7 Things To Look For When Choosing An E-commerce Platform

The term “e-commerce” is used to describe any activity that involves buying and selling various products and services online. For the past several years, the e-commerce industry has been gaining traction globally and continues to evolve to meet our present demands.

An e-commerce platform is an end-to-end application that provides an avenue for businesses to conduct their operations online – from marketing, and sales to management. It enables owners and entrepreneurs to monitor and oversee their companies remotely. It also gives small business owners the opportunity to upscale their businesses without breaking the bank. The focus of this article is not limited to specific industries and also applies to Ecommerce for Manufacturers.

With countless options offering various features, finding an efficient e-commerce platform can be a real challenge. This article provides a guide for securing the right e-commerce platform for your business.

Secure payment options

Cases of online theft and fraud continue to rise, and some customers are becoming more skeptical of making purchases online. Thus, there is an overhanging responsibility on businesses to look for an e-commerce platform that can guarantee secure payment options for their clients. You should be looking for platforms with encryption, SSL, or S-HTTP in place.

Easy to navigate

Every online shopper wants a shopping experience that is quick, straightforward, and hassle-free. They don’t want to spend more time figuring out how to check things out when purchasing online. When comparing e-commerce platforms, look for one that offers a simple, easily navigable interface that’s pleasing to the eyes. You want to draw in more clients, not drive them away.

Mobile-friendly

Mobile shopping has seen unprecedented growth over the past few years. According to the statistics from Merchant Savvy, in 2020 alone, an estimated $3 trillion worth of global retail purchases were made through smartphones, and it is expected to shoot up further in 2021. It is not a surprise, however, as smartphones have become more and more accessible to people worldwide. When choosing an e-commerce platform, a mobile-friendly site will always have a considerable advantage over others.

Data protection

Every time your clients use your website, they give personal data to facilitate transactions. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to protect this data and your clients’ identities. When looking for an e-commerce platform, try asking these questions: “What privacy security measures are in place?” and “Is the platform in compliance with data privacy regulations?” If the answer to either of the questions is no, then you might want to look at other options.

Analytics support

Because the goal of every business is to create profit, it’s crucial to monitor the company’s performance regularly. E-commerce platforms must have the ability to run and display analytics in a way business owners can understand. It must have the capacity to gather data and statistics to help store owners identify trends and changes in consumer behavior. In this way, they will make decisions based on the numbers and help them drive up sales.

Customizable features

As your business expands, you will also need additional tech support to accommodate your growing business. To put things in perspective, there are e-commerce platforms that can update up to 25,000 product items in a single catalog in roughly a minute, whereas it takes 4 hours for other platforms to accomplish the same thing. Make sure you look for e-commerce platforms with fast and secure APIs.

SEO-equipped

Most online shoppers would rely on search engines to find shops that sell the product or service they are looking for. As such, you would want your e-commerce platform of choice to be equipped with SEO features. With SEO tools, you can rank highly on search engines such as Google and increase customer traffic to your site.

Value for money

As a business owner, you have to be smart about where your money goes. There are e-commerce platforms that offer monthly rates; some require upfront payment, and some allow you to pay on a per-transaction basis. Think about your priorities and the financial capacity of your business before committing to an e-commerce platform.

Choosing an ecommerce platform for your business can be an intimidating task, and there are many things to consider especially if you’re looking to scale it up eventually. As the e-commerce platform will serve as your “business hub” – where all operations and transactions central to your business will take place – it is important to think long-term and look for a platform that is safe, efficient, and pays attention to what your business needs.