If you’re a small business owner looking for a bigger reach, an optimized website powered by a reputable and reliable e-commerce platform is the key to success. Utilizing a platform to manage sales and shipments not only streamlines operations, but also provides customers with a seamless, satisfying experience. Read on to learn how small businesses can leverage e-commerce platforms as a catalyst for global growth and market expansion.
Shopping in the Digital Age
Thanks to a constantly expanding digital marketplace, small businesses are no longer confined to brick-and-mortar shops serving local customers. Over the past few decades, we’ve watched online shopping make the shift from novelty to norm, and with an 8.8% growth in e-commerce sales projected in 2024¹ alone, it’s not a trend that’s likely to slow down any time soon.
8 Reasons to Use an E-commerce Platform
If you’re considering an e-commerce platform but unsure of the specific ways it could support your business, here are a few of the key benefits.
1. Improved Customer Experience
According to a survey conducted by Salesforce², 80% of consumers say experience is just as important as products, so creating an easy, convenient customer journey is an invaluable part of building your brand. Integrating your website with an e-commerce platform is the easiest and most efficient way to ensure a positive user experience for shoppers and operational success for you as a small business owner.
2. Secure Payment Gateways
Protecting your customers’ personal data is imperative to building trust and maintaining your brand’s good reputation. Top platforms like Shopify include fraud prevention coverage³ for their customers.
3. Reduced Overhead Expenses
By eliminating expenses like rent, renovations, utilities, and staffing, an exclusively online business is a cost-effective alternative to establishing and maintaining a physical retail store. Even if your business has a physical location, an online catalog not only allows you to reach a much larger audience, but also offers existing customers the option of shopping online, thereby increasing sales opportunities.
4. Inventory Management
One of the biggest pain points for small business owners is inventory management. In fact, as many as 43% of small businesses don’t track their inventory, which unsurprisingly results in frustrated customers and operational headaches. E-commerce software solves this issue with features like real-time inventory tracking and automated stock updates, making it easier for businesses to ensure product availability is accurate. This leads to an improved customer experience, greater productivity, and reduced costs.
5. Data Analytics and Insights
E-commerce platforms provide small businesses with insights into customer behavior, purchase patterns, and sales performance. For example, DHL partner ShipStation offers downloadable reports and visuals to provide insight on everything from sales trends to shipping expenses. By analyzing this information, small businesses can make data-driven decisions, identify market trends, and optimize their strategies. Being able to accurately identify your audience and the demand for your products can be especially useful when determining whether it makes sense to take your business to an international level.
6. Marketing and Promotional Opportunities
Many e-commerce platforms feature built-in marketing tools that allow business owners to run targeted ads, offer and track discounts and promotions, and engage with their audience through social media integration.
7. Streamlined Shipping Solutions
Shipping technology plays a crucial role in streamlining e-commerce transactions by automating and optimizing the shipping process. Features such as real-time tracking, automated label generation, and integration with shipping carriers, save small businesses time, reduce costs, and deliver a seamless shipping experience to customers. DHL partners directly with top platforms like Shippo, EasyShip, ShipStation, and many others to provide our customers and yours with ease and options.
8. Global Reach and Market Expansion
E-commerce platforms offer small businesses the potential to expand beyond their local market and tap into a global customer base by making it easy and secure to purchase products online. Choosing a trusted international shipping partner like DHL takes the guesswork out of navigating potential obstacles like Customs forms and policies. Our integration with popular platforms like Shopify and EasyPost creates a seamless process for both you and your customers.
Small Businesses, Big Possibilities
As retail shopping shifts deeper into a digital landscape, it’s more important than ever for small businesses to leverage the power of e-commerce platforms. Embracing this technology allows small business owners to increase brand visibility, reduce costs, improve user experience, streamline operations, expand their geographic reach, and overcome obstacles to tap into a global customer base.
Ready to integrate e-commerce sales and shipping solutions into your infrastructure and potentially take your small business international? Open a DHL Express Commerce account today to get started!
