5 Tips on Finding the Right Ecommerce Software for Your Business

by Sajitha Banu
23 Dec 2020

Electronic commerce (eCommerce) is growing at an unprecedented rate worldwide. A Forbes report revealed that e-commerce had enjoyed a 129% year-over-year growth in U.S. and Canadian orders, including a staggering 146% increase in all online orders. A significant factor fueling this growth is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prompted everyone to shop online and steer away from physical stores. As the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the retail industry, the need to find the right eCommerce software becomes more critical in simplifying marketing and enhancing the overall customer experience. However, eCommerce software solutions are a dime a dozen. Finding which eCommerce platform is best for me is a question that even the most experienced retailers have a hard time figuring out. On that note, here are several points to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform for your business.

Determine Business Requirements

Every software search process begins with a full understanding of what tools and features are needed in the first place. Define the issue you are looking to solve, information that needs to be handled, or processes you like to automate before pooling together a collection of the best eCommerce software. This will help narrow your choices and ensure that you can pick the right solution for your operations. Having a predefined list of requirements allows you to establish the foundation for the cost, scope, and software features that would ultimately improve your eCommerce. It will also help you avoid the time-sink and additional costs of switching solutions down the road.

Choose Software with Robust Security Protocols

The majority of e-Commerce businesses are at great risk of cybercrimes because of their card-not-present payment (CNP) channels. While CNP channels increase accessibility, they often have loopholes that pose dire consequences. To prevent repercussions and reputational damage, ensure that the eCommerce platform you choose supports SSL and HTTPS to provide your customers with secure checkout. The software should also be compliant with the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) protocols. Using software that is not PCI-DSS compliant could cost you in the long run, particularly if you ever have a breach of cardholder data or payment card. A PCI-DSS compliant eCommerce software helps prevent these issues and builds trust among your customers, which is foundational to successful eCommerce.

Shortlist Vendors

Developing an effective shortlisting process is critical in removing a vendor from your list who does not meet your mandatory requirements and offers rebadged solutions. When shortlisting and choosing the right eCommerce platform, focus on the core software rather than on all the add-ons and customizations. Steering clear of eCommerce solutions that require a boatload of add-ons will reduce complexity and additional installation costs. Your chosen e-commerce software should be easy to update, intuitive, and have a robust catalog. For instance, if you have a fashion company, your product catalog should come with a dynamic plugin that enables customers to select a product color or size. Wherever possible, ask for a comprehensive demonstration of each solution and an overview of eCommerce software features so you can evaluate how it can help your business.

Ensure Software is SEO-Friendly

Ecommerce businesses make a living from their ability to attract new customers. In the competition to increase profits, traffic from an organic search can be essential in driving brand awareness, elevating content, and expanding remarketing audiences. Opting for an SEO-friendly eCommerce software allows you to build a solid online presence and makes it easier to nurture and convert leads at any specific stage of the buying cycle. Many of your prospects turn to search engines when they need to find an answer to their questions. However, the way they convey it might differ depending on how knowledgeable they are of their issues and the available solutions. An SEO-powered eCommerce software empowers you to deliver content that will guide buyers from the awareness stage to the action stage, resulting in an improved user experience and a massive uptick in revenues.

Evaluate Software Integrations

Software integration is one of the eCommerce platform selection criteria you should consider when narrowing your options. Every business owner hopes their venture will grow, but often they may not know to what extent. This can lead to businesses spending additional financial resources to upgrade their existing systems to meet evolving needs. Picking an eCommerce solution with multiple integrations enables managers to expand the software functionality and scale it as their business grows. The best eCommerce platforms are geared with integrations that help with accounting, email marketing, and product shipping. However, the determining factor in deciding on the plugins that will work best for you boils down to your business needs. Therefore, you should think of what tools you will need or already use when looking for different options so that you can optimize customer time spent on your platform.

Optimizing Processes with the Right Ecommerce Software

In today cutthroat business environment, eCommerce is becoming more important in driving online store processes, managing inventory, and fulfilling orders. Therefore, businesses must do their due diligence and evaluate options before committing to a software to prevent financial constraints. You can start the software selection process with a thorough evaluation of the Laravel eCommerce software. Laravel Ecommerce is a dynamic eCommerce platform that empowers businesses to list their products, launch their online stores, and manage their customers. It also comes with a fully-functional mobile platform that lets you accept online payments and help your customers browse and buy anytime. Laravel Ecommerce offers a comprehensive product demonstration upon customers request on top of their Lite and Smart packages.