Saving $1000 per month on Shopify B2B Company Onboarding

For high-volume merchants, the shift to Shopify B2B offers incredible opportunities for growth. But for many, that growth comes with a hidden cost: administrative bloat.

Reviewing tax forms, validating businesses, and manually tagging customers can quickly turn into a full-time job. This was the exact bottleneck facing Elite Truck, a premier retailer of truck accessories and parts.

We sat down with Mark Parker, Systems Integrator at Elite Truck, to discuss how they moved from a messy web of email forwards and Google Drive folders to a streamlined, automated B2B onboarding flow using Onboard B2B.

The Challenge: Manual Data Entry and Slow Turnaround

Before optimizing their process, Elite Truck’s approach to B2B applications was manual and fragmented.

Applications would arrive via basic forms, requiring a staff member to manually review the data, email the customer back and forth, and then manually copy-paste that data into Shopify to create company locations.

"We were having trouble with where data was stored," Mark explained. "When I came on board, I think the old ones were in three locations. Google Drive, somewhere in the timeline, etc."

The result was a sluggish experience for their business buyers. It took 1 to 2 business days for a new B2B customer to get approved and start purchasing. In the modern world of B2B ecommerce, a two-day delay is often enough to send a buyer to a competitor.

The Solution: Automating the Approval Flow

"We're looking at easily over $1,000 a month in savings. Just on time."

Elite Truck implemented Onboard B2B to centralize their wholesale applications directly within Shopify.

Instead of chasing emails, the team now directs potential B2B buyers to a dedicated form embedded on their store. When a customer applies, the data is automatically synced to Shopify.

To further speed up their internal communication, Mark utilized Shopify Flow to send instant Slack notifications to the team whenever a new application arrives or requires a revision. Because Onboard B2B integrates with Shopify B2B, all the pieces were already in place.

"Now it’s in that Slack thread... anybody that has access to that box can go in and do it. So you're able to help the customer a lot faster," Mark said.

The Results: 90% Faster Approval Times

The impact of switching to a dedicated B2B onboarding tool was immediate.

1. Drastic reduction in time-to-purchase
   Previously, buyers waited up to two days for access. Now, the turnaround time is a fraction of that. "It can probably go from one to two business days to probably 30 minutes or so," Mark noted. By automating the data collection and using Slack for instant team alerts, Elite Truck reduced the friction for their highest-value customers.
2. Significant labor savings
   Mark estimates that manually processing an application (reviewing, accepting, and transferring data) used to take a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes per application. With Onboard B2B, that administrative burden has largely evaporated.

With an average of one new business application per day, the time savings add up quickly. "We're looking at easily over $1,000 a month in savings. Just on time," Mark confirmed.
3. **Centralized data management **
Beyond the time savings, the team now has peace of mind regarding data compliance and organization. Instead of scattered files on personal drives, every tax form and business detail is stored securely and attached to the correct customer profile in Shopify.

How to replicate Elite Truck’s success

If your team is bogged down by manual wholesale vetting or considering Shopify B2B, here is how you can set up a similar flow:

1. Install Onboard B2B (for Shopify Plus stores only): Create a dedicated B2B registration form that captures the exact data you need (Tax ID, Company Name, etc.). View Onboard B2B on the Shopify App Store.
2. Automate notifications: Use the app’s integration with Shopify Flow to trigger an email or Slack message to your sales team the moment an application is submitted.
3. Enable self-service: Mark’s team uses Onboard’s self-service extension to allow buyers to add their own locations and staff, further reducing friction for both buyer and seller.
4. Tag and segment: Set up rules to automatically tag customers upon approval, ensuring they instantly see the correct B2B pricing and terms on your storefront .

By removing the manual friction from their onboarding, Elite Truck saves time, money, and simultaneously creates a better experience for their customers.