Choosing an E-Commerce Platform in 2022

Businesses across the world are fast embracing digital solutions. They include Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Customer (B2C) and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C). They are doing so to stay ahead in the competitive race.  

The pandemic forced many people to shift to online shopping platforms. This radical change in this shopping mindset has caused many entrepreneurs to migrate their stores to digital avenues. Businesses can lower the time and effort for operations thanks to eCommerce solutions. 

They can also easily monitor the whole process, including sales and marketing. Some of the major players in eCommerce are Shopify, Adobe Commerce, WooCommerce, Big Commerce and 3D Cart. Before making the right choice, one needs to consider a few factors.

Cost of Ownership 

You must first calculate the cost before accessing an e-commerce platform. One needs to gauge the expenses involved regardless whether it is a small enterprise or a brick-and-mortar store. 

One must consider all the expenses associated with domain and hosting, maintenance, and social media specialists. Other charges include the cost of hiring email marketing/SMS marketing professionals for re-targeting customers. You should also consider extra expenses for automation tools, delivery or fulfillment integration, and SEO.

Robust Catalogue with Store Analytics

An ideal platform should provide essential tools and features to develop an appealing and customized catalog. It consists of ‘highly recommended products’ and ‘pickup-and-drop feature’. It also includes uploading hundreds of commodities through CSV or Excel file.  

Additionally, company owners should obtain a comprehensive overview of the store, including website statistics, customer satisfaction, and location details. One needs to link the eCommerce platform to Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics.

Marketing Automation 

Both B2B and B2C businesses must employ a multichannel marketing approach that contains social media, email, and SMS marketing. This way, they can capture the customer’s attention and attract them. Automation assists retailers to pitch their offers to a broader audience, re-target customers, and send them discount vouchers. Thus, automation enables firms to attain maximum efficiency with the least amount of work and time.

Business owners can enhance and utilize the stored data and customer base. This is possible if the e-commerce platform provides the upsell and downsell features. The stores should be scalable enough so that they do not hinder growth. 

Support

Retailers can ask for help from a recognized platform or company providing 24/7 assistance. They can also seek immediate solutions to their issues. Additionally, a dedicated business manager can support them to scale their growth.   

Contactless e-commerce 

Businesses (mostly in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities) should digitize and go contactless. This provides a superior experience to customers at a low price to achieve multi-folded growth. Currently, QR code transactions at grocery shops, restaurants, and other establishments are vital to eCommerce.   

Test Store Functionality and Ease of Use

One must market the brand even without learning coding or technological knowledge. For that, the platform must be easily navigable, configured appropriately and used over time.  

Here are a few factors to look for: 

• Setup Flow 

Check whether the platform provides a simple setup flow, describing everything one needs to do before the launch. It includes adding items, configuring taxes, registering a domain name, and processing payments.

• Product and Stock-Keeping-Unit (SKU) Management

You can quickly upload bulk commodities from a CSV file into the catalog. Keeping an eye on the limitless goods or SKU count is also important.

• One-click App Marketplace 

You need a multitude of one-click applications or built-in integrations to help the business expand. Browse or integrate the required tools using the e-commerce platform’s app store. One needs to ensure that these tools stay connected and updated in real-time.    

• Centralized Channel Management 

Omnichannel strategies are of paramount importance today in online shopping. Customers purchase from anywhere and everywhere including Instagram, Etsy, Facebook, and Amazon. The target audience must be exposed to the product across multiple channels.     

Keep in mind the above-mentioned factors while selecting the perfect e-commerce platform for your business. Opt for a platform having a large community of people both operating it. They should also utilize it to testify their success on the solution.