What do you do if your small business needs an e-commerce platform?

All small offline businesses have likely considered establishing a digital shopfront at some point. In my opinion, to succeed and grow, it's essential to replicate your offline store online. However, it's crucial not to rush; start by gradually introducing your hero category online, followed by the rest of your product range. This journey will take time, but with determination, you'll reach your goal!

Right after the pandemic, many small businesses realised the importance of having an online presence apart from the usual brick & mortar store. Since we specialise in Ecommerce solutions, we tend to ask a lot of questions to the client in order to educate them. We recommend the platform based on their answers to some of questions. This way they can have a solution based on the budget. To start off, we have various solutions like Shopify, Woocommerce, Magento and Custom framework (PHP/Python).

Before starting an online business or choosing an e-commerce platform, ask yourself these 7 questions: Why are you doing what you're planning to do? People don't buy what you sell; they buy why you sell it. Your 'Why' needs to be compelling. -What products are you going to sell? -Who are your competitors? -What is your USP? -Who are your target audiences? -What is your target market? Domestic, international, or both? -How many products will you offer initially? -What is your budget for building the online store? If you're a beginner looking for a fully functional, future-proof & modern e-commerce store that is scalable,secure,free from server management headaches, and easy to manage with flexible pricing, consider starting with Shopify.

As a small business, you can define, design, build and roll-out your Ecommerce faster than bigger companies. Confront your criteria with alternative hypothesis that represent your major doubts and execute some mistery shopper tests prior to definition of your goals.

Understanding your business needs and resources is indeed the first step in selecting an e-commerce platform. It's essential to remember that the platform should not only meet your current needs but also be scalable for future growth. Also, while considering the technical aspects, it's crucial to evaluate the platform's security features, as e-commerce sites are often targets for cyber-attacks. Lastly, the investment in an e-commerce platform isn't just financial; it also includes the time spent on setup, maintenance, and learning to use the platform effectively.

Continuing from the above, these are few options that we recommend to our clients: 1. Simple, Easy to manage, starter business, very few products etc - Shopify 2. A more bespoke design, more features, easy to manage - Woocommmerce 3. Lot of features, security, robust, scalable - Magento 4. Completely bespoke, unique features and functionalities, scalable etc - Custom solution These solutions have helped our clients shoose based on their budget, business goal, market etc.

For small businesses, hosted platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Squarespace emerge as the most fitting choice. These solutions offer streamlined setups, requiring minimal technical expertise, which is advantageous for small teams or entrepreneurs with limited resources. Additionally, hosted platforms typically include built-in support and security features, alleviating concerns about website maintenance and reliability. Their user-friendly interfaces facilitate quick deployment and management of online stores, enabling small businesses to focus on growth and customer engagement without the burden of intricate technical tasks.

To boost productivity, initiate by cultivating an environment of open communication and continuous feedback, laying the groundwork for a cooperative and supportive atmosphere. Implement methodologies tailored to VTEX's ecosystem. Utilize VTEX's built-in tools and integrations to automate mundane tasks, thereby allocating more resources towards strategic initiatives and creative innovation. Acknowledge and celebrate achievements within the team, leveraging VTEX's success stories as motivational tools to foster a culture of excellence and commitment. Lastly, promote a balance between professional growth and personal well-being, ensuring team members are both valued and fully equipped to harness VTEX's capabilities to their fullest potential.

There are a lot of option for a ready "out of the box" e-commers platforms that look like easy to set up and use. Such platforms are in fact, a version of the same store for a standard types of products. That can be an easy place to start for a small business that has limited resource and knowledge. It is important to remember, however, that while those options are a good place to start, building a working and profitable e-commers business takes a lot of work and knowledge. The work is not over after you choose the platform and launch your store. It will require daily work and management decision making and data analysis to grow your business. This part needs to be taken into account and planned a head when deciding to launch your e-commers

The choice between hosted, self-hosted, and custom platforms is a crucial decision for small businesses venturing into e-commerce. It's important to consider not just the upfront costs, but also the long-term implications in terms of maintenance, scalability, and adaptability to business changes. For instance, while custom platforms offer maximum flexibility, they may not be the best choice for small businesses due to high development and maintenance costs. On the other hand, hosted platforms like Shopify provide a good balance of cost, ease of use, and scalability for small to medium-sized businesses.

It is important that when you are in your test and evaluate phase that you have clear objectives on specific things that you want to test. Don't just go in and "play around". Most e-commerce platforms can do most things, but some require customizations to hit your exact requirements. Try to figure out the gaps between "out of the box" functionality vs your dream situation. If it comes down to it, usually you are not looking for something that is completely unique and often there is a plug-in or module that can get you where you want to go. Understanding the base functionality and what can be added via plugins will give you a clear idea of startup and long-term costs.

The article rightly emphasizes the importance of testing and evaluating e-commerce platforms before making a final decision. It's crucial to remember that not all platforms are created equal and what works for one business may not work for another. It's also worth noting that while cost is a significant factor, it should not be the sole deciding factor. The platform's ability to scale with your business, its security features, and its integration with other systems (like CRM or ERP) are equally important considerations.

Well, this is just the beginning as rightly mentioned! In my opinion, focus on the following two pillars post-launch; 1. Customer Service: Provide customer service which shoppers would trust. Offer multiple communication channels such as much as you could do for example- live chat, email support, and phone assistance. Address customer inquiries, feedback, and complaints promptly and professionally and in most cases within a day. 2. Expand Product Range: Consider expanding your product range based on customer demand and market trends. Conduct research, analyze competitors, and introduce new products or variations to attract more customers and increase sales. Hope this helps!

Launching and optimizing an e-commerce platform is a dynamic process, not a one-time task. It's crucial to continuously monitor performance metrics and user behavior data to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, staying updated with the latest e-commerce trends and technologies can provide competitive advantages. For instance, adopting AI-powered tools for personalized recommendations or chatbots for customer service can enhance user experience and boost sales.

VTEX stands out as the most customizable, headless, and composable eCommerce platform, offering unparalleled flexibility and control over digital commerce experiences. Its headless architecture allows businesses to decouple the front end from the back end, enabling the creation of unique, seamless user experiences across multiple channels without constraints. This modularity, combined with VTEX's extensive APIs and customization options, empowers businesses to innovate and adapt quickly to market changes or customer demands. VTEX's robust ecosystem of integrations and partnerships ensures that businesses can easily extend their capabilities, making it a future-proof choice for those looking to scale and evolve their online presence.

As a SME you have both CX opportunities: the digital and also the face-to-face. There are special suppliers for all your needs in a SME Ecommerce. I would encourage Omnichannel strategy starting by hypothesis where both digital and physical alternatives are confronted, in example: Is click-and-collect more interesting than Order-Tracking?

In the context of small businesses needing an e-commerce platform, it's crucial to remember that the choice of platform can significantly impact the business's growth and scalability. While assessing goals and resources, businesses should consider their long-term plans. When comparing options, look beyond just pricing - consider the platform's reliability, security, and customer support. Testing and evaluation should be thorough, covering all possible customer interaction scenarios. Post-launch optimization should be a continuous process, driven by customer feedback and analytics.

We are an online-first company. From my experience, I can tell you that the costs are more or less the same whether you sell online or offline. The Online distribution channel is different from the offline channel, and you need different strategies & skill sets to sell. You have to cut costs by choosing the website platform wisely. The website development should be minimal, the maintenance cost should not be more than 4.5% of your total revenue. You also have to take into consideration the advertising costs. It should not be more than 15-20% of your total revenue depending on your category.