About
As the industrial landscape evolves, B2B ecommerce is becoming a cornerstone of growth and competitiveness for manufacturers and suppliers. Industrial buyers now expect seamless, data-driven purchasing experiences that rival those of consumer retail, from self-service ordering to real-time inventory visibility and personalised pricing.
In this roundtable, hosted by The Engineer and sponsored by BigCommerce, we’ll bring together leaders from across the engineering and manufacturing sectors to discuss how ecommerce is reshaping the industrial buying journey. The conversation will explore how businesses are integrating ecommerce platforms with complex ERP and CRM systems, simplifying product configuration, and leveraging AI and automation to improve sales efficiency and customer satisfaction.
From streamlining distributor relationships to expanding into new digital channels, attendees will gain practical insights into how B2B ecommerce is driving operational agility, customer loyalty, and long-term revenue growth across the industrial ecosystem.
Key discussion areas
• Implementation challenges - overcoming the obstacles to adoption
• Integrating ecommerce platforms
• Ensuring a joined up digital strategy - where does ecommerce fit into a broader digital strategy?
• Scaling ecommerce solutions for SMEs and OEMs.
• The role of AI in a digital strategy

Date: 10th February 2026, 11am

When
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 · 9:30 a.m. London (GMT +0:00)
Presenters
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Dr Robert Learney
Head of Technology - Distributed Systems, Digital Catapult
Rob is the Head of Technology – Distributed Systems. He is involved in developing new programmes to help groups from multiple sectors explore the potential of this technology to unlock economic growth for the UK.
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Phil Kirkham
Unipart Signite Sales Director
Phil has 25 years of experience working in Sales and Sales Leadership for SAP and some global ERP Companies. Phil has a proven track record in growing SAP Consulting businesses, where Orchard House was recognised as SAP's fastest growing partner globally between 2019 and 2022. Phil has won deals with many FTSE 100 and Fortune 2000 businesses, he excels in new markets, and is passionate about consistently delivering customers exceptional results.
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Tony Cheetham
Founder and MD, Shipster
Tony Cheetham is the founder and MD of Shipster, a custom shipping integration platform developed by Manchester-based tech company, Oddsphere Ltd. Designed to connect eCommerce warehouses with over 150 leading couriers, Shipster powers the shipping operations behind some of the UK’s fastest-growing private businesses.
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Mike Hayers
Strategic Account Director, BigCommerce
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Jon Excell
Editor