Manufacturers use large-scale production to create finished goods. To do this, they rely on materials and parts that must be imported or created within the company. A B2B business model yields different challenges than a B2C one, with manufacturers responsible for quality control over essential products from start to finish. The auto industry is a good example of manufacturers in a B2B arena, producing fuel pumps and engine parts for car companies that sell the cars directly to consumers.
Manufacturers are also increasingly seeing an online presence as vital to the success of their brand identity. There’s a rising belief that manufacturing brands need to conceive of themselves as part of e-commerce supply chains, too (not just as wholesalers), so they can get more recognition among consumers who want information directly from their peers.