The B2B supply chain is a network of many parts. Manufacturers make goods. Distributors transport them. Retailers and contractors sell and use those goods.  

Ensuring these goods move seamlessly through the supply chain is of paramount importance. And nothing smooths the way quite like the humble rebate. Rebates are the key to these transactions, the grease that keeps the supply chain humming.

Rebates incentivize trading behaviors.

And when used well, they can help businesses sell more, increase razor thin margins and build customer loyalty.

Rebates have long been an afterthought. Sellers often offer them because they think they must, creating one-size-fits-all programs that don’t always work because that’s all their ERP will support. Managing rebates is often tedious and time-consuming, requiring complex spreadsheets that only one or two people in an organization understand. In these situations, rebates can seem ineffective—but that’s because they aren’t being used strategically to incentivize behavior and drive success.

Savvy businesses have long known the truth: a well-built rebate program works better than any discount scheme. And, now, more and more businesses are realizing that rebates are more important than ever before. Businesses around the world have begun using rebates more strategically and are seeing tremendous growth.

And the market agrees with them.

Today, I’m excited to announce that Enable has closed an extension on our Series D raise, taking us to $135M and a $1.135B valuation.

Creating New Opportunities Through Rebate Management

This raise proves that rebates are having their moment. Rebate management has become critical to how the supply chain operates. Rebates are no longer one-size-fits-all incentives but strategic programs suppliers can leverage to drive results, whether that means growing revenue, protecting or increasing margin, or driving customer loyalty. Rebates are at the heart of supply chain partnerships, allowing partners to work as seamless extensions of each other.  

Rebates are emerging as a critical currency in a stagnant industry, making trading partnerships more appealing and beneficial. They are changing the way we do business, encouraging us to share data like never before and opening us up to new and exciting opportunities by increasing transparency between trading partners.  

As businesses exchange data on program performance, rebates take on new roles – from encouraging customers to make additional purchases to meet higher volume rebate tiers, to incentivizing the stocking of specific products and beyond. Tailored rebate programs unlock collaborative opportunities for suppliers and customers to work toward common goals, ensuring alignment instead of conflicting interests. This collaborative approach not only ensures the success of both parties but also establishes enduring partnerships that can withstand the volatile conditions inherent in modern markets.  

The supply chain is undergoing a revolution, and rebates are at the forefront, driving positive change, encouraging data-sharing, and opening new avenues for growth and innovation.

The era of rebates being merely a component of cost is over. They have evolved into strategic tools that hold the key to the future of the supply chain, providing a pathway to sustainable success in an ever-changing business landscape. Enable’s recent funding milestone serves as a beacon, signaling the rise of rebates as a transformative force, revolutionizing the way businesses collaborate and thrive in the modern world.

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