Having the right digital tools has a massive impact on productivity and growth for any business that operates online. If you run an eCommerce store, your tool assortment will determine several things, including the speed of your transactions, the ability to track customers and prospects, and your overall credibility and reputation. The list of tools you can incorporate into your eCommerce business model is endless, but these six are among the very basic ones:
1.The right website platform
All major eCommerce stores are built on a preexisting website platform. You can create a website from scratch, but that will take a lot more time and effort. Website platforms such as Shopify, Bigcommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce serve like a framework equipped with the components all eCommerce stores must have.
2.Fraud detection tool
Criminals will be looking to take advantage of any setup that involves exchanging money. Ecommerce stores have become a prime target for fraudsters, with eCommerce losses due to fraud expected to cross the $12 billion mark in the U.S. this year. To avoid contributing to this figure, your site should be armed with a transaction fraud detection system to help you track potentially malicious activity.
3.SEO tool
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital aspect of any digital marketing strategy. With an SEO tool such as Google (News - Alert) Webmaster, you won't have to handle most of the optimization processes alone. It gives a unified view of your website's major fronts and helps you spot indexing issues, bugs, and broken links. If your eCommerce store sells seasonal products, Google Trends can help you identify the time of the year when your product is in highest demand.
4.Customer relationship management (CRM) software
Customer relationship management systems help track and manage customer and prospect interactions with a business. A modern CRM system should have a contact database, a technical support feature, organizational tools, and marketing tools. Some of the advantages of CRM tools include improved customer experience, enhanced marketing, improved sales performance, simplified inventory planning, loss and cost minimization, and a generally enhanced competitive edge.
5.Design tool
The images you post on your social media timeline say a lot about the quality of service you offer, at least from the customer's perspective. You should aim to post quality visuals, such as images, videos, and infographics that reflect your brand identity. For that, you need dedicated tools such as Photoshop, Canva, Pikwizard, and more.
6.Loyalty tool package
Loyal customers are brand advocates. With the help of loyalty tools such as Yotpo, Smile.io, and Bellycard, you can significantly increase your eCommerce's brand value among the people you serve. Yotpo makes it easy for customers to give feedback and reviews, while smile.io incentivizes reviews, purchases, social media shares, and referrals by awarding customers points for specific actions.
Endnote
These are some of the tools you need to level the playing field for your eCommerce store. As you grow and understand your business, competitors, and customers better, you will need additional tools, but these six offer an excellent place to start if you are trying to address the basics first.
