Top 7 Things to Look for When You're Choosing a Multichannel eCommerce Platform

The eCommerce market has grown impressively in the past decade. In 2021, retail eCommerce sales peaked at $4.9 trillion worldwide. Estimates show that the figure will hit the $7 trillion mark by 2025. The marketplace is characterized by stiff competition, and retailers always need to be on top of their game. 

The companies must choose the right eCommerce partner and technology for long-term profitability. The eCommerce management software you choose will also help you generate targeted traffic and drive sales. 

Why Do You Need to Partner with a Multichannel eCommerce Service Provider? 

Online store owners, especially those getting started, can reach new audiences by listing their products on different channels. If you list your products on one channel, you'll only reach a small portion of your potential audience. On the other hand, eCommerce listing software lets your eCommerce business tap into a larger audience and introduce your product to potential new customers. 

Multichannel product listings are often set up through eCommerce platform providers. Besides helping you to reach a wider audience, multichannel listing delivers a seamless and unified payment experience to customers. Likewise, it allows you to keep your order and inventory data organized on one central platform. 

7 Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Multichannel eCommerce Platform 

Although listing your products on multiple channels expands your market, it's essential to select a platform that will help you obtain optimal results. So, here are seven critical aspects to keep in mind when choosing a multichannel eCommerce platform: 

1. Tech-Supported Integrations 

When choosing an eCommerce platform, you should look at the plugins and integrations that come with it. Major multichannel eCommerce platforms feature plenty of tools you can use to your advantage. The platform you choose should have plugins and integrations that work best for your eCommerce store. Some of the plugins to look out for include: 

• Accounting plugins to help with revenues, profits, sales, and taxes. 

• Apps to make shipping seamless. 

• Tools for rewarding repeat customers 

• Email marketing tools for keeping in touch with customers 

2. Ease of Use 

eCommerce retailers should partner with an eCommerce platform that provides an effortless and user-friendly experience. Platforms that allow you to sync updates, edit, and optimize your multichannel listings with a central control are ideal.  

3. Order and Inventory Management 

As an eCommerce retailer, there will always be so much for you to do. These tasks can take up so much of your time. For this reason, you need a multichannel eCommerce platform with order and inventory management tools. The tools automate and streamline the buying process by tracking your store's inventory levels, orders, sales, and order fulfillment across all channels and locations.  

4. Dedicated Account Managers and Marketers 

After listing your products on a multichannel eCommerce platform, you need account managers and digital marketing managers who are experts in eCommerce platform management. They can help you list your products on top marketplaces and customize your selling strategy for each marketplace.  

Marketing and Account Managers play a significant role in improving your sales. Therefore, choose a platform that provides you with dedicated marketing and account managers’ support. 

5. Dynamic Pricing 

You need a platform that leverages AI and ML to adjust prices automatically according to customer data and market trends. eCommerce industry giants such as Amazon and eBay use dynamic pricing tools to attract more customers and boost revenue. As a store owner, it's best to ensure that your prices reflect product demand. Collecting market data and adjusting prices accordingly is challenging, hence the need for a tool that automates the process. 

6. Analytics 

Analytics is an important factor to consider when choosing a multichannel platform. Since it plays a crucial role in business decision-making, the platform you choose should be able to provide you with real-time granular data and give you complete visibility into your category sales, product and marketplace performance, and operational performances anytime.  

7. Personalized Customer Service 

An eCommerce retailer who wants to sell products on multiple channels needs a platform that provides 24/7 personalized customer support. Brick-and-mortar stores have more control over their customer service because they meet customers in person. 

However, eCommerce poses a different set of challenges as the retailers do not physically interact with customers. Issues such as server downtimes and software outages tend to crop up. Therefore, it is important to have a reliable customer service team that's always available whenever a customer needs them.  

Final Thoughts 

Starting a retail business is challenging enough but moving away from the conventional storefront is even more daunting. Choosing the right multichannel platform for your eCommerce business could go a long way in determining its success. Knowing what your store needs make choosing a multichannel eCommerce platform easier. 

If you're looking to sell your products through a multichannel platform that helps you compete in the crowded online marketplace, Channel Gate is just what you need. The platform is designed to fuel your store's multichannel growth on more than 15 emerging and leading channels.  

Channel Gate leverages AI-enabled tech to enable fast launch, listings and inventory management, fulfillment of products, optimization and marketing, scale across the leader and exclusive closed channels, and customer service. Talk to us today to learn how the platform can help you grow your business.