The Future Is Already Here: What a Modern B2B Commerce Solution Is and How to Implement One Fast

The biggest challenge facing B2B merchants today is implementing differentiating features quickly, cost-effectively, with minimal risk, and at scale. Publicis Sapient’s GVP of Commerce Technology, Jon Panella, presented at B2B Online Chicago a session titled, “The Future Is Already Here”. The session explored what a modern solution is, what the competitive advantages of having one are, and how Publicis Sapient is using AI to help merchants get there faster than has ever been possible before.

WHY MODERNIZATION MATTERS

A recent Deloitte study found that 50% of enterprise leaders cite outdated technology as the biggest barrier to achieving their business goals. Legacy systems don’t just slow you down—they disconnect teams, inflate cost structures, and make it nearly impossible to deliver the kind of experiences today’s customers expect.

So what does a modern solution look like?

INTEGRATED ARCHITECTURE
Gone are the days of siloed systems. Modern architectures are built on API-first integration, enabling flexible orchestration between back-office tools, services, and customer experiences. An integrated architecture is a key component of being able to deliver high-level experiences at scale. Being able to use technology systems instead of working around or against them expedites the implementation and launch process.

PERSONALIZATION AT SCALE
Customers expect timely promotions, dynamic pricing, personalized bundles, and behavior-based content. According to Forrester, 74% of consumers say their decision to purchase is influenced solely by the quality of the experience. Delivering a personalized, behavior-based experience is one way a modern solution delivers a high-quality experience. 

SELF-SERVICE
From product discovery to account management, 67% of users prefer to self-serve rather than speak to a rep. Modern solutions empower users while lowering support costs.

AUTOMATED SECURITY UPDATES
As potential threats expand, modern solutions automate compliance and updates, so merchants don’t have to think about them daily.

MULTI-CHANNEL PERFORMANCE
Modern buyers switch between desktop, mobile, in-store, and marketplaces. 86% say they’ll pay more for a seamless experience across these touchpoints. Investing in a modern architecture that facilitates omnichannel commerce easier than a custom or monolithic stack empowers internal teams to build seamless experiences and allows customers the ease of use of browsing and purchasing from any device they’d like. 

DISCOVERABILITY
Complex catalogs? No problem. Advanced filtering, search, and recommendation tools make it easier for users to find what they need. Modern discoverability capabilities also harness personalization filters and not only help users discover products, they recommend products that users are more likely to purchase based on their past behavior.

Components to Modernize First for Fast Wins

A rip-and-replace to build a modern solution can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Luckily, there are other ways to modernize, including isolating experience-heavy components that can be updated to deliver quick wins. These components can utilize best-in-class vendors and deliver fast ROI. 

SEARCH & DISCOVERY
Best-in-class discoverability tools reduce customer support burden by 63%. That’s more time your team can focus on strategic work instead of ticket triage.

FIRST-PARTY DATA
Shopify reports that brands leveraging first-party data see 8x ROI, 25% lower customer acquisition costs, and up to 3x revenue growth.

VENDOR INTEGRATION
IBM found 82% of enterprises are bogged down by siloed data. Unified systems unlock cross-functional insights and faster decision-making.

SECURITY
With 22% of businesses naming cybersecurity as a top challenge, modern platforms automate much of the work with autonomous updates and real-time patching.

How Slingshot Accelerates Modernization

According to McKinsey, the average large-scale IT project overruns its budget by 45%, misses schedules by 7%, and delivers 56% less value than expected.

Using Slingshot in the SDLC decreases time-to-value, minimizes risk, and empowers developers. 

Slingshot isn’t a dev accelerator, it’s an end-to-end modernization engine that:

• Proposes new solutions
  
• Estimates and plans project roadmaps
  
• Develops, tests, and deploys code faster
  
• Delivers up to 40% faster Time-to-Market

WHAT SLINGSHOT MEANS FOR MERCHANTS

• Reduced Risk: 75% of Slingshot-generated code is production-ready and used as written, which reduces friction and rework.
  
• Lower Cost: Faster cycles mean fewer dev hours equals reduced costs.
  
• Increased Agility: When it’s easier to pivot, teams can innovate more freely.
  
• Team Enablement: AI doesn’t replace your team—it amplifies their impact. Your smartest people spend less time on boilerplate and more time on breakthroughs.

THE TIME FOR MODERN B2B EXPERIENCES IS NOW

You don’t need to wait for the next big breakthrough in AI or commerce to future-proof your business. The technology exists right now to drive ROI, accelerate timelines, and empower your teams.

Slingshot gives you the shortest path from “idea” to “in-market” without compromising security, scalability, or experience.

Contact us today to discuss how Slingshot can accelerate your path to a modern solution.