Ecommerce Development: A Complete Guide

M-commerce : While the future outlook for eCommerce is positive, we will continue to see a shift in online shopping behavior and emerging trends. M-commerce is one such trend. It includes shopping online via a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone.

Personalization will drive the next generation of eCommerce:The customer experience has always been a vital aspect of online business. Customers consume more content on mobile than any other platform, and therefore your website should be responsive enough to work on various devices.

With massive data, eCommerce sites will begin to personalize the experience for their customer base. This would be done through predictive analysis to get customized product suggestions based on their previous search history.

The 3D shopping boom : 3D shopping is becoming so popular these days that even online shopping giants like Amazon are considering adding a 3D feature to their websites. We might also see the introduction of virtual malls where customers can walk around and shop for products instead of going to a physical location. If you think Oculus Rift is cool, wait till this trend comes into existence!

The rise of virtual stores : eCommerce sites and companies will soon move beyond the concept of centralized shopping. With VR technology and other advanced features, we should expect these online stores to become more interactive than ever before, so the customers click what they want and get it delivered right at their doorstep. The experience would be surreal.

Bring in the robots: eCommerce is already being automated to a large extent. Still, with AI and machine learning capabilities becoming more advanced, you can expect bots to play a more significant role in eCommerce. There would be no need for human customer service as the bots will take care of everything from your shopping cart to your payment gateway.

The power of 3D printing : If you think all this is cool, wait till 3D printing becomes more mainstream. The fact that you can choose your product online and get it printed within just a few hours will bring the world to your fingertips. Of course, many legal issues are being discussed, but 3D printing will revolutionize the eCommerce industry if they are sorted out.

1. You get to control your product line

With only a few exceptions, in-house developers are entirely free of the constraints that outsource shops are. This means that you can offer any product or service you see fit without worrying about approval from external parties. Depending on what your eCommerce site deals with, this may be a big deal.

2. You can offer 24/7 service

Many eCommerce businesses rely on third-party services, which may be something they simply cannot do without. The nature of their business demands it, for example, an online pharmacy or doctor's office. With in-house development, you're the one who decides whether to take on third-party services and who to work with.

3. You can build internal tools

Commerce sites, especially larger ones, will inevitably want to develop their own internal tools for things like easy employee access to customer information, automated shipping labels or tags, and data mining. For many eCommerce development shops, the only way they can provide these is to outsource development. With in-house developers, you can build the tools you want without ever having to worry about outsourcing.

4. You can make changes quickly

If your eCommerce business suffers because an external service isn't available when you need it or simply isn't working correctly, in-house developers are there to fix things quickly. They don't have to deal with the logistics of sending your problems to an entirely different company and waiting for them to get fixed, making them able to jump on issues right away.

5. You're getting a dedicated team

This is pretty simple: when you hire in-house developers, they're entirely devoted only to you and your eCommerce site. They don't have to split their time among different clients, which means that you get a lot more attention than working with any other eCommerce development team, whether they're in-house or outsourced.

1. It's expensive

As a small business, it can be challenging to come up with the finances for a dedicated development team. In-house developers have high salaries, and they require all the necessary hardware, software, and infrastructure to get their job done. In general, working with an in-house developer is more expensive than using an external team.

2. You need to manage it yourself

If you're working with an outsource shop, you don't have to worry about managing your eCommerce development team directly; they take care of it for you. With in-house developers, that's not possible -- or at least not as easy. You'll need to be sure that you have the necessary tools to monitor your developers' progress, offer them support when they need it, and make sure you get what you contracted for.

3. You need to maintain an office space

Depending on whether or not your in-house developers are working from home or another location of your choice, you'll still need some sort of office space for them to work in. Depending on how much space they need and what amenities are offered, this may be an additional cost that you weren't expecting.

1. It's less expensive than in-house development

The apparent benefit of outsourced eCommerce development is the price tag. Because you're essentially contracting work out to another company, your costs are much lower. This is especially true for larger eCommerce businesses that may have a fluctuating workload. When the workload goes down, they can reduce their monthly expenditures by outsourcing some of them.

2. The workflow is more efficient

When an outsource shop has multiple clients, its workflow is streamlined. This means that as a result of working with various clients, you can actually end up paying less for your outsourced developer over time. The larger the outsource shop, the more efficient their workflow will be, potentially saving you even more money in the future.

3. More resources become available to you

Outsourced eCommerce development shops have access to more tools than individual developers. By working with an outsourced team, you gain access to all of the various computer programs and software they use. This makes it possible for you to get everything done more efficiently on your end.

4. You can work with some of the best eCommerce developers in the world

As the saying goes, the more you put in, the more you get out. By working with an outsourced eCommerce development shop, you have access to some of the best developers in your industry. This means that when customizing your eCommerce website or creating new features for it, you can trust that true professionals are doing work.

5. You have the option to outsource different aspects of your project

Depending on your business, you may need to hire an eCommerce development shop for specific types of work. By working with an outsourced shop, you can choose how much or how little they do so that you don't have to pay out the nose for every little thing.

1. You need to manage it yourself

If you're working with an outsource shop, the only thing you have to worry about is giving them the go-ahead on your project. However, if you're working with someone who's doing different aspects of your project, it becomes necessary for you to take care of that final step yourself. This may be a drawback for some businesses, depending on how they operate and whether or not management is willing to take on this additional responsibility.

2. You need to know where your team is working from

If you're used to having your eCommerce developers work out of an office space that you own or manage, it can be difficult to outsource this function. Depending on where your developers are located and how often you visit them, it can be challenging to monitor their progress. If this is a drawback for you, you may want to consider hiring an eCommerce development shop that already has a physical location or vice versa.

3. You need to have the necessary infrastructure in place

If you're short on physical space, you may want to consider hiring an eCommerce development shop that already has the necessary infrastructure. This means that they have their own office space and everything else that goes along with it. If your company doesn't have this available, then outsourcing might not be the best idea for them at this time.

Mistake 1- Not considering the location

Choosing an eCommerce development company is not as easy as it seems. There is a lot to consider, and one of those considerations involves determining their location – whether you would go with a local or a global development firm. This also passes on another consideration – cost, which could save you a fortune if considered right. If you want a cheaper option, going local is always better.

Mistake 2- Not choosing from reputed brands

When it comes to the eCommerce business, there are two types of sites – new and established. If you want to avoid many mistakes and invest only once, going with the latter is always advisable. There are several reasons for this – firstly, they have years of experience; secondly, they know what mistakes not to make since they've already made them; thirdly – they have every solution required at every step of the way.

Mistake 3- Not having a proper planning

It is not possible to finish an eCommerce development project, with or without help, in one day. One must always have a plan and stick to it. The plan may include all the steps necessary for the completion of the project – these could be divided into phases or stages. The plan should also include the features that must be included and how one would communicate with developers throughout the project.

Mistake 4- Not looking at the development process

One of the most common mistakes companies make is not understanding their eCommerce development company's working style. The way they work decides what kind of solutions your website will have in the end. For example, a company that uses agile methodologies will have frequent releases and allow you to provide input at each phase of development, unlike companies that use the waterfall model, which gets completed in one go. This way, you get a better say in your project and can provide valuable inputs.

Mistake 5- Not checking for domain name availability

You must always make sure that the domain name you choose is available. If not, your website might never become famous or simply be a waste of money. Make sure to look for all alternatives and pick one which is available.

Do Your Research

It is recommended to do some research work before hiring an eCommerce development agency for your business. Research about the agency, their portfolio, reviews, and testimonials provided by other clients can help you know more about them before approaching them for any work related to your business.

If you are using online platforms, you will find several sites where clients can leave reviews about their experiences with the company. Find out the site's operating hours and check whether they allow negative feedback to be posted or not.

You can use social media sites to find out about the agency and other clients' experiences with them. Many businesses or agencies have their own Facebook or Twitter pages to post the latest updates about themselves and what they do best for their clients.

LinkedIn is another social media channel to get in touch with industry experts and inquire about various companies that you can approach for your business.

Check Out Their Portfolio

After finding out about the agency through your research, it is time that you check their portfolio. Most eCommerce development companies will have a page on their site displaying some of their past projects. Check them carefully and analyze how well the company did them.

You can also check out their site for relevant previous work done by the agency. If you find that all of their projects have a similar design, this might not be a good option. It is advisable to go for an agency whose portfolio displays projects with diverse designs and options as your business needs something unique to stand out from the crowd.

Choose an Agency with Experience

Another crucial thing to be noted while hiring an eCommerce development company is to choose one with experience. You can ask for previous work samples and check them out before handing over your project to them. If they have worked on projects similar to yours, it is a good sign. If clients appreciate their work, then there is no reason why you should not go for them.

Look Out For Their Fees and Services Offered

The most crucial factor that plays a pivotal role in choosing an agency is the pricing of their services and what they offer. You need to look out for companies that provide services for different prices and not just one or two options.

You also need to understand that most eCommerce development companies work based on cost-per-hour rates, and they charge accordingly. If you want them to complete your project in a short period, then you will have to pay more than if you give them more time to work on it.

Another thing that you need to look out for is what services they offer and if they can cater to your business needs. The agency should also provide hosting, domain registration, and email management solutions, apart from web designing and development.

You will get a better deal when you opt for an all-inclusive package provided by an agency. This way, you will not have to go for any additional service, and the agency will be responsible for all of your requirements.

Ask About Their Staff Strength and Client Base

Before hiring or outsourcing your project, it is vital to ask about their client base and staff strength. Check out what kind of projects they work on and if they can handle your business needs. You need to see whether the agency has a well-qualified team of experts or not. Keeping this in mind, go through their client testimonials and determine clients' experience with their services.

Check for Proper Communication between Clients and Team Members

If you plan to outsource your project to an eCommerce development company, you need to learn about their communication methods. You need to see whether the agency will provide 24/7 support or not. If they do not have their own office setup, hiring one with round-the-clock customer support services is advisable.