Why asking the right questions matters
B2B software is used for years, and your dealers work with it every day. The wrong choice means searching for new software a few months later and getting your dealers used to a system all over again. Because demo screens look alike, the decision often comes down to price; yet the questions below are what reveal the real differences.
10 questions to ask when choosing B2B software
1. Do you have a ready-made connector for the ERP we use?
Ask which data (stock, prices, accounts, orders, invoices) is transferred, in which direction and how often. “We have an integration” isn't enough; ask to see how it works at a company that uses the same ERP.
2. Can we set up our dealer-specific price and discount rules exactly as they are?
List your rules that vary by dealer, dealer group, brand and product group, and check whether each one is supported exactly. If you have to bend your rules to fit the software, it will cause problems down the line.
3. How do credit limit and open account checks work?
Ask what happens when a limit is exceeded: Is the order blocked entirely, or sent for approval? Who approves it? How often is the account balance updated from the ERP?
4. Does it meet the specific needs of our industry?
Every industry has its own needs. In spare parts, for example, dealers need to be able to find parts by OEM number, vehicle or VIN (see spare parts B2B); in other industries, variants, unit conversion or project-based pricing may matter more.
5. Can dealers and the field team use it comfortably on mobile?
Many dealers place orders from their phones. Ask to see the demo on a phone, not just on a desktop, and check whether a field rep can enter an order while with the customer.
6. Who prepares the data during setup, and how is the transition planned?
Who is responsible for transferring product records and price lists, running the pilot with dealers and training dealers? There is a big difference between a vendor that just hands over the software and one that carries out the setup with you.
7. Can you build custom features for our business?
Even if you don't need it today, you may need a custom report, approval workflow or integration tomorrow. Find out up front whether this is possible and how it is charged.
8. How is support provided?
Ask who you'll contact when something goes wrong, through which channel and how quickly you'll get a response. It should also be clear who will answer your dealers' questions.
9. Who owns our data, and what happens if we leave?
Get it in writing how your order history, dealer data and product data will be handed over to you when the contract ends, and in what format.
10. What is included in the total cost?
In addition to the license or subscription fee, make sure setup, integration, data preparation, training, maintenance and support are listed as separate items. For details, see our article What determines B2B software pricing.
What to look for in a demo
- Test with your own data: Have a few of your products, one of your dealers and their price rule entered into the system, then place an order.
- Look at it through a dealer's eyes: How many steps does it take a dealer to find a product, add it to the cart and complete the order?
- See the order reach your ERP: Check during the demo how the order appears in the ERP.
- Ask about failure scenarios: See on screen what happens when the integration stops or a limit is exceeded.
How does BayiData answer these questions?
- ERP: Works bidirectionally with Logo (Tiger, Go, j-Platform), Netsis, Mikro, Zirve, SAP and Nebim; other systems are connected via web services and APIs.
- Pricing and credit: Price and discount rules by dealer, dealer group, brand and product group; orders that exceed the limit are automatically sent for approval.
- Industry: In spare parts, search by OEM number, vehicle or VIN with ParçaData; in other industries, configuration tailored to your needs.
- Mobile: Dealers order from their phones, and field reps enter orders while with the customer.
- Setup and development: Data preparation, ERP connection and dealer onboarding are carried out together with you; custom development covers specific needs.
For details, see the BayiData page.
Ask us these questions too
Let us show you BayiData with your own data, and we'll answer your questions together on screen.