As an eCommerce store owner, you might already know that 89% of businesses are expecting to compete mainly on customer experience. Having a simple website is no longer enough to provide an excellent user experience. You need a platform that will attract and retain customers. Thus you need an e-commerce solution as this is the best way to create a hassle-free online shopping experience for your consumers.
With a myriad of eCommerce platforms to choose from, it is easy to get confused and frustrated by the long list of features and functionalities these platforms provide. But failure to choose the right eCommerce platform can lead to potential loss of customers.
To lead you on the right path, we’ve put together a guide on how to select the best e-commerce platform to streamline your business on a global scale.
So let’s dive in:
8 Tips On Selecting The Best eCommerce Solution For Your Business
1. Payment Options
The methods you’ll use to accept payments is a critical consideration when constructing your eCommerce website.
Granted your eCommerce business is worldwide and your clients are in different parts of the globe, you’ll have to provide users with multiple payment options so that people from different countries can make a transaction in their respective currencies without any hassle.
You can accomplish this by having multiple payment gateway options such as PayPal Stripe, 2CheckOut, Amazon Payment, etc.
2. Maximum Security
Cybercrime is soaring at an alarming rate and online companies tend to be more vulnerable to these attacks. Your website will constantly request and store the private data of your consumers such as an address, phone number, debit/credit card details, etc.
The burden to safeguard the privacy of your users befalls you. Therefore, it is crucial you select an e-commerce platform that provides maximum security by connecting you to an SSL-certified vendor or by providing you with an HTTPS site.
Put systems in place to prevent data breaches. When confidential data is leaked, whether maliciously or by mistake, it will negatively impact your e-commerce brand. The best way to prevent this from happening is by implementing the latest infosec solutions and using tools like identity governance.
3. Cloud-Based
A cloud-based platform takes out all the hassle of hosting and data infrastructure of the site. The beauty of it all is that you don’t have to invest an arm and a leg to purchase hardware, nor do you have to worry about the ongoing expense of maintaining your own server.
With a cloud-based platform, you’ll automatically receive top-notch cybersecurity, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your customers’ sensitive data
4. Mobile Optimization
In 2019, mobile responsiveness is a must to create an outstanding user experience. 42% of researchers use a mobile device during the purchasing process, and this percentage is only going to grow.
You can optimize your eCommerce platform for mobile user experience by including features such as click-to-call, autofill using location service, and a mobile-optimized layout.
5. Scalability
Sluggish load times, frozen pages, and error messages …. All these can frustrate your customers. Being able to handle massive traffic is a critical factor of a good eCommerce and it’s, therefore, crucial to select a platform that supports vertical and horizontal scaling.
Your online store needs to deliver a consistent experience, whether it’s serving five concurrent users or 50,000 concurrent users. So select a platform that offers scalability to prevent any inconveniences for your customers.
6. Integration
Another important factor is integration. When you are selecting an eCommerce platform, you need to consider how it will manage and support other systems (web content management, payments, invoicing and reporting, etc) already in place on your platform.
As more customers are expecting omnichannel customer service, your eCommerce platform needs to be able to integrate with all your existing applications to ensure operational efficiency but and seamless customer experience both online and offline.
7. Budget
When it comes to a great eCommerce solution, budget dictates everything. Just like everything else, the best eCommerce solution with the greatest capabilities usually has a higher price tag.
Having a budget is imperative as you’ll also need to take payment fees for your service providers, internal and external developers and marketing costs into account.
If you’re on a tight budget, consider selling your products on online market places like Amazon, Etsy or eBay as a start and later transition to an actual eCommerce platform.
8. Personalization
Don’t you feel special when you get addressed by your name? Well, the good thing is that you can actually do the same on your eCommerce platform.
Your eCommerce platform should be able to offer personalized user experience and display account- and user-specific information. Account history, the ability to re-order from past purchases, and permission to order based on a pre-approved budget are all must-have features of your eCommerce store.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right eCommerce platform for your business is not an easy task. However, now that you know what features to look for, the next step is to find the eCommerce solution that meets your requirements. Remember your chosen eCommerce platform should support your customers through every stage of their purchasing journey.
Read Next Blog:
6 Steps to Keep Your Business Finances in Order