Customer conversion is an ongoing challenge for e-Commerce merchant, but what happens when you enter mobile commerce to the mix? It makes the issue more complex. While customers are increasingly turning to mobile for their shopping needs and more companies are making their websites mobile-friendly, it does not always result in a sale from that particular device. As a solution, it’s easy to say you need to go responsive for your webshop. Responsive Design allows you to maintain consistency throughout multiple platforms so you can be where your customers are and remain competitive. But it’s important to understand customer behaviour and trends regarding e-Commerce and mobile and how it can affect overall impression and experience of your website. Read More
Delighting the Customer vs Decreasing Problems in B2B eCommerce
As individuals or businesses, we all look to improve. In e-Commerce, this could mean making business processes more efficient or improving customer experience in various ways, from simplifying product search to providing even more relevant information. However, sometimes efforts to improve could be taken for granted by the customer; the more above and beyond customer expectations we go, the more it becomes the new standard. While improving by adding more features and options to the online shopping experience to meet high expectations is something we should always do, decreasing problems may have a bigger and longer lasting impact. Read More
Amazon Might be Goliath, But Your Online Business Can Be David
Malcolm Gladwell’s newest book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants is a fascinating look at how the underdog can win in business. Gladwell challenges us to think of different ways to battle the Giant.
The story of David and Goliath is an example of fighting your opponent in a different way than they are expecting. For example, Goliath is a 6 foot nine warrior covered in heavy armor that he expects will protect him in close combat. David, on the other hand, is not playing by Goliath’s rules. He dresses lightly for agility, is small of stature, and notices that there is one vulnerable spot on Goliath’s forehead not covered by armor.
David’s prior experience as a Shepherd helped him hone skills in slinging stones to protect his sheep from fierce predators like lions and bears. Gladwell states, “David and Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants.”
Courageous David slings his stones straight at Goliath’s one vulnerability, his forehead, and slays the Giant because Goliath didn’t expect it.
The book is packed with stories of people who faced huge challenges and were forced to respond. Their stories are similar to the fierce challenges that online retailers face when competing with Amazon.
WEBINAR: E-Commerce as a natural extension of MS Dynamics NAV | June 21, 2:00 pm (Eastern Time)
See E-Commerce for NAV in action and how to improve the overall experience for both business users and customers. You’ve got untapped potential; you know Dynamics NAV; we’ll teach you how to make the most of what you got.
The Nav-to-Net™ e-Commerce suite of solutions caters to every business need: B2B, B2C, Sales Agent Portals and Vendor Portals. It is built with Responsive Design and has multiple integrations that make e-Commerce simple to use and manage within your Dynamics NAV.
If you are unable to attend the webinar, you can sign up for a personalized demo and have all your questions answered.
Parametric Search – A Customer Snapshot
For businesses with extremely large product catalogues, search functions are their bread and butter. It helps define the customer experience, from browsing and exploring various product lines, finding a very specific item, to narrowing down and filtering the catalogue to see a selection of relevant items. Well-managed website search correctly identifies items the customer is looking for and meeting their expectations. In the first of our “Customer Snapshot” series, we’ll be showing how real-life customers of Digital Vantage Point use specific Nav-to-Net™ features like parametric search to great success as examples and as inspiration. Read More
Help Me Help You – “Self-Service” Features in e-Commerce
If you want it done right, do it yourself. Some of us feel duty bound to that philosophy as it gives us a sense of control; we know exactly what is needed, our own personal preferences and motivations, and how to get to where we want. Before the days of e-Commerce websites, having the customer do things themselves was generally considered to be bad. Why? With their lack of resources, knowledge, and tools, there are things customers can’t readily manage; there are so many roadblocks in the overall process. It’s also probably implies you’re not doing a good job in anticipating the needs of customers to help them. It is always in the company’s best interest to help customers.
Now with technology and e-Commerce changing how things are bought, sold, and managed, there is so much that can be done. There is now a large amount of information at the customer’s fingertips. In order to do “self-service” successfully, there needs to be an element of control. From the small details that a customer wants to manage in the front end to the boundaries that the company set ups by managing the roles and permissions and guidelines in the back end. Read More
Versatility of Samples in e-Commerce
“Try before you buy” is an extremely common tactic that’s been around for ages. Customers can see if they like it, whether it’s to their taste and their standards first before committing to the purchase and investment. It can help build trust and convey confidence in your product and services. It’s low commitment before diving in with a large purchase that works with both B2B and B2C shops, though it’s usually seen in brick and mortar stores. As more businesses see the benefits of being online, it can be challenge taking all elements into a digital space, but with the right solution and some open mindedness, it can be done! Read More
Easy Wins for the New Year in e-Commerce
With the new year, we feel renewed energy, vigour, and ready to tackle new and exciting projects head on and do all the things we didn’t end up doing last year. But this feeling is short-lived, as we can tell from the already dwindling numbers at the gym. We get it – it’s hard to maintain that level of enthusiasm. Getting back to work after the holidays means getting back into a routine – catching up on emails, customers, partners, dealers, updating processes, and more. But January doesn’t have to be the month of big things but of simplifying instead. Completing lots of little things can be more satisfying and more impactful overall in your e-Commerce business. Read More
Configurator Exclusions Make e-Commerce Personalized
Remember those quizzes that would tell you which personality trait you had, what you should try, buy, watch? These quizzes were usually found in magazines as a way to engage readers but they also are popular online. The reason for its popularity, without getting caught up in the psychology of things, is that it ties into our identity and self-awareness while being fun and interactive. A product configurator is able to take elements of those quizzes like personalization, choice, and interaction, and apply it in an e-Commerce environment. Read More
Sales Representative Recommends for B2B e-Commerce
B2B e-Commerce is typically thought to be impersonal because it is selling to businesses and organizations instead of individuals. It’s a straightforward and direct approach to selling, but the customer can feel removed from the process. With advances in technology, there is a growing need to target specific customers and focus on improving the customer experience. B2B e-Commerce needs to take another approach. People are behind the companies and they require a more personalized warm approach, especially with customer accounts and customer relationship management. One of the features that can help business account managers develop better relationships with their clients is Sales Representative Recommendations. Read More