The size of the eCommerce industry attracts entrepreneurs who want to establish an enterprise and create a source of income. However, the road to establishing an online store or another eCommerce venture is not that simple. If anything, there are plenty of eCommerce challenges that one has to overcome and after they have the business up and running.
Below, you will find a list of 6 significant eCommerce challenges and suggestions to overcome them.
Customer Expectations
Let’s start with customer expectations. Early on, not that many people shopped online because they did not trust the gimmick. As the years went by, more and more of us realized the benefits of online stores. That is illustrated by how much the industry has grown.
However, with the growth, you see innovations and other aspects of online shopping moving forward. Modern customers have certain expectations. When they can choose between so many different online stores, it is natural that they will pick one that meets their expectations.
Take customer reviews, for example. One of the drawbacks of online shopping is not able to try out the product in person, so there is some risk in spending money. Shoppers seek feedback from prior customers to determine whether they should buy the goods or not.
Thankfully, there are ways to simplify the review process. Such as using Opinew, which is a Shopify reviews app used to import reviews from other platforms.
However, what if you run a different business model and need reviews from customers? Encouraging them to submit feedback without various perks could prove difficult.
Reliable Suppliers
Finding reliable suppliers is another significant challenge. Since so many online stores use the dropshipping model, they need to find suppliers that can ensure quality products and no delays.
Even if a supplier is reliable they may not cooperate because it already has plenty of clients or not enough products to ship.
A small mistake in the chain of dropshipping can stop the entire operation. Since suppliers play such a prominent role, it is crucial to collaborate with reliable ones.
Competition
Like already mentioned, the eCommerce industry is massive, and there are a lot of different stores that work on providing customers the best experience they can.
Overcoming a competitor is not that easy. Sure, there are cases where different stores coexist in the same niche, but the ideal scenario is to get as large of a market share as possible.
Newcomers struggle with this in particular because they have to go up against brands that have already established themselves, and there are no guarantees that pouring resources to advertise the store will be enough.
Security Threats
Security threats, such as DDoS attacks can hinder a website’s performance and make it unavailable for customers. Or, it might slow down the loading speed of pages that will make shoppers not bother and look elsewhere.
Another instance of a security threat is malware that exposes customer information and puts a business in jeopardy.
Some cyberattacks come from competitors, some can come from a random source, and tracking back to the attack’s origin is not necessarily that simple.
Right now, there are quite a few different tools that enhance security, and more online stores should invest in security.
Returns & Refunds
Returns and refunds are inevitable, particularly when we are talking about online stores. Buying goods online means that you cannot be certain whether they will fit you. Clothes and shoes are great examples of products that you would want to try in person before spending money, but online shops do not provide such an option.
If a size does not fit, a store has to accept a return and refund it. Seeing purchase transactions turn into returns can lead to a loss of motivation, but it is part of the business. Stores that wish to see fewer returns need to ensure that they provide as much information to the customers about the advertised products.
International & Local Shipping
International shipping is not necessary. If a store plans to expand & get more customers, it is recommended to ship the goods internationally as well.
However, the issue is similar to that of finding reliable suppliers. Figuring out what the best international shipping option is might not be as easy.
To a lesser extent, local shipping companies might also offer different perks and other aspects, and deciding between those could be problematic at times.
Abandoned Shopping Carts
Shopping cart abandonment happens because of a complicated transaction process that takes too long. You can also expect fewer customers to complete a transaction if they wish to buy without registering an account. There is an imperative to create one. Not enough payment gateway options can affect the abandoned shopping cart rate as well.
Eliminating potential eCommerce challenges, sending follow-up emails, giving flexible payment options, and optimizing the checkout page is the way to go if a store wishes to see fewer abandoned shopping carts.
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