A punchout catalog — also spelled out as PunchOut or punch out — involves a process where the customers are given access to a B2B marketplace from the website of the supplier. Hence, it is an integration with the vendor’s website to that of an ecommerce platform. Basically, the buyer punches out the ordering processing from the website and even adds items into the cart.
The integration is seamless, and customers hardly notice that they are moved from one web platform to another. A punchout catalog is a feature provided by an ecommerce platform that supports a multi-channel selling platform.
The punchout catalog is designed by open catalog solution providers to help customers view and order items from a supplier using different platforms. As a vendor, it is very crucial to have this option to increase sales.
The Design Behind a Punchout Catalog
The design is similar to that of an open catalog that is powered by technologies such as Microsoft Dynamic AX. They link catalogs from different web platforms to work seamlessly. When you use a B2B ecommerce platform that has integrated with the punchout catalog, your customers will have an easy time buying from your website as well.
When a customer places an order through a punchout catalog, the loaded cart is sent to the original ecommerce platform seamlessly so that they can follow e-procurement and checkout procedures. So, this can be considered a back-end operation, and it is one of the benefits of using a reputable ecommerce platform such as Virto Commerce to run your B2B.
Benefits of a Punchout Catalog
Both the sellers and the buyers benefit from a punchout catalog. Regardless, this is a trendy integration for an ecommerce platform. You can look out for these benefits to understand more.
· More sales – A seller aims to have as many sales as possible. Hence, any integration or solution that boosts sales is very crucial. A punchout catalog gives another channel for selling more products: your websites.
· Centralized order processing – A seller will also benefit by enjoying a centralized order processing capability. This reduces errors caused by a lack of inventory information. If you remember, the ecommerce platforms have an engine to manage the inventory and report to the vendor. Thus, having a punchout catalog makes inventory management and reporting very easy.
· Low costs – Some buyers are specific about punchout catalog ordering because it is more affordable. This process is not fully automated and is done on the supplier’s website. Hence, the cost of ordering is not thrown to the buyer.
· Convenience – Another benefit to the buyer is convenience. A punchout catalog is on the seller’s website, which is straightforward, as opposed to an ecommerce website, which can require a lot of filtering and searching to find the right products. The checkout process is also fast on these platforms.
Conclusion
It is crucial for a vendor to have punchout catalog integration even when using the best ecommerce platform. As mentioned, it is another avenue of selling your products, especially to loyal customers who are only used to your website. But you should ensure it is working with the ecommerce setup perfectly for a seamless process.
