Bhinneka launches B2B platform in run-up to IPO

• Targeting 30,000 corporate customers from Bhinneka Bisnis platform
• Its platform aims to simplify corporate procuring process

E-COMMERCE company PT Bhinneka Mentari Dimensi (Bhinneka) took a major step towards its planned initial public offering (IPO) in 2018 by officially launching its Bhinneka Bisnis corporate procurement platform.
 
The new platform marks its expansion into the B2B (business-to-business) space, and is targeted at helping brick-and-mortar companies – from large companies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and even public sector organisations – get into the online world.
 
According to chief executive officer Hendrik Tio, Bhinneka’s e-commerce platform had already catered to large corporations looking for office supplies, but the new B2B-focused platform would boost this customer base of 20,000 by 50%.
 
To hit that target, Bhinneka Bisnis would introduce easier and more flexible payment terms for procurement, he said.
 
“We used to target corporations that spend more than Rp20 billion (US$1.5 million) a year on office supplies … but now with Bhinneka Bisnis, our scope has expanded and includes SMEs,” he told a recent media briefing in Jakarta.
 
Some of its current corporate clients include airlines company Citilink Indonesia, leasing services company Astra Sedaya Finance, and ride-sharing startup Go-Jek.
 
Bhinneka was founded in 1993 as a printing services company, but launched into business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce in 1999 specialising in what it calls 3C: Communications, computers, and consumer electronics.
 
The new B2B platform is not only about selling products, declared Bhinneka general manager of corporate sales and B2B, Peter Rumahlewang.
 
He said many companies in Indonesia still used offline methods to fulfill their corporate needs, which meant they faced a plethora of issues, from managing suppliers, uncompetitive prices, and hoary old business processes, to unreliable aftersales service.
 
Most of these issues could be solved by conducting product sourcing, procurement and transactions online, argued Peter.
 
Bhinneka sees its new B2B focus as an opportunity to educate the market on how the online world works, and how it can make businesses more productive, he added.
 
Related Stories:
 
E-commerce player Bhinneka aims for IPO in 2018 
 
Malaysia and Indonesia in startup ecosystem partnership
 
Raih investasi Rp300 miliar, Bhinneka.com targetkan GMV Rp10 triliun

 
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Like us on Facebook.