Are you looking to grow your online brand this year? With so many different tech options out there, there’s never been a better time than right now to automate certain aspects of your operations for a more streamlined approach. Here are seven ways to utilize tech to enhance your eCommerce business and increase sales.
1. Use a 3PL for Better Shipping Rates
One of the easiest ways to leverage technology to grow your eCommerce brand is by outsourcing some of your warehousing and shipping tasks. 3PL, or Third party logistics, refers to outside companies that offer these services for brands that don’t want to take on the time or expense on their own.
That said, 3PLs often send out a high volume of shipments on a regular basis from all of their various companies. In the end, this means they get the absolute best rates for shipping with most major carriers based on volume. As an eCommerce brand, you can use this as a way to help cut your costs dramatically. In addition, 3PLs generally have great tech platforms that make it easier to automate certain portions of your business, like multi-channel listing and order fulfillment.
2. Automate Simple Tasks
Another way you can utilize technology to grow your online retail business is by automating simple tasks. With many different options out there, you can easily find software programs and Shopify plugins that make it simple to send out tracking numbers, upsell emails, and much more.
Even some of your in-house tasks can be automated, too. Imagine having the ability to print packing labels and pick lists the moment a customer places an order—even if that’s at two o’clock in the morning!
To determine which areas in your business you can automate, create a list of steps from start to finish mimicking what happens when someone places an order. Then identify spots where you might be able to use tech to streamline.
3. Use Tech to List Products on Multiple Channels
Today’s eCommerce marketplace is quite competitive. That said, the more ways a customer has to discover your brand and make a purchase, the better your bottom line. However, listing items to different marketplaces like Walmart, Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and others can be incredibly time-consuming.
Which is where using tech to your advantage is important. Look for software programs that allow you to upload products one time and push the listings out to various platforms. Not only does this keep you from having to make multiple website visits, but it makes it even easier to consistently keep track of inventory in real-time.
4. Offer Streamlined Customer Service
If you’re looking to utilize tech to enhance your eCommerce business, consider providing streamlined customer service through automation. What do we mean by this? Well, there are plenty of great apps out there that make it simple for customers to reach you via a variety of methods.
For example, you can use automated software to create a text chat program via smartphone messaging. Or you can opt for customer service features on social media platforms including Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and others.
The more streamlined you can make your customer service, the easier it is for shoppers to be happy with their brand experience. And, as you already know, good experiences lead to repeat sales.
5. Utilize Digital Marketing to Your Advantage
Business growth is important and utilizing digital marketing to your advantage is a great way to reach your target market more effectively. While the idea of online advertising is certainly quite broad, there are numerous ways you can use this type of technology to grow your business.
Everything from paid Google Shopping ads to working with social media influencers, there are tons of ways to bring more brand awareness to your online store while leveraging digital media. Other ideas include creating TikTok videos for your products, creating a YouTube channel with engaging content about your niche, and more.
6. Sell Internationally
How can you use tech to enhance your eCommerce business? By selling internationally. Whether you’re just trying to break into a new market or already have a pretty far reaching audience, there are various ways to sell internationally.
In some cases, you can add a plugin to your online store to translate pages and product descriptions into other languages. This is a great way to meet your customers halfway and give them the information necessary to make a solid decision about their purchase. (As a side note, beware that translation apps aren’t always as accurate as they should be. Help keep embarrassing mistakes from happening by having a certified translator check the wording before you go live.)
7. Upgrade Your Personalized Content
Online shoppers want more out of their purchase experiences. Offering personalized content for your customers based on things like previous purchases, zip codes, or even geofencing to a brick-and-mortar location all offer a unique user experience.
You can also opt to help customers by remembering preferences for their account. For example, if they indicate that they tend to like a specific color of clothing or type of furniture, you can make more specific product recommendations to suit their individual tastes and style.
Conclusion: Using Technology for eCommerce Business Growth
Whether your eCommerce business has been around for years or you’re just getting started, there are plenty of opportunities to use modern apps and technology to leverage growth. Try out these seven tips with your brand to start reaping the benefits.