5 Things That are Easier than Ever for Businesses to Purchase Online

It had been rising for the previous decade, but Covid 19 caused a massive rise in the amount that consumers shopped online. There was a good reason for this. People wanted to avoid crowds, and buying something to be shipped to the front door was a perfect solution. Many businesses that never offered online shopping, delivery, or curbside pickup started to do so to try to compete with large e-tailers. Estimates show that over 250 million consumers shop online every year, and there’s no sign of that slowing down.

The same goes for businesses. Shopping online can provide several benefits. For one, going to a store and shopping for something takes up time that you or an employee could be doing your daily work. Two, with so many stores offering online options, they also offer deals to subscribe to their loyalty programs and other incentives. Finally, it also helps businesses keep track of their expenses. Buying online means that receipts and invoices get sent by email, and there’s no chance of them going through the wash or getting lost like a credit card receipt might. Luckily, with the rise of internet shopping, more things are available online. Here are five things that are easier than ever for businesses to purchase online.

Uniforms

If you are a business that needs uniforms for staff, then buying online is a great option. In the past, you would have to go to a uniform retailer, have them show you all of their sample products, and then make a decision while getting a hard sell from the sales rep. Now, all you have to do is go to a uniform distributor online. You can choose colors, sizes, logos, lettering, and everything in between. You can’t see what the finished product would look like at a physical shop. However, shopping online allows you to make updates in real time and get a visual representation of what your uniforms will look like. Then, with a mouse click, you can make your order and wait for the shipment to arrive.

Inventory

If your business is focused on selling products, then you have to get your inventory from somewhere. In many cases, you can get your inventory locally, but not in all cases. By shopping online, you can easily find the best prices and deals from all over the world. You can quickly have any duties or border issues in front of you and have your products shipped wherever you want. In fact, you can even purchase storage space online so that you have a place to put your inventory if you are at an at-home business.

With the rise of sites like eBay and then Amazon, more and more people are opening eCommerce businesses that revolve around purchasing products and flipping them. This is like a second-hand store on steroids. You can have brand new products and sell them at a higher price point to make a profit. The internet has made this easier than ever.

Insurance

Every business needs insurance. You don’t have to have a bustling retail brick-and-mortar space to be at risk. Your business could get sued for any number of reasons, even if you didn’t do anything wrong. Plus, your property and inventory can get damaged or destroyed. If you have a vehicle or a fleet, you will require commercial automobile insurance. Every state but one requires businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance as well. It’s always a good idea to get coverage with a business owner’s policy (BOP) that protects against the specific risks that your business faces. You can purchase your BOP coverage online in minutes and add coverages as you need them. There’s no longer a need to contact a broker and wait for them to apply the coverage. You can have it done immediately to make sure that your business is protected.

Office Supplies

You never know when you might need new staplers, pens, paper, or scissors. In the past, when you ran out of something, you would have to have someone rush to the store or place an order through a local business retailer. You can now buy office supplies online, which is much easier and takes up less of your time. You can also buy in bulk when you purchase online since it will be shipped to you. If you have an employee going to the store, they may only be able to fit so much in their vehicle. Buying online also means that you will get receipts and invoices for everything you purchase, which will help you keep track of how long it takes before you need to replenish certain things.

Mobile Phones

A lot of businesses are switching to mobile phones instead of landlines. This allows for staff to be reachable no matter where they are located, and it can save the company money if they make the right choices for their service.

They can now purchase phones online easily while also making the exact selections they need for each individual employee. Buying online also helps track phone purchases and allows the company to track every phone in the same place.

When a new employee comes on board, or there’s a sudden need for a new phone, you can go online and have one sent to you in the next 24 to 48 hours. The world is ever-changing. While the pandemic seems to have sped things up, the fact is that online shopping had been on the rise well before March of 2020. The fact is, it can make running a business easier and more efficient.

There’s no need for employees to take time out of the day to go run errands, which also uses fuel and company resources.

The more purchases that a company makes online, the easier it is to track and monitor your expenses. Luckily, as this list shows, there are more business-related items available online than ever before.

The next time you are thinking of running out to the store for business purposes, do a quick internet search, and you are sure to find what you are looking for