Essential Software an eCommerce Startup Needs
Getting your eCommerce startup off the ground was a major achievement, and now you can look at solidifying that start by getting the right people and systems in place. One thing you shouldn’t neglect, though, is the software that you’ll need to help you run your business and increase your profits. If you overlook this important area, you’ll quickly find that you and your team are spending more time on repetitive tasks than you should and not making the progress you need to as a result. To avoid this, here are some software solutions you’ll need to look at to keep your business moving forward at the kind of pace it would need to survive.
eCommerce software for your website
You’ll want the online buying process for your customers to be as smooth as possible, so the software that sits on your website will need to be second to none. Rather than coding it all from scratch, you can use platforms like Shopify on your domain to run the whole thing for you. Of course, you’ll have to populate it with your products, but everything else, like shopping carts and the checkout process, is taken care of. The are also additional modules you can look at that help with marketing and SEO, so this covers a wide range of options, regardless of your niche. This, and platforms just like it, are off-the-shelf solutions with a monthly cost and support and could provide you with exactly what you are looking for.
Warehousing and shipping software
If your startup deals with physical products of any type, you’ll need to store, pack, and ship them to your customers. Here warehouse operations software is essential, especially during busy periods or times of expansion, when you’ll need to find additional warehouse space for small businesses so you can still keep things running smoothly. Of course, software is only half the battle, and you’ll need to find the right premises, too. You’ll need to find a flexible space that you can rent in the short term, and that also has other key facilities available. Once this is in place, you can set about labelling racking and setting up locations for your overflow stock. As this would be a temporary, short-term solution, you would need software that is as flexible as the place you rent so that you can get in and out without too much disruption.
CRM software
Getting that first sale from each customer is just the start, and you’ll want them to come back time and again. To do this, you’ll need to, with their consent, store their details, keep them appraised of your latest products, and keep them informed about what your business is doing. This can be done with CRM software, which will have their likes and dislikes logged, as well as provide you with the chance to send them a regular newsletter. This shouldn’t be too salesy and instead provide useful information about your niche, cementing your status with them as an authority figure and building a relationship that means when they next consider making a purchase, yours will be the first name that comes to mind.