{"id":8088,"date":"2021-06-22T09:51:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T13:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=8088"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:41:54","slug":"distributors-can-remain-relevant-in-a-direct-to-consumer-world-but-need-more-than-a-fancy-e-commerce-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/distributors-can-remain-relevant-in-a-direct-to-consumer-world-but-need-more-than-a-fancy-e-commerce-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Distributors can remain relevant in a direct-to-consumer world \u2013 but need more than a fancy e-commerce website"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree guides and webcasts<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDistributors can remain relevant in a direct-to-consumer world \u2013 but need more than a fancy e-commerce website\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Asavin\"\t\t\t\tAsavin Wattanajantra<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tesla<\/span> <\/span>Motors. Inc <\/span>has<\/span> evolved from<\/span> car manufacturer t<\/span>o t<\/span>echnology company<\/span> with its inspired direct-to-consumer approach (DTC)<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers can order <\/span>the<\/span> <\/span>luxury <\/span>electric cars through their phones<\/span> or<\/span> from<\/span> Tesla-owne<\/span>d<\/span> showrooms<\/span>,<\/span> c<\/span>utting out the franchised dealership<\/span>s that other automobile companies use. <\/span> That means<\/span> <\/span>b<\/span>etter customer experience, no costly dealer mark-ups, and product, service, and brand standards are controlled<\/span> in-house. <\/span>What\u2019s not to like?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a<\/span> wholesale distributor<\/span>, <\/span>that\u2019s not exactly music to your ears. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally<\/span>, your bread and butter<\/span> <\/span>is<\/span> working<\/span> with manufacturers in the supply chain<\/a><\/span>, <\/span>managing logistics, warehousing and sales, <\/span>to sell to r<\/span>etailers<\/span> in <\/span>bulk. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in recent time<\/span>s<\/span>, a <\/span>network of distributors <\/span>is no longer the<\/span> simplest and most straightforward way <\/span>for<\/span> <\/span>manufacturers <\/span>to <\/span>get <\/span>their <\/span>products to customers. <\/span>M<\/span>anufacturers <\/span>and brands like Tesla <\/span>are<\/span> instead using<\/span> <\/span>DTC <\/span>business model<\/span>s<\/span>, in the pursuit of bigger margins, more efficiency, and better customer service. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This <\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>actually<\/span>,<\/span> an<\/span> <\/span>opportunit<\/span>y <\/span>for distributors; <\/span>to modernize your p<\/a><\/span>rocesses and become a more exciting proposition to customers<\/span> in your own right<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From personalized, omnichan<\/span>n<\/span>el customer offerings to value-added services, h<\/span>ere are <\/span>the thing<\/span>s a checklist of things <\/span>you need to do to <\/span>be a valued partner<\/span> <\/span>in this new <\/span>DTC<\/span> landscape.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\n\tDownload now<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

I<\/span>mprove<\/span> <\/span>your<\/span> customer experience<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I<\/span>mplement a<\/span>n effective e-commerce<\/span> presence and seamless customer experience<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>just like an<\/span> online retailer<\/span> would do.<\/span> <\/span>Customers no longer expect (or want) sales calls, meetings, and other types of offline transaction. They want to find what they want <\/span>quickly \u2013 give them the tools to<\/span> research and purchase from your inventory quickly.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through selling directly to customers<\/a>,<\/span> <\/span>you can<\/span> captur<\/span>e <\/span>and analyz<\/span>e<\/span> their data<\/span>. This <\/span>immediately <\/span>puts you <\/span>in an<\/span> excellent<\/span> position to meet the<\/span> modern <\/span>demand<\/span> <\/span>for a more tailored and personalized experience<\/span>.<\/span> What are your best and worst sellers? Who is your best recurring customer? What are their sales buying habits? Already, you are learning about what inventory to restock or edit away<\/span>, and how to give customers what they want more or less of. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you promote your <\/span>service <\/span>as directly linked to the behind-the-scenes and real-time distribution information that may give an improved customer support and service function.<\/span> <\/span>Ensure the<\/span> chain of communication <\/span>is<\/span> short<\/span>,<\/span> so it is<\/span> easier to handle service delays and returns<\/span>, and make sure that<\/span> <\/span>your approach is<\/span> customer<\/span> <\/span>friendl<\/span>y<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add more value though services<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on the strength of your customer experience, c<\/span>ustomer<\/span>s will want to work with you again and again<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>The <\/span>power<\/span> of your b<\/span>r<\/span>and <\/span>will depend more <\/span>on <\/span>above-and-beyond customer care<\/span> and service.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may already simple value-added services such as product selection, picking, packing and shipping. However, digital transformation<\/a> offers you ways to differentiate your business from the competition by <\/span>provid<\/span>ing services that add value and which you can charge extra for such as:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n