What BigCommerce's Latest Report Reveals About B2B Retail's Future

A comprehensive analysis of BigCommerce and Retail Dive's survey of 155 retail executives

The ecommerce landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, and B2B retailers in construction, hardware, and building supply industries need to stay ahead of the curve. A new report from BigCommerce and Retail Dive, surveying 155 retail executives across diverse industries, reveals critical insights about where ecommerce is heading in 2025—and the findings have significant implications for construction suppliers looking to strengthen their digital presence.

Executive Summary: The State of Ecommerce Evolution

The headline finding? 71% of ecommerce executives are actively planning and budgeting to implement new ecommerce technology in the next 12 months. This isn't just incremental change—it's a technological revolution that's reshaping how B2B retailers operate and compete.

For construction and building supply businesses, these trends aren't just interesting statistics—they're competitive imperatives. Companies that fail to adapt risk being left behind as buyer expectations continue to evolve.

The Customer Acquisition Crisis Driving Change

Perhaps the most telling insight from the BigCommerce report is what's driving these technology investments. Reducing customer acquisition costs ranked as the top priority for 54% of retail executives—significantly higher than increasing overall sales revenue (45%), customer lifetime value (39%), or return on ad spend (31%).

Why This Matters for Construction B2B: In an industry where contractor relationships and supplier loyalty have traditionally ruled, the digital shift means acquisition costs are rising as competition moves online. Construction suppliers who optimize their digital customer acquisition now will have a significant advantage as the market becomes increasingly crowded.

"People really want to be agile and have an agile ecommerce platform that allows them to move really quickly," said Fiona Norton, director of product marketing at BigCommerce, highlighting the urgency behind these technology investments.

Technology Investment Priorities: What Construction Suppliers Should Focus On

The report reveals clear technology investment priorities that directly impact B2B construction suppliers:

1. Analytics and Business Intelligence (65% High Priority)

The Reality: Construction suppliers often struggle with inventory visibility across multiple locations and product lines. The survey shows that nearly two-thirds of retailers are prioritizing analytics investments.

Action Item: Implement real-time inventory tracking and customer behavior analytics to optimize stock levels and identify buying patterns. This is particularly crucial during peak building seasons when stockouts can cost thousands in lost revenue.

2. Customer Service Tools (63% High Priority)

The Reality: B2B buyers increasingly expect B2C-level service. For construction suppliers, this means contractors should be able to check order status, track deliveries, and resolve issues without calling during business hours.

Action Item: Invest in self-service portals, chatbots, and automated order tracking that work for field contractors who need information while on job sites.

3. Content Management Systems (60% High Priority)

The Reality: Construction products require detailed specifications, safety data sheets, and compatibility information. Poor content management leads to the 33% order error rate that plagues B2B ecommerce.

Action Item: Prioritize robust product information management that can handle complex construction product data, including technical specifications, compliance certifications, and installation guides.

4. Payment Solutions (56% High Priority)

The Reality: Construction businesses often need flexible payment terms, purchase orders, and approval workflows that standard B2C payment systems can't handle.

Action Item: Implement B2B-specific payment solutions that support credit terms, approval workflows, and integration with construction companies' accounting systems.

The Checkout Experience Revolution

The report reveals significant investment in checkout optimization, with 48% of executives planning to introduce one-click or express checkout functionality and an equal percentage adding digital wallet payment options like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

Mobile-First Checkout is Critical

45% plan to optimize checkout flow for mobile devices—a crucial insight for construction suppliers. Field contractors and project managers often need to place orders from job sites using mobile devices. A clunky mobile checkout experience directly translates to lost sales.

Security Enhancements

46% plan to enhance security measures for checkouts, reflecting growing cybersecurity concerns that we'll explore further. For B2B transactions involving larger order values, security isn't just important—it's essential for maintaining customer trust.

The AI Revolution: 95% Adoption Rate

Perhaps the most striking finding is that 95% of retail executives report their companies have already heavily or somewhat invested in artificial intelligence and generative AI tools. Even more remarkably, 95% plan to lean into AI more in the next twelve months.

AI Applications for Construction B2B

The report identifies specific AI use cases that construction suppliers should prioritize:

Internal Processes:

• Product Development (49%): AI can help identify product gaps and market opportunities in construction markets
• Predictive Analytics (48%): Forecast demand patterns for seasonal construction materials
• Content Creation (45%): Generate product descriptions, safety information, and marketing copy

External/Customer-Facing:

• Customer Service (50%): Chatbots that understand construction terminology and can answer technical questions
• Search Enhancement (41%): Improved product discovery for complex construction catalogs
• Personalized Recommendations (40%): Suggest compatible products and accessories based on project requirements

The Competitive Advantage

"AI has really strong applications," Norton noted, particularly in "audience segmentation based on actual customer behavior" rather than traditional demographic segmentation. For construction suppliers, this means better understanding contractor preferences and buying patterns.

Expansion Strategies: Product Lines Over Geography

The data shows 66% of companies plan to expand by introducing new products—significantly more than those expanding geographically (41%) or opening physical locations (37%).

Construction Industry Implication: This suggests successful suppliers are finding growth through product line extensions rather than geographic expansion. Consider expanding into adjacent categories (if you sell lumber, consider hardware; if you sell plumbing supplies, consider HVAC).

The Marketplace Strategy

81% of ecommerce executives already use Amazon, with 55% planning to expand product offerings on existing marketplaces. For construction suppliers, this raises important questions about marketplace participation versus focusing on direct sales.

Marketplace Considerations for Construction B2B:

• Pros: Increased visibility, established buyer behavior
• Cons: Price competition, reduced brand control, transaction fees
• Strategy: Use marketplaces for product discovery while driving transactions to your platform for better margins and customer relationships

Social Commerce Growth

55% of respondents rely on social commerce to a great extent, with 69% planning to implement new social platform features. For construction suppliers, this likely means LinkedIn and industry-specific platforms rather than Instagram or TikTok.

Actionable Insight: Focus social commerce efforts on platforms where contractors and project managers spend time—LinkedIn, industry forums, and specialized construction marketplaces.

The Cybersecurity Challenge

The report's most sobering finding: 42% of executives cite ensuring data privacy and cybersecurity as their top challenge—ranking higher than customer acquisition (40%) or technology implementation (39%).

Why Cybersecurity Matters More for B2B

Norton emphasized that cybersecurity is becoming "a competitive advantage for retailers to invest in having top data privacy and security practices." For construction suppliers handling sensitive project information and large transaction values, security breaches can be business-ending events.

Critical Actions:

• Implement multi-factor authentication
• Regular security audits
• Staff training on phishing and social engineering
• Encrypted data transmission for all customer information

What This Means for Construction Suppliers

Immediate Actions (Next 30 Days)

1. Audit your mobile checkout experience - Can contractors easily place orders from job sites?
2. Evaluate your customer service tools - Are you providing self-service options for common inquiries?
3. Review cybersecurity practices - When did you last audit your security measures?

Medium-Term Investments (3-6 Months)

1. Implement basic AI tools for customer service and inventory management
2. Upgrade analytics capabilities to better understand customer behavior
3. Optimize content management to reduce order errors

Strategic Planning (6-12 Months)

1. Develop marketplace strategy - Should you expand to new platforms or consolidate?
2. Plan product line extensions based on customer data
3. Invest in advanced AI for predictive analytics and personalization

Platform Considerations: The BigCommerce Advantage

While the report comes from BigCommerce, the findings align with broader industry trends. For construction suppliers evaluating platforms, consider these report insights:

• Agility is crucial - Can your platform adapt quickly to new technologies?
• B2B-specific features matter - Does your platform handle complex pricing, approval workflows, and payment terms?
• Security is non-negotiable - What security features and compliance standards does your platform offer?

The Bottom Line: Act Now or Fall Behind

The BigCommerce report paints a clear picture: ecommerce is evolving rapidly, and companies that don't adapt will be left behind. For construction suppliers, this isn't just about keeping up with technology trends—it's about meeting evolving customer expectations in an increasingly competitive market.

The 71% of retailers planning technology upgrades aren't just optimizing their operations—they're positioning themselves to capture market share from competitors who move too slowly.

Getting Started: Your Next Steps

If you're a construction supplier looking to implement these insights:

1. Assess your current state - How do you stack up against the benchmarks in this report?
2. Prioritize investments - Focus on customer acquisition cost reduction and customer experience improvements
3. Plan for AI integration - Start with simple applications like customer service chatbots
4. Strengthen security - Make cybersecurity a competitive advantage, not just a compliance requirement

The ecommerce revolution is happening now. The question isn't whether to adapt - it's how quickly you can implement these changes to stay ahead of your competition.

At Calashock, we help B2B brands like yours implement these strategies - whether that’s platform evaluation, AI integration, or digital growth consulting. Let’s talk.