Opening an e-commerce site may seem a substantially simple action from a technical point of view: you have to insert products with the price, a description and some photos, and a payment system linked to a current account. Opening e-commerce can seem like a smooth, standardized job, therefore not very demanding for the owner; on the other hand, by its nature, an electronic shop, while facilitating many steps compared to a physical shop, requires a different initial effort and a continuous adaptation of internal procedures even after the opening of the business.
Table of Contents
The Creation Of The Site
E-commerce is a site in all respects. It must be designed in its entirety: graphic choices must be made, particular attention must be paid to usability, a series of menus must be created, and an ideal path to guide the user who enters the virtual shop.
The Creation Of The Catalog
The catalog of an eCommerce site is essential. It requires an ad hoc photographic set and the creation of product sheets with variants, complete, practical, synthetic and easily readable descriptions. The catalog must also be carefully set up for what concerns the filter system, for the user’s selection of product types, price ranges, etc.
Adding The Cart And The Favorites/List Space
The essential feature for an eCommerce store is the cart’s presence: a space dedicated to the products to be purchased, which, once the choice has been made, allows the user to make the actual purchase with a click. Often the user who visits an e-commerce site does not want to buy immediately but to observe the product or wait before purchasing. Each case will be evaluated, and if appropriate, a system must also be included to keep the products in memory, a list other than the cart, generally called the list of favorites.
Choice And Insertion Of The Payment System
Depending on the type of goods handled, the offer of payment types can be more or less comprehensive. Allowing payments by cards / PayPal / bank transfer/cash on delivery affects the purchase procedure. It involves several additional steps – such as, for example, subscribing to a service (Paypal), waiting for the approval of the bank. .. etc. Each type will have a detailed regulation that must be understandable and legible for the user.
Management Of Buyer Profiles And Personal Data
Does the buyer have to create an account, or can he buy as a simple visitor? Creating profiles involves memorizing further details and particular views reserved for registered users. In any case, the personal data and all related legal obligations regarding privacy and storage of personal data must be managed.
The Following Steps To Purchase
Once the purchase has been completed, the e-commerce owner will have to manage warehouse management, update the catalog, and shipping, manage any returns, and customer care and satisfaction. In the case of e-commerce, the steps following the sale are certainly more delicate than the management in a physical store and decisively determine the customer’s perception of the reliability of the online store. For this reason, particular attention will also have to be paid to after-sales and the tools designed to manage any unforeseen events.
Opening E-Commerce Is A Challenging But Demanding Choice
The opening of e-commerce represents a challenging and demanding investment: no aspect must be underestimated. The management must be planned so that the activity is cared for and managed daily with constancy and dedication. The steps following the opening will concern investments in advertising and marketing: eCommerce must be launched and promoted on the most suitable channels.
