Reseller and managed services outfit Probrand has launched an online marketplace as part of a cunning plan to find a different route to its customers.
The outfit has set built an enterprise marketplace platform with 300,000 products online with live price and stock level updates. Probrand supply chain director, Ian Nethercot said the move was a direct response to business buyers wanting a new way to buy IT products and services. Apparently customers want ease, transparency and savings via consumer style self-service that delivers business pricing and process.
“Suppliers want the same to unlock opportunity. We see a channel to supply IT and have open conversations with resellers, MSP’s, distributors, vendors and ERP providers looking to maximise the buy and supply opportunities our marketplace presents”, he added.
He said that a significant number of customer buying decisions that started online and cold calls just did not work any more.
Alongside the product listing the platform also gives customers the chance to configure their own marketplaces with the option to add other categories to establish it as a procurement tool.
Nethercot said: ‘‘B2B IT purchasing can be a deeply frustrating experience for buyers who, in addition to interruptive sales calls, are wasting time and money navigating a complex market where prices and stock levels are constantly fluctuating.
“The Probrand Marketplace removes these hassles by merging the benefits of an online marketplace with the power of self-service tools and specialist people when help is needed. Buyers quickly get the value they deserve. Suppliers can unlock new opportunities.”
