Leverage these major technology trends in eCommerce to surpass your competitors
If the first few months of 2021 have taught us anything, it’s that uncertain times call for quick pivots to sales and marketing plans. Businesses have had to evolve quickly. Trade shows, events, and in-person sales meetings have been canceled, throwing a wrench in many sales and marketing strategies. But even as we navigate a new normal, there is one place that is experiencing an incredible boom in traffic: eCommerce websites. Consumers are turning to online shopping to gather the essentials; as well as other items they can’t get from temporarily closed stores. As a matter of fact, this article will reveal to you some major technology trends in eCommerce. Magento emerges as the top global eCommerce platform. The reliability and scalability of Magento have made it the most popular eCommerce platform in the world, powering over 250,000 businesses. Its customers are typically enterprise-level online stores with a high volume of products; and the budget to invest in certified third-party design, development, and programming services. Magento’s main competitors include Shopify, Yo!Kart, BigCommerce, VTEX, WooCommerce, and Tictail, some of which better meet the needs of smaller eCommerce retailers. Actionable content is driving business. Relevant and helpful content helps drive business by attracting potential shoppers, guiding them to purchasing opportunities, and boosting conversions. In fact, there are several forms of content that can be effectively mixed and matched. They include interactive, lifestyle storytelling, stance-taking, and email. Typically the most effective content involves storytelling and creating memorable experiences. It’s also crucial whenever possible to ensure that any offers, ads, and promotions are tailored and unique to each customer’s interests. Justin Ablett, global lead of Adobe at IBM iX, asserts that “[customers] have no tolerance for poor digital experiences anymore.” A general digital experience is a poor digital experience, emphasizing the importance of personalization. Social media is a driving force behind mobile sales. Platforms enabling eCommerce stores to sell directly through their social pages are increasingly driving sales. Thus, with a simple click on a product link within a social post, consumers immediately go to a product page where they can make a purchase. As a result of this shift, they expect social commerce sales to reach upwards of 80 billion USD in revenue by 2024. Cognitive supply chain management gains momentum. eCommerce companies are increasingly seeking distribution and inventory management systems. Which are self-learning, predictive, adaptive, and intelligent – cognitive supply chains. Thus, they result in improved, personalized customer service and decreased inventory. These systems can also mitigate risk, improve insight and performance, and increase transparency. Video continues capturing consumer attention. Using product videos on eCommerce sites can increase sales and product understanding. 94% of video marketers agree that video helps buyers understand their brand’s offerings, with 78% of marketers saying that video directly increases sales. This is because customers have more confidence in products when they see a video about them. When done right, product videos can educate and encourage consumers to make a purchase. Another plus is that they’re highly shareable via social media. Conclusion Successful voice search strategies for eCommerce retailers include implementing a solid SEO strategy; building brand affinity with informational skills and actions; including product-feature and review videos, and staying focused on delivering a superior customer experience. Your toughest competitors are inevitably planning to implement some of these major technology eCommerce trends to gain an advantage this year and beyond. So, if you have any question regarding this topic, contact us and we will help you to figure out.
5 super simple steps to get started with BigCommerce workflow automation
Implementing workflow automation software could make a big difference to your productivity and, as a result, your bottom line. How should you go about integrating workflow automation into your business in 5 steps? It’s easier than you may think. Identify repetitive tasks We’ve talked at length about the types of business processes you can streamline via automation. Your first step towards BigCommerce workflow automation in your company is to identify those most applicable to you. Take a step back and look at current operations. Find bottlenecks in your daily workflows that are damaging your productivity. They’re the issues you’ll want to iron out by introducing the correct automation solution. Define business goals Once you’ve identified the weak points of your operations, you can think about how you can improve them. Consider the degree to which you want to improve efficiency, and the subsequent effects that may have. For example, if you found that staff were wasting time manually picking stock for orders, your goal might be to dispatch 20% more orders per day by automating your inventory or warehouse management. Select the right workflow automation solution With a goal in mind, you know what to look for in a BigCommerce workflow automation solution. To expand the above example, for instance, you’ll be looking for software focused on managing stock, order fulfillment, and other logistics. You can then start intelligently analyzing and comparing your options. Check out the features and functions of the different automation tools on the market. Also, look for testimonials or examples of existing use cases for any software. That way, you’ll be sure to choose the ideal solution for your business. Automation will not be a problem if you have Atom8. It helps to relieve all of your burdens by automating your process, and getting rid of time-wasting tasks like sending email, and managing tasks. Give it a try and you will see the difference. Train the user Even the best tech solutions are less effective if end users don’t know how to get the most out of them. Once you’ve selected the software you’re going to use, invest time, effort, and finance into training your workers to use it. Some owners or decision-makers skimp in this area. They learn new software themselves and then try to teach their team as they go along. That’s asking for trouble. Train everyone at your firm who’ll be using a new solution at the outset. It’s the only way to ensure that the tool gets used to its utmost. Refer: Bigcommerce upsell Measure Nothing in business is static. When you introduce a new automation tool you can’t simply forget about it and move on to other things. Test and assess the impact the solution is having. Have the changes to your business processes helped you achieve your stated goals? If the answer’s no, try to find out why. There may be something simple you can do to rectify any issues. You might find, for instance, that staff aren’t using the software correctly. Alternatively, you might learn that you can add or activate a different function of the tool to make it more effective. Conclusion Streamlining and automating workflows aid both efficiency and productivity. Software, bots, and other technology can complete mundane tasks far more quickly than humans. They also won’t make the kinds of small errors that can snowball into significant problems. When those jobs get automated, your workers can spend their valuable time elsewhere. They can complete tasks that demand human intelligence and attention. The above 5 steps for BigCommerce workflow automation give a taste of the ways you can unlock the full potential of your firm.