B2B marketplaces projected to overtake wholesale by 2030

A study by ECC Köln involving 25 executives from wholesale and manufacturing companies predicts a significant shift in B2B distribution channels by 2030. According to the ECC CLUB study, cross-industry marketplaces, such as Amazon Business, are expected to see their perceived importance rise from 28 percent to 72 percent.

Conversely, the importance of traditional wholesale is projected to decline from 72 percent to 28 percent. Industry-specific marketplaces are also expected to grow from 12 percent to 52 percent, while stationary specialist retail without an online shop is predicted to drop from 32 percent to 8 percent. Direct contact between industry and customers is expected to remain relatively stable, moving from 64 percent to 68 percent. The study notes that 76 percent of respondents anticipate a fundamental change in the roles of manufacturers and retailers.