Redesign of B2B Offers Section on Plastech.pl

Desired outcome

The B2B Offers section on Plastech.pl is a dedicated space for companies in the plastics industry, designed to facilitate business cooperation, exchange of offers, and finding partners. The platform allows users to post advertisements for the sale and purchase of raw materials, machinery, services, and technologies, fostering effective communication between market participants. Operating for over 20 years, the section’s largest component is the Plastics exchange, where companies publish listings related to primary and secondary plastics, including granulates, recyclates, and plastic waste.

Initial Problem Description

Our goal is to implement improvements that will expand the reach of the B2B Offers section. We are considering shifting the business model from a listing platform to a transactional platform, where transactions between sellers and buyers are completed, or at least declarations of intent to transact are made, to increase user engagement. Introducing more advanced user verification is essential to enhance the credibility of posted offers. In particular, we aim to further develop the Plastics exchange.

Context

The Plastech portal has been operating for over 20 years, and although its functionality has been improved multiple times, we believe that continuous updates and adjustments to new technological solutions are essential.

To submit B2B Offers, we have introduced a requirement for companies to first register in our Company Directory. This aims to enhance the credibility of published content and prevent private individuals from posting advertisements. For companies in Poland, we verify data using the tax identification number (NIP) in the GUS database.

However, cases of impersonating a company and attempted fraud still occur. One of the key challenges is verifying users effectively without overly complicating access. We are considering implementing more advanced verification methods to balance security with ease of use. Achieving 100% verification of users and companies would allow the platform to evolve into a transactional system where businesses could directly connect with suppliers, such as recyclate providers.

Connection to cross-cutting areas

Plastech is a portal dedicated to the plastics and packaging industries, where in recent years, environmental awareness and the drive towards a circular economy have significantly increased. Many plastics processing companies are seeking granulates and regranulates, as well as buyers for plastic waste generated during production. On the other hand, recycling companies are actively looking for such waste and offer ready-to-use recyclates in the form of regranulates or ground materials.

Input

B2B Offers Section – Key Statistics:
- 42% of website traffic: The B2B Offers section accounts for nearly half of the total traffic on the portal, highlighting its importance to users.
- 6,357 active offers: Currently, the section hosts over six thousand active listings, with a total of 79,632 offers to date and an additional archive of 96,677 removed offers.
- 325 users with active B2B Offers: This is the number of businesses users regularly using the section to publish their listings.

Expectations

We expect the solution to evolve in a direction that transforms the current B2B Offers section into a more engaging and functional transactional platform. The redesign should focus on improving usability, increasing user trust through advanced verification processes, and aligning with modern technological and market standards.
Apart from delivering the solution, we expect the team to:
- Conduct an external audit of the current platform to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Perform a benchmark analysis by comparing the platform with similar existing platforms to understand industry best practices.
- Provide a detailed proposal for changes, including a roadmap for implementation, prioritizing features that enhance user engagement, security, and efficiency.
- Offer strategic recommendations for the platform’s long-term development and scalability.
- Facilitate knowledge transfer to our internal team to ensure smooth maintenance and potential future upgrades.

Desired Team Profile

For redesigning the B2B Offers model, we need a team with expertise in B2B marketplaces, a UI designer to create user-centric workflows, and a data security specialist to ensure compliance and implement advanced verification methods. Additionally, we require a testing specialist and an industry consultant with knowledge of the plastics and recycling sector to align the platform with market needs.

Additional Information

The plastics and packaging industries are increasingly focused on circular economy practices, driving demand for recycled materials such as granulates, regranulates, and ground materials.
The increasing pressure from EU regulations, such as mandatory recycled content targets, is likely to boost the demand for recyclates and related materials.
Sustainability is a key driver, with many businesses looking to integrate recycled content into their products while meeting stringent regulatory requirements (e.g., EU SUP Directive).
The fragmented nature of the plastics recycling market creates inefficiencies in matching supply and demand.
Companies often struggle with the verification of business partners, leading to occasional cases of fraud or misrepresentation.

Related Keywords

• Plastics, Polymers
• Scrap separation & recycling
• b2b platform
• plastic marketplace