Today's business landscape is very different when compared with the traditional high-street model many of us are accustomed to.
More and more businesses are migrating using e-commerce to boost their sales and access a larger part of the market. However, many business owners are not yet fully embracing e-commerce because they are not familiar with technology or because of misconceptions regarding the effort and cost involved in getting your business online.
How To Get Your Business On The Digital High Street
Setting up your business for e-commerce may not be quite as complicated as it sounds. E-commerce platforms can be used by almost any business to trade online. A dedicated enterprise ecommerce platform is especially suited to larger businesses and brands, or suppliers looking for an electronic B2B solution.
E-commerce platforms are very easy to use and make it possible for a local business to participate in the international market, irrespective of its size. There are quite a few e-commerce platforms around and most of them can be integrated with your existing website rather easily, negating the need for expensive web design work and changes to your existing brand image.
E-commerce platforms offer various pricing models that can expand in tandem with your business. The modular design allows you to add additional modules as and when required, and you only pay for the functions that you choose to use, when you use them. This flexibility makes e-commerce platforms the ideal solution for any business.
What Is The Difference Between Normal E-Commerce Platforms And Enterprise Platforms?
The biggest difference between the two platform types lies in the functions that they offer. Enterprise e-commerce platforms often offer advanced management and integration options that allow a large business to effectively manage stock and customers. Some e-commerce platforms offer multi-channel retail modules which allow companies to manage multiple retail sites from a single admin platform.
Another advantage offered by enterprise e-commerce platforms is their ability to facilitate business to business transactions. While traditional "smaller" e-commerce platforms are aimed mainly at transactions between retailers and end users, the e-commerce version is aimed at transactions between suppliers and retailers. Research regularly concludes that increasing numbers of companies are choosing to purchase their stock items via e-commerce platforms. This trend is set to continue well into the future because of the ease of use it offers.
By adding an enterprise e-commerce platform to your company, you can attract more customers and increase your turnover, while decreasing overhead costs at the same time. Maintaining a large human sales force can be quite costly, often e-commerce platforms and digital sales channels can have a big impact on payroll costs.
E-commerce has made it easier for customers to find the products that they need from the convenience of their own homes. This has made it harder for high street shops to maintain a profitable existence. Make sure that your business keeps up with the latest trends by adding e-commerce to your sales channels.
