We’re getting there, slowly but surely.
This is the step where everyone wants to start … it’s time to set up a web site.
Some of my consulting colleagues have reported there are over 900 ecommerce platforms, from which a merchant can select, upon which they can build an ecommerce store. The variables seem to go on forever … but don’t forget the previous six steps we’ve outlined. Those are the non-negotiables (or at least, should be).
After those, nearly everything may negotiable. Merchants all think their business is unique and needs features or capabilities which other merchants don’t need. Or they need some feature tweaked. The only thing I would remind you of is that changes, tweaks and new/modified features cost money. So, before you go requiring lots of customizing, make sure the customization you need will actually make more money for you than taking the feature, the way it comes.
Consultants love to help clients customize things … often makes them more money. But many, if not nearly every, merchant asks for things that do not increase sales and may even increase cost or have other negative impacts.
There is a lot to be said for finding an ecommerce platform that has:
- experience in your industry
- experience with your other applications, such as Product Master, Inventory, OMS, WMS
- uses a technology your staff is already familiar with, so you can make minor changes and fixes, yourself
- an effective user interface, which merchandisers, customer service reps and others can be quickly trained on
- a plan to stay up-to-date on marketing and technology improvements
- already supports your current marketing activities
- supports your current payment processors
- a good cultural fit with your present staff
When you select your ecommerce platform, you must include every department in the decision. Don’t let the technology people drive the decision without major input from merchandising, customer service, finance, operations. It’s very expensive to change ecommerce horses … and the technology itself is not always the most important consideration.
It’s about people and process … the technology is actually less expensive to change.
Then again, take advantage of the technology to improve your processes and perhaps lower your labor costs.
