According to Data Insight, in 2023, the volume of the niche marketplaces, including B2B marketplaces, grew by 27%.
According to the expert, small and medium-sized businesses in Russia now often conduct purchases “the old-fashioned way”. Therefore, whether purchases on B2B marketplaces will be able to completely replace offline purchases is an open question.
On the one hand, businesses are ready to switch to an online procurement format. According to the study, 21% of surveyed companies and individual entrepreneurs would not refuse help in organizing purchases at the start of a business. Another quarter of respondents consider marketplaces for business a useful tool, along with financial programs and tools for data analysis.
On the other hand, for some business representatives, purchases according to the “standard scheme” are still a more preferable option. Firstly, unlike purchasing on B2B marketplaces, when purchasing offline, you can physically check the quality of goods and test them before purchasing – in some industries, this is extremely important.
Secondly, not all entrepreneurs are confident in using digital platforms. And some companies do not have the necessary resources and conditions for a full transition to online mode. Such businesses prefer traditional purchasing methods and personal interaction with suppliers.
But people are so used to making purchases in a few clicks in everyday life that they want the same convenient processes in business. Therefore, the trend for using B2B marketplaces will gradually develop.