Understanding ERP Integration in E-commerce

ERP integration in e-commerce is a process that involves connecting and synchronizing an ERP system with an e-commerce platform. The goal is to streamline and optimize various business operations by facilitating the seamless exchange of information and data between the centralized hub of the ERP system and the online sales and customer interaction functions of the e-commerce platform.

This fusion involves linking core functionalities such as inventory management, order processing, accounting, human resources, and customer relationship management, creating a unified approach to managing diverse business processes.

1. Enhanced Efficiency and Streamlined Operations: Integrating ERP with e-commerce introduces a consolidated approach to managing business processes. The centralized nature of ERP systems streamlines operations by combining multiple functions, including inventory management, order processing, accounting, and customer relationship management. This integration ensures a seamless flow of data across the entire business, minimizing errors and redundant tasks.

For retailers, this means that product information, inventory levels, and customer data are automatically updated across all channels. This consistency in data results in reduced manual entry, increased accuracy, and improved operational efficiency.

2. Optimized Inventory Management: Effective inventory management is critical for retail and e-commerce success. ERP systems, providing real-time data on inventory levels, become even more powerful when integrated with e-commerce platforms. This e-commerce integrations enables accurate tracking of stock levels across various sales channels, allowing businesses to implement strategies like just-in-time inventory, prevent stockouts, and better forecast demand.

3. Seamless Order Processing and Fulfillment: The integration of ERP and e-commerce streamlines the order processing and fulfillment mechanism. When a customer places an order online, the ERP system instantly updates inventory records and initiates the order fulfillment process. This automation reduces fulfillment times, enhancing the overall customer experience.

4. Improved Customer Experience: Exceptional customer experience is a cornerstone of retail and e-commerce success. Integrating ERP with e-commerce platforms enables businesses to provide a unified and consistent customer experience across all touchpoints. Whether a customer makes a purchase in-store, on a website, or via a mobile app, the integrated system ensures a consistent experience by maintaining updated information on orders, shipping, and customer preferences.

5. Data-Driven Insights for Informed Decision-Making: The amalgamation of ERP and e-commerce generates a wealth of data that can be harnessed for actionable insights. The integrated system provides comprehensive analytics and reporting, offering valuable information on customer behavior, sales patterns, and inventory performance. With these insights, businesses can make informed decisions regarding product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing initiatives, staying competitive and adaptive in the market.

6. Omnichannel Capabilities: In today’s retail landscape, providing an omnichannel experience is imperative. Integrating ERP with e-commerce facilitates businesses in offering a seamless experience across various channels, including in-store, online, mobile, and social media. This synchronization enables features like ‘buy online, pick up in-store’ (BOPIS), unified customer profiles, and consistent pricing and promotions across all channels, ensuring a cohesive and convenient customer experience.

Conclusion:

The integration of ERP with e-commerce, whether in the retail sector or following omnichannel strategies, offers businesses numerous advantages. From improved operational efficiency to enhanced customer experiences, the synchronization of these systems is pivotal in staying competitive and meeting the dynamic demands of the modern market. As technology continues to evolve, this integration will likely remain a cornerstone for businesses looking to thrive in the ever-expanding digital commerce landscape.

Related read:

• How Integrating ERP with WMS can Improve E-commerce Business Operations
• The Comprehensive Guide to E-commerce Integration
• Why E-commerce Marketplace Integration is Important for Multichannel Sellers?
• Streamlining E-commerce Operations: The Power of Integrating ERP with WMS
• Advantages of using third-party E-commerce Integration for your E-commerce Business

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Understanding the Role of ERP in E-commerce

The strategic alignment of your online sales platform with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is important. This alignment establishes a seamless, two-way information exchange, ensuring that data entered into one system effortlessly synchronizes with the other systems, eliminating the need for redundant data entry.

However, the pursuit of e-commerce excellence doesn’t conclude there. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) play a vital role in this ecosystem. Collaborating seamlessly with ERP systems, they enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your e-commerce operations, ultimately optimizing your business processes. 

Key Differences Between WMS and ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are both critical systems used in the e-commerce ecosystem, especially in industries that rely on supply chains and inventory management. While they have some overlapping functionalities, they serve different primary purposes.

Here’s a comparison between ERP and WMS:

• ERP: An ERP system integrates various business processes across an organization into a unified system. It may encompass a broad range of functions like finance, human resources, procurement, sales, production, and, yes, even some basic inventory management. 
• WMS: A WMS is designed specifically to manage and optimize warehouse operations. This includes tracking inventory levels, order fulfillment, receiving, picking, and shipping goods. Moreover, a robust WMS is a hub for strong and adaptive integrations. Strong integrations mean a responsive and optimized warehouse ecosystem.

How Integrating ERP with WMS Can Improve Your E-commerce Business Operations

Integrating ERP with WMS can significantly enhance the efficiency, responsiveness, and scalability of e-commerce business operations. Here’s how this e-commerce integration can benefit e-commerce operations:

• Streamlined Inventory Management
• Consistent Data Across Platforms
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
• Efficient Returns Management

1. Streamlined Inventory Management

ERP typically contains sales and procurement data, while WMS tracks the real-time movement of inventory in the warehouse. By seamlessly integrating these two vital components, businesses can achieve near real-time inventory visibility.

Consider the case of WOW Skin Science, a brand with numerous SKUs. To streamline inventory management and fulfill orders promptly, they used a customized API solution of WMS integrated with Odoo, a US-based ERP software. 

What WOW Skin Science achieved?

• 99.99%+ Order Fulfillment Rate
• 112% Order Growth Rate in 7 Months
• Maintained Average O2S Time of 26.8 hours
• 141% Increase in Catalog Size
• Over 8 Lakh Live Inventory Count

This integration allowed Odoo to fetch inventory data daily. When inventory levels dipped below a certain threshold, Odoo automatically generated purchase orders to WOW’s vendors and product manufacturers. This created a positive impact on unit economics by ensuring consistent product availability, minimizing stockouts and overstock issues for the brand, and enabling prompt order fulfillment. 

2. Consistent Data Across Platforms

With a robust ERP solution, any update in one system is mirrored in the other. For instance, if a batch of products is found defective and labeled as bad inventory in the WMS, the ERP will instantly adjust financial projections based on this data. A real-world example is the House of Rare, which employs the Ginesys ERP system that pushes the inventory details (store-wise SKU detail) from the brand’s 51 stores into its WMS. 

What House of Rare achieved?

• 178K+ dispatches per month
• 710K+ live inventory count
• 34% drop in order returns
• 51+ stores and marketplaces managed
• Maintained Average O2S Time of 27.4 hours
• 12 hrs average dispatch time

The inventory management system then compiles the details of the entire inventory and passes it to the brand’s own website (Shopify) along with multiple marketplaces, providing 360-degree visibility of inventory to the brand and customers across all stores. If a product is unavailable in one store, the system identifies its availability in another, enabling the product to be ordered and delivered to the customer from an alternative location. This ensures that potential sales are never missed due to stockouts at individual locations.

3. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

The crux of a satisfactory e-commerce experience lies in how promptly orders are processed and delivered. With an ERP integration in place, the data exchange doesn’t just stay confined between the manufacturer and the warehouse. It becomes a seamless flow across the whole supply chain ecosystem, from suppliers to end customers. 

This ensures that when a customer places an order, it’s quickly received by the warehouse, minimizing any delay. As a result, processes such as picking, packing, and shipping commence almost immediately. Quicker dispatch means quicker deliveries, making customers happy. Leading brands, such as Mamaearth, recognized these advantages. They rely on the robust capabilities of SAP ERP to elevate their order management. 

What Mamaearth achieved?

• Automated order operations resulted in a 99.99%+ fulfillment rate
• Real-time inventory management ensured 3M+ order dispatches/month
• Optimized operations management led to 144% order growth in a short span of 8 months
• Multichannel order management enabled to handle 10,110,393 live inventory count
• Having a live catalog count of 2080, experiencing an increase of 176% growth
• The average order-to-ship time decreased to 17 hours
• Marketplaces increased from 1 to 8

4. Efficient Returns Management

Returns are an inevitable part of the e-commerce business. However, how efficiently a business manages these returns can significantly impact customer satisfaction. Leveraging the power of an integrated ERP-WMS setup can revolutionize the way businesses handle product returns.

Upon a customer initiating a return, the WMS swiftly alerts the warehouse, prepping them for the incoming product and providing precise directives on whether to restock, repair, or dispose of the item.

Parallelly, the ERP handles the financial intricacies, calculating and initiating the necessary refunds or credits. This seamless operation improves operational efficiency by maintaining transparent communication with customers about return statuses. 

Commonly Used ERP Solutions for E-commerce Businesses

There are a lot of ERP solutions available for e-commerce businesses. Here are some commonly used options: 

• SAP 
• Oracle NetSuite 
• LogicERP
• ERPNext
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Ginesys
• Odoo
• Wondersoft

See how Unicommerce’s E-commerce ERP Integration Platform helps e-commerce businesses manage their operations –

Final Takeaway!

Understanding the core of ERP and its role in your e-commerce business is not just a matter of staying competitive; it’s about future-proofing your business in an ever-changing digital world. However, it’s essential that your tech stack is not only integrated with ERP but should also complement and support each system’s unique functionalities. With the right ERP strategy and implementation, e-commerce businesses can position themselves for sustained success and growth in the dynamic e-commerce ecosystem. 

Related read – 

• The Comprehensive Guide to E-commerce Integrations
• Why E-commerce Marketplace Integration is Important for Multichannel Sellers
• Revolutionizing Businesses: The Impact of ERP Integration with E-commerce
• Seamless Integrate any Application with Tally

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E-commerce Apparel Industry in India

According to the Indian E-commerce Trends Report of Unicommerce, the online fashion and accessories industry in India witnessed an order volume growth of 20.9%, becoming the segment with the highest order volumes in FY22 as compared to the previous financial year. 

The apparel industry is known for its ability to adapt to change, with new trends and styles emerging regularly. Change has always been the wardrobe essential of this industry, happening almost every quarter of each year. This constant need for adaptation also brings its own set of challenges for the industry. 

Keeping up with the fast-paced nature of the industry can be difficult for brands and retailers, as they need to stay ahead of the latest trends and styles while also managing costs and maintaining profitability. With a rotational shift happening in the industry, Unicommerce decided to go ahead and curate e-commerce fashion trends, challenges, opportunities, and solutions that can help you manage and schedule your business action plan in 2023!

Let’s look at the growing trends, challenges, opportunities & solutions in the apparel industry.

Apparel Industry Trends

The apparel industry is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging each season. Here are a few of the key trends to watch in the industry in the coming year:

Trend #1: Fashioning the Future With Sustainability

Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the clothing they purchase. As a result, sustainable fashion, also known as eco-fashion or ethical fashion, is becoming an increasingly important trend in the industry. 

Brands are increasingly using organic cotton, bamboo, and linen, which are grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Recycled materials, such as recycled polyester and nylon, are also becoming more popular as they help to reduce waste and pollution. 

Another key aspect of sustainable fashion is the use of sustainable production methods. This includes reducing water and energy consumption, using low-impact dyes, and implementing fair labor practices. As consumers become more conscious about their purchasing power and environmental impact, it is expected that sustainable fashion production will become increasingly important.

Trend #2: Revolutionizing Fashion With Athleisure

Athleisure, a trend that combines athletic and leisure wear, has been revolutionizing the fashion industry in recent years. This trend has been driven by the increasing popularity of comfortable, functional clothing worn both in and out of the gym.

As per Statista:The sports and athleisure retail market in India was valued at 158 billion Indian rupees in financial year 2021, and estimated to grow to 402 billion rupees by financial year 2025. Footwear made up the largest chunk of the market during the measured time period, amounting to about 90 billion rupees in 2021, and projected to grow by 21 percent by 2025.

Brands are now offering a wider range of options, from performance-focused gear to more casual and street-style pieces. This has led to the creation of new styles, such as the fusion of athletic wear with formal wear, and has opened up new possibilities for fashion designers.

Another aspect of athleisure is the use of technology, such as moisture-wicking fabric and UV protection, to enhance the functionality of athletic wear. Apparel businesses are investing in research and development to create new fabrics and technologies that can improve the performance of athletic wear.  

Overall, athleisure has been a game-changer in the fashion industry, with its versatility and functionality driving the demand for athletic wear. As the trend continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more innovations in the design, materials, and technology of athletic wear, making it even more appealing to consumers.

Trend #3: Market Growth Headed by Women and Kids Wear

The shift in lifestyle and priorities of modern women is leading to a greater focus on self-awareness and appearance, driving growth in the women’s apparel market. As they are becoming more conscious of their fashion choices, the demand for trendy and fashionable clothing is increasing.

The market for kids’ wear is driven by factors such as the increasing number of working mothers and the growing trend of parents investing in high-quality clothing for their children. According to a recent report by Wazir Advisors, India’s kids’ wear market is expected to reach INR 1,23,000 Crores by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 13%. 

In terms of product segments, the market for women’s wear is segmented into ethnic wear, western wear, and lingerie. Western wear is expected to be the most lucrative segment in the women’s wear market, driven by the increasing demand for casual and formal wear. With the growth of e-commerce, the market is expected to continue growing, providing opportunities for fashion retailers and manufacturers.

Trend #4: Style and Functionality are Key to Modern Consumers’ Wardrobe

When it comes to fashion, modern consumers are looking for clothing that not only looks good but also serves a purpose. The combination of style and functionality is becoming increasingly important in today’s wardrobe. Consumers are looking for comfortable, durable, and versatile clothing that can be worn for different occasions and meet different needs.

Functionality is especially important for activewear and athleisure, as consumers seek clothing that can keep up with their busy lifestyles and support their physical activities. Fashion, on the other hand, fashion is essential in creating a unique and personal style. Consumers are looking for clothing that reflects their personal tastes and preferences and makes them stand out. 

Brands are responding to this by offering a wide range of options, from classic and timeless styles to trendy and fashion-forward pieces. As lifestyles and fashion preferences evolve, brands and retailers that understand and respond to these needs will be well-positioned to succeed in the market.

Trend #5: The Growing Era of Digital First Brands

The apparel industry is currently experiencing a shift towards digital-first brands. These brands prioritize online sales and digital marketing over traditional brick-and-mortar retail and are utilizing technology to create a seamless and personalized shopping experience for consumers.

One of the biggest advantages of digital-first brands is their ability to reach a global audience through e-commerce. These brands can sell directly to consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels and cutting down on costs. This allows them to offer a wide range of products at competitive prices.

With the advancement in technology and more people turning to the internet for fashion inspiration and shopping, digital-first brands will have a significant opportunity to thrive in the industry.

Opportunities in the Apparel Industry

The Indian textile and apparel market has significant growth potential, with the industry projected to reach $190 billion by 2025-26. To reach this target and establish a sustainable textile industry, Indian businesses must take advantage of government support schemes, meet global buyer sustainability demands, and prioritize supply chain traceability.

Government policies and regulations have directed their focus on this industry. Mr. Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Textiles, announced that the Indian government plans to create 75 textile hubs across the country. Not to mention the government has also reduced the custom duty rates on caprolactam, nylon chips, and nylon fiber and yarn to 5%. These regulations have created plenty of opportunities for the Textile and Apparel Industry in the e-commerce sector.

With lined-up opportunities, there come several challenges for simplified apparel e-commerce.

Current & Future Challenges and Problems in the Apparel Industry

The new trends, changing consumer habits, and market shifts have shed light on the new challenges the e-commerce apparel industry is facing in 2023. 

• Difficulty in managing customized order allocation and inventory sync
• Unable to align warehouse operations manually 
• The impact of COVID-19 and the need to adapt to the changing retail landscape and consumer behavior
• Inability to manage deliveries, leading to a higher % of Customer Initiated Returns (CIR)
• Hard to align multiple sales channels and offline stores alongside 
• Back-breaking for e-commerce platforms to manage multiple vendors
• Untimely and inefficient delivery of products
• No stock rotation leading to outdated stock
• The increased cost of Reverse Logistics
• The need to navigate the complex and ever-changing regulations and compliance requirements
• Poor management of returns and cancellations
• Difficulty in predicting and managing demand, inventory, and logistics

Evolving Practices as a Solution to Challenges in the Apparel Industry

Starting up your own fashion e-commerce business has never been easier, especially post the pandemic. Right from managing the inventory and warehouse operations to timely updating the digital attire of an e-commerce store, the aspects are many. But with the advancement of technology, it has become important to adopt some upcoming practices, aligning the sales with your operations.

Following are some of the upcoming e-commerce practices that act as a solution to the challenges you are witnessing during these tough times.

• Delivering Omnichannel Experiences

It has become imperative to provide customers with a seamless experience at all touchpoints. Integrating and aligning offline and online channels together helps both businesses and customers develop better relationships. Omnichannel retail offers unhindered shopping experiences to customers and helps keep the inventory and stock levels uniform. With its advanced Omnichannel solution, Unicommerce has enabled effortless business operations & tremendous growth for Iconic Fashion India. 

• Serving Directly With the D2C Business Model

D2C is quite a recent approach wherein brands deal with customers directly, eliminating intermediaries. While many new brands are adopting this strategy, some established brands are switching from traditional business models to D2C models. According to Unicommerce’s e-commerce Q3 2022 trends report, the e-commerce industry witnessed robust order volume growth of 48.3% through the brand websites, while marketplaces recorded a 21.5% order volume growth.

But the question is, what makes it so different that almost all the new brands are swearing by this approach? Well, the biggest advantage for a D2C brand is that they can shorten the time to sell the products, giving their customers a better price while earning a higher margin.  Direct to Consumer (D2C) e-commerce allows the original brand voice to come in front, giving brands better engagement with their customers. Moreover, the new-age solutions of Unicommerce are made specifically for D2C brands like Enamor, Chumbak, etc., to scale on higher revenues.

Why Unicommerce?

Unicommerce – Solutions to problems in the Textile and Garment industry

Unicommerce, the #1 cloud-based e-commerce solution, is focused on changing the face of Indian Fashion retail.  It is on a mission to automate the largely scattered apparel industry to make it technology-driven. Its Order and Warehouse Management solutions help to automate clients’ supply chain operations for both online and offline businesses (B2B and B2C). Moreover, Unicommerce comes with 200+ integrations; Cart, Marketplaces, Logistics, ERP, and POS systems to manage the needs of Wholesalers, Distributors, Retail Chains, Individual Store owners, and e-commerce sellers to increase revenue and save operations costs.

Unicommerce’s robust supply chain technology solutions have resulted in exponential business growth, & improved unit economics for over 20,000+ global marketplaces & brands across India, the Middle East, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. Some of the notable clientele of Unicommerce in the fashion and apparel industry include TCNS Clothing Co. LTD. (W, Aurelia, Elleven), Oryvo, Brand Studio, Bestseller (Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Only), Being Human, GAP, GANT, Crocs, etc. 

Below is a quick brief about Unicommerce’s offerings; click the links to know more in detail.

• Advanced Warehouse Management – Unicommerce helps track inventory counts and manage dispatched and allocated orders, making the flow of operations simpler and more efficient. Moreover, you get a real-time update on the entire warehouse operations across multiple locations. 
• Omnichannel Solution – Unicommerce offers an Omnichannel Solution so that you can route online orders to the nearest offline store. 
• ERP/ POS management – All the current ERP/POS systems (Tally, Base, Oracle, Navision, SAP, etc.)  get effortlessly integrated into our omnichannel software product
• Bundle Management – Unicommerce has a Bundle Management feature that lets you create combo packs while updating combo product SKUs in real-time across multiple sales channels. 
• Logistics Integration – Unicommerce helps brands reduce cancellations and returns as it automates the whole process, ensuring the right product gets shipped to the customers
• Unified Vendor Panels – With the Vendor Management solution, e-commerce fashion retailers can seamlessly manage suppliers via centralized login.
• Centralized Inventory Management – To enable more significant cost savings, the efficient Inventory Management system restricts bad stock while minimizing the risk of overselling.
• Accurate Report Analysis – Unicommerce lets you analyze and scrutinize your daily operations with its Dashboard segment. You can track the number of orders fulfilled, Sales achieved, Returns progressed, etc. 
• E-commerce Returns Management – Managing RTO and CIR are not difficult anymore. Unicommerce offers a comprehensive returns management solution through a centralized panel to manage returns across all sales channels, amplifying your overall sales profits. 
• Marketplace Integration – Having come pre-integrated with 40+ marketplaces, Unicommerce lets you sell efficiently across multiple sales channels such as Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, etc. 
• Simplified Fulfillment – Unicommerce simplifies the process of fulfillment with its fastest and error-free order fulfillment feature.

To coincide, e-commerce brands in the fashion and apparel industry are rising. The Apparel industry is entering a phase where the opportunities are endless, provided the sector is getting constant assistance and support from the government. New and updated practices are required to address the rising challenges. However, online fashion brands must reorganize their business model to cater to evolving demands of the competitive business environment.

Explore our platforms:

• Logistics Tracking and Returns Management Platform
• Automate Reconciliation of Orders, Returns and Payments

Related read –

• FMCG Industry challenges in India
• Healthcare Industry: Trends, Challenges, Opportunities & Solutions
• What is Warehouse Management System?
• Logistics vs Supply Chain Management
• How is Batch Management Critical in Warehouse Operations?
• Top 7 Challenges of Order Management System in E-commerce
• Simplifying Receiving and Putaway Operations of Warehouse

Uncover Leading Brands Success with Unicommerce! –

• Mamaearth Attained 99.99% Order Fulfillment Rate
• Upscalio Achieved a 99%+ Order Fulfillment Rate with 100%+ Order Growth
• Dhani Healthcare Streamlined Operations Across 166 Facilities
• Urban Company Achieved 8X Growth in Sales Volume
• Plum Goodness Streamlined Inventory Operations with 69% Growth Rate in Sales
• Marico Achieved 100% Growth in Sales
• Bulbul Simplified Selling Across 200+ Vendors
• Chumbak Lifestyle Boost Sales Across 58+ Retail Stores
• TCNS Achieved 9X Growth in Sales
• Hamilton Housewares Attained 96%+ Pick Accuracy Rate

The post E-commerce Apparel Industry in India: Trends, Challenges, Opportunities & Solutions appeared first on unicommerce.com.

eCommerce in the Middle East has seen rapid growth with more than 45% of shoppers beginning their purchase journey online. With the rise of accessibility to smartphones, high-speed internet and an overall choice of shopping from the comfort of their homes, the percentage of shoppers shopping online has increased in the eCommerce ecosystem.

If you are a retailer and selling only offline in the current times you may face the issue of selling in-store Inventory first due to the low footfall in malls and stores as more and more shoppers are choosing to shop from the comfort of their homes, without going through the hassle of stepping out. And so, by going online, you will not only be able to rotate the stocks on a regular basis but also increase the sales, improving your overall unit economics.

To make the switch from offline to online, this is the right time because not only will you find superior assistance in making the transition, but you will find a rather larger audience to make your mark on.

Going by the reports of Go-Gulf, online shopping is shaping up to be a big deal in the Middle Eastern countries with the biggest amount of shoppers coming from UAE and KSA at 60% followed by Egypt at 43%.

48% of UAE and KSA consumers explore hundreds of online shopping sites to know the price range and variations in products to get the right ideas and inspirations before making a purchase.

These numbers show a positive future for eCommerce in these regions and that makes up for a crucial factor to strengthen your online presence even more than that offline.

This article has been designed to help you make the right decision with a complete understanding of all the aspects you need to consider before and after making the switch. Read on to get useful insights on how to become a top eCommerce seller in the Middle East.

How to Take Your Retail Business Online?

If we look at the statistics, the audiences of the Middle East region accounts for 60% in terms of internet usage and has the highest social media engagement of 99% in the UAE and Qatar alone.

The consumers of today prefer more options of buying, delivery, payments, etc making it necessary for a retailer to not just limit their audiences to offline channels where the only way to make a purchase is by visiting the store in person, making payments and then taking the product home by themselves

Incorporating online selling creates a more flexible environment for your customers and that has become a major factor in deciding your overall profits and growth as a business. 

But even if you decide to take the route to online selling, the biggest concern you as a retailer will face will be about the right ways and strategy to start your eCommerce journey and what all you’ll need to be prepared for in the process?

Here are the top 5 requirements to sell online in the Middle East that will help your business make the shift, start the sales and maintain growth

1. Website Creation and Marketplace Integrations

Numbers show that over 56% of shoppers prefer to search for products on different marketplaces and or on the own website of a brand so it is a fundamental step towards building your eCommerce business.

If you wish to kick start selling without waiting up for too long, you can list your products on various marketplaces such as Amazon, Noon, Jollychic etc., but it is always better to have your own website while being present on these platforms as well because then you will have multiple options to cater to your audiences with and will not be restricting your online presence. 

Platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento., etc can help you create a unique website and promote your business in the way you want to. They provide you with hundreds of templates or personalized formats to choose from along with many other plugins to ease your process of selling online. 

2. Personalized Shopping Experience

Going by the reports of Go-Gulf more than 52% of shoppers in the Middle East buy products based on their popularity on social media platforms, making it essential for an eCommerce business to give their customers a sense of personalization when recommending or pitching products to sell them.

Over 42% of customers in the region prefer to shop from platforms that provide them with options based on their previous purchases or interests in a more personalized manner. To ensure that your customers connect well with your products, work with local language experts to revamp your website to have an Arabic version.

You can change the interface of your website as per the Arabic language, show more local faces and products preferred by the audiences, etc.

3. Payment Gateway

Once you have built your website or listed your products in any of the popular marketplaces and carts, the next big thing to ensure is the safety and security of your customers when they purchase products from you and this can be done only with a trusted Payments partner. 

In the Middle East, 62% of the shoppers still prefer Cash on Deliveries due to the very reasons of theft and fraud but with more and more advanced security features being added to several Payment Gateways, users have slowly started to place orders using credit or debit cards, prepaid, wallets etc.

4. ERP and Accounting Systems

Not only for payments but having a stronger system than can evaluate your total earnings, keep track of all payments and provide you with useful information on your accounting processes is also necessary. 

These are no tasks to be done manually and require precision and attention to detail which cannot be achieved fully using manual efforts.

Apart from these, the VAT system in the Middle East, effective from January 1st, 2018 makes it even more crucial to have a robust ERP and accounting system onboarded to handle your taxes, better understand the VAT laws and be aligned with government regulations.

Utilizing the expertise of technology, you can provide your business with the right tools to maintain, manage and keep records of all your payments, get error-free calculations on profits and always be one step ahead of your competitors.

5. Logistics and Delivery

When all the shopping is done and the payments are made, the next thing to take care of is the delivery of products on time and without errors.

Shipping products on time and making sure they reach the last mile is what will set your eCommerce business apart from all others. Onboarding third-party logistics and shipping providers that have strong local ties to ensure your orders can reach the farthest of the end, will help you create a happier and bigger pool of customers.

Look for partners that provide multiple options for delivery such as same day, next day, etc. This will allow your customers the convenience of getting orders at their own time.

Your eCommerce platform will need to have complete automation of services to tackle the demands, sales, deliveries and much more, all at the same time and that can be achieved only when you have all of these 5 crucial aspects in place to ensure a seamless transition, better management and overall higher profits for your business.

Establish your Business With the Right Solutions!

Accomplishing all 5 of these highly important aspects to take your business online may be difficult if you do not have the right support by your side but with Unicommerce you’ll be able to check all the boxes and scale up your eCommerce business in the most successful way possible.

Unicommerce is a leading supply chain technology solutions provider that ensures complete simplification of all your eCommerce needs be it managing your inventory, orders, warehouse, returns and much more!

Unicommerce has been catering to hundreds of sellers, retailers and brands emerge as thriving eCommerce businesses and create new opportunities of success for them. 

To know more about our services, technology solutions or to get a free demo, speak to one of our experts right now.

Start your eCommerce journey with us today!

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