E-commerce Consulting

E-commerce Consulting
Why is it important to have e-commerce consulting?

It may seem cliché to say that your online store deserves a thorough review through e-commerce consulting, but forget the typical “your business needs a review” pitch and remember that an online store exists in an ever-changing environment. What was trendy in 2018 may no longer be in 2020.

What does this mean? An online store is one of the types of websites that requires the most attention today. It’s not just a place where users learn about your business and maybe send you an email or request a quote. In an online store, customers are actively searching to make a purchase, making them the most qualified leads for your business.

Some companies only have an e-commerce platform without a formal institutional website. E-commerce has become a key space not only for selling but for customers to learn about your business. Therefore, ensuring everything is running smoothly is crucial.

This is why your online store needs support, which is where e-commerce consulting comes in. Let’s explain it in more detail.

E-commerce Platforms

Today, it’s much easier to create an online store than it was a decade or two ago. There are various platforms that help developers build a store from scratch that aligns with the company’s identity while meeting consumer needs.

Some popular platforms include:

• WordPress WooCommerce
• Vtex
• Magento
• Open Cart

While you can create an online store without high-level technical supervision, it’s still difficult to rely solely on these platforms without some prior knowledge of programming, development, and online purchasing. It’s like trying to diagnose your illness by Googling symptoms instead of seeing a doctor — guessing can lead to mistakes.

It’s important to be informed about e-commerce platforms, how they operate, and the knowledge required. Understanding fiscal, tax, economic, and labor matters is also valuable in this context.

Additionally, many platforms lack excellent customer support, which is a common complaint. Even with tutorials, plugins, and content recommendations, providing personalized customer support can be difficult due to the large number of global accounts and issues with language and localization.

That’s why technical issues often require a specialized development team to analyze the code and layout of the online store.

Creating an E-commerce

An e-commerce consultant is not necessarily the primary developer of your store. In fact, they likely won’t be. As mentioned earlier, it’s recommended to have a team of developers assist in the creation of your online store, as platforms, although improved, do not offer universal or personalized support.

If your company is not a large conglomerate with a dedicated e-commerce development department, like Amazon or major supermarket chains, you most likely hired a freelance developer or an agency specializing in e-commerce development.

It could be the best team you know or the most famous and successful agency in creating e-commerce websites, but there is no perfect e-commerce platform that works for all businesses. There’s no platform that is universally accessible, offers affordable prices, and suits businesses of all sizes and budgets.

What is the Role of E-commerce Consulting?

E-commerce consulting is essential for periodically reviewing the functionality of your online store. Consultants examine everything, providing a complete report on what’s working, what needs improvement, what’s broken, and what’s missing.

There are two types of e-commerce consultants:

1. Specialists in programming: They analyze the technical code of your store and its operations, such as fixing errors, improving user-friendliness, using better features, enhancing site speed, and improving item filtering.
2. Specialists in online sales: They focus on improving free shipping strategies, timing for promotions, the customer journey, financial planning for the store, and other related aspects.

These consultations help build consumer trust in your e-commerce platform. Although it might seem unusual to have such a service, if your store hasn’t been reviewed or supported in over a year, a consultant can be a huge asset.

Consulting doesn’t directly fix things but helps assess the overall performance of your store. Some people may prefer to hire a developer to implement the changes themselves, but a consultant offers a thorough review of your store’s overall performance.

Most developers follow basic instructions but don’t conduct a comprehensive review. A consultant’s role is to meticulously analyze everything, identifying issues and suggesting improvements.

The Difference a Consultant Makes

Imagine your online store is performing reasonably well, but one of the most frequent complaints in the chat box is poor post-sale communication. Do you know how to improve this? Not all marketing issues can be solved with a single mindset.

An e-commerce consultant works with a specialized team to provide a complete review. Even though we can give you many tips when creating your e-commerce, the common lifespan of a platform is three years. The digital landscape changes so rapidly that your store could quickly become outdated. This is why consulting is crucial.

Not everything can be fixed by adding codes or functionalities; sometimes, a deeper analysis and a report on possible improvements are needed.

A basic example: your platform might be struggling with system integration. An online store must integrate with your internal systems to prevent errors in finances, stock management, customer data, and more.

If you don’t fully understand how all these systems interact, a consultant can at least offer guidance to ensure everything is functioning correctly or help you dig deeper if needed.

Your e-commerce platform could be integrated with the following systems:

• CRM
• Sales system
• Email marketing system
• Marketplace
• Delivery systems

This is the difference a consultant brings. A developer knows the platforms and codes but may not have specialized knowledge in analysis, planning, or support. After consulting, you’ll still need a developer, but the consultant’s role is to provide a broader, more analytical approach.

E-commerce consulting focuses on digital marketing professionals specializing in online stores, reviewing every detail of your site, and providing you with a comprehensive plan. It’s a broad service focused on analysis, not just execution, but it’s essential for understanding the current state of your store and knowing what needs to be done.

Still unsure? Send us a message, and we’ll offer a more in-depth consultation on the matter. We’re here to help.