Pandemic-proof your eCommerce Venture

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down and pushed us back financially and mentally. Many people around the world went into business crises due to a lack of sales. This is the story of many entrepreneurs who were running a successful company in the local market. Businesses closed thereby shifting customer trust to online sellers for their day-to-day needs.

Some entrepreneurs saw this as an opportunity to take over the local market and grow their business online. They converted local shops into digital stores to stay ahead and thus, pandemic proof eCommerce grew more than ever.

We saw heavy shifts from local businesses to digitalization and the rise of online markets. eCommerce has now become the new market for reaching customers around the world. From the education industry to the health sector, every business has evolved online.

Start-ups are expanding faster than ever with the help of technology. They have moved offices online and utilized digital workplaces to increase productivity. Their eCommerce ventures have automated business processes and saved infrastructure maintenance expenses. In addition, businesses also saved tons of money by adopting a work-from-home policy.

According to a Statista report of May 2020, the United States created $160,000 worth of sales, higher than the previous year's sale of $100,000 – an avid example of pandemic proof eCommerce. Online sales increased in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing norms.

Do you want to know how small companies survived the pandemic?

They shifted their business operations online and influenced the eCommerce market. In addition, retailers started selling products and services on marketplaces to connect with more customers without investing capital. Marketplaces allow vendors to set up an online store for free. In exchange, vendors have to pay a commission on every sale.

If you want to grow your business and continue making revenue in the pandemic, you should start with eCommerce development today.

Note: It is important to use the latest technology trends and features to build a comprehensive eCommerce platform.

6 steps to overcome business problems in 2021

1. Move your office online

Use cloud-based services to manage all office work and applications. You can create or use third-party VPN services to enable employees to work on a secure network. You can track the progress of employees and increase efficiency in the lockdown.

You can utilize third-party apps like ActiveCollab, Slack, and Trello to assign and manage tasks.

Some companies have moved to cloud-based operations to minimize office maintenance costs. They utilize the cost of these expenses in developing business.

2. Utilize digital workplace

The digital workplace allows employees to connect and share files with peers. It allows your employees to work together from their comfort zone and beyond geographical locations.

You don’t have to worry about file security or communication gaps when you have a digital workplace. A digital workplace allows you to share files with an individual department or specific employees. You have total control and access over files that are being shared in the workplace.

Some digital workplaces

i. Workplace by Facebook

ii. Workplace Collaboration by IBM

iii. SharePoint by Microsoft

3. Facilitate work from home

Allow your team to work from home to boost productivity. This is one of the best ways to help employees perform better in the pandemic. When you offer work-from-home options, your employees would have peace of mind and stay safe and healthy.

4. Manage Finances

In a time of financial crisis, you have to be extra careful and manage expenses very well. Find ways to secure your accounts and utilize every penny in growing the business. If you are managing your accounts and books, it’s time to bring experts to the table. A professional accountant is essential in complex bookkeeping.

By outsourcing financial management, you will have time to focus on more important things, like business development. You can also outsource accounting roles to a trusted partner.

5. Outsource projects

It’s very hard for small companies to hire resources these days due to several reasons like lack of talent, and higher management and hiring cost. To eliminate these types of problems, people outsource projects to ensure they complete on time. Outsourcing allows companies to get on-demand expertise at a reasonable cost.

You can also outsource eCommerce operations to boost productivity. Outsourcing helps you to collaborate with other companies to get help on tasks and leverage and expand the current team. An eCommerce strategic partnership can bring advanced solutions to the table to grow business faster.

6. Explore new opportunities

It is important to secure your current business and compete in the market. Stay ahead of the competition to get more clients. You can free up your schedule by passing daily tasks to your trusted employees. This allows you to explore new business opportunities. It’s time to raise your entrepreneurial spirit and jump-start a new business so you can have a backup option in the pandemic.

Why start with eCommerce to change your entire business model?

• Everything is online these days. Why shouldn’t you get started?
• Start selling your products and services online to target a large audience with clicks.
• The digital market gives you access to reach unlimited customers.
• Digital marketing is cheaper and more effective than traditional marketing.
• Every third customer is using eCommerce to meet their daily needs.
• 93.5% of internet users have purchased online. (Source: OptinMonster)

5 reasons to start an eCommerce venture

• Trending market
• Reach more customers
• Use social media platforms to interact with customers
• A convenient option for buyers
• Lower management cost

Conclusion

COVID-19 created chaos in the local market and insisted entrepreneurs move online or take the loss in the current business. Local markets have evolved online with big numbers in the last couple of years to support social distancing. Likewise, customers are encouraging online vendors. They are finding online shopping convenient, easy, and fast. If you want to connect with online buyers, you should push your business online. It is the only way to survive in the present and future market.

Next Steps

• Do you want to start an eCommerce venture in this pandemic? Contact us today to discuss how the latest technology leverages your eCommerce business.
• Email us at [email protected] or call us on 781.503.9002 today.
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