(Blog author: Curt Olson, President of Channel Software)

As a leader in the B2B eCommerce software industry, I frequently engage with CFOs and leaders of finance who express a common frustration - managing the expanding array of eCommerce-related software solutions their organizations have accumulated. What often starts as a core eCommerce solution grows to include separate systems for product information management, content management, analytics and reporting tools, shipping and fulfillment, and a myriad of point solutions. This fragmentation not only has complicated financial oversight but creates significant cost redundancies that directly impact the bottom line.

The Growing Complexity of B2B eCommerce Technology Management

The scale of this complexity is striking - and growing rapidly. Recent research from Productiv shows that enterprise companies use an average of 364 SaaS applications, with mid-market B2B companies managing between 120-150 tools. Within eCommerce operations specifically, businesses typically juggle 15-20 distinct software solutions across their digital commerce ecosystem. This increase shows no signs of slowing, with SaaS spending in B2B eCommerce operations surging 42% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

This increase comes at a considerable cost. According to recent studies, organizations are wasting 51% of their SaaS licenses across their technology stack, with eCommerce-related solutions being no exception. The problem compounds when multiple departments independently purchase tools that overlap with existing eCommerce capabilities. Gartner 's research reinforces this concern, showing that up to 55% of SaaS spend is either wasted or heavily underutilized - a statistic that resonates strongly with finance leaders struggling to optimize their B2B eCommerce technology investments.

This challenge reflects a broader shift in the B2B landscape, where businesses are increasingly recognizing the costs of fragmentation. Net-new software purchases decreased by 17% year-over-year in 2023 according to Vendr , as organizations seek to consolidate their technology investments and reduce complexity. Despite this trend toward consolidation, many businesses still struggle to effectively manage their expanding technology ecosystems.

The Value of a Comprehensive eCommerce Platform

As organizations grapple with this growing complexity and waste, forward-thinking finance leaders are increasingly turning to more efficient and effective solutions. This is where a comprehensive B2B eCommerce platform makes a real difference. By providing integrated functionality for online selling, product information management (PIM), content management (CMS), and customer engagement in one solution, organizations can gain control over their eCommerce technology investment. Instead of managing separate vendors and contracts, finance leaders can oversee a single platform that brings together essential functions such as product catalogs, personalization, content delivery, self-service tools, account management tools and more.

The financial impact is significant and measurable. Deloitte's research indicates companies can achieve up to 30% cost savings on their SaaS expenses through improved procurement practices. In the context of B2B eCommerce, software consolidation eliminates the need to purchase, maintain, and integrate multiple point solutions. This consolidation not only reduces direct software costs but also minimizes the hidden expenses of integration, maintenance, and staff training across multiple systems.

Enhanced Financial Control Over Ecommerce Operations

For finance leaders, a comprehensive B2B eCommerce platform streamlines management of digital commerce operations through a single source of truth. All financial data - from account management details and balances to shipping and payment options - becomes instantly accessible. When integrated with an ERP system, the platform enables visibility and control of order processes, user access, purchase limits, quotes, currencies, taxes, shipping, approvals, and payments.

This integration strengthens compliance through standardized documentation and detailed audit trails. The centralized approach also simplifies technology cost management. License administration becomes straightforward - instead of tracking users across multiple systems like PIM and CMS tools, finance leaders can manage all access through one platform, optimizing resource allocation and ROI.

Rather than juggling multiple vendors with varying cycles and terms, organizations work with a single solution. The result is reduced administrative overhead and crystal-clear visibility into total cost of ownership for eCommerce operations.

Strategic Advantages for Finance Leaders

A unified B2B eCommerce platform delivers strategic advantages that transform how finance leaders manage digital investments. The platform's consolidated view eliminates the need to track spending across multiple systems, providing instant visibility into all technology costs. This clarity not only streamlines budgeting and forecasting but also enables precise cost allocation across business units and product lines.

By centralizing eCommerce operations, finance leaders can directly link technology investments to revenue streams and business initiatives. This direct connection transforms ROI analysis from a complex estimation into a data-driven evaluation, empowering leaders to optimize digital commerce investments with confidence.

Transforming B2B eCommerce Technology: From Cost Center to Strategic Asset

For finance leaders, the equation is straightforward: streamlining your eCommerce technology stack unlocks capital for business growth. A comprehensive B2B eCommerce platform replaces fragmented, costly systems with a single, scalable solution that eliminates redundant expenses while providing the integrated capabilities essential for expansion. The impact extends beyond immediate cost savings – a unified platform gives finance leaders unprecedented visibility into technology investments, simplifies vendor relationships, and strengthens control over digital commerce spending. As B2B eCommerce becomes central to business strategy, this combination of operational efficiency and financial clarity becomes a competitive advantage.

Questions about B2B eCommerce?

Connect with Curt or our B2B eCommerce experts at Channel Software. For over 20 years, we’ve helped growth-minded distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers pivot, transform and grow their businesses with the CSX eCommerce and digital catalog software platform.