5 Essential BigCommerce Apps for Scaling your SME business

Scaling a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) can be tough. But with the right tools, you can make it smoother. This guide will examine how certain BigCommerce apps can help your business grow and overcome common hurdles.

What is an SME? Understanding Small and Medium Enterprises

A small or medium enterprise (SME) is a business with fewer employees and lower revenue than large companies. For instance, a small business might have fewer than 50 employees, while a medium business might have up to 250 employees. These numbers can change depending on the country.

SMEs play an important role in local economies. They represent more than 99% of all businesses globally, contribute around 50% of global GDP, and employ two-thirds of the global workforce. Many SMEs use online tools like BigCommerce apps to help run their businesses more efficiently.

Challenges SMEs Face When Scaling an Online Business

Growing an online business comes with its own set of difficulties, especially for SMEs. Let’s explore some common challenges and how they impact your path to success.

Limited Resources

Having limited resources means you need to be smart about using them. This can affect many areas of your business. Consider these points:

• Tight Budget: Investing in new tools can be hard with less money to spend.
• Small Team: Fewer staff members mean each person wears many hats.
• Time Constraints: Managing multiple tasks can lead to time shortages.
• Access to Technology: High costs might limit the tools you can use.
• Training Limitations: Less money for training can slow skill development.

Finding ways to do more with less is key. Using efficient tools like BigCommerce apps can help you maximize what you have.

Customer Retention

According to Forbes, customer retention is especially important given that acquiring new customers can cost five times more than keeping existing ones, emphasizing the need for SMEs to invest in loyalty. Keeping customers coming back is crucial for growth. But SMEs often struggle in this area. Here are some reasons why:

• High Competition: Bigger businesses can overshadow you.
• Limited Marketing: Smaller budgets can limit your outreach efforts.
• Brand Awareness: It takes time to build a strong brand.
• Customer Expectations: Shoppers expect quick and easy service.
• Loyalty Programs: Setting these up can be costly.

Focusing on excellent service and using tools to enhance customer experience can help. Certain BigCommerce apps offer features to boost customer loyalty. 

Managing Growing Sales

As your sales increase, managing them becomes more complex. This growth brings new challenges:

• Inventory Tracking: More products mean more to keep track of.
• Order Processing: Handling more orders can strain your systems.
• Customer Service: More customers may lead to more support requests.
• Scaling Operations: Expanding your team and processes takes effort.
• Data Management: Keeping all information organized is vital.

Using automation and efficient systems can ease this burden. BigCommerce apps can provide solutions to manage increased sales smoothly.

What to Look for When Selecting a BigCommerce App

When choosing BigCommerce apps for your SME, it’s important to pick ones that fit your needs. Let’s discuss some key factors to consider to make the best choice.

Compatibility with Your Current Tools

It’s helpful when a new app works well with what you’re already using. Here are some things to check:

• Integration Ease: Does the app connect smoothly with your existing systems?
• Data Syncing: Will information update automatically between the app and your store?
• Third-Party Support: Is it compatible with other tools you rely on?
• Platform Requirements: Does it need specific software versions or settings?
• Device Compatibility: Can you use it on mobile devices if needed?
• API Availability: Does it offer APIs for custom integrations?

Ensuring the app fits your current setup can save you time and avoid headaches later.

Cost-Effectiveness and Growth Potential

Budget matters, especially for SMEs. But you also want apps that can grow with you. Consider these points:

• Affordable Pricing: Is the app within your budget?
• Free Trials: Can you test it before committing?
• Scalable Plans: Are there options to upgrade as your business grows?
• Hidden Fees: Are there extra costs to be aware of?
• Value for Money: Does the app offer features that justify the price?
• Discounts or Bundles: Are there deals if you use multiple apps from the same provider?

Choosing cost-effective BigCommerce apps that can expand your business helps you invest wisely.

Ease of Use and Support

An app that’s easy to use can make your life simpler. Good support is also a big help. Think about these factors:

• User-Friendly Interface: Is the app simple to navigate?
• Setup Process: Can you get it running without much hassle?
• Training Resources: Are there guides or tutorials to help you?
• Customer Support: Is help available when you need it?
• Community Forums: Can you connect with other users for tips?
• Updates and Maintenance: Does the app get regular improvements?

Picking BigCommerce apps that are easy to use and come with solid support can make a big difference in your daily operations.

5 Must-Have BigCommerce Apps to Supercharge Your SME Growth

Choosing the right tools can make a big difference for your business. Here are five essential BigCommerce apps to help your SME grow faster and run smoothly.

1. Streamline Your Store with Atom8 – BigCommerce Automation

Running a store involves many time-consuming tasks. Atom8—BigCommerce Automation helps you automate these tasks so you can focus on selling.

• Automate Sales Campaigns: Set up promotions and discounts to start and stop at specific times.
• Personalize Customer Interactions: Segment your eCommerce customers based on their buying behavior to send targeted offers.
• Manage Inventory Efficiently: Get alerts when stock is low and hide out-of-stock products automatically.
• Update Products in Bulk: Change prices, titles, or availability for multiple products simultaneously.
• Integrate with Other Tools: Connect Atom8 with apps like Slack, Google Sheets, and ShipStation.
• Control Orders Better: Automate order tracking and flag high-risk orders for review.

Using Atom8 from GritGlobal saves you hours each day. It helps you keep your store updated and your customers engaged without the manual effort.

2. Never Miss a Sale with BigCommerce BackOrder

Out-of-stock items can lead to missed sales. BigCommerce BackOrder lets you continue selling these items by accepting backorders.

• Easy Setup: Enable backorders in seconds by setting stock levels and back-in-stock dates.
• Automatic Product Assignment: Assign products to backorder based on stock thresholds.
• Customize Product Pages: Add backorder buttons and messages to inform customers.
• Increase Revenue: Capture sales even when items are not in stock.
• Support Multi-Storefront: Simplify operations if you run multiple stores.
• Reduce Cart Abandonment: Send cart notifications to encourage customers to complete purchases.

Stores using BackOrder have seen significant revenue increases. This easy BigCommerce out-of-stock solution helps you turn stockouts into opportunities, keeping customers happy and boosting sales.

3. Automate Customer Engagement with Klaviyo

Connecting with customers is important. Klaviyo makes it easier by automating your email and SMS marketing.

• Targeted Messaging: Send emails and texts based on customer behavior.
• Automated Workflows: Set up welcome series, cart reminders, and more.
• Easy Integration: Connects smoothly with your BigCommerce store.
• Personalized Campaigns: Make your communications more relevant.
• Boost Repeat Purchases: Encourage customers to buy again with timely messages.

Klaviyo helps you engage customers without manual work. It makes your marketing more effective and helps drive sales. Additionally, when you use it with tools like Atom8, you can make these connections even better. Atom8 helps you integrate Klaviyo with your store smoothly. BigCommerce Klaviyo integrations with Atom8 automation make your marketing more effective and help increase sales.

4. Build Long-Term Customer Loyalty with Smile.io

Keeping customers coming back is key. Smile.io helps you create loyalty programs that reward your shoppers.

• Loyalty Points: Customers earn points they can redeem later.
• VIP Tiers: Offer special perks to your best customers.
• Referral Rewards: Encourage customers to refer friends.
• Easy to Set Up: Get your program running quickly.
• Customizable: Tailor the rewards to fit your brand.

With Smile.io, you can turn shoppers into loyal fans. It helps strengthen customer relationships and boosts repeat business.

5. Efficient Shipping Made Easy with ShipStation

Managing shipping can be a challenge. ShipStation simplifies this process so you can deliver orders smoothly.

• Order Management: View all your orders in one place.
• Print Labels Quickly: Create shipping labels for various carriers.
• Track Packages: Keep customers updated on their shipments.
• Automation Rules: Speed up shipping with preset rules.
• Integrations: Works with many carriers and platforms.

ShipStation helps you handle shipping efficiently. It ensures that orders are fulfilled accurately and on time, keeping customers satisfied.

Final Insights on Maximizing SME Growth with BigCommerce Apps

Growing a small or medium business takes effort, but the right tools can help. BigCommerce apps provide solutions that make your work easier and your business stronger. Here’s how these apps can support your SME’s growth.

• Automation Tools Save Time: You and your team can focus on important areas by automating repetitive tasks. Apps can handle inventory updates, order processing, and email campaigns without constant supervision.
• Smooth Operations Through Integration: When apps work well together, your processes become more efficient. Integrating different tools reduces mistakes and improves workflow. This means less time fixing problems and more time growing your business.
• Enhance Customer Retention: Keeping customers coming back is key to long-term success. Apps that help with customer engagement, like loyalty programs or personalized marketing, make shoppers feel valued and encourage repeat purchases.
• Scale Up with Ease: As your business grows, you’ll need tools to handle more activity. The right apps adjust to increased sales and a larger customer base without causing issues, ensuring you won’t outgrow your tools.
• Better Data Management: Managing information is important. Apps help you track inventory levels, monitor sales trends, and organize customer records. Having this data at your fingertips helps you make informed decisions.
• Boost Marketing Efforts: Reaching more potential customers is vital. Marketing apps assist with email campaigns, social media outreach, and targeted advertising. This can lead to increased visibility and higher sales.

Choosing the right ones can make a real difference in your SME’s success. They help you work smarter, not harder, and set your business up for future growth.

Conclusion

Growing your SME is challenging, but BigCommerce apps can be valuable partners. They simplify tasks, improve customer relationships, and make it easier to manage your business. You’re investing in your company’s future by investing in the right tools. Explore these apps and see how they can benefit you. Want to take your business to the next level? Try Atom8 to streamline your operations, or use BigCommerce BackOrder never to miss a sale. Contact us today to learn how these apps can support your growth.