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You may have heard the term B2B several times. Do you know what it means? Do you know the full form of B2B? This article will explain what B2B is along with examples of B2B companies.
What is B2B?
The full form of B2B is business-to-business. Any business that serves the needs of other businesses is a B2B business. In other words, any business that offers its products or services to other businesses instead of consumers is called a B2B business. In many cases, the output of one company becomes a raw material for another company.
Alternatively, a logistics service provider that offers its services to transport raw materials to the manufacturer is also an example of a B2B business and can be termed as B2B logistics.
Examples of B2B companies
Based on their operations, there are four types of B2B companies. They are as follow:
Examples of product-based B2B companies:
Product-based B2B companies are the ones that deal with products. They can be any product from machinery to food items. Some examples of product based B2B companies include steel manufacturers, chemical companies, cement companies, auto components manufacturing companies, and so on.
Here are more examples of product based B2B companies:
| Company name | Sector |
| Tata Steel | Steel |
| Ambuja Cement | Cement |
| ACC | Cement |
| Reliance Industries | Petrochemicals |
| Motherson Sumi | Auto components maker |
| Daiwa | Contract manufacturing company |
| Ace Micromatic | Machine tools manufacturer |
| Bharat Forge Limited | Aerospace and defence component manufacturing |
| Godrej Tooling | Tooling manufacturing |
| Uflex Limited | Packaging |
| Garware Technical Fibre | Nets, ropes and wires manufacturing |
Examples of service-based B2B companies:
Various service providers offer services to other businesses. For example, B2B logistics services providers, accounting companies, training providers, marketing service providers, etc. Some of the examples of marketing services based on companies include consulting firms, advertising agencies, and so on.
| Company name | Industry |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | Engineering and construction services |
| Deloitte | Consulting services |
| JP Security | Security services |
| Transparency Market Research, IMARC Group | Market research services |
| JSS Group | Housekeeping |
| Gati, Delhivery | Logistics sand transportation services |
| HDFC, SIDBI, ICICI, State Bank of India | B2B banking services |
Examples of solutions-based B2B companies
Like products and services, several companies offer solutions like software, automation solutions, etc. to other businesses. Some of the examples include accounting software providers, CRM solution providers, inventory management solution providers, and so on. Some of the examples of solutions-based companies include Infosys, Oracle, and so on.
| Company name | Purpose |
| Tally | Accounting software provider |
| Zoho | CRM software provider |
| Spocket | Inventory management |
| IBM, Microsoft | Cloud solution provider |
| Zoom | Video conferencing |
| Adobe | Creating marketing collaterals |
| Vyapar | GST billing |
Examples of B2B e-commerce companies
There are several companies in the B2B e-commerce space. One of the global examples of a B2B e-Commerce business is Alibaba. In the Indian context, following companies have carved a niche in the B2B e-Commerce segment:
- IndiaMart
- TradeIndia
- Udaan
- Moglix
- Amazon Business
B2B ecommerce companies such as examples mentioned above offer a platform for businesses to buy and sell their products. Many times, pricing on the B2B e-Commerce companies is dynamic and depends on the quantity of the order.
B2B vs B2C
| B2B | B2C | |
| Definition | B2B transactions cater to other businesses. | B2C caters directly to end-consumers. |
| Customers | A company/business | End-user |
| Quantity | Usually, it is a bulk order, and hence, the quantity of the order is large. | The quantity of each order can be small as consumers purchase only for their consumption. |
| Marketing | Its marketing is targeted to other relevant businesses and not for the masses. | Its marketing campaigns are generally made for the masses. |
| Buying cycles | Buying cycles are usually long. | Buying cycles are short. |
While many companies cater exclusively to B2B or B2C companies, there are a few businesses that can cater to both categories. For example, the same logistics company can offer B2B logistics services as well as B2C logistics services.
Concluding note
In order to be successful in the B2B business model, one has to understand how buying decisions are taken in the B2B segment. The buying decisions are made logically and consciously. Generally, buyers have a raw material sourcing strategy in place and purchases are planned. Additionally, quotations from different buyers are invited making it a competitive scenario. Hence, innovating, analysing competition and understanding market trends are key to success.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What are the types of B2B businesses?
What are marketing effective marketing channels for B2B businesses?
Is a software solution providing company B2B?
Swati is a passionate content writer with more than 10 years of experience crafting content for the business and manufacturing sectors, and helping MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) navigate complexities in steel procurement, and business services. Her clear and informative writing empowers MSMEs to make informed decisions and thrive in the competitive landscape.
I would like to know how marketing is different for B2B companies as compared to B2C companies? Are there specific channels or strategies that are more effective in B2B marketing?
B2B is not selling its product and services, Be sells logics to solve the business problems.
More and more B2B buyers are researching and making decisions online. Our website is outdated, and we don’t have content tailored to their pain points. Do we need to hire in-house marketing staff, or is outsourcing to an agency better?
Outsourcing to an agency might be a faster and more cost-effective solution. Expert always advises buy is better than build.