Shoppers already have access to a large inventory of solar panels, solar inverters and solar batteries. But Sunhub is extending its selection to include other solar components like solar racking, solar generators and a variety of other technologies to accommodate all equipment needs.
Seeing that there are lots of interesting products making their way into the solar market, Sunhub is excited to announce that it’s expanding its capabilities to handle all solar-related products on its Solar Trader Platform.
If sellers don’t see an existing category for their products, they will have the ability to create one. The capability to enter products in a generic way gives sellers another outlet to use to market and sell any product such as copper wire, generators and more. Meanwhile, buyers gain access to more inventory on Sunhub.
More flexible product entries for Solar Trader Platform
Entering new products on Sunhub remains straightforward but now includes more options. After clicking on “Other Components,” sellers can enter standard information like part numbers and brand, but also have the opportunity to add categories, subcategories and custom fields to best highlight the essential details for each product. You can even select which fields are searchable to help buyers find your listing. Your specification entries automatically become part of the spec sheet that is generated on the product listing. Field information is also saved, streamlining future product entry.
Buyer benefits
As with all Sunhub transactions, the e-commerce platform enables more efficient solar procurement and better deals.
- Clear visibility: Shoppers on Sunhub can scroll through listings of available panel, solar inverter and battery components with transparent pricing—all without picking up the phone. Buyers can find the brands they’re looking for at any time from anywhere.
- Direct communications: Many solar buyers lack contact with manufacturers and distributors and wait on middlemen to check prices and stock. Sunhub developed a better approach through a convenient chat-based interface that allows sellers and buyers to communicate with each other, saving time by outsourcing the management of multiple vendor relationships.
- Better pricing: Buyers are free to submit bids to sellers. With already high inflation rates and excess solar panel inventory, it’s truly a buyer’s market in which contractors can find some fantastic deals to stock up for the year.
- Flexible terms: Sunhub is the only B2B e-commerce marketplace for solar to offer bidding on prices, terms and logistics. Buyers can negotiate any sales terms possible including incoterms, pricing, delivery, payment and other agreement aspects.
- Efficient transactions: Sunhub keeps procurement convenient with quoting, bidding and buying all in one platform. In addition to clearly listing available inventory with real-time pricing, and providing a chat interface for buyer and seller negotiations, Sunhub also captures final agreements by auto-generating a legally binding contract.
- Secure deals: Sunhub vets suppliers, moderates negotiations, serves as the contract custodian and facilitates payments. This keeps deals fair and preserves anonymity to grant buyers and sellers the privacy needed to freely negotiate.
- Project planning: Buyers can gather information on forthcoming inventory with a futuristic view of what manufacturers will be supplying and submit pre-orders to secure inventory and lock-in pricing.
- Logistics support: Sunhub believes in supporting buyers in any way it can to enable a deal. Sometimes that means filling in gaps with logistics and warehousing services. Our dedicated in-house logistics team will work with our channel partners to find local warehousing near project sites.
Having products on time and within budget is essential for keeping up with increasing demand for solar projects and enabling solar business growth that advances renewable energy. That’s why our core value comes from our combination of our innovative technology backed by an expert team of procurement professionals.
Seller benefits
Opening up Sunhub to all solar-related product also poses opportunities for manufacturers that make products beyond batteries, panels and inverters to enjoy the benefits of selling on the platform, including:
- An additional sales channel for expanded customer reach
- Help selling excess inventory
- Better production planning with pre-sale orders
- Reduced quoting and automated contract generation
- Easier transactions by bringing your business online
In fact, manufacturers, distributors and vendors are about to realize even more advantages of selling on Sunhub with its upcoming Sales Portal. Sunhub is developing the portal in response to the need to offer another way for new manufacturers to penetrate the market amongst competition while helping distributors reduce risk.
Currently, many manufacturers rely on distributors who may lack the on-hand inventory and brand-specific knowledge and experience required to effectively bring their products into various U.S. territories. Meanwhile, many distributors are faced with their own cash flow problems as they pay upfront for inventory that they may not be able to move as quickly as they need to make a return. Some have even been forced to close their doors. Set to launch later this year, the portal gives suppliers more options for listing their products in front of an online community of buyers—both publicly and privately.
Sales Portal advantages
- Generate leads and build buyer relationships
- Separate team interfaces
- Access digital marketing resources
- Choose level of Sunhub support
- List and send deals privately
- Quote products differently
- Reduce transaction time
Expanding its inventory with additional categories is another way that Sunhub continues to innovate to meet buyer and seller needs for more efficient solar procurement.
Contact Sunhub to explore opportunities to list your products today.