Your online storefront should be more than just a place where your customers place orders. When designed well, your ecommerce shop can align with the rest of your business and help you build a bigger empire.
What Is Digital Transformation?
A digital transformation is essentially the act of adding new online technology to your e-commerce. This could be anything from time management tools to business process management strategies to digital marketing tactics. Regardless of what you choose to do, there are many perks for you, including giving you the tools you need to make better decisions, work more efficiently, and improve both your customers’ and employees’ experience with your business. One quick tip is to ensure that you are constantly testing new software so that you know your new tools and services are working as they should.
Time Management
Time management tools are a great way to integrate digital technology into your business. When you effectively learn how to manage your time and have the tools to support your endeavors, you can get more done without sacrificing your personal schedule. You’ll also look more professional and reduce unnecessary stress. A few online management tools to consider include Toggl, RescueTime, and Evernote.
Business Process Management
Business process management is not a specific action. Rather, BPM is a set of strategies to streamline and improve business operations that you measure, monitor, and improve to boost your company’s overall efficiency and eliminate unnecessary steps. There are a number of ways business process management can help you optimize your operations at all levels.
Content Marketing
One of the main benefits of content marketing is that it can help you draw in targeted traffic. By creating informative and keyword-rich blog posts, articles, and social media posts, you can attract people who are specifically interested in what you have to offer. This is especially beneficial if you sell niche products or cater to a specific audience. In addition to attracting new customers, content marketing can also help you build relationships with your existing customers. By providing valuable information and staying active on social media, you can stay top of mind and show your customers that you’re invested in their satisfaction. Visit Cornerstone Content for additional information, tips, and strategies.
Smart Search
If you’ve ever been to a website that auto-fills what you’re searching for or allows you to search based on non-specific information, such as, “I need the best dress for a wedding,” then you’ve already seen the power of smart search. This type of search is predictive, intuitive, and utilizes machine learning to create a more personalized shopping experience for your customers. Auto suggestions, popular search, and even image searching can all help retain and engage your customers.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing should always be at the forefront of your business plan. According to the Digital Marketing Institute, there are many ways that e-commerce can utilize the power of technology to be an efficient marketing machine. These include artificial intelligence, emails to combat cart abandonment, and ensuring that your online presence is fully mobile-friendly. It’s also essential that you build an attractive and user-friendly website—TS Web Services can help!
Online Collaboration
Even if you only have one employee, the way that you collaborate and communicate can have a profound trickle-down effect on your website. When you collaborate online, everyone is more productive and can work from wherever they are. This means that you and your staff can be more responsive to issues with your online storefront so that you don’t risk losing customers because of a slow site or 404 error.
Enterprise Resource Planning
If you’re not already utilizing an ERP, you should be. Enterprise resource planning software can help you more responsibly handle issues, such as inventory control and invoicing. You’ll be more automated, and your ERP software will give you access to reports that will help you run a more customer-friendly business.
While this is just a short list of the types of software and technology that will benefit your e-commerce storefront, business process management, digital and content marketing, smart search, time management, online collaboration, and ERP are all increasingly important to stay competitive in a digital world. Talk to your software developer or web designer about other ways that you can incorporate today’s technology so that you can build a better foundation for your business’s future.