While frost melts and cherry blossoms begin to appear, the wholesale industry is experiencing its own renewal. New technologies aren't just emerging - they're transforming how we do business from the warehouse floor to the customer's door. Let's dig into five key trends that are changing the game for wholesalers in 2025.
1. AI-Powered Inventory & Order Management
Remember spending your Sundays counting stock or Monday mornings deciphering handwritten orders? Those days are fading fast. Today's AI tools can analyse your sales history, market patterns, and even seasonal factors to predict what you will need before you run short. The real game-changer? AI now captures orders from voicemail, email, WhatsApp, and SMS - updating them directly into your system without a single keystroke from your team.
📌 Case in Point: Rowlands & Co Ltd has reduced order management workload by 33%-50% using Orderlion’s AI-powered Inbox [1].
2. Mobile Order Processing Evolution
The clipboard and order pad have officially been retired. Today's sales teams and customers expect the same smooth experience they get when ordering their personal shopping. They want an intuitive, mobile-friendly ordering app that works just as well in a busy kitchen at midnight as it does in your warehouse at dawn. Wholesalers who make ordering this easy are quietly stealing market share from those still clinging to paper forms and phone calls.
📊 Fun Fact: According to Gartner, 80% of all B2B sales will be placed digitally by the end of 2025 [2].
3. Real-Time Customer Insights
Access to up-to-date customer insights is now a must for field sales teams. Instead of relying on outdated spreadsheets or past orders, sales reps can access real-time data on purchasing patterns, stock levels and outstanding invoices while on the go. This empowers them to make better recommendations, optimise customer visits and improve sales conversion rates.
📈 Statistic Spotlight: Companies utilising real-time insights have reported a 20% increase in sales efficiency [3].
4. Digital Payments Transforming B2B Transactions
Traditional invoicing and paper-based systems are being replaced by smart solutions that streamline transactions, cut admin work and improve cash flow. By offering modern payment options like digital wallets, instant transfers, and embedded checkout, wholesalers are making life easier for customers while speeding up their order-to-cash cycle.
💳 Market Insight: The B2B digital payment market is set to grow at a CAGR of 14.3% over the next three years, reaching USD 8.2 billion by 2028 [4].
5. Integration of ERP with Other Business Systems
The days of isolated software systems are over. Modern wholesalers are connecting their ERP systems with their other softwares - from CRM to e-commerce ordering platforms to warehouse management tools. When these systems talk to each other, the results are staggering; sales teams know exactly what's in stock, finance gets real-time margin data, and customers receive accurate deliveries.
🚀 Market Projection: The Global AI in ERP Market is expected to be worth around $46.5B by 2033, up from $4.5B in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 26.30% [5].
The wholesale business may be as old as commerce itself, but these technologies are writing an exciting new chapter. The wholesalers who embrace these tools won't just survive – they'll thrive in the seasons ahead.
References: [1] Orderlion, [2] Gartner, [3] McKinsey, [4] MarketsandMarkets, [5] Market.us, [6] Mordor Intelligence.
Embrace the Future, Today
The wholesale industry is moving faster than ever, and those who adapt early are the ones who gain the edge. From AI-driven efficiency to integrated digital tools, the technology trends reshaping wholesale in 2025 offer real, measurable benefits. Saving time, cutting costs and improving customer relationships.
👉 Want to see how these trends can work for your business?
Get in touch with our team or book a free demo to discover how Orderlion can help modernise your operations and keep you ahead of the curve.
Hear what some of our customers think about Orderlion.
Find out how SJB Foods cut order handling time by 80% using Orderlion’s branded app and automated workflows.
