As communities grow, traditional retail store owners often feel restricted in reach and impact. Instead of opening another brick-and-mortar location, they can expand into new markets and increase sales with eCommerce website design. Unlike informational websites, eCommerce sites use software to handle key business tasks. They manage sales, track inventory, provide product details, process shipping and returns, and support back-office operations. Before you can begin designing your site, you will need to look at getting eCommerce Website Hosting.

A business with an eCommerce website must track inventory accurately, whether selling wholesale or retail. If a physical store complements the website, precise inventory tracking helps maintain stock levels while reducing unsold items. Displaying available quantities on product pages can boost sales, but those numbers must match the actual inventory on the shelf. Point of sale computers must update sales information while the website refers to the inventory database. The website can trigger reports to warn of low inventory levels of popular items.

Design your eCommerce website around Customers

Customers love to browse and find all the necessary information about a product before deciding to purchase. An eCommerce website design must feature detailed product information and accurate images of the items being shipped. Even brand differences can cause customer dissatisfaction when an unexpected item arrives. Showing multiple pictures from various angles assures customers that they will receive the exact item displayed. A website that provides substantial information builds trust with customers and draws repeat sales. You can control virtual shopping cart options to let customers bookmark items for future purchases without affecting inventory levels. Sales increase when wish lists and saved shopping lists are stored in customer accounts.

When entering product information into the database, businesses must decide on shipping charges. Research the largest websites that ship various products. Review their shipping rates and compare strategies. Then, choose the best shipping protocol for your business. High shipping fees often lead to lost sales. Flat rate fees give the customer an idea of what to expect when creating an order. Small orders yield a small profit margin on shipping charges, while large orders must compensate for that margin through product costs. Free shipping isn’t truly free; businesses must adjust product prices to cover the costs. Two price structures would be hard to maintain between the storefront business and the eCommerce business.

eCommerce Website shipping

Whichever policy you choose, make sure to advertise your shipping charges openly and be consistent. Major shipping carriers provide updated shipping information referenced on your order screen within the eCommerce website. Shipping contracts can reduce costs by grouping packages. Use more than one carrier, so the delivery people sense some healthy competition. Track customer complaints and address shipping issues immediately to protect your valuable customers and their satisfaction.

Returns are inevitable in eCommerce and can hurt both reputation and profit if not managed efficiently. The sales process must work in reverse to receive the product, update inventory, return defective items to manufacturers, and credit the customer while requesting a vendor refund or replacement. Then, you must repeat the sales process to replace the product for the customer.

Design with Costs in mind

You must track and report costs throughout these processes to identify areas for improvement. Your ability to handle returns gracefully can win repeat sales and loyal customers. The intricacy of this process requires an employee that loves details and juggling multiple tasks. Dedicate at least one employee to handling all your returns.

Engage an eCommerce website design company when your business is growing and has available operating cash. You will need additional employees to manage the increased activities generated by the website. Maintaining higher inventory levels of the right products is essential for smooth operations and customer satisfaction.

Monitor your eCommerce Website sales

Monitor sales, inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable separately for the storefront and eCommerce website to track growth and challenges. Adding an eCommerce site can sometimes disrupt storefront operations, but back-office reports will help identify and resolve issues.

When expanding to serve a larger customer base, seek input from experts to design an effective eCommerce website. Simple websites are no longer enough—your online presence can drive business growth in ways you never imagined. Speak with your current employees and ask for an interest in working on the project. The eCommerce website design company begins to define the business needs and the parameters of the project. To achieve a strong return on investment, you must prioritize both aspects of your business equally.