Selecting the right eCommerce software is crucial to secure the success of your web store. With so many different eCommerce platforms present in the market, it can be challenging to choose. Failure to select the right solution could potentially impact your revenue, damage your brand, and even deter customers from using your services. Make sure you do the research beforehand because switching ecommerce platforms can be time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive.
We’ve outlined a few key areas to steer your research that can help your decision-makers and stakeholders.
Vendor Experience and Expertise
Selecting the right partner can help you navigate this challenging landscape. Ensure that your software development company has the experience and the technical skillset in meeting your needs so that you can create a mutually beneficial partnership. Take time to research the vendor – recommendations, reviews, and references can go a long way in helping to vet the companies you are considering.
Reading success stories can also prove to be helping – look for case studies in similar industries, which can show that the vendor knows your business. You can research success stories from different industries as well, to understand new insights and trends you might not know.
Consider Your Existing Systems
If you already have multiple systems in place for business processes, you should consider how the new eCommerce technology will integrate with the existing systems. Is the eCommerce software easy to adapt? Are there extensions or plugins available? Answering these questions will help you choose the right eCommerce platform that will suitably integrate with the system you have in place.
Total Cost of Ownership
Consider the total cost of ownership when selecting a platform. Two main factors must be studied and budgeted for: the initial cost of implementation and ongoing/maintenance costs to keep the web store running. The initial price can include design and build costs, third-party integration costs, data import, licensing fees, and third-party app costs. While ongoing cost can consist of maintenance charges, ongoing hosting fees, payment-related fees, third-party returns solutions, search engine optimization, enhanced product images, and more.
Scalability
Error messages, sluggish load times, and frozen pages can frustrate your customers and even discourage them from using your services. Not only your eCommerce platform but the solution as a whole should be able to grow along with your changing business requirements – in a smooth, painless manner. A simple way to check this is to understand how will the solution respond to an unexpected spike of traffic like Christmas, Black Friday, and unforeseen situations. A platform that is difficult to scale can hinder the growth of your business.
Security
In the first half of 2018, high-profile retailers like Macy’s and Adidas were affected by cyber-attack, proving that even the world’s leading brands aren’t safe. The most alarming statistic, however, is that more than 60% of all cyber-attacks target small and medium-sized businesses. Data security is perhaps the most critical factor when choosing your eCommerce solution. Since eCommerce is a digital platform with active financial transactions, you want to ensure that your service provider has the necessary security protocols in place.
Choose Wisely
The most important factor is not to rush the process, but to ensure you do thorough research to find your perfect match. Involve all the key stakeholders and prepare your requirements ahead of time. When selecting an eCommerce platform, look for signs of active collaboration and a rich ecosystem that allows you to respond to an ever-changing competitive landscape.
