaExterior we echoed a relevant news as DHL Express and Alibaba.com They closed a collaboration agreement to promote together the internationalization of Spanish SMEs the B2B e-commerce. With this first joint report it seems that we already have the first fruits of this collaboration through this interesting report that we are publishing now.

 

Alibaba.com, one of the leading international B2B marketplaces, and DHL Express, a leading operator in international express transportation and strategic partner in Spain of Alibaba.com, have shared the results of their respective analyzes on companies in the export sector. These studies make it possible to disclose relevant information for B2B operations.

 

Among the conclusions of the Digital B2B Outlook 2023 study prepared by Alibaba.com at a global level, the following stand out: seven trends in digital export for this year:

 

Digital migration: 70% of small businesses stated that the impact of the pandemic due to COVID-19 led them to make greater investments in digital technologies, according to the OECD. This transition to digital selling will continue in 2023, meaning that online sellers in the B2B sector will likely experience increased competition this year.

Digital marketing: 93% of interactions on the Internet occur through search engines. Thanks to digital marketing industry, companies that begin to operate in a market can immediately begin to compete to get a share of those digital interactions.

Personalization: A client does not want to feel like “one more”, they need to be listened to. When he buys from a brand, he expects it to know his previous purchases and take advantage of that information to provide him with a better experience on subsequent purchases.

 

These trends in B2B digital export are the result of direct testimony from more than 1.000 B2B suppliers worldwide, 95% of them SMEs.

Data-driven strategies: B2B business strategies based on guesswork are a thing of the past. With the ability to obtain and analyze data, companies can establish more precise and effective strategies.

Real-time messaging: As buyers demand fast service, real-time messaging is emerging as a key trend for B2B digital exports.

Videographer: Video is a medium with a great capacity to connect with audiences. In the B2B sector, there is room for growth in the consumption of long-form videos and live broadcasts.

Reduction of Internet connection time: The average online connection of people worldwide decreased from 6,53 hours to 6,47 hours per day in the fourth quarter of 2021. A decrease that, although not extraordinarily significant, could be an indicator of having reached a certain time. maximum consumption of online content per day.

“These trends in B2B digital exports are the result of direct feedback from over 1.000 B2B suppliers worldwide, 95% of which are SMEs. It demonstrates how technology has helped overcome the pandemic and how it is driving innovation and growth in the B2B market, including for SMEs. In this regard, I am very proud that Alibaba.com, as a leading B2B digital platform, is facilitating the competitiveness and growth of millions of businesses around the world,” said Luca Curtarelli, Country Manager of Spain, Italy and Portugal at Alibaba.com.

Millennials, decisive in the B2B sector: DHL Express highlights the importance of millennials, who currently represent 73% of all B2B purchasing decisions. This is a digitally native generation made up of individuals whose personal experiences as B2C customers greatly influence what they also expect from B2B transactions.

Data from DHL Express shows that millennials look for similar features when doing B2B business as they do when placing individual online orders, such as speed, convenience or flexible delivery options. Therefore, it is vital for a company in the B2B sector to invest in a quality digital presence that is familiar to these new B2B buyers.

 

Miguel Borrás, general director of DHL Express Spain, explains “The rise and consolidation of e-commerce have made these key trends increasingly prevalent in B2B environments and fundamental for success in the export context. B2B companies have to make the most of the opportunities offered by both e-commerce and international trade. At DHL Express we will continue to advise and support all B2B companies to boost their international trajectory.”

A global study conducted by Sana Commerce reflects that B2B customers value the option of placing orders online (38%), as well as the possibility of tracking them online (39%), as the main criteria when choosing a new supplier.