When it comes to managing a distribution enterprise, you’re always looking for ways to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

There are many methods to improving both efficiency and productivity, but on the path toward increasing revenue, you can’t take shortcuts when it comes to customer loyalty. How does loyalty connect to distribution—and how can distribution management software help?

FieldBloom describes loyalty as the situation in which a customer “consistently supports your business, even in a highly competitive market.” To capitalize on loyalty and build an even more devoted customer base, it’s critical to understand why your best customers are loyal to you (this is especially valuable when only 30% of consumers feel that brands are customer-centric). Armed with this information, you can then use tools such as a distribution enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to dramatically improve customer service and build loyalty.

What matters most to your customers?

Does price matter? You bet it does. But many customers are willing to pay more for a better overall experience, which includes features like quality customer service, prompt delivery, convenient ordering, and additional value from the distributor. According to Forbes, the right customer experience can outweigh price when it comes to customer loyalty.

This makes perfect sense when you consider the busy-ness of a day in the B2B life. You can unlock gigantic upside future value if you’re the one making your customers’ jobs even a little bit easier. The following actions will help you create and sustain that ideal customer experience through both your team and ERP software tools.

Have the right product inventory.

Your potential customers want to know one thing first and foremost: Do you have each and every product they need? Every order you can only fill partially is an invitation for your customer to shop other distributors. The right distribution ERP system can provide you with better information on product purchase trends, ensuring that your supply keeps up with customer demand.

Simplify the buying process.

Making it difficult to place orders will also turn customers away. The smoother the buying process, the more likely customers will complete it, and come back to you for future purchases. Distribution ERP solutions, workflow programs, and CRM software put you in control of tracking and processing each customer’s needs—without dozens of inefficient phone calls and emails.

Ensure prompt delivery.

Customers want their products delivered on time—after all, they have their OWN customers to satisfy, and they need you to help them. You can build customer loyalty by quickly and consistently fulfilling your customers’ orders. This is an area where a quality WMS (Warehouse Management System) can help you surpass the competition.

Provide reliable customer service.

Eighty-six percent of customers said they would pay up to 25 percent more for a higher quality customer service experience. By offering friendly, experienced, and helpful customer service, especially aided by customer-specific information that's readily accessible from a high-quality, real-time CRM, you can keep your customers coming back.

Give that little bit extra.

The final piece of the customer loyalty puzzle is about the unique value you add. In other words, what can your enterprise offer that the competition doesn’t provide? Distribution ERP software can provide useful recommendations that help your customers get exactly what they need, without them having to research or look for it themselves.

The right information systems can be your key to developing a customer experience that drives loyalty. From sourcing the products your buyers need and accommodating special orders, to simplifying the purchase process and ensuring swift delivery, CRM, WMS, and other distribution ERP software will make your distribution enterprise more effective and profitable.

Next stop: the Cloud

The customer loyalty advantages of distribution ERP software are clear. It's also worthwhile to understand the measureable business benefits you can experience with a distribution ERP solution that's hosted in the Cloud instead of on-site.