When an SME or an individual decides to start an eCommerce business, one of the necessities is a well-designed website. Your website is also a marketing tool for you to display your products or services. Of course, your products or service must combine quality, convenience, and uniqueness so that the customer finds an interest in buying online rather than in a physical store.
One of the challenges that an eCommerce company can face when it is launched is to be able to deliver on time and at a lower cost, no matter where the customer is. Initially, to control costs, it is advisable for small start-up companies to limit deliveries to a specific geographical area, preferably in the area where the company is established, and to rely on local distribution networks. At the beginning of the digital business, the SME or individual can reduce shipping costs by delivering goods at relay points instead of delivering it at the client’s home.
Regarding communication, with the development of information and communication technology, promoting its online business is within everyone's reach. A Facebook page, Instagram, Snapchat or a Twitter account are free to create and allow you to maintain a community around a product or a company. However, mastering those new communication gifts is necessary to get the best out of them. Recruiting a community manager is the most appropriate option when starting an eCommerce business.
Another essential element is the diversity of online payment methods. The more different payment possibilities are available, the more likely the site is to attract buyers from all walks of life. On top of this, eCommerce businesses need to ensure that all purchases made on their site are both safe and secure – the last thing a consumer wants to worry about when making a purchase online is whether or not their payment information may be stolen.
Even if all the elements mentioned above are met, what would be an eCommerce without an after-sales service? The customer does not have physical access to the product offered on your website. The seller must be able to give him a certain number of guarantees and an after-sales service contributes to it because it makes it possible to manage the returns of goods, the defects of conformity between order and delivery and the possible refunds.
In conclusion, the necessary features are quality, convenience, reliability, payment security, and efficient after-sales service.
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