Navigating the New Era of Wholesale Trade
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Navigating the New Era of Wholesale Trade
The wholesale trade landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by digital transformation and evolving buyer expectations. Today’s success hinges on seamlessly blending robust e-commerce platforms with personalized B2B relationships. While data analytics enables predictive inventory management and dynamic pricing, the human element remains critical for complex negotiations. By strategically adopting AI-driven supply chain optimization, wholesalers can reduce bottlenecks and anticipate market volatility. Simultaneously, building omnichannel engagement strategies allows distributors to meet clients where they operate, whether through mobile portals or direct API integrations. The entities that thrive will not just react to changes but will actively pioneer new efficiencies, marrying technological agility with deep industry expertise to create resilient, value-driven ecosystems in this dynamic new era.
Why Digital Platforms Are Reshaping Bulk Purchasing
The wholesale landscape is shifting fast, driven by digital platforms and data-driven decision-making. Navigating the new era of wholesale trade requires agility, as buyers demand seamless B2B e-commerce experiences and real-time inventory visibility. Digital transformation in wholesale is no longer optional but a survival tool. Wholesalers must now master omnichannel strategies, optimize supply chains with AI, and leverage predictive analytics to anticipate demand.
The winners will be those who turn complexity into speed and data into trust.
This demands a mindset shift from static bulk selling to dynamic, responsive partnerships. Key areas to focus on include:
- Automated order processing and CRM integration
- Personalized pricing and bulk deals for loyal buyers
- Resilient logistics and last-mile precision
Key Shifts from Traditional Supply Chains to Online Hubs
The wholesale trade landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by digital transformation and evolving buyer expectations. To thrive in this new era, you must prioritize **data-driven inventory management** to predict demand with precision. Success relies on three pillars: integrating AI for automated procurement, offering B2B self-service portals for seamless ordering, and building transparent supply chains that build trust. A real-time view of stock levels and logistics is no longer optional; it is the baseline for operational excellence.
In this environment, your greatest competitive advantage is not just what you sell, but how effortlessly you make it available to your partners.
The old model of manual phone orders and reactive restocking has become a liability. Instead, focus on creating a frictionless digital experience that mirrors the convenience of consumer shopping, while maintaining the personalized service and bulk-pricing expertise that define wholesale. Adapting to these technological shifts is the only path to sustainable growth and client retention.
Core Mechanics of a Modern Trading Platform
The hum of the matching engine is the unsung heartbeat of any modern trading platform. At its core, a sophisticated order book acts as a digital ledger, continuously aggregating buy and sell orders from millions of anonymous participants. Within microseconds, a central logic engine—the matching algorithm—sorts these queues by price and time, seeking the smallest spread where a buyer’s highest bid meets a seller’s lowest ask. When a match fires, the platform instantly locks the transaction, updating balances and chart data in a seamless, frictionless flow. This silent, relentless dance of electronic negotiation creates real-time market liquidity, transforming abstract intent into tangible trades without a single shouted word.
How Buyer and Seller Verification Builds Trust
At the heart of any modern trading platform lies a high-speed order matching engine that executes buy and sell orders in microseconds. This core mechanic ensures liquidity by algorithmically pairing counterparties, while real-time market data feeds deliver price updates and depth charts without lag. Risk management protocols, such as circuit breakers and margin calls, dynamically protect traders from volatility. Real-time market data processing is the critical backbone, enabling split-second decisions. A robust API ecosystem also allows for automated strategies, from simple limit orders to complex algorithmic spreads, making the platform a hub for both retail and institutional action.
Streamlined Payment Solutions and Escrow Services
Core mechanics of a modern trading platform hinge on the real-time order matching engine, which instantly pairs buy and sell orders using price-time priority. Behind the scenes, a distributed ledger or centralized database tracks every asset balance with sub-second latency, ensuring no double-spending occurs. The platform then executes pre-trade risk checks—like margin sufficiency and position limits—before routing the order to liquidity pools. For the user, this feels like magic: they click “buy,” and a shimmering candlestick chart updates, showing their order filled at a precise tick. The system simultaneously calculates fees, updates their profit/loss dashboard, and fires a confirmation notification—all before the next heartbeat.
Logistics Integration for Cross-Border Fulfillment
A modern trading platform’s core mechanics revolve around executing orders lightning-fast while keeping the interface intuitive. You’re looking at real-time market data streaming in, high-frequency order matching engines that pair buyers and sellers in milliseconds, and dynamic charts that update without a page refresh. Everything from a limit order to a stop-loss triggers instantly, so you’re not left guessing during volatile moves. For the DIY trader, the platform handles margin calls, leverages APIs for automated bots, and syncs across mobile and desktop. It’s all about cutting lag and keeping the workflow fluid, whether you’re scalping five-cent moves or setting a long-term hold. No fluff—just raw speed and clarity.
Industries Winning Through Digital Intermediaries
Digital intermediaries are rewriting the rules of commerce, handing industries from hospitality to logistics a decisive edge. Platforms like Airbnb and Uber don’t just connect supply with demand—they weaponize user data to optimize pricing and route discovery in real time. For hotels and taxi fleets, partnering with these aggregators unlocks vast consumer pools that traditional marketing can’t reach, slashing acquisition costs while boosting occupancy and ride volumes. Meanwhile, e-commerce marketplaces empower small manufacturers to access global buyers without building a storefront. The key shift? These intermediaries absorb friction—payment processing, trust verification, search—so core businesses can focus on service quality.
In this ecosystem, control is less valuable than access: the winners are those who master the platform, not fight it.
The result is a leaner, more responsive value chain where speed and data fluency separate market leaders from laggards.
Manufacturing Sectors Embracing Global Sourcing
Industries from retail to logistics are winning by leveraging **digital intermediaries to expand market reach**. These platforms, such as Amazon, Shopify, or specialized B2B exchanges, aggregate demand and streamline transactions, effectively lowering customer acquisition costs. For expert results, follow these strategic moves:
- Automate operations: Use API integrations to sync inventory and pricing in real-time.
- Analyze data: Extract consumer behavior insights to refine product offerings and optimize ad spend.
Manufacturers, in particular, avoid costly direct-to-consumer infrastructure while gaining global visibility. The key is choosing intermediaries that align with your vertical’s compliance and logistics needs—not just the largest one. Prioritize platforms offering analytics dashboards and dedicated account management for sustained growth.
Agri-Commodities and Raw Material Exchanges
Across the retail landscape, a quiet revolution unfolded: the local bookstore, once struggling, now thrived through an online intermediary that did more than sell books—it curated reader communities and offered personalized recommendations. The travel industry followed suit, as boutique hotels found global audiences through booking platforms that handled logistics and reviews. Even small-scale farmers began reaching urban tables via digital marketplaces, bypassing costly supply chains. This transformation underscores that digital intermediaries unlock market access for niche players, turning local artisans into global competitors. The win is mutual—consumers gain discovery and convenience, while industries gain resilience through direct customer data and reduced overheads.
Q: Which industry has gained most from digital intermediaries?
A: Retail and hospitality lead, as platforms like Amazon and Airbnb enable even micro-enterprises to compete globally by leveraging user reviews, targeted ads, and fulfillment networks.
Medical Supplies and Specialized Equipment Networks
In the once-sleepy town of logistics, a family-run trucking firm nearly collapsed under paper invoices and manual route planning. Then they plugged into a digital freight intermediary. Instantly, empty return trips vanished, replaced by backhauls matched through a smart exchange. The digital platform didn’t just find customers—it algorithmically paired loads with idle capacity, slashing fuel waste by 22% in six months. This story repeats across industries: retail manufacturers now bypass wholesalers via B2B marketplaces, while local hotels fill off-season rooms through global online travel agents. The key is digital intermediaries reduce transactional friction, turning fragmented supply into seamless revenue. For healthcare suppliers, cloud-based procurement hubs have cut order-to-delivery from weeks to hours, proving that intermediation isn’t dead—it’s just become invisible, code-powered, and ruthlessly efficient.
Maximizing Visibility for Sellers on Virtual Marketplaces
To maximize visibility for sellers, your primary focus must be on strategic keyword optimization within product titles, descriptions, and backend search terms, as this directly drives organic discovery. Beyond SEO, leverage high-quality visual content—including video demonstrations—which reduces bounce rates and signals relevance to platform algorithms. Actively manage customer reviews and response rates, as superior seller metrics often result in higher search rankings. Finally, diversify your presence by utilizing pay-per-click advertising and participating in platform-specific promotions, which create secondary traffic channels that compound your product’s authority and sustained visibility.
Optimizing Product Listings for Higher Search Rankings
To maximize seller visibility on virtual marketplaces, prioritize search engine optimization and platform-specific algorithms. Sellers must craft keyword-rich product titles and descriptions, as these directly feed into the internal search engine. High-quality images and detailed listings significantly boost your ranking, leading to higher click-through rates and conversions. Actively managing reviews and offering competitive pricing are non-negotiable for algorithmic favor. Product listing optimization is the cornerstone of marketplace success. Additionally, leverage these strategies to dominate search results:
- Use backend search terms that reflect buyer intent.
- Maintain perfect inventory and shipping metrics to avoid ranking penalties.
- Run sponsored ads for high-demand keywords to appear at the top of search results.
Leveraging Reviews and Social Proof to Close Deals
To maximize visibility on virtual marketplaces, sellers must move beyond listing products and actively engineer discoverability. High-ranking product visibility starts with precision keyword optimization, embedding terms buyers actually search into titles, bullet points, and backend fields. Next, leverage high-quality images with multiple angles and lifestyle contexts, as listings with strong visual assets consistently earn higher click-through rates. Dynamic pricing strategies and time-limited promotions, like flash sales or BOGO deals, can push your products toward search result tops within hours. Finally, aggressively collect positive reviews—each five-star rating acts as a trust signal that marketplace algorithms weigh heavily in ranking calculations. Momentum builds fastest for sellers who treat every detail, from image alt text to shipping speed, as a direct lever for being found first.
Pricing Strategies That Attract Serious Buyers
In a bustling virtual marketplace, a seller’s success hinges not just on quality goods, but on being seen amidst the digital crowd. Search engine optimization for product listings becomes the beacon that guides buyers through the noise. To win visibility, savvy sellers weave targeted keywords naturally into titles, descriptions, and bullet points, mirroring how a street vendor would shout the right flavors. They also harness high-resolution images and customer reviews as social proof, turning casual browsers into loyal patrons. By regularly refreshing inventory and leveraging platform analytics, a seller transforms their stall from a quiet corner into a vibrant hub, where every visitor feels the pull of something irresistible waiting just a click away.
Tools That Empower Procurement Professionals
Procurement pros are finally ditching spreadsheets for smarter tools that do the heavy lifting. Platforms like SAP Ariba and Coupa handle everything from sourcing to payment, cutting down manual data entry and slashing errors. These systems use AI to spot spending patterns, flag risky suppliers, and even suggest cost-saving moves you might miss. For contract management, tools like ContractWorks keep terms organized and alert you before renewals, so nothing slips through the cracks. *Spend analytics dashboards turn messy data into clear visuals, making it easy to present wins to stakeholders.* The real game-changer? cloud-based procurement software that connects your whole team in real time, letting you negotiate smarter and reorder stock with a single click. Supplier relationship management features also track performance, helping you ditch underperformers and reward reliable partners. Ultimately, these tools free up your brainpower for strategic decisions—not just chasing invoices.
Automated Request for Quotations (RFQ) Systems
Procurement professionals today leverage a powerful suite of digital tools to transform chaos into strategic advantage. Cloud-based procurement software automates repetitive tasks like purchase order creation and invoice matching, drastically reducing cycle times and human error. Key capabilities include spend analytics for identifying cost-saving opportunities, supplier relationship management (SRM) platforms for fostering collaboration, and e-sourcing solutions that streamline competitive bidding. These systems provide real-time visibility into the supply chain, enabling proactive risk management and data-driven decision-making that elevates procurement from a back-office function to a core driver of profitability. Adopting this technology is no longer optional—it is the definitive path to achieving operational excellence and securing a competitive edge.
Real-Time Inventory and Lead Time Tracking
Modern procurement professionals rely on a suite of digital tools to streamline sourcing, contract management, and supplier collaboration. Strategic sourcing software and e-procurement platforms automate repetitive tasks like purchase order creation and invoice matching, while spend analysis tools uncover cost-saving opportunities and maverick spend. Advanced solutions integrate AI for predictive insights and risk assessment, ensuring supply chain resilience. Automating low-value tasks frees your team to focus on negotiation and supplier relationships. Key technology categories include:
- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) for tracking obligations and renewals.
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) platforms for performance scoring.
- e-Sourcing suites for RFx events and reverse auctions.
Adopting a centralized procurement system is no longer optional; it’s a competitive necessity for driving efficiency and compliance across the enterprise.
Data Analytics for Smarter Sourcing Decisions
Procurement pros are leveling up fast, thanks to tools that automate boring admin work and unlock strategic wins. AI-powered spend analysis software is a game-changer, instantly spotting savings opportunities across thousands of invoices and contracts. You can ditch manual spreadsheets and rely on platforms that handle the heavy lifting, like:
- Sourcing platforms that run smart RFPs and score suppliers automatically.
- Contract management systems that flag renewal dates and compliance risks.
- Supplier relationship tools that track performance dashboards in real time.
These solutions free up brain space for bigger moves—negotiating better deals and building resilient supply chains. Even small teams can punch above their weight when the right tech handles the data grunt work.
Overcoming Hurdles in Online Wholesale Transactions
Navigating the landscape of online wholesale transactions requires a strategic approach to overcome inherent hurdles like trust deficits, fragmented communication, and complex logistics. The primary solution lies in implementing **robust eCommerce platforms** that automate inventory synchronization, real-time order tracking, and digital payment gateways. By integrating these tools, suppliers eliminate manual errors and build credibility with bulk buyers.
Automated verification systems are non-negotiable for preventing fraud and ensuring transaction security.
Furthermore, adopting **unified B2B marketplaces** simplifies logistics by consolidating shipping contracts and customs documentation. To maintain momentum, businesses must demand transparent pricing tiers and enforce clear return policies within their digital contracts. When all parties commit to these scalable, tech-driven frameworks, the friction of wholesale trade dissolves, paving the way for seamless, high-volume transactions.
Mitigating Fraud Through Platform Safeguards
Navigating online wholesale transactions requires tackling hurdles like fraudulent orders and logistical delays head-on. By implementing robust verification systems, such as two-factor authentication and secure payment gateways, you can streamline B2B e-commerce security and build unshakeable trust. Key obstacles to overcome include:
- Inventory synchronization errors across platforms.
- High payment processing fees for large volumes.
- Unreliable shipping partners causing missed b2b marketplace deadlines.
Adopting automated order management software eliminates manual errors and accelerates fulfillment. Confidently enforce clear return policies and real-time tracking to turn these hurdles into competitive advantages. The path to frictionless wholesale is clear: automate, verify, and collaborate with vetted logistics providers.
Handling Disputes Without Damaging Relationships
Navigating online wholesale transactions requires mastering secure B2B payment gateways to prevent fraud and chargebacks. Common hurdles include verifying buyer credentials, managing bulk order logistics, and ensuring platform interoperability. To overcome these, implement automated identity verification and real-time inventory sync. A critical step is establishing clear terms for volume discounts and return policies.
- Draft enforceable contracts covering payment milestones and dispute resolution.
- Use escrow services for high-value cross-border orders.
- Integrate tax compliance software for multi-jurisdiction sales.
Q: How can I reduce payment delays?
A: Automate invoicing with 30-day net terms and offer early-payment discounts.
Adapting to Regional Payment and Regulatory Needs
Navigating online wholesale transactions often feels like running an obstacle course, but ditching the hassle is possible by building trust through transparent vendor vetting. The biggest hurdles usually boil down to verifying product quality, securing fair pricing for bulk orders, and managing slow shipping times. You can tackle these by focusing on a few simple steps:
- Request samples before committing to a large stock order.
- Compare quotes from multiple suppliers to spot red flags.
- Use escrow payment services to protect your cash flow until goods arrive.
Also, don’t skip reading contract fine print—hidden fees often trip up newcomers. Once you get the hang of checking credentials and communicating expectations clearly, bulk buying becomes much smoother and less risky.
Emerging Technologies Driving Tomorrow’s Exchanges
The hum of tomorrow’s exchanges is no longer just from frantic floor traders, but from silent algorithms and immutable ledgers. At the heart of this shift lies decentralized finance (DeFi), which dismantles gatekeepers and allows value to flow peer-to-peer, 24/7, through smart contracts. Simultaneously, digital asset tokenization is breathing life into real-world items, from fine art to carbon credits, making them instantly tradeable in fractionalized chunks. Beneath it all, artificial intelligence acts as the tireless market wizard, sniffing out trends and managing risk at speeds humans cannot match. These technologies aren’t just upgrades; they are re-architecting the very concept of a marketplace, creating a fluid, accessible, and radically transparent global bazaar for the future.
Blockchain for Transparent and Immutable Records
Tomorrow’s financial exchanges are being reshaped by a powerful convergence of decentralized ledgers and artificial intelligence, which is unlocking unprecedented speed and transparency. Decentralized finance automation now executes complex trades through smart contracts, eliminating intermediaries and reducing settlement times from days to seconds. Meanwhile, AI-driven predictive models continuously analyze global market sentiment, flagging anomalies before human traders can blink. Quantum computing looms on the horizon, promising to crack optimization problems that would stump classical systems. These technologies together are forging a new infrastructure where liquidity flows freely across borders, and risk is managed in real time through adaptive algorithms. The exchange floor is no longer a physical space; it has become a living, programmable ecosystem.
AI-Powered Matching Between Suppliers and Buyers
In a small, glass-walled control room overlooking Hong Kong’s harbor, a trader watches as AI-driven algorithms execute millions of cross-border deals before she can blink. Distributed ledger technology now settles these trades in seconds, not days. Behind the scenes, quantum computers crunch risk models that once took hours into milliseconds. The exchange floor itself has vanished—replaced by immersive virtual reality environments where brokers from Tokyo, London, and São Paulo meet as holograms. A single glitch in one of these digital threads can ripple across continents, yet the system hums, efficient and relentless.
“The market never sleeps, because the machines never do.”
Today’s exchange isn’t a place; it’s a pulse, powered by code and light.
Augmented Reality Showrooms for Product Inspection
Decentralized finance is reshaping global markets, with blockchain-powered smart contracts automating trades in milliseconds. Artificial intelligence algorithms now analyze vast datasets to predict liquidity shifts, while quantum computing threatens to crack current encryption standards—forcing exchanges to adopt post-quantum cryptography. Tokenization of real-world assets, from real estate to carbon credits, is collapsing traditional barriers to entry. Key drivers include:
- **Zero-knowledge proofs** enabling private, compliant transactions.
- **AI-driven arbitrage bots** that exploit micro-price discrepancies across 50+ exchanges.
- **IoT-integrated supply chains** that convert inventory into instant collateral for lending.
This fusion of speed, transparency, and programmability is turning yesterday’s stock floors into always-on, borderless liquidity pools.
Evaluating Success Metrics for Digital Trade Hubs
In the neon-lit control room of a new digital trade hub, the operators didn’t just watch dollar signs climb; they listened for the crackle of cross-border data streams. A successful hub is less about raw transaction volume and more about the quiet velocity of trust—how fast a small artisan in Lagos can ship to Tokyo without a single customs snag. We learned this the hard way after our first quarter, when volume surged but retention plummeted. Actionable user engagement became our North Star, tracking not just clicks but completed workflows. Real-time data liquidity then revealed the hidden friction points.
The strongest metric isn’t how many log in, but how many never want to leave.
Ultimately, search engine visibility for vendor profiles proved a leading indicator of sustainable growth, drawing a more purposeful crowd than any ad campaign.
Conversion Rates from Inquiry to Purchase Orders
In a bustling digital trade hub, success isn’t measured by traffic alone but by digital trade hub growth metrics that reveal real-world impact. The platform’s early days showed thousands of clicks, yet few completed transactions. We pivoted, tracking cross-border conversion rates and seller retention instead. A local artisan, once lost in the noise, suddenly saw her goods reach three new countries within a month—proof that our metrics finally mirrored purpose. The key indicators emerged:
- Transaction velocity—how fast deals close across borders
- Payment success rates—smooth currency exchanges matter more than visits
- Seller liquidity—days to first payout, not page views
When those numbers rose, the hub stopped being just a website. It became a marketplace where a farmer in Kenya could ship produce to Dubai before sunset, and a Vietnamese coder could invoice a German startup without friction. That shift—from vanity to velocity—turned our dashboard into a story of livelihoods, not logins.
Liquidity and Transaction Volume as Growth Signals
Evaluating success metrics for digital trade hubs isn’t just about counting visitors. You need to look at real user engagement, like how many transactions go through and how often sellers return. Key performance indicators for marketplace liquidity matter more than raw traffic. Also track cross-border transaction volume and payment success rates. Don’t ignore qualitative feedback—survey merchants on ease of use and support quality. A healthy hub balances growth with trust metrics, like dispute resolution speed and buyer satisfaction scores.
Return on Investment for Platform Subscription Models
Evaluating success metrics for digital trade hubs requires a shift from traditional traffic-based benchmarks to quantifiable economic impact. The primary measure of marketplace liquidity is essential, assessed through transaction volume, average order value, and cross-border deal closure rates. Key performance indicators typically include:
- Merchant acquisition cost and retention rate.
- Platform-to-GDP contribution within the hub’s ecosystem.
- Average time-to-settlement and dispute resolution speed.
These metrics must be balanced against user friction metrics, such as abandoned cart rates and API integration failure logs, to ensure sustainable growth rather than superficial activity.
Future Trends Influencing Commercial Exchange Networks
The quiet hum of server rooms is giving way to a symphony of autonomous logistics. Soon, commercial exchange networks will no longer simply react to orders but anticipate them, as predictive AI reroutes supply chains before a storm even forms. Alongside this, decentralized ledgers are weaving trust into the fabric of every transaction, making cross-border payments as seamless as passing a note. Imagine warehouses that think like busy cities, or digital wallets that speak the local tongue of tariffs and customs. The old, rigid lines of trade are blurring into a fluid, intelligent system—one where even the smallest artisan can plug into a global market. What we are building is not just faster trade, but a network that breathes with the rhythm of human need and machine precision.
Rise of Niche Specialized Buying and Selling Portals
Commercial exchange networks are rapidly evolving under the pressure of three converging forces. Decentralized ledger technology is dismantling traditional intermediaries, enabling peer-to-peer transactions with unprecedented transparency. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence is powering predictive supply chain logistics, slashing latency and optimizing routes in real-time. A surge in embedded finance seamlessly integrates payment and lending services into non-financial platforms, from e-commerce checkouts to industrial IoT ecosystems.
Tomorrow’s winners won’t just facilitate trade—they will engineer frictionless, autonomous marketplaces that learn and adapt instantly.
These shifts demand agile infrastructure as tokenized assets and instant cross-border settlements redefine value exchange, pushing networks toward modular, composable architectures. The race is on to balance hyper-efficiency with robust cybersecurity resilience.
Sustainability Criteria as a Dealbreaker in Sourcing
The future of commercial exchange networks hinges on decentralized finance and tokenized assets, which reduce intermediaries and settlement times. AI-driven dynamic pricing and predictive analytics will optimize supply chain logistics and cross-border transaction fees. Key trends include: blockchain interoperability for seamless multi-party trade, real-time IoT tracking for inventory verifiability, and embedded finance within B2B platforms. Regulatory clarity around digital currencies and smart contracts will accelerate adoption. Networks that fail to integrate automated compliance and cybersecurity mesh architectures will lose competitive parity. Prioritize modular, API-first infrastructure to adapt rapidly to shifting trade corridors and sustainability mandates.
Integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
The evolution of commercial exchange networks is being turbocharged by decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and AI-driven logistics. Smart contracts now automate cross-border settlements, slashing transaction costs and eliminating traditional banking delays. Meanwhile, real-time data analytics predict supply chain disruptions before they occur, enabling hyper-responsive inventory shifts. Key drivers reshaping these networks include: tokenized asset trading for instant liquidity, IoT sensors that trigger automated reordering, and blockchain-based trust systems that reduce fraud. As 5G expands edge computing capabilities, peer-to-peer exchanges are becoming frictionless, turning static trade routes into fluid, self-optimizing ecosystems. The result? A radical shift from slow, centralized hubs to agile, distributed value chains that react to market shifts in milliseconds.