Once you have run a successful webstore for a few years, you might well come to the point when you need to replace your current e-commerce platform for something that will cope better with a higher level of traffic, something more functional. Most entry-level systems can tolerate a certain level of activity. But, beyond that, the system finds it difficult to cope and the user experience starts to quickly deteriorate. Pages are served more slowly. There is little chance to integrate other systems. The fact is that you've outgrown your platform and you need something better. Something that will cope with more traffic.
First of all, let's define e-commerce
Electronic commerce (more commonly known as E-commerce or eCommerce) is trading in products or services using the Internet. E-commerce draws on technology such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web for at least one part of the transaction's life cycle, although it may also use other technologies such as e-mail.
This is the definition of e-commerce written in wikipaedia (a good source but not perfect for everything). However, this definition is pretty good.
A better system delivers more
A new ecommerce system delivers more.
E-commerce technology has moved on recently. It is much more functional and is moving further forward fast. For example, mobile has become increasingly important over the last twelve months. Browsing on smart phones and tablets has taken off rapidly and new technology now delivers web responsive sites which change their shape automatically to match the size of the device being used. Everything is optimised 'on the fly'.
The development of cloud computing has made APIs critical. They allow systems to link together and exchange information automatically. This is how information is transferred seamlessly between systems and it increases productivity exponentially.
Why integrate inbound marketing and e-commerce?
One of the most important things to do is to integrate your online store with your accountancy platform as a minimum.
It would actually be better if the integration were actually done to a good Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) because the extra functionality will help your business overall. Using one database for the business brings many improvements: better customer service, better operations, better sales, better marketing and better finance.
One of the most important things that will happen is that your reports - the reports you use to ensure you are trading at the right margin, for example - will be more accurate and be available continuously. If you think you need to run a flash sale to sell some slow-moving stock, you will be able to do a model, price more accurately, market to the right segment of your customers and withdraw the offer quickly and with the minimum of fuss.
If you want to take your store to the next level then this is what you should do.
If you liked this blog then you might like this previous blog too: http://inbound.itqsolutions.net/blog/mobile-shopping-now-dominates