Dive Brief: 

• Forrester Research found in a new report that B2B e-commerce revenue is on track to hit $1 billion by 2020. 
• E-commerce will account for 12.1% of all B2B sales in the U.S. in the next five years—up from 9.3% in 2015. 
• Buyer preferences for online purchases and improved e-commerce technology is helping to drive B2B e-commerce, the research firm said.

Dive Insight: 

B2B is catching up to the rest of the world by increasing e-commerce revenue. Online sales have a multitude of advantages, including lower operation costs, convenience, and research capabilities. The sales cycle has always been different for B2B, but both sellers and buyers are starting to understand how e-commerce can fit into the process.