Page 46 - Cross-Border Magazine Nr.3
P. 46

~ Zamro ~





                                                                                                                                   market shares less than 1%. Kerssens explains that the above-  challenge is the technical complexity. “How can we transmit
                                                                                                                                   mentioned are all signs that this market is ready for digital   the technical knowledge in a scalable way? If we want to grow
                                                                                                                                   disruption. He adds that the trends in B2C retail, where   as much as we plan, we cannot explain everything on the
                                                                                                                                   customers are increasingly purchasing online, start to reflect   phone. We need to work on tools and content that can guide
                                                                                                                                   on the B2B world. People are getting used to a high level   these customers in the selection of the right product for the
                                                                                                                                   of convenience and are ready to also experience that when   right application. As the applications can be rather complex,
                                                                                                                                   buying for their company. Zamro aims to become a ‘one-stop-  B2B customers are much more critical than B2C clients.” A
                                                                                                                                   shop’ for entrepreneurs and assist their buyers with technical   third challenge Kerssens names is loyalty: many B2B clients
                                                                                                                                   guidance tools. They aim to break down all barriers and make   are long-term customers at a certain supplier and it may be
                                                                                                                                   buying technical supplies easier. Existing businesses react   difficult to convince them to switch to an online shop. In
                                                                                                                                   scared: “We already feel the disruption effect. Other players   order to win over customers, Zamro has launched various
                                                                                                                                   in the market are asking: Who are you? Why are you making   online and offline advertising efforts. “We researched the
                                                                                                                                   the prices transparent? Which is exactly what we wanted,”   customer expectations of our target group, amongst others, by
                                                                                                                                   affirms Kerssens.                                 completing over 50 in depth interviews. Price is not the main
                                                                                                                                                                                     driver for our type of customer. However, at the moment, we
                                                                                                                                   At the moment, Zamro taps into the international stock and   use special promotions in order to build our customer base.”
                                                                                                                                   distribution system of mother-company ERIKS, but aims to
                                                                                                                                   expand the assortment with more specialised supplies in the   B2B versus B2C
                                                                                                                                   long run to focus better on their target group. In addition, in   B2C customers are a ‘by-catch’ for Zamro. They focus on B2B
                                                                                                                                   order to become a one-stop-shop, items such as toilet paper   clients, showing VAT-exclusive prices and offering many
                                                                                                                                   and office chairs need to be added to the offer in the future.  brands that are specifically meant for professional clients. “Al-
                                                                                                                                                                                     though at the moment 20-25% of our sales go to consumers,
                                                                                                                                   Scalable knowledge transfer                       they are not our primary target group”, however, much of the
                                                                                                                                   One of the major challenges in this sector is the target group   customer behaviour and expectations are quite similar, finds
                                                                                                                                   itself. Many of the small businesses are not yet very ‘online-  Paul Kerssens. The person who places the orders is not neces-
                                                                                                                                   minded’ when it comes to their B2B purchases. A second   sarily the one who actually works with the products in the




















            Delivering on your promises since 1862



            Once a transport supplier in the textile industry, we have evolved into a world class partner of choice by continuously developing
            supply chain innovations for world-leading fashion and lifestyle brands. The dynamic environment of our customers and their focus
            on e-commerce activities require very agile, flexible and fast solutions. We enable them to fulfil their customers’ needs by providing
            omni-channel fulfilment services. Whatever the market, whatever the channel and whatever the services, we deliver.







                                                                                                                                        Exceeding customer expectation is one of Zamro’s core goals.
            Multi-Modal Transportation      Warehousing             Customs         Omni-channel Distribution
                   Management                & VAS                  Solutions             Management


                                                  www.bleckmann.com


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