ONLINE PRESENCE
COVID-19 HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE B2C AND B2B RETAIL SECTORS AND WITH THIS IN MIND, WE CHATTED TO ORLA COONEY FROM IRISH ECOMMERCE PLATFORM MAGICO… Pandemic’s positive online legacy
EM: How has COVID-19 impacted on the electrical sector specifically? OC: Undoubtedly, consumer electronics has experienced substantial growth online during the pandemic. The need to adjust to working and studying from home increased demand for consumer electronics substantially. According to the CSO, the volume of electrical goods sold in February 2021 was up 33.% compared to February 2020. As we emerge from the pandemic, eCommerce will continue to gain momentum, even with consumers returning to physical stores. While storefronts and showrooms have their place, some shoppers and tradespeople will stay online. Retailers and wholesalers must develop a tangible plan to tackle this new hybrid purchasing model. EM: What are the B2B benefits for online retail? OC: A host of benefits are presented to B2B companies transitioning online. Orders can be inputted as often as required. Individual orders are grouped into one large order by the B2B company, who then facilitates shipping to the buyer efficiently, within a pre-agreed delivery schedule and timeline. This re-alignment of the sales and ordering framework creates many positive cost saving measures and significantly diminishes order entry errors, facilitating the avoidance of returns/re-delivery, thereby further reducing costs and ensuring customer satisfaction. It also makes vital commercial customer
information, including order history readily available to sales teams. The potential to upsell increases when you can view customer accounts and suggest future purchases. EM: Who makes up Magico’s client base? OC: Magico represents a wide- ranging client base, in a host of different industries in the electrical sphere including: Hevac, Heavins, Powertool.ie, Air Impact Ltd, Caulfield Industrial and Stakelums.ie. The company was founded by eCommerce expert, CEO Paul Montwill in 1999 and is based in Ennis, Co. Clare. EM: What upgrades do you offer on your B2B module? OC: The team at our sister company AB Commerce have streamlined the online sales process with the launch of our upgraded B2B module, which surpasses the highest spec functionality of its industry peers. Quickly adapting to developments in the current climate, it provides wholesalers and distributors - particularly those in trade industries including electrical - with the option of overarching, dual B2C/B2B functionality to transform the sales environment. EM: What direction will the retail and wholesale landscape take going forward? OC: It’s clear that Online is here to stay, presenting a new set of opportunities and challenges for the electrical market. One
Orla Cooney, General Manager of Magico.
that should be grasped wholeheartedly, by the launch and/or finessing of their eCommerce platforms and capabilities, as their customers increasingly move online. There may not be Covid-19 to contend with in the future, but being ready for the next snowstorm is key. For more information on AB Commerce and its refreshed B2B module please see: www.abcommerce.com/c/b2b-addon/86
50 | IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE
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