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Business-to-Business is fast becoming the next ‘must-invest’ sector in India and 2015 has been the year. With Venture Capitalists pouring in millions of money into <keyword id="6399166" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="B2B">B2B</keyword> ecommerce start-ups this space saw exceptional growth in just one year. It also saw some spectacular decisions being taken with the plan to set up the country’s first B2B international ecommerce platform for manufacturers and exporters to sell any product that is made or valued in India, to overseas vendors. “2015 is the year when B2B became a sector on its own,” said Swati Gupta, founder of <keyword id="2741940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="industrybuying-com">industrybuying.com</keyword> that is growing at 25% month-on-month since December 2014. Another portal in the space <keyword id="2735270" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tolexo">Tolexo</keyword>.com, India’s first and largest online bazaar for Industrial products, has hit a major milestone with over 1, 00,000 businesses buying from its online platform and records more than 40% growth in the customer base month-on-month, within 10 months of its launch. Further, the brand is expected to serve 1 million businesses by 2020. “The adoption rate has been phenomenal,” said <keyword id="2402415" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Brijesh-Agrawal">Brijesh Agrawal</keyword>, founder of Tolexo. He was leading IndiaMart for 19 years. These portals have also attracted huge <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword>. Industrybuying raised USD 9 million in Series B funding in September 2015. The latest to join the bandwagon is rivigo, which offers on-demand B2B logistics services to companies in the e-commerce, FMCG, auto, pharma and the cold chain industries and has secured a funding of USD 30 million. 

	The numbers have proved well why this sector is going to be the ‘next big thing’ in the start-ups revolution. But what changed in 2015 that made it so huge an industry?
 

	Drivers
 

	“What existed earlier was the classified platform where typically businesses would find out with whom they want to do businesses with. But with these portals, businesses can sell and buy instantly, without having to negotiate as the price and availability of the product are there on the site. Hence the overall buying decision becomes a lot easier and quicker for them to make. These portals not only allow you to find the right product and the right supplier, it also ensures the product is picked up from the supplier and delivered to the doorstep,” said Brijesh.
 

	He further said another added advantage was that the products can be delivered in small cities too.
 

	Tolexo has managed to penetrate into the deepest parts of the nation, with customers from remote locations on its list, from among more than 900 cities, with over 65% of this traction coming from Tier 2, 3 &amp; 4 cities. 
 

	Challenges
 The sector mainly faces four main challenges, <keyword id="6383566" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Taxation">taxation</keyword> systems in different states, supply chain network, adaptability to the new online platform and awareness. 

	1. Taxation
 

	Different states have different taxation for different products. Dealing with that is a bit of a problem as the supplier can come from any city for that matter.
 

	2. Adaptability
 

	“B2B has never been exposed to ecommerce before, both from the seller side and the buyer side. So, the nuances that come along a typical B2B ecommerce business are something that we are experiencing for the first time,” said Brijesh.
 

	3. Supply chain network
 

	The third challenge is with the logistics infrastructure itself. The major traction that comes from Tier 2,3 and 4 cities. The existing supply chain network is not predictable in these areas.
 

	“So delivering within a specified timeframe is big challenge,” said Swati.
 

	4. Awareness
 

	Also, lack of awareness is something that cause lack of trust between the supplier and the customer.
 

	Some predictions for 2016
 A clear supply chain network would be built for <keyword id="3179231" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="B2B-ecommerce-portals">B2B ecommerce portals</keyword>, predicts Brijesh while adding that they are planning to build a credit based payment mechanism for business to buy online in 2016. 

	Swati predicts her platform will witness a growth of 3x in the next six months.

	 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

A clear supply chain network will be built for B2B ecommerce portals in 2016: Brijesh Agrawal, founder of Tolexo predicts

<ul><li>The pandemic has led to squeezing of marketing budgets, and CMOs have to deliver more bang under their (limited) bucks.</li><li>However, <keyword id="3313977" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="B2B-marketing">B2B marketing</keyword> seems to have fared much better vis-à-vis, <keyword id="3395310" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="B2C-marketing">B2C marketing</keyword>, observes <keyword id="3860513" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shyam-Rao">Shyam Rao</keyword>, AVP - Senior Practice Engagement Manager, <keyword id="6079860" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys-BPM">Infosys BPM</keyword>. He explores the factors that have helped B2B marketing during the pandemic and writes about some significant B2B Marketing trends.</li></ul>Marketing spends typically tend to focus on building brands and less on generating revenues. With the pandemic and the <keyword id="1622347" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Normal">New Normal</keyword> squeezing marketing budgets, spends have come under duress, with CMOs now having to deliver more bang for their (limited) bucks. However, B2B marketing seems to have fared much better vis-à-vis its richer and famous cousin, B2C marketing. The reasons are quite clear – B2B marketing is more focused on 1:1 or 1: few spends that are aligned to generate revenues and conversions rather than relying primarily on impressions and reach. While there has been an overall slowing down in the growth rate of marketing spends to about 10% in 2020, as compared with the highs of 24% in 2018, <keyword id="50691" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital">digital</keyword> spending in B2B marketing is still at a healthy $9.03 billion. So where are B2B brands investing their marketing spends? A study by B2B media house Aggregage reveals an interesting picture of spending trends in B2B marketing. It states that 88% of B2B brands today have shifted the majority of their marketing spends onto digital media. With almost 70% of live, in-person events being cancelled, conferences and summits have also adopted online channels, such as webinars and virtually simulated auditoriums. Google validated the point in its own report, stating that over 45% of B2B brands invested in digital for the first time in 2020, the year of the pandemic. The statistics make it amply clear that the dollar spends are being ploughed into online marketing channels at a much faster pace now, than pre-pandemic. This throws up an interesting question. Which digital marketing channels are drawing the majority of marketing dollars? A LinkedIn-Edelman study lists 4 main channels that B2B brands are investing in: <ul><li>Content marketing and syndication (59%)</li><li>Thought leadership and domain-based research sponsorship on digital media (55%)</li><li>Virtual events (52%)</li><li>Executive communications and 1:1 connect (44%)</li></ul>The reasons for this shift are quite self-evident. With the pandemic reducing marketing budgets and opportunities to interact in-person for a prolonged period, leaning back on digital capabilities was the logical way forward. Events are not just going online but are becoming increasingly innovative to make up for the lack of personal connect that an in-person event could facilitate seamlessly. The 5 key imperatives for B2B brands to make the most of the New Normal: Double down on digital spending– Allocate budgets across multiple channels, while considering the needs of New Normal. Prioritise digital channels that your customers are more likely to engage with,vis-à-visa blanket investment across all digital channels. Focus on revenue generation or Return on Marketing Investment (RoMI) – Unlike B2C, B2B brands need to have clear targets for conversions and revenues generated directly from B2B marketing spends on particular accounts or channels of branding. EnsuringKPIs based on revenue/sales targets will drive optimum budget allocation,rather than basing the evaluation on impressions or reach in pay-per-click programs. Online events with expanded features – Digital events are now increasingly sophisticated, with dedicated event management platforms providing a host of features to emulate a live, in-person event. These features can be leveraged to build customisedevents virtually, enabling better client engagement. Social media–While social media has traditionally been the domain of B2C, specialized channels, such as <keyword id="28120" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Linkedin">LinkedIn</keyword>, are now increasingly gaining prominence in account-based marketing (ABM). Investing in improving social media presence through content-based marketing and social listening can drive up positive social sentiment for a brand by notches. Account-Based Marketing (ABM)– They say, the key to a good ABM campaign is to prioritize accounts. This point cannot be emphasised enough, but it is equally crucial to prioritize right. A good starting point would be to prioritize based on revenue potential, or conversions in an account. An ABM prioritization based on account yield will, in turn, help in meeting RoMI targets. Another important, but easily overlooked issue to address in ABM is data protection. Ensure that data sources are well protected and GDPR compliant. At a time when privacy has become increasingly paramount, delivering on data protection will be key to drive client confidence, and thus the success of campaigns. B2B marketing is in the throes of a new frontier. How a brand adapts its marketing strategy to these tectonic shifts will determine its buoyancy. But undoubtedly, marketing has evolved during the COVID-19 crisis to support revenue generation of organizations across industries, from the worst hit by the pandemic, like manufacturing and infrastructure services, to the ones that stand to gain, such as software, services, and e-commerce. While there is an opportunity to increase revenues for these sectors with intelligent spending on B2B marketing, it will be wise to develop a focused strategy to optimize the Return on Marketing Investment.

B2B Marketing: Translating spends to revenues on a click

Ninety-seven percent of U.S. marketers say they use social media to market their businesses.
But the social networks they prioritize vary for business-to-business (B2B) marketers, compared to business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers, according to a survey from <a href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-marketing-industry-report-2014/">Social Media Examiner</a>, compiled by <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/b2c-and-b2b-marketers-see-different-social-networks-as-most-important-2014-5?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=S-B2B-Chart-05-23-14&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">BI Intelligence</a>.
<ul>
<li>Facebook trumps other social networks for B2C marketing. Sixty-eight percent of B2C marketers say Facebook is the most important social network. Twitter took 10% of the vote among B2C marketers.</li>
<li>LinkedIn is considered the most important social network for B2B marketing. One-third of marketers who sell to other businesses say the professional networking site is the top social network. Facebook was a close second, taking 31% of the vote, and then Twitter with 16%.</li>
</ul>
BI Intelligence is a subscription research service from Business Insider. We cover the mobile, social, e-commerce, video, and payments industries. <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/b2c-and-b2b-marketers-see-different-social-networks-as-most-important-2014-5?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=S-B2B-Chart-05-23-14&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">For full access too all our charts, data, and analysis - including downloadable Excel files - sign up for a free trial.</a>
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CHARTS: The Most Important Social Networks To B2C And B2B Marketers

The app economy has inspired an ‘on-demand’ self-service culture among all kinds of consumers. The <keyword id="5948524" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="B2B-sector" source="Orion">B2B sector</keyword> is no exception and brands are responding to the changing customer demands through Direct-to-consumer models. The way brands connect and engage with their customers has changed significantly in the last two years. The digital-first era is transforming conventional buying patterns and behaviours. Customers across segments – whether it’s B2B or B2C – are expecting digital-first, personal and connected experiences as they consume products and services. As a part of this shift, digital commerce or e-commerce has been sweeping the B2B segment lately. According to a McKinsey report, nearly two-thirds of B2B companies across industry sectors now offer e-commerce capabilities. That is an extraordinary number for an industry which has preferred in-person sales so far. This was an inevitable change. But, something more interesting is happening to the B2B space – the emergence of the <keyword id="4055555" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="D2C" source="Orion">D2C</keyword> or direct-to-consumer model. What was once considered an exclusive domain for B2C brands is now helping B2B companies explore new possibilities. Key drivers The global pandemic was vital for the growth of the direct-to-customer approach in the B2B segment. It propelled a rapid shift to the digital way of working and compelled companies to launch apps &amp; services at lightning speed. This marked a stark change in what was perceived by buyers as “good enough”. B2B buyers are therefore taking on the habits of B2C buyers, which has shaken some legacy business models and thought processes. A study conducted by TrustRadius in 2021 found that millennials comprise 60% of today’s B2B technology buyers. This generational shift has already moved the needle for B2B e-commerce with a 200% growth in D2C purchases between 2019 and 2020 (source: Salesforce). Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen emphasized, saying “making the digital economy personal” is a matter of greatest importance to businesses. Adoption of D2C models is helping businesses get this ‘experience’ part right, experts argue. Adoption of digital sales channels have helped brands enhance customer relationships, reach out to more customers and improve the overall competitive advantage. For the successful implementation of D2C models, brands must focus on three key areas Become data-driven: B2B brands understand the power of data in creating compelling D2C models. Throughout the digital buying cycle, data must be leveraged to create a compelling experience for corporate buyers. But brands are grappling with the challenge of fragmented data sets, legacy technologies and siloed approaches in this journey. Moreover, gaining customer insights become a challenge as B2B companies have historically preferred indirect sales channels which distanced them for end-users. The D2C space is highly competitive and brands must focus on data and customer insights for decision-making. B2C brands can learn a thing or two from their B2C counterparts on how to be data-driven. Predictive analytics, AI/ML and customer insights solutions can help brands understand customer behaviour, brand perception and create a 360 degree view of the buyers. Take it personal: Personalized experience has become a universal ask. Successful brands have excelled in gathering customer insights and transforming them into personalized interactions and service offerings. Buyers want real-time responses and digital experiences while brands must also focus on providing this at scale. Metaverse has already shown that the lines between physical and virtual words are blurring. The app economy has inspired an ‘on-demand’ self-service culture and B2B brands must prepare to cater to the growing customer demand through D2C models. Website personalization, short buying cycles, proactivity and the ability to provide a connected experience are a few things that brands must prioritize. Leverage Tech: From AI-powered live search to product recommendation engine to digital signatures, technology is the backbone of building a D2C strategy. Digital experience platforms are growing in popularity among brands that strive to provide a cohesive CX (customer experience). Experts recommend taking a ‘composable’ and software-driven approach while building an ecommerce platform and the underlying tech stack to be able to evolve as you move along. Increasingly, brands are embracing a tech-first, digital-native model of being. D2C strategies will help them pivot to the future more quickly. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/lic-stocks-if-you-want-to-predict-this-stock-prices-look-how-the-stock-market-moves/articleshow/92040939.cms">If you want to predict LIC stock prices, look how the stock market moves</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-motors-bags-indias-biggest-ev-fleet-order-from-cab-company-blusmart/articleshow/92035478.cms">Tata Motors bags India’s biggest EV fleet order from cab company BluSmart</a>

The tech-driven shift to D2C in the B2B sector

New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) Microsoft on Tuesday announced to collaborate with global professional services company Accenture to host the third edition of the Accenture Ventures Challenge for B2B startups in India. This year's edition will recognise startups in India in four categories: supply chain resilience, channel shift to digital commerce, systems resilience and responsible technology. Microsoft in February launched the "100X100X100" programme to bring 100 companies to commit $100,000 each for enterprise-ready solutions from 100 business-to-business (B2B) startups in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) space in India over the course of 18 months. Launched in 2018, the Accenture Ventures Challenge identifies the best B2B tech startups to develop solutions for real-world challenges faced by businesses. "This initiative will truly help startups evolve from being market-ready to enterprise-ready with the best resources and support from both Microsoft and Accenture," said Lathika Pai, country head, Microsoft for Startups, MENA &amp; SAARC. The event is scheduled to be held on August 11 in a virtual format. Accenture Ventures Challenge 2020 will identify 12 innovative startups that are helping to address the business and human impact of COVID-19. The winner in each category will be given an opportunity to join the Accenture Ventures Open Innovation partner programme and co-create solutions for Accenture clients around the world. Winners will also get access to benefits from the Microsoft ScaleUp programme, which supports Seed or Series A B2B startups to scale and co-sell with Microsoft sales teams. "The ongoing business disruption requires an urgent response, and we are confident that we'll discover innovative new solutions from deep tech startups to help solve some of the most pressing business and human challenges," said Avnish Sabharwal, managing director for Accenture Ventures and Open Innovation in India. --IANS na/

Microsoft joins Accenture to nurture B2B startups in India

<ul><li><keyword id="11600676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Micromax-In-2B">Micromax In 2b</keyword> is the company’s latest budget smartphone under its In series.</li><li>It also entered the TWS category with the AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1.</li><li>The AirFunk 1 has a voice changer mode to switch between male and female voices.</li></ul>Micromax today launched the in 2b smartphone, successor to the In 1b from last year. The In 2b comes in two variants with up to 6GB RAM and 256GB storage, a 5,000mAh battery and near-stock Android OS. The company also made its entry into the TWS segment with two new affordable earbuds — AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1. Micromax In 2b starts at ₹7,999 for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It also comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, and this variant is priced at ₹8,999. The smartphone will go on sale for the first time on July 30 at 12 noon via Flipkart and the official Micromax website. It comes in three colour options — blue, black and green. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Micromax In 2b specifications" comment="subhead" text="Micromax In 2b specifications">Micromax In 2b specifications</cmsannotation> The In 2b features a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a notch on top. It is powered by the Unisoc T610 processor paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Micromax In 2b also has a microSD card slot for expandable storage up to 256GB. In the camera department, Micromax In 2b sports a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It houses a 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. The smartphone also packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging via a USB Type-C port. Its connectivity options include dual VoWi-Fi, dual Wi-Fi band, and Bluetooth 5.0. The smartphone also has a fingerprint unlock and Anrodoid’s built-in Face ID support. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Micromax AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1" comment="subhead" text="Micromax AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1">Micromax AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1</cmsannotation> The AirFunk 1 Pro TWS is priced at ₹2,499, and it features a stem design. It is powered by the Qualcomm 3040 chipset and comes with Bluetooth 5.2, and ENC technology with quad microphones. The AirFunk 1 Pro TWS also packs 13mm drivers and quad microphones. The wireless earbuds are claimed to offer a total playtime of 7 hours and 32 hours with the charging case. The TWS has a USB Type-C port and IP44 for water resistance. It comes in blue, white, black, red and yellow colour options. The TWS also supports touch controls for playback functions and launching a voice assistant. The AirFunk 1 TWS is the more affordable model in the series with a price tag of ₹1,299. Its highlight is this voice changer mode wherein you can switch between male and female voices. The TWS offers a 3D surround sound experience. It is equipped with 9mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.0 and a USB Type-C port. Like the AirFunk 1 Pro, this one too is IP44-rated. It is said to last for 5 hours on a single charge, and 15 hours with the charging case. This one too has multiple colour options of black, blue, yellow, white and purple. SEE ALSO: <h2 style="margin-bottom: 8px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; font-family: LabGrotesque-Black, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a class="list-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/micromax-in-1-budget-smartphone-with-5000mah-launched-starting-at-9999/articleshow/81590527.cms">Micromax IN 1 budget smartphone with 5,000mAh battery launched starting at ₹9,999</a></h2>

Micromax launched entry-level In 2b smartphone alongside new AirFunk 1 Pro and AirFunk 1 TWS earbuds

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FACEBOOK GOES AFTER LINKEDIN: In a recent <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/roadmap/">announcement</a> outlining changes to its Ads API program, Facebook said it would be improving its ad targeting methods. Much of the press following the announcement focused on how Facebook was making it easier for advertisers to target users based on behaviors and interests. However, one aspect that was largely overlooked is that beginning in March advertisers will be able to target Facebook users based on their employer and job title. 
The change indicates that Facebook wants to attract more B2B marketers and recruiting professionals, an audience that LinkedIn has been extremely successful with. LinkedIn's recruiting tools (called Talent Solutions) generated nearly $225 million in the third quarter, or 57% of the company's revenue. 
Consumer brands can take advantage of targeting by profession as well. "If consumers used to work at Goldman Sachs, for instance, they're much more likely to have a high discretionary income," Matt Britton, CEO of digital agency MRY, told Digiday. Thus, luxury brands will be able to target high-earners of particular interest. (<a href="http://digiday.com/platforms/facebook-is-going-after-linkedin/">Digiday</a>)
GOOGLE ACQUIRES A.I. STARTUP: Google has acquired artificial intelligence startup DeepMind for $400 million. The company specializes in developing learning algorithms for games, e-commerce, and simulations. One person described DeepMind as "the last large independent company with a strong focus on artificial intelligence," according to Re/code. DeepMind and Google competed in hiring A.I. experts, leading us to believe that the deal is largely a talent acquisition. (<a href="http://recode.net/2014/01/26/exclusive-google-to-buy-artificial-intelligence-startup-deepmind-for-400m/">Re/code</a>)
WELCOME, INSIDERS: The Social Insights newsletter is now Social Insider, a reflection of our increasing emphasis on the day's most important topics in social media, as well as news exclusives of interest to industry insiders. We look forward to the newsletter becoming an even more important part of your morning routine.
VK FOUNDER SELLS STAKE: The founder of Russia's largest social network, VKontakt (VK), has sold his 12% stake in the company to Russian mobile operator Megafon. VK functions similarly to an earlier version of Facebook. The company is valued around $3 to 4 billion. (<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/24/end-of-an-era-as-vkontakte-founder-durov-sells-his-stake-to-russian-mobile-giant/">TechCrunch</a>)
BRANDS TAKE TO TWITTER DURING GRAMMY AWARDS: Major brands used the Grammy Awards to actively conduct real-time marketing on Twitter. Many brands made references to the award winners and attempted to tie it back to their own products and services. However, it was Arby's which produced the smash hit of the night. The food chain's social media producer(s) realized that musical artist Pharrell was donning a hat that looked similar to the one in the iconic Arby's logo and highlighted the situation. (<a href="http://digiday.com/brands/brand-tweets-grammys/">Digiday</a>) 
EVOLUTION OF TWITTER: Trending topics on Twitter are no longer an accurate gauge of what news stories are most informative to the general public at any given time. Rather, Twitter is evolving into a community where everyone is trying to get noticed by adding their own opinion to whatever discussion is taking place - whether important or not. Take for example, Justin Bieber's recent arrest, which captivated so many Twitter users, that it overshadowed a number of other, arguably more important news events.
New York Times writer Jenna Wortham argues that Twitter is no longer capable of handling the complexity of different conversation threads, as there are simply too many discussions taking place at once. "Twitter once felt more like an electric news wire … Twitter shines as a new medium, when we are all sharing and devouring each new tidbit offered up by sources on the ground, news anchors, rogue eye-witnesses, wry commentators. But the exhilaration of those times may have conditioned us to treat even the smallest incident as one worth dissecting, regurgitating and examining to death. (<a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/valley-of-the-blahs-how-justin-biebers-downfall-exposed-twitters-achilles-heel/?_php=true&amp;_type=blogs&amp;_r=0">NYT</a>)
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Facebook Is Going After B2B Marketing Spending

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<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><a title_source="AdAge" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52d7db84ecad043c209c1521-960/btob_marketing_outlook_survey.jpg"></a>AdAge</div></div>Soon, information technology (or, IT) buyers say social media will be the most important source of content to inform their buying decisions, according to a study conducted by <a href="http://adage.com/article/btob/social-media-increasingly-important-b-b-marketers/291033/">IDG Connect</a>. White papers and vendor-created materials are currently given more weight over social media during the buying process, but that is expected to flip in two years. 
We believe this trend applies more broadly to many other business-to-business (B2B) industries, and as a result, we expect social media to capture a greater portion of B2B marketing budgets going forward. According to an <a href="http://adage.com/article/btob/mobile-content-focus-b-b-2014/290904/?utm_source=email&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=btob&amp;ttl=1389894092">AdAge survey</a>, one in two B2B marketers expect to increase their overall marketing budget this year, and 80% plan to increase their digital spending. A fair percentage of that increased spend will likely go to social.
All major social media channels stand to benefit from increased B2B spending. However, LinkedIn will likely be the greatest beneficiary as its network of professionals has made it a natural B2B sales driver. (<a href="http://adage.com/article/btob/social-media-increasingly-important-b-b-marketers/291033/">AdAge</a>)
FACEBOOK TESTING NEW USER ACTIONS: Facebook is reportedly testing a new feature that will let users add movie titles that are mentioned in article links to their "watched" or "want to watch" lists. Previously, Facebook users could only carry out such an action on News Feed stories that were deliberately about movies - such as when a friend added a film to the "favorite movies" section of their profile. However, it seems Facebook's machine learning systems are now sophisticated enough to accurately identify references to movies in articles. As such, the social network is allowing its users to interact more with entertainment-related News Feed content. (<a href="http://allfacebook.com/add-to-my-movies-link_b128387">AllFacebook</a>)
REVIEW YOUR EMAIL SETTINGS: BI Intelligence is now producing subscriber-only content across four verticals - mobile, social, payments, and video. Manage your email preferences and sign up for content from additional verticals <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/account/alerts">here</a>.
MORE DATA SHOWS FACEBOOK IS LESS POPULAR AMONG TEENS: Facebook's U.S. audience consists of approximately 3 million fewer teens (aged 13-17) than it did in 2011 (a 25% decrease), according to iStrategyLabs, a digital media agency. The agency relied on data available in Facebook's advertising service, which reveals the potential reach among different audiences that use the social network. It's important to point out that some teens who used Facebook in 2011 are now counted in an older age bracket. So, these are not necessarily users who left the social network. However, it does indicate that Facebook is less popular among a newer generation of teenagers. (<a href="http://istrategylabs.com/2014/01/3-million-teens-leave-facebook-in-3-years-the-2014-facebook-demographic-report/">iStrategyLabs</a>)
TWITTER STEPS UP SECURITY: From now on, apps can only access Twitter's API if they have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption enabled. SSL connections are more secure than traditional HTTP plain text connections, so any user data that is exchanged via Twitter's API will be less susceptible to breaches. (<a href="https://twitter.com/twitterapi/status/422807297048326144">Twitter</a>) 
ZUCKERBERG COMMENTS ON SNAPCHAT: During a talk he gave at Stanford University, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he thinks Snapchat has created a new kind of space to communicate, referring to its ephemeral content. "I think that's really important and that's a big kind of innovation we're going to keep pushing on and keep trying to do more on and I think a lot of other companies will too," he said. (<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/14/snapchat-privacy-zuckerberg/">TechCrunch</a>)
LINKEDIN EXPANDS JOB DATABASE: LinkedIn has launched a "volunteer marketplace," where people can look for unpaid jobs. The marketplace will increase the size of LinkedIn's already extensive job database, and could bolster engagement among students who are looking for internship opportunities. (<a href="http://volunteer.linkedin.com/">LinkedIn</a>)
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B2B Marketers To Increase Their Social Media Budgets This Year

<ul><li><keyword id="6357316" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Udaan">udaan</keyword> has raised $585 million from investors like Tencent, Altimeter, Footpath Ventures, Hillhouse, GGV Capital and Citi Ventures. </li><li> udaan’s valuation soars to $2.8 billion with a total <keyword id="6357455" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> of $870 million.</li><li>The <keyword id="2526464" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="B2B-e-commerce">B2B e-commerce</keyword> startup is one of the fastest Indian <keyword id="6362513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups">startups</keyword> to reach unicorn status (have a valuation of $1 billion).</li></ul>Indian B2B e-commerce platform udaan has raised a whopping $585 million from Tencent, Altimeter, Footpath Ventures, Hillhouse, GGV Capital and Citi Ventures. The startup’s existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and DST Global too participated in the series D round. With the latest funding, udaan’s valuation soars to $2.8 billion with a total funding of $870 million. In September 2018, udaan became one of the fastest Indian startups to reach unicorn status with a valuation of $1 billion. According to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/02/udaan-series-d/">reports</a>, this is the biggest single funding round raised by a B2B platform in India. Udaan works as a marketplace for products across lifestyle, electronics, home and kitchen, staples, fruits and vegetables, FMCG, toys and general merchandise. Its clients are manufacturers and business owners like shopkeepers. It has a network of 3 million retailers in 900 cities, who are connected to 20,000 sellers across the country. With the latest funding, udaan will invest in further building its platform. “We are building udaan as a trusted partner for small businesses across the country, to empower these entrepreneurs with technology, financial inclusivity, and supply chain capabilities to compete and win in an increasingly tech and digital world,” said a statement by its co-founders Amod-Malviya, Vaibhav Gupta and Sujeet Kumar.

Udaan raises a whopping $585 million to hit a valuation of $2.8 billion

Reliance Retail-based <keyword id="3275685" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dunzo" source="Orion">Dunzo</keyword>s B2B logistics arm, Dunzo for Business (D4B), on Thursday announced its partnership with the governments Open Network for <keyword id="1664180" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="digital-commerce" source="Orion">Digital Commerce</keyword> (<keyword id="5862596" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ondc" source="Orion">ONDC</keyword>) to provide last-mile delivery services to local enterprises on the ONDC network. D4B has a fleet of over 75,000 delivery partners, connecting over 20,000 merchants to customers and running millions of orders every month. GrowthFalcons is one of the first businesses D4B has serviced on ONDC. "We are very happy to have a strong logistics provider like Dunzo for Business on the ONDC network. This partnership will accelerate our efforts to make last-mile logistics accessible to a wider audience of buyers and sellers across India," said T Koshy, CEO, ONDC. D4B's key merchants include Fynd, Wellness Forever, DotPe, EatClub and Magicpin, among others. "Starting our journey with key metros, we will scale our services to more cities and become the backbone for intra-city deliveries in the Indian e-commerce ecosystem", said Dalvir Suri, Co-founder, Dunzo, and Head of Dunzo for Business (D4B). Dunzo is present in the top eight cities in India and has over 10 million users. It is backed by <keyword id="58448" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reliance-retail" source="Orion">Reliance Retail</keyword>, Google, Blume Ventures, Aspada Investments, LightBox Ventures, STIC Ventures and 3L Capital, among others. With ONDC, a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-type initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to promote open networks, the government is trying to create the largest interoperable open platform in a bid to break e-commerce monopolies and build a more democratised digital marketplace by bringing micro, small, and medium enterprise as well as small traders online. Dunzo earlier this year raised $240 million to expand its footprint in India.ONDC recently boarded Go Frugal, Paytm, Digit, PhonePe and Loadshare, among others. E-commerce platform Snapdeal is set to debut on ONDC this month.

Reliance-backed Dunzo's B2B logistics arm arrives on ONDC

<keyword id="7116339" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart-wholesale">Flipkart Wholesale</keyword>, the digital <keyword id="101750" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="B2B-marketplace">B2B marketplace</keyword> of <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> Group for kiranas and MSMEs, on Monday announced 'Big Festival Month' from September 29 to October 31 where over 95 per cent products sourced locally will be made available on the platform. The sale will feature products in fashion categories across more than 50 brands, more than 100 sellers and one lakh members, the newly-launched B2B marketplace said in a statement. Flipkart last year acquired Walmart India and launched Flipkart Wholesale, a new digital marketplace designed to help transform the kirana retail ecosystem in the country. Flipkart Wholesale began operations earlier this month. "The upcoming festive season is a great opportunity for retailers and MSMEs to boost sales and profitability. We see this as an opportunity for the whole retail ecosystem to come together, lift consumer sentiment and drive business growth for local MSMEs across the country," said Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President and Head - Flipkart Wholesale &amp; Walmart India. Since its launch, Flipkart Wholesale has expanded to 15 cities and is now servicing more than 750 new pin codes across the country. The 'Big Festival Month' will offer products in categories such as men's wear, women's western wear, women's ethnic wear, kids wear and footwear. "A strong backend technology will also enable a hassle-free order placement and fulfilment process for retailers on the platform," the company said. By the year-end, Flipkart Wholesale plans to expand into categories such as home and kitchen and grocery. Flipkart Wholesale earlier said that its customers will have access to easy credit facilities in partnership with leading banks and non-banking financial companies to manage cash flow.

Flipkart Wholesale kicks off its sale events with 'Big Festival Month'

<keyword id="256870" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="eMarketer">eMarketer</keyword> and Insider, Inc. have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/business-insider-intelligence-emarketer-launch-insider-intelligence">joined forces</a> to become Insider Intelligence, the leader in research covering all aspects of digital transformation on a global basis. As the newly branded Insider Intelligence, we hire people who are passionate about providing business leaders with actionable data and insights about digital marketing, media, e-commerce, financial services, telecoms, technology, healthcare, and more.Our clients are top global brands within Fortune 1000 companies, as well as smaller firms striving to compete in a digital age. We provide our team members with growth and support throughout all levels of the organization, priding ourselves on a diverse and inclusive work environment that is welcoming and respectful to all of our employees. We aim to accomplish this through continuing to improve and iterate upon our internal policies, including:<ul><li>Anti-racism personnel policies</li><li>Support for our Inclusion Council, our Employee Resource Group designed to give voice to historically underrepresented employees.</li><li>A data collection process for our research reports that requires diversity of sources.</li><li>A sourcing, interviewing, hiring, and retention process that adheres to our values of diversity and inclusion.</li></ul>We are located in our beautiful office space in New York City with 360-degree views of Times Square. Who we are looking for:We're looking for candidates who are deeply curious, motivated, and have a passion for research and the future of digital. We often have positions open for analysts and editors, as well as positions in marketing, operations, and sales. Our current open positions are listed below. 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