5 Common signs your platform is holding you back
1. Customisation is required for basic B2B functionality
There’s a chance your e-Commerce platform didn’t come with fundamental B2B functionality in the first place. If the back end of your system looks like a patchwork quilt of add-ons and customisations, there’s a chance it’s not performing as it should. Plugins and workarounds always come at a cost. While they do have benefits, the more you add the slower your system will become, exposing you to security vulnerabilities and compromising user experience.
2. Being mobile responsive-only is no longer enough
These days, B2B customers do more than expect the same user experience across every key activity at every device level – they demand it. As time moves on and younger generations move into these industries, our reliance on mobile devices will only continue to increase.
3. You’re not giving your customers what they need and want
Possibly one of the biggest red flags is that your platform is limiting your ability to provide a great customer experience. These days, customers have high expectations when it comes to online shopping – a variety of payment methods, low-cost (or free) shipping, flexible delivery options and a streamlined checkout process. All of this will impact significantly on conversion and sales rates.
4. You’re working between multiple systems
No doubt you’ve invested heavily in various systems: accounting, inventory management, CRM – but unless they’re seamlessly integrated, you’re likely experiencing inefficiencies transferring data between them. It’s crucial for your eCommerce platform to integrate with your other systems so you know your business information is accurate, reliable and available in real-time.
5. You spend more time and money on IT than marketing
If you’re spending more energy and resources on the maintenance of your eCommerce platform than you do on marketing, that’s a sure-fire sign it’s time for an upgrade. Good eCommerce platforms are easy to update and maintain, regardless of how they are used. Spend too much time wrangling with IT and you risk losing your competitive edge.