Before brands design their eCommerce site they must take several factors into consideration. This consideration is affected by the eCommerce strategy and the existing digital infrastructure. The cost of integrating an eCommerce site is arguably the most important consideration for many. However, it is vital for brands to select an eCommerce platform and integration strategy that meets the companies’ business requirements. When brands plan effectively, they can manage cost better and take full advantage of their eCommerce solution.
Expectation of eCommerce site
The first and most important part is selecting the right eCommerce solution that meets the companies’ business requirements. Some eCommerce solutions have limitations when it comes to selling complex products. Therefore, it is critical for companies to know their product structures and ensure that the eCommerce solution can properly support this structure. They must also consider if the site is going to be a B2B, B2C or B2B2C. The more detailed and specific a company during the planning process the better. These things will narrow down the list of eCommerce platforms to consider. Certain businesses will need an eCommerce solution that may also require to support multiple languages and be supported in different areas of the world.
How will the products be sold?
Many brands are going online, especially since the pandemic. Adapting online capabilities to a physical store enables businesses to expand and provide customers with the option of buying online and picking up in-store. These options can expand a business’ reach, but it is a consideration when selecting an eCommerce solution. Online sales require managing inventory along with shipping too. Companies with existing inventory management systems must find an eCommerce platform that can integrate into the existing system. Otherwise they might need to start again with a new solution that already has one as part of the platform. Maybe even a different custom design and features options.
Development budget
While searching for an eCommerce solution, companies must nail down their implementation budget, on going license fees and a workforce that will manage the day to day operations. Businesses must ask key questions. What features are absolutely non-negotiable? What features would be nice to have? After answering this, they can create a list and stay within a budget. Many different factors contribute to the final cost of developing an eCommerce store. Some features are more expensive than others for a variety of reasons. Items the manager would have to consider include eCommerce software cost, domain name, eCommerce hosting cost, SSL certificate, payment processing costs, website design, integrations and third party licensing fees.
Moreover, businesses must also consider shipping costs. This can greatly influence the price of a transaction and have important operational costs. It is important to ask key questions to tackle this. What kind of shipping options will they offer? What is their capacity to handle shipping needs? Will shipping be outsourced or managed in-house? Will global shipping options be available?
In conclusion, selecting the correct eCommerce platform requires a lot of planning and due diligence. DigiCommerce is there to help guide companies through the entire process.