The growing competition in the e-commerce industry has pushed more businesses to go online. With the long list of benefits that e-commerce offers, you may now also be considering looking beyond the traditional way of running your business.
According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the e-commerce sector saw an increase in its share of retail sales. From 16%, it rose to 19% in 2020.
However, with this continuous growth in the said industry, challenges with your e-commerce business might arise. Problems such as attracting customers, what e-commerce tools to use, finding the right customer service for e-commerce, and having millions of competitors are just some issues you might encounter.
10 Tools Your E-Commerce Business Should Be Using
The only way to be fully successful in the e-commerce space is to stand out. Here is a list of the must-have e-commerce tools to ensure that your business is working like a well-oiled machine.
1. Website Platform
This e-commerce business tool is on top of the list. By creating your own website, you can build and design web pages according to your brand’s strategies. The easier the website to be navigated and customized, the better. The website should be able to display your company’s products and promote other related content.
Some commonly used website e-commerce platforms are Shopify, Magento, and Wix. Most of these platforms could offer you multi-channel sales and a drag-and-drop interface for a more convenient buying process.
2. E-mail Marketing Tool
You might think that e-mails are old-school. However, keep in mind that no matter how big or small your audience is, e-mail marketing would be a need. It is the best way to inform your new and existing customers about the products and services that your business offers.
For instance, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot are some of the commonly used e-mail marketing tools. There are also others that could help you in executing marketing campaigns and provide a wide range of integration possibilities.
3. Customer Service Tool
One of the biggest factors that you need to consider in an online business is a solid customer service tool. Nothing is more important than your customers’ satisfaction. Therefore, your customer service tool should feature ticketing automation, chatbot support, live chat, and calls to provide the best possible customer experience.
Most businesses prefer outsourcing e-commerce customer service. They look for a partner with excellent BPO services that can offer outsourced support. Since customers are important, most online businesses get experts to help in handling them. A trusted outsourcing company would be beneficial in strengthening your communication with the customers plus, it would be easier to resolve product issues.
4. Online Payment Tool
Nowadays, almost all forms of online stores have payment tools. May it be through social media, websites, e-mails, or anywhere your customer could order, there is an online payment platform attached.
Some of the most known third-party payment providers are PayPal, Google Pay, and Stripe. Actually, there is no limit to the number of platforms an online business could use. So numerous online payment tools might be more convenient for your customers.
5. Shipping Service Tool
If you are still a start-up or a small business, then this might be applicable to you. Personally delivering the products might be a challenge, especially if you would want to cater to the global market. A shipping service tool would help you reach your customers and remove the burden of delivering the products.
Some examples of shipping service tools are Easyship, ShippyPro, and Shiptheory. These shipping services provide shipping labels and powerful tracking for hassle-free delivery.
6. Inventory Tracking Tool
Managing your inventory levels while growing your sales may be challenging. So an inventory tracking tool would help you in keeping tabs on the inventory.
Oracle ERP Cloud and SAP Business One are just two of the trusted softwares in the enterprise resource planning (ERP).
7. Social Media Management Tool
Successful e-commerce business has social media to maintain. Recently, youths are one of the major patronizers of e-commerce websites. With that, the best way to reach out to your young customers is through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Moreover, you should regularly check and update your business page. It is the best way for you to advertise and promote new services and products.
Hootsuite, Hubspot, and Radian6 are just some of the most-used social media automations. Most of these social media management tools have a feature that helps in organizing your content based on your needs.
8. Financial Tool
This e-commerce tool would help in calculating your business’ financial profile. It basically tracks the purchases and deliveries being made and could check the profits and losses. Seeing where most of your business’ budget goes is very much essential in building an online store.
Metrilo, Float, and LivePlan are examples of the most used financial tools by start-ups and small businesses.
9. Rewards and Referral Program
This e-commerce business tool could help you build customer loyalty. It helps businesses in providing membership programs or rewards. For example, your business would be able to provide priority shipping or faster delivery for a monthly membership fee or you could offer a discount voucher for those who refer new customers.
Open Loyalty, Ambassador, and Dealyze are examples of tools that offer easy ways in order to create a better loyalty experience for your customers.
10. Digital Asset Management Tool
You will definitely need this tool if you plan on growing and expanding your e-commerce business. It basically keeps all of your business transactions in order. Since it is nearly impossible to personally meet your customers, you might need to find an alternative. For instance, you may use pictures, diagrams, and videos for them to trust your business.
The digital asset management tool helps your business in putting together its portfolio. It ensures that your products and services are advertised to and received by the right customer. Some examples of the most-used digital asset management tools are Brandfolder, Bynder, and Mediafly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How can I enhance my online store’s credibility and attract more customers?
Building a strong online presence begins with a Website Platform. Utilize platforms like Shopify, Magento, or Wix to craft a user-friendly website that showcases your products, reflects your brand strategy, and offers multi-channel sales options.
Q: What’s the role of email marketing in growing an e-commerce business?
Despite its age, E-mail Marketing remains a powerful tool. Tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot enable you to engage both new and existing customers, keeping them informed about your latest products and services through personalized email campaigns.
Q: How can I ensure exceptional customer satisfaction in my online business?
Customer Service is pivotal. Employ customer service tools featuring ticketing automation, live chat, chatbot support, and call services. These tools enhance the online shopping experience and resolve issues promptly, leading to better customer satisfaction.
Q: What’s the significance of diverse payment options for my online store?
Providing seamless transactions is crucial with an Online Payment Tool. Integrating popular third-party payment platforms such as PayPal, Google Pay, and Stripe gives your customers secure and convenient payment choices, increasing conversion rates.
Q: How do I effectively manage shipping and inventory for a global reach?
Expanding your reach requires streamlined logistics. Incorporating a Shipping Service Tool like Easyship, ShippyPro, or Shiptheory automates shipping labels and tracking, enabling efficient delivery. Additionally, an Inventory Tracking Tool like Oracle ERP Cloud or SAP Business One assists in managing inventory while scaling sales.
Key Takeaway
These are just some of the e-commerce business tools that you might need to help your online business grow. Remember that what works for other online businesses might not work for all. Therefore, it is important to know what your online business needs.
It would be better to map all of your tools and check which of their capabilities intersect. You should know the advantages and disadvantages of each and focus on the tools that work together. The more integrated the e-commerce business tools are, the more your business would be successful.
It is essential to look for an offshoring provider that would offer trusted e-commerce support services. Choose a business process offshoring company that can provide excellent solutions and great customer service.
One CoreDev IT (CORE) offers an employer of record solutions and e-commerce customer services like organized account management, returns and refunds, upsell and cross-sell, and a lot more. We also provide professional specialists that are equipped in strengthening your business’ customer communication.
