If you’re operating an ecommerce business, you have lots options to configure the ideal ordering and fulfillment process.

But with so many choices available, it’s difficult to sort through which tools you’ll need, and which will just bloat your operation or require additional spending. When it comes down to it, there are just three main ecommerce solutions that can make or break your online business, in terms of efficiency.

Here are the three pillars required to create a streamlined ecommerce business.

A quality shopping cart platform

There are lots of shopping carts available, many of which are designed specifically to support ecommerce businesses. But how can you tell which cart will help streamline your business versus options that add cumbersome, unnecessary features?

One of the main points to remember when selecting a shopping cart platform is to take into account not just your current cart requirements, but how and where you see your ecommerce business expanding in the future. By taking into account the ability to grow your business – both vertically and horizontally – in the future when selecting your shopping cart solution today, you create a smooth transition as your company’s sales increase.

Features to look for when selecting a shopping cart solution:

• Multi-store management capabilities
• The ability to add new URLs or themes
• A cart that is easy to customize without requiring lots of additional coding
• A cart with a vibrant network of partners and members
• Frequent updates that keep pace with current technology and consumer shopping habits
• An open API for easy future connections
• A cart with specific B2B features, if yours is a B2B company

A flexible ecommerce integration system

Your ability to fulfill orders in a streamlined manner is dependent on the flexibility and performance of your integrations. Not only should your ecommerce integration software mesh seamlessly with your shopping cart, but it must be able to integrate with other services, such as your company’s fulfillment network.

As with your shopping cart, remember that your ecommerce integration software should be designed to expand with your business, without requiring additional custom coding or deep development. As your ecommerce business expands into multiple domains, your integration platform should be able to keep up by accommodating different scenarios and workflows without requiring a separate system for each.

Remember that to keep your ecommerce business operating without any hiccups, you should select an ecommerce integration software platform that features automatic updates to documents, so you are not required to hire a custom software developer.

A robust fulfillment network

Being able to fulfill orders fast and accurately is at the heart of any successful ecommerce business. If you’re fulfilling orders in-house, make sure your ERP system adapts to your process and doesn’t slow you down.

If you aren’t able to fulfill orders in-house – or you have outgrown this option – then be sure to partner with a proven network. There are many services with long track records of reliable and efficient order fulfillment. Amazon FBA, eFulfilliment Service, and Newgistics are a few – but there are plenty of other services available.

Before selecting the right fulfillment partner, do your homework. Not only look at pricing for actual order fulfillment (usually tied to the size and weight of the products you are shipping), but consider costs associated with storing your products in your partner’s warehouse, how well the partner manages returns and their level of customer service – both toward you and the people buying your products.

Finally, examine how easily their software can integrate with your own ERP, ecommerce or shopping cart systems. If you’re using an all-in-one integration platform that includes this fulfillment partner already, you’ll be able to avoid custom development that drains time and slows down your operation.

New ecommerce solutions are emerging daily to help online businesses sell more efficiently. Don’t get mired in aging systems just because it’s the way you’ve always done business. As you utilize these tools to streamline your ecommerce business, you free up time and space to innovate additional products and services that will better serve your customers.

For more information about how Alluvia’s all-in-one ecommerce integration software can help streamline your business, contact us today.

Today’s ecommerce ecosystem has opened up new revenue opportunities for online retailers.

When you have a reliable ecommerce system in place, you can attract customers from any demographic or location, without needing to present your products in person. With the elimination of language and location barriers, the entire world becomes your storefront.

Of course, with all these opportunities come real-world logistical challenges. ecommerce businesses are forced to operate in an extremely fast-paced environment, as customers’ tolerance for waiting shrinks daily. Major online retailers like Amazon have set a new standard in customer expectation that orders will be shipped and received in a matter of days, if not sooner. Whether you fulfill orders in-house or rely on a fulfillment partner, your business must be able to fulfill orders right away. And of course, in the small world that is online sales, your customers have the final say, as they publicly share their experiences with your company in the form of online reviews or forums.

All components of your supply chain must be working flawlessly in order to ensure that you can deliver not only your fantastic products but a superior customer service experience as well.

At the crossroads of all these moving parts is your ecommerce integration software, which can streamline your sales process – or slow you down dramatically. With the right integration software, all these challenges become opportunities – to sell more, expand your product line and serve your customers better.

The ideal ecommerce integration software helps you boosts sales by

Introducing new revenue opportunities

The right ecommerce integration software enables to you to approach large retail chains without worrying about being able to integrate with their software.

Enabling omni-channel integration

No matter where your customer buys your product – from mobile to desktop to a brick & mortar store – your ordering process appears seamless, easy to use and completely reliable.

Allowing smooth integration with external fulfillment networks

Your successful ecommerce business should not be limited to selling only on your own website. If you partner with other popular ecommerce channels (ex. eBay), your ecommerce integration software must be able to handle order requests coming from a multitude of different directions, each with varying requirements.

Showing only what is in stock and available

Your ecommerce integration software should be able to display only the items that you’re able to fulfill immediately and display dates when out-of-stock products will become available. This eliminates the customer backlash that accompanies surprise wait times that are revealed after payment has been made.

Facilitating seamless communication with your fulfillment partners

If you’re using a third-party order fulfillment network, the right integration software will streamline your back-and-forth. All-in-one platforms consolidate information into a single place, integrating your shopping cart, ERP, and your partner’s system into a single transaction that is updated in real-time, so it’s easy to track.

Keeping pace with integrated documents updates

Your integration software should provide you with updated documents, without requiring the need for custom coding connections as information requirements change. All-in-one platforms prioritize this since connection requirements change frequently.

Building trust with your customers

Customers won’t tolerate gaps in communication when ordering from an online retailer. Your integration software should provide reliable two-way communication during every step of the transaction, keeping your customers informed with an accurate picture of when they will receive their order.

Speeding your order fulfillment

By replacing manual processes with integration software, you eliminate time-consuming actions that drain man-hours from your operation. When you use an automated integration system, your product managers can focus on your organization’s bigger order sales picture, not individual transactions.

Enabling drop shipping opportunities

A robust integration platform means you can expand your product offerings via drop shipping. When your software integrates efficiently with outside vendors and presents a seamless experience for your customers, you can offer a greater variety of products to your customers under your brand umbrella.

Don’t let your integration software get in the way of growing your sales. Gone are the days of relying on cumbersome, custom-developed integration software. Emerging platforms prioritize speed, efficiency, and flexibility – all the things that today’s ecommerce business needs to be successful.

For information on how Alluvia’s all-in-one platform can streamline your ecommerce sales process, contact us today.