In the world of online retail, having a seamless, connected experience isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for thriving. In November 2024, Gelato made waves in ecommerce by introducing integration with Amazon, allowing sellers to expand their reach without the hassle of managing inventory, production, or shipping. This partnership highlights how useful ecommerce integration can be in streamlining operations and opening up new opportunities. Ecommerce integration is a powerful solution that bridges your store with key systems like inventory management, shipping, payments, and CRM, allowing your business to run smoothly from start to finish. Imagine an online store where every part of your operation—from order processing to customer support—works in perfect harmony. That’s the beauty of integration.

Implementing ecommerce integration with the right integration software or platform can transform your business, aligning all operations, enhancing customer satisfaction, and paving the way for sustained growth.

What’s Inside This Guide?

• Core Components of integration: APIs, connectors, and tools that connect your systems.
• Real Advantages: The clear-cut benefits that make integration a game-changer.
• Challenges and Fixes: Practical ways to handle common integration hurdles.
• Best Practices for Success: Expert tips to help you maximize your integration efforts.
• Real-Life Success Stories: Inspiring examples of how businesses big and small have thrived with integration.

What is Ecommerce Integration?

Ecommerce integration involves linking your online store with various systems and tools to optimize operations and improve the customer experience. It involves the exchange of data between different software applications, such as your website, inventory management system, accounting software, shipping carriers, and payment gateways.

Why does this matter?

• Meet Rising Customer Expectations: In a digital world where speed and convenience are everything, integration ensures your store delivers a seamless, satisfying experience—meeting and even exceeding customer demands.
• Effortless Operations: Integration automates key tasks, reducing manual work and freeing up your team’s time. This efficiency means more time to focus on growth and innovation.
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Real-time inventory updates, seamless checkouts, and timely order tracking keep customers happy and informed, reducing abandoned carts and boosting loyalty.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Integration pulls data from across your systems, giving you insights to make informed choices in inventory, marketing, and customer engagement.
• Ready for Growth: As your business grows, integration enables you to scale smoothly, maintaining efficiency without adding complexity.

Why Do You Need Ecommerce Integration?

In the fast-paced digital marketplace, ecommerce integration is a powerful asset for online businesses, delivering key advantages through connected, automated processes. With the help of ecommerce integration platforms, software, and API integrations, you can achieve:

• Increased Efficiency: Automate essential tasks like order processing, inventory updates, and shipping label creation, freeing up time and reducing the risk of manual errors.
• Improved Accuracy: Keep product details, pricing, and stock levels updated across systems with real-time data synchronization, ensuring customers always have access to the latest information.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Streamlined checkouts, prompt order fulfillment, and responsive customer support contribute to a smooth, positive shopping experience, strengthening customer loyalty.
• Better Decision-Making: Access comprehensive data from across your systems to make informed choices about inventory management, marketing strategies, and customer targeting.
• Scalability: Grow your business seamlessly as ecommerce integration software enables you to scale operations without losing efficiency or accuracy.

How Ecommerce Integration Can Help Your Business

By leveraging ecommerce integration solutions like ecommerce integration platforms and API integrations, your business can unlock new levels of performance and satisfaction:

• Reduced Manual Work: Automation replaces repetitive data entry, minimizing human error and saving valuable time across departments.
• Improved Order Accuracy: Real-time inventory updates help avoid overselling or stockouts, ensuring a smooth and accurate order process.
• Streamlined Shipping: Automation tools simplify shipping label creation and carrier selection, reducing costs and improving delivery times.
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Accurate product information, fast order processing, and efficient support create a seamless shopping experience.
• Boosted Sales: Using integrated customer data, you can refine marketing campaigns and create personalized recommendations, driving revenue and engagement.
• Improved Financial Management: Integration with accounting systems enables automated financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Key Systems and Tools in Ecommerce Integration

Effective ecommerce integration is about connecting essential tools and systems to create a cohesive, efficient operation that meets customer needs and drives growth. Let’s explore these key systems and how they contribute to a thriving ecommerce environment:

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

The ERP system is the backbone of business operations, functioning as a central hub that synchronizes different aspects of the business:

• Centralized Hub: ERP acts as a centralized system for all critical business data and processes, ensuring seamless coordination across departments like finance, HR, supply chain, and manufacturing.
• Inventory Control: ERP maintains accurate inventory levels across all sales channels, ensuring real-time stock availability and preventing stockouts or overstock situations. By syncing with inventory management, it provides up-to-date data on stock status and availability.
• Order Processing: Automating order processing from start to finish, ERP handles everything from order placement to shipment, reducing manual efforts and minimizing processing errors. Integration with order management tools also ensures seamless fulfillment.
• Financial Management: ERP oversees financial transactions, accounting, and reporting. Integration with financial software keeps transaction records organized, simplifies tax preparation, and aids in compliance.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

A CRM system is essential for understanding and building relationships with customers, creating a personalized experience that drives retention and loyalty.

• Customer Data Management: CRM stores detailed customer profiles, including contact information, purchase history, and preferences. This database serves as the foundation for understanding customer behavior and trends.
• Personalized Marketing: Using customer data, CRM enables targeted marketing campaigns. By segmenting customers based on demographics, past purchases, or behaviors, CRM helps tailor communications, improving conversion rates and customer engagement.
• Customer Support: CRM enhances customer support by providing a complete view of customer interactions and purchase history. Support teams can access this information to provide quicker, more personalized responses, resolving issues more effectively.

Inventory Management

Inventory management tools help businesses keep their stock organized and avoid costly errors in supply levels.

• Stock Level Tracking: Real-time stock tracking ensures visibility into inventory levels, enabling accurate forecasting and preventing stockouts or overstock situations. This transparency across locations is crucial for maintaining a smooth supply chain.
• Purchase Order Management: This feature automates and manages purchase orders, ensuring a consistent supply of products. Integrating with suppliers, it helps maintain optimal stock levels and automates reordering based on sales trends or stock thresholds.
• Warehouse Management: Inventory tools streamline warehouse operations, optimizing storage, picking, and packing. This efficiency minimizes fulfillment times and reduces the chance of shipment errors, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Payment Gateways

Payment gateways act as a secure link between a customer’s bank and the ecommerce store, ensuring seamless and protected financial transactions.

• Secure Transactions: Payment gateways encrypt sensitive customer information, such as card details, to protect against fraud and ensure secure payment processing.
• Multiple Payment Options: Supporting various payment methods—credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and even Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options—caters to diverse customer preferences, improving checkout conversion rates.
• Fraud Prevention: Payment gateways employ fraud detection measures, like verifying transaction authenticity and flagging unusual behavior, to protect both the business and its customers.

Shipping and Fulfillment Systems

Shipping and fulfillment systems streamline the process of delivering products to customers, optimizing costs and enhancing satisfaction.

• Order Fulfillment Automation: Fulfillment systems automate the packing, labeling, and shipping processes. By integrating with inventory management, they help ensure that the correct items are packed and shipped promptly, minimizing delays and errors.
• Real-Time Tracking: These systems provide real-time tracking updates for both the business and customers. Order tracking not only reassures customers but also reduces customer service inquiries about shipment status.
• Rate Shopping: Fulfillment tools compare shipping rates from various carriers, helping businesses select the most cost-effective shipping options without sacrificing delivery speed or reliability.

Marketing Automation Tools

Marketing automation is vital for reaching and engaging customers consistently across channels, boosting brand presence, and nurturing relationships.

• Email Marketing: Automated email tools personalize campaigns based on customer data, such as abandoned cart emails, product recommendations, and loyalty rewards. By segmenting lists and automating responses, these tools keep customers engaged with the brand.
• Social Media Marketing: Social media management tools allow businesses to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and analyze performance. Integration ensures that social media channels reflect real-time promotions or stock updates, fostering consistent brand messaging.
• Ad Campaign Management: Marketing automation includes tools for managing and optimizing ad campaigns, such as Google Ads and social media ads. By analyzing customer behavior, these tools refine ad targeting, ensuring campaigns reach the right audience and deliver better ROI.

By effectively integrating these systems—ERP, CRM, inventory management, payment gateways, shipping, and marketing automation—businesses can create a streamlined, cohesive ecommerce operation. This holistic integration enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and ultimately leads to better customer experiences and stronger growth.

Benefits of Ecommerce Integration

1. Enhanced Efficiency

Ecommerce integration brings automation to the core of business operations, enabling companies to streamline repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and focus more on strategy. Let’s take a closer look at how this works with real-world scenarios:

• Automation of Repetitive Tasks: With integration, tasks like order processing, inventory management, and shipping are automated. For example, when a customer places an order, the system can automatically check inventory levels, initiate the order fulfillment process, and create a shipping label—all without manual intervention. This is particularly valuable during peak shopping seasons, where automated processes prevent bottlenecks and keep operations running smoothly.
• Reduced Manual Error: Automating data entry and calculations drastically reduces the risk of human error. Imagine a scenario where a business manually enters order details across multiple systems; there’s a high chance of discrepancies in product quantities, addresses, or customer information. Integration minimizes these errors, ensuring accurate and consistent data across systems, leading to higher customer satisfaction.
• Increased Productivity: Integration frees up your team to focus on strategic tasks rather than mundane, time-consuming ones. For example, instead of manually tracking orders, team members can analyze sales data or brainstorm customer engagement strategies, ultimately driving business growth.

2. Improved Data Accuracy

Accurate data is essential for making informed decisions, managing inventory, and delivering a personalized customer experience. Ecommerce integration maintains consistent data across all customer touchpoints, providing a unified experience.

• Real-Time Inventory Updates: Integration keeps inventory updated in real time. For instance, if a store sells out of a product online, the inventory level adjusts immediately to prevent overselling. This real-time accuracy means customers don’t face frustrating “out of stock” situations, while the business avoids complex inventory management issues.
• Accurate Product Information: With ecommerce integration, product details such as descriptions, pricing, and images remain consistent across platforms. For example, if a fashion retailer updates product descriptions or adjusts prices on their website, this information reflects instantly across all sales channels, minimizing customer confusion and enhancing trust.
• Reliable Customer Data: Integrated CRM systems maintain accurate customer profiles by capturing up-to-date purchase histories, preferences, and contact information. For instance, if a customer updates their shipping address, this information automatically syncs across systems, ensuring a seamless experience during checkout.

3. Better Customer Experience

A seamless, satisfying shopping experience is central to customer retention. Ecommerce integration enhances every step of the customer journey.

• Faster Order Processing: With automated workflows, orders move from placement to fulfillment much faster. Imagine a scenario where a customer places an order for next-day delivery. Integrated systems automatically prioritize the order, initiating the fulfillment process instantly to meet the delivery promise, thereby building customer trust.
• Accurate Order Tracking: Real-time order tracking updates allow customers to stay informed on their order’s journey. For example, a customer purchasing electronics can track their package from warehouse dispatch to doorstep delivery. This transparency reassures the customer and reduces order-related inquiries.
• Efficient Customer Support: Integration enables customer support teams to access order histories, shipping status, and customer preferences quickly, allowing them to resolve inquiries faster. Suppose a customer calls to inquire about a delayed shipment; an integrated system provides the support agent with instant access to tracking details, allowing them to provide accurate updates and solutions.

4. Scalability

Integration supports business growth by enabling seamless expansion and resource optimization, making it possible to scale without operational strain.

• Flexible Infrastructure: Integration provides a flexible framework that can handle increased demand as the business grows. For instance, during holiday sales, an integrated system can handle a surge in orders without compromising processing speed or accuracy, providing a consistent customer experience.
• Seamless Expansion: When businesses add new products, channels, or markets, integrated systems support this growth without major adjustments. A beauty brand expanding into international markets can, for example, use integration to manage localized product pages, pricing, and shipping logistics for each new market, ensuring a smooth entry without creating separate operational silos.
• Efficient Resource Allocation: Integration allows businesses to allocate resources where they’re needed most. For example, a growing company can automate routine tasks like restocking alerts, allowing warehouse staff to focus on high-priority items or seasonal products.

5. Insights and Analytics

Ecommerce integration provides valuable insights, helping businesses make data-driven decisions and understand their customers better.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Access to integrated data enables informed decisions based on actionable insights. For instance, if sales data shows a high demand for a specific product, management can prioritize restocking efforts and adjust marketing strategies to maximize revenue potential.
• Performance Tracking: With real-time performance metrics, businesses can identify areas for improvement. Suppose a company tracks its abandoned cart rate and finds it’s unusually high. With an integrated system, they can analyze where customers are dropping off (e.g., at the checkout page) and implement targeted solutions to improve conversion rates.
• Customer Behavior Analysis: Integrated data offers insights into customer preferences and buying patterns, which businesses can use to tailor marketing strategies. For example, if analytics show that certain customers frequently purchase outdoor gear, the company can create targeted campaigns for new arrivals in that category, increasing engagement and conversion rates.

Types of Ecommerce Integration

Choosing the right type of ecommerce integration depends on your business’s specific needs, technical resources, and future scalability requirements.

Experion’s unique approach to ecommerce integration empowers brands to thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.

API-Based Integration

API-based integration uses Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable seamless communication between different systems. APIs act as a bridge, allowing systems to exchange data in real time, following specific protocols and formats. This type of integration is ideal for companies seeking robust flexibility and scalability.

• Flexibility & Customization: APIs allow businesses to tailor the integration to meet specific needs, from syncing inventory across multiple locations to setting up advanced order routing systems. For example, large enterprises can integrate ERP systems with ecommerce platforms, automating complex workflows.
• Data Volume & Speed: API-based integration can handle large amounts of data with high frequency, often updating in real time or near real time. This is critical for ecommerce businesses dealing with rapid changes in inventory or needing immediate order updates.

Plug-and-Play Solutions

Plug-and-play solutions offer pre-built integrations that connect popular ecommerce platforms with other systems, such as CRMs, payment gateways, or marketing tools. These integrations are often available as apps or extensions within an ecommerce platform’s marketplace.

• Ease of Use: Designed for quick deployment, plug-and-play solutions are ideal for businesses without extensive technical resources. Installation is often simple, requiring only basic configuration to start syncing data.
• Speed & Accessibility: This type of integration can be completed in hours, not weeks. For example, an online store can integrate a shipping app to automatically print labels or a CRM app to collect customer information, instantly enhancing capabilities without major setup.

Custom Integrations

Custom integrations involve creating unique, tailored solutions to meet specific business requirements. This approach provides maximum flexibility, often essential for companies with highly specific workflows or complex system architectures.

• Tailored Precision: Custom integrations allow for the exact configuration needed to align with unique business processes. For example, a company could develop a custom solution to sync an ecommerce site with an ERP and a CRM, automating an order-to-fulfillment process that triggers specific alerts, reports, and customer follow-ups.
• Data Complexity & Custom Workflows: Custom solutions handle intricate data flows and enable complex workflows, such as dynamically adjusting pricing across channels or managing intricate inventory reallocation processes. This level of specificity is critical for large, multi-channel businesses or industries with regulatory compliance needs.

Middleware Solutions

Middleware acts as an intermediary layer, connecting various systems and handling data transformation, mapping, and routing. Middleware solutions are ideal for businesses with multiple integrations, enabling them to streamline and centralize data flows across systems.

• Centralized Data Flow: Middleware can aggregate and route data across different systems, helping businesses manage integrations without requiring direct point-to-point connections. For example, it can consolidate orders from multiple ecommerce sites into a single ERP.
• Complex Data Mapping & Transformation: Middleware handles the data formatting and mapping between different systems, ensuring compatibility and reducing the need for custom code. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with diverse tech stacks, allowing seamless data exchange between platforms.

Challenges in Ecommerce Integration

• Data Security: Ensuring data privacy and compliance with industry standards, especially with sensitive customer information.
• System Compatibility: Overcoming issues when systems don’t natively connect, requiring additional tools or custom work.
• Maintenance and Updates: Keeping integrations in sync with platform updates to avoid disruptions.
• Cost and Time: Balancing integration costs and timelines with the business budget, as custom or complex integrations can be resource-intensive.

Best Practices for Successful Ecommerce Integration

1. Set Clear Goals: Start by defining what you want to achieve, whether it’s faster order processing, better inventory management, or a seamless customer experience. Knowing your objectives makes it easier to measure success!
2. Pick the Right Tools: Choose integration tools that align with your business needs and are easy to scale. Look for platforms and apps that work well with your systems and are reliable in the long run.
3. Test Before You Go Live: Run tests to make sure everything works as expected. Testing helps catch any issues early so you can launch smoothly without surprises.
4. Keep Security in Mind: Protect customer data and ensure your integration meets security standards. A secure setup builds trust and keeps sensitive information safe.
5. Monitor and Tweak Regularly: Once live, keep an eye on performance and make adjustments as needed. Regular monitoring and updates ensure your integration keeps running efficiently as your business grows.

Ecommerce Integration Trends to Watch

As the ecommerce landscape evolves, several integration trends are shaping the future of online retail. Here’s an overview of key developments:

AI and Machine Learning in Integrations

AI and ML are breathing new life into ecommerce, crafting shopping experiences that feel personalized, seamless, and even a bit magical. These technologies analyze customer behavior, predict preferences, and automate tasks, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction. For instance, AI-driven CRM systems can provide insights for personalized marketing and sales strategies, allowing businesses to tailor their offerings to individual customer needs.

Omnichannel Integrations

Omnichannel integration focuses on providing a seamless customer experience across multiple channels, both online and offline. By integrating various sales and communication platforms, businesses ensure consistent interactions, whether customers are shopping via a website, mobile app, or in-store. This approach enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty by offering a unified shopping journey.

Headless Commerce

Headless commerce decouples the front-end presentation layer from the back-end ecommerce functionality, offering greater flexibility in delivering custom experiences. This architecture allows businesses to use APIs to deliver content across various devices and platforms, facilitating faster updates and personalized customer interactions. By adopting headless commerce, companies can create tailored shopping experiences that adapt to emerging technologies and customer expectations.

IoT Integration

The Internet of Things (IoT) is being integrated into ecommerce to enhance inventory and supply chain management. IoT devices enable real-time product tracking, monitor storage conditions, and streamline reordering processes through automation. This integration leads to smarter inventory control, reduced waste, and improved operational efficiency, ultimately benefiting both businesses and customers.

Staying abreast of these trends enables businesses to leverage advanced technologies, meet evolving customer expectations, and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic ecommerce environment.

How Experion Supports Your Ecommerce Integration

Experion simplifies ecommerce integration, making it easy for your business to operate smoothly, grow, and deliver memorable customer experiences. Here’s how we do it:

Custom API Integrations
We build custom API connections that bring your essential tools—like payment gateways, CRMs, and shipping providers—together seamlessly. These integrations keep everything in sync, so your data flows smoothly and accurately.

Scalable Microservices Architecture
Our microservices approach ensures flexibility and scalability, allowing your ecommerce platform to grow without constraints. This modular setup keeps your system resilient and adaptable to evolving needs.

Powerful Data Analytics
Our data analytics integration dives deep into customer behavior, offering insights that fuel smarter, data-driven decisions. From personalizing recommendations to optimizing operations, we help you connect meaningfully with your audience.

Unified Cloud-Based POS Systems
Unite online and in-store sales with our cloud-based POS systems or solutions, providing real-time sync across all channels. This integration streamlines inventory management and creates a seamless customer experience.

Conclusion

Seamless ecommerce integration isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s the backbone of a thriving business. With Experion by your side, your entire operation—from processing orders to engaging customers—becomes a smooth, interconnected experience. Our tailored API integrations, adaptable microservices, and cloud-based POS solutions ensure your business doesn’t just keep pace; it leads, evolving effortlessly to meet changing demands.

With Experion, you gain a reliable partner committed to transforming your ecommerce integration journey into a driver for growth and efficiency!

The post Ecommerce Integration appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

Why Cloud Software Development Stands Out

Cloud software development isn’t just a trend—it’s a response to the evolving needs of businesses. Today’s digital landscape requires software that can adapt to changing demands, support global operations, and foster collaboration. Cloud platforms are designed to address these requirements by providing on-demand resources, allowing companies to prioritize innovation rather than getting bogged down with managing their technology infrastructure.

One of the standout features of cloud software development is its scalability. With traditional setups, scaling a service meant investing in more hardware or running the risk of over-provisioning. Unlike traditional setups, platforms like Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure allow for effortless scalability. You can dynamically adjust resources according to demand, ensuring optimal performance while maintaining cost efficiency since you’re only charged for what you actually utilize.

Another key benefit is flexibility. Since cloud-based applications are accessible from any location with an internet connection, they support remote work and distributed teams, making them ideal for modern business models. For developers, cloud platforms offer the ability to use various programming languages, frameworks, and tools, giving them the freedom to build tailored solutions. This flexibility isn’t just limited to the development phase but extends to deployment, updates, and maintenance, all of which can be managed remotely.

Cost-Effectiveness: A Major Win for Businesses

Over 90% of Experion’s cloud projects are completed under budget, reflecting our meticulous planning and execution. Traditional IT setups demand significant upfront investments and ongoing maintenance costs. Cloud computing changes this by using a pay-as-you-go model, letting businesses pay only for what they use. This is ideal for startups looking to control costs without sacrificing quality. Plus, built-in security and compliance features reduce the need for separate data protection systems, making cloud solutions a cost-effective option for companies of any size.

Additionally, cloud platforms often include built-in security and compliance features, reducing the costs associated with maintaining separate systems for data protection. The blend of minimized upfront investments and decreased operational expenses makes cloud software development an appealing choice for businesses across the spectrum, regardless of their size.

Accelerated Time-to-Market with Rapid Deployment

Speed is often a critical factor in software development, particularly when launching new products or features. With cloud platforms, developers have access to pre-configured environments, reducing setup time and allowing for rapid deployment. This means businesses can bring new applications or updates to market faster, gaining a competitive edge.

Moreover, cloud platforms are well-suited to support Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) practices. CI/CD pipelines automate the process of testing and deploying new code, enabling frequent updates and improvements without disrupting the user experience. The capability to iterate rapidly and efficiently is crucial for today’s agile development teams, enabling software to continuously adapt based on user feedback and shifting market demands.

Breaking Down Cloud Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

Cloud platforms offer a variety of service models to cater to different development needs:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides vital resources such as servers, storage, and networking, offering businesses a flexible foundation to build, deploy, and manage their applications with greater control over their infrastructure. This model offers the greatest flexibility and control over the infrastructure, making it suitable for companies that want to build highly customized solutions.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS provides a comprehensive environment for building, testing, and deploying applications. Developers can focus on writing code without worrying about underlying infrastructure management. Popular PaaS offerings include AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine, and Azure App Service.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS): Software as a Service (SaaS) provides full software applications through the internet, removing the need for local installation and ongoing maintenance. Examples include tools like Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and Google Workspace. SaaS is ideal for businesses that want to leverage cloud-based software without investing in development.

Experion’s Approach to Cloud Software Development

At Experion, cloud software development is more than just about building applications—it’s about creating solutions that align with business goals and drive value.

One of our standout projects involved designing cloud software for a leading organization in the UK. We helped them move from their existing desktop software to a cloud-based solution, creating a platform that works across different cloud environments. The first rollout was a web application for a regional government, hosted on AWS, and we also developed a mobile app that allows the public to report road issues.

Later on, we adapted this solution for the national highways in the UK, using Azure technology. Throughout the development process, we set up CI/CD pipelines that made it easy for us to create tailored environments in just a few hours.

Our team of experienced developers and cloud architects brings deep expertise in designing, deploying, and optimizing cloud-based software for diverse industries.

Designing Cloud-Native Applications

Our approach starts with designing applications that are optimized for cloud environments. Cloud-native applications are built to take complete advantage of cloud capabilities, ensuring they can scale easily, perform efficiently, and operate securely. This process involves leveraging microservices architecture, containerization, and serverless computing to create robust and resilient applications.

Seamless Cloud Migration

We specialize in seamlessly migrating existing applications to the cloud. Whether you’re shifting from on-premises infrastructure or switching between cloud platforms, our team ensures a smooth transition with minimal downtime and disruption. We evaluate your current setup, plan the migration strategy, and execute it while maintaining data integrity and security.

Implementing Cloud-Based DevOps Practices

DevOps and cloud computing go hand-in-hand. We help organizations implement DevOps practices using cloud-based tools and services. This includes setting up CI/CD pipelines, automating testing and deployment, and using monitoring tools to gain insights into application performance.

Optimizing Cloud Costs

While the cloud offers cost savings, it’s important to manage resources effectively. Our team conducts thorough assessments to identify opportunities for cost optimization, such as rightsizing resources, leveraging spot instances, and automating scaling policies.

Partner with Experion for Cloud Success

Our focus is on delivering software that is not only scalable and flexible but also tailored to meet the unique needs of your business. Whether you’re looking to build a new application, migrate to the cloud, or optimize your existing setup, we’re here to help you harness the full potential of cloud computing. By partnering with Experion, you’re not just getting a development team—you’re gaining a strategic ally!

The post Cloud Software Development appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

Traditionally, ecommerce systems encompass various components like inventory management, shopping cart, checkout, payment gateway, and more. If the demand for your e-commerce platform fluctuates or grows rapidly, microservices allow you to scale specific functionalities independently, optimizing resource usage. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the adoption of microservices is revolutionizing the ecommerce landscape, providing businesses with unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and the ability to enhance the overall shopping experience.

Monolithic to Microservices

Several years ago, monolithic architectures could suffice for most online retailers’ needs, but today, they may lack the required degree of agility. In the monolithic model, the ecommerce solution is a unified and singular mechanism, regardless of its built-in features. It connects to an enterprise database and typically encompasses a user interface (for a mobile or a web app), a data access point, and a business logic point. While considered slightly outdated, the monolithic approach allows for a straightforward and quick development process. Its major drawback lies in the close connection between system components, making functional updates risky due to the potential to unintentionally impact the entire system’s integrity and stability. However, monolithic architecture remains suitable for simple platforms, whereas microservices provide a better option for complex and scalable solutions.

Microservices Architecture for Ecommerce

In a microservices architecture, each service is an autonomous unit that can be developed and deployed independently of other services. These microservices communicate through multiple API interfaces, each operating as a subsystem with its own business logic and architecture. This approach provides the main advantage of easy modification and replacement of any element within the solution. This modularity promotes flexibility in managing and updating the application. Because microservices break down these components into separate entities, allowing multiple development teams to contribute concurrently.

Here’s a depiction illustrating the components and interactions within a microservices architecture:

Unlike monolithic architectures, where changes can lead to tight coupling issues, microservices enable independent development, allowing teams to work simultaneously on different services without impacting others. Microservices play a crucial role in the architecture of an ecommerce system, where each microservice handles a specific aspect of functionality.

Breaking Free from Technological Shackles

Microservices liberate ecommerce development from the constraints of a rigid technology stack. Unlike monolithic platforms that require a uniform technology throughout, microservices empower development teams to choose the best-suited technologies for different services. With microservices, this diversity is not only possible but encouraged, and it fosters innovation and efficiency.

Parallel Development for Swift Market Entry

One of the significant advantages of microservices in e-commerce is the ability to have small development teams working simultaneously on different services. Picture a team refining the checkout process while another focuses on optimizing the product catalog. This parallel development accelerates the pace of implementation and swiftly allows businesses to enter the market with feature-rich and well-refined applications.

Modular Migration for Seamless Upgrades

Transitioning to a modular e-commerce architecture no longer needs to be a daunting task. Microservices enable businesses to invest in upgrades gradually, rebuilding and modernizing their solutions step-by-step. This approach is similar to upgrading a building block at a time, starting with areas where custom workflows or design improvements can significantly impact customer experience and, subsequently, sales.

Scalability on Demand

A key advantage of microservices is the ability to deploy changes independently. This means that modifications to one microservice can be rolled out without impacting others. This independence in deployment facilitates the continuous delivery of new features or fixes for a specific service, streamlining the development process without necessitating comprehensive system-wide deployments. Microservices usher in a new era of scalability for ecommerce applications. During peak seasons or promotional events, the surge in user traffic can be seamlessly handled by independently scaling the relevant microservices. For instance, payment processing or inventory management services can be dynamically scaled to meet the increased demand.

Fault Isolation for Reliability

Imagine a scenario where a recommendation engine service encounters a temporary malfunction. With microservices, this hiccup doesn’t bring the entire e-commerce application to a standstill. Users can continue browsing, searching, and making purchases, highlighting the fault isolation capability of microservices that contributes to improved reliability and availability.

Resource Optimization for Cost-Efficiency

Microservices, being cloud-native, allow for optimal resource utilization. Each service can be hosted on different cloud instances based on its specific requirements. For instance, computational-intensive tasks like image processing can be assigned to instances optimized for such workloads, while other services use instances tailored to their needs. This fine-tuning results in cost savings and improved efficiency.

Flexibility in Technology Adoption

Ecommerce platforms often require diverse technologies for various functionalities. Microservices embrace this diversity by allowing different services to use the most suitable technology stacks. For example, a high-throughput order processing service might leverage a different technology than a content management service focused on flexibility. This adaptability ensures that each service can employ the technology best suited to its unique requirements.

Strengthens Security Measures

Security is paramount in the e-commerce landscape. Microservices offer a dedicated approach to security by introducing a security microservice responsible for tasks like user authentication and authorization. This centralized security hub ensures consistent and robust protection across the entire ecommerce platform, mitigating potential vulnerabilities.

Seamless Integration with Third-party Services

Microservices are designed to seamlessly integrate with external services, a crucial aspect in the diverse e-commerce ecosystem. Whether it’s payment gateways, shipping providers, or analytics tools, microservices facilitate easy integration. For example, a payment processing microservice can effortlessly connect with multiple payment providers, offering customers various payment options without compromising on security or reliability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the adoption of microservices in ecommerce is not merely a technological shift; it’s a strategic move towards a more agile, scalable, and customer-centric future. By breaking free from the limitations of monolithic architectures, businesses can utilize the full potential of their ecommerce applications, delivering a superior shopping experience that keeps pace with the evolving demands of today’s consumers. As e-commerce continues to shape the way we shop, microservices stand as evidence of innovation and adaptability, driving the next wave of transformation in the digital retail landscape.

The post Ecommerce Microservices Architecture : All You Need to Know appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

Magento and WordPress, two powerful platforms, have significantly impacted the digital landscape across different industries. While Magento specializes in robust ecommerce solutions, WordPress has found its niche in versatile content management, serving as pillars of support for businesses and individuals in the online realm. Hiring an ecommerce development company is a strategic move for businesses looking to establish a robust online presence and optimize their digital sales channels. Let’s take a closer look at the specific factors to consider when deciding between Magento and WordPress for your business needs. 

What is Magento? 

Magento is a specialized ecommerce platform designed with a robust set of built-in ecommerce features such as product management, shopping cart functionality, and payment processing. On the other hand, WordPress is a versatile content management system (CMS) that requires a plugin like WooCommerce to add ecommerce capabilities.  

Pros: 

• Powerful features: Magento is renowned for its robust set of ecommerce features. It provides advanced inventory management, product catalog options, and a wide range of marketing tools. It’s ideal for large or complex online stores with extensive product offerings. 
• High scalability: Magento can handle large volumes of products and traffic. It’s suitable for businesses that expect rapid growth and expansion. 
• Customizability: Magento allows for deep customization, enabling you to tailor your online store to your specific needs. In that way, you can create a highly unique and personalized shopping experience. 
• Strong security features: Security is a priority for Magento. It offers built-in security features to protect your online store against cyber threats and data breaches. 

Cons: 

• Complexity: Magento is known for its steep learning curve. It can be challenging for beginners to set up and manage. Technical expertise is often required for effective usage. 
• Technical expertise: To harness the full potential of Magento, you’ll likely need developers or technical experts to handle the setup, customization, and maintenance. 
• Cost: Magento can be expensive, not only in terms of software licensing but also because of the technical resources required for development and maintenance. 

What is WordPress? 

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. WordPress is used in ecommerce by adding ecommerce functionality to existing WordPress websites using plugins. The most popular ecommerce plugin for WordPress is WooCommerce, which is a free and open-source plugin that allows users to create and manage online stores. It is known for its ease of use and flexibility, making it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, including ecommerce businesses. 

To create an ecommerce website with WordPress, you will need to install a dedicated ecommerce plugin, such as WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads. These plugins add all the features you need to sell products online, including product management, shopping cart, checkout process, and payment processing. You can also customize the look and feel of your store using a WordPress theme. Thousands of free and premium WordPress themes are available now, in which many are specifically designed for ecommerce websites. 

Pros: 

• User-friendly: WordPress is well-known for its user-friendly interface and is accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. 
• Affordable: WordPress itself is free, and many of its themes and plugins are also affordable or free, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses and startups. 
• Wide range of themes and plugins: WordPress offers a vast library of themes and plugins, including the popular WooCommerce for ecommerce functionality. This flexibility allows you to easily extend and customize your online store. 

Cons: 

• Requires plugins: While WordPress is highly flexible, it relies on plugins like WooCommerce for ecommerce functionality. This means that to create a robust online store, you’ll need to install and configure additional components. 
• Performance concerns: If not configured properly, WordPress can suffer from slower performance and instability, especially with a large number of plugins or high traffic. 
• Security risks: WordPress is a common target for cyberattacks, and security is a concern if you don’t actively maintain and secure your website. Regular updates and security measures are crucial.  

Magento vs. WordPress: Key Differences 

Now, let’s delve into the main differences between Magento and WordPress to help you make an informed choice: 

Ease of Use: WordPress boasts a more user-friendly interface compared to Magento. Setting up an online store, adding a blog, and managing the site’s pages are straightforward tasks in WordPress. 

Themes and Templates: Both platforms offer an array of themes and templates, but Magento’s enterprise-class themes are known for their advanced features, though they come at a higher cost. 

Plugins and Apps: WordPress has a larger library of plugins and integrations due to its generality, while Magento excels as a dedicated e-commerce solution. 

E-commerce: Magento offers advanced e-commerce features out of the box, making it ideal for medium to large stores. WordPress requires the addition of plugins and themes to match Magento’s capabilities. 

SEO: WordPress has an advantage in SEO, thanks to powerful plugins like Yoast and the ease of adding keyword-rich content. 

Security Features: Magento’s specialization in e-commerce provides inherent security benefits. It offers tight quality control over its third-party plugin ecosystem. 

Price: WordPress is more cost-effective compared to Magento. Magento’s advanced e-commerce features come at a premium price, even with open-source installations. 

Support & Community: WordPress boasts a larger community, while Magento offers robust official helpdesk support for its premium product. 

Choosing the Right Platform 

Magento is a suitable choice for businesses that: 

• Require a comprehensive ecommerce platform with advanced features. 
• Manage a large or complex product catalog. 
• Plan to rapidly expand their business. 

• Have the budget to hire web developers or ecommerce experts for setup and maintenance. 

WordPress, on the other hand, is a good fit for businesses that: 

• Are starting small and do not need extensive ecommerce features. 

• Seek an easy-to-use and cost-effective platform. 
• Have budget constraints. 
• Wish to create a content-rich website alongside their online store. 

Large and successful ecommerce businesses, such as Nike, Samsung, The North Face, Warby Parker, Birchbox, Victoria’s Secret, and The Home Depot, all of which utilize Magento for their online operations.  

Conclusion 

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between Magento and WordPress for your ecommerce needs, Magento often stands out as the superior choice. With its robust and specialized features, high scalability, and strong security measures, Magento excels in catering to the demands of large and complex online stores. While WordPress is a versatile platform known for its user-friendliness, it typically requires additional plugins like WooCommerce for full ecommerce functionality.  

The post Magento vs WordPress – Which ecommerce platform suits you? appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

What is Mixpanel  

The capabilities of Mixpanel make it more than just an analytics tool; it directs SaaS products towards a deeper understanding of their user engagement metrics. This user-centric model helps with event tracking within websites and software applications, providing invaluable insights to a wide spectrum of stakeholders. Mixpanel seamlessly integrates with a variety of retail solutions, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and e-commerce platforms. This unified integration centralizes data from various systems, enabling businesses to analyze user behavior comprehensively and make data-driven decisions to enhance their operations. 

Product managers, data analysts, and software developers can now operate and collaborate smoothly. With this cutting-edge technology, the answers to questions like ‘How do people use our products?’ and ‘Who are our product users?’ become transparent. Mixpanel is the bridge that connects these diverse roles, ensuring everyone speaks the same language and is on the same page when it comes to understanding user behavior. The ripple effect of this technology is transformative. When every individual within an organization can not only witness but also learn from the impact of their work, they are poised to make more informed decisions. The driving principle is simple: knowledge is power, and Mixpanel can act as a key to unlock that power.  

This in-depth insight, as highlighted by the company, allows businesses to grasp how various user segments interact at various touchpoints in their user experience. Mixpanel empowers product teams and leaders to explore and reach the deeper depths of user behavior within their applications. By doing so, they can refine the quality of their offerings and maximize the value extracted from their development cycles. It’s essentially analytics for builders who crave real-time, actionable answers drawn directly from their data.  

Established organizations like Netflix, OpenAI, Pinterest, CNN, Uber, Yelp, etc. have started to harness the potential of Mixpanel to learn more about their target audiences and thus analyze customer behavior to measure progress.  

Get Acquainted with Mixpanel 

Mixpanel also provides default properties. Some of them are: 

• Profiles : Profiles are like user accounts. They help you connect events to specific users. 
• Events : Events are actions that your audience or users take when they use your product or website. These actions can include things like becoming a paying customer, signing up for an account, or downloading PDF documents. 
• Properties : Properties in Mixpanel give you extra information about these events. For example, when someone signs up, you can generate leads and gather details like their name, location, and region. These are part of the added properties.  

How Does Mixpanel Work? 

Now, let’s see how Mixpanel works. 

It is a powerful tool that can help retail e-commerce businesses understand their users and improve their products and services. Mixpanel offers libraries like Android, JavaScript, PHP, iOS, and more. You need to add these libraries to your product and decide which events you want to keep track of. You can find detailed guides on how to add these libraries to your product, like PHP, JavaScript, iOS, and others, on Mixpanel’s website.  

This platform allows businesses to conduct A/B tests on different versions of their website or product to see which one performs better. This information can be used to make informed decisions about how to improve the user experience and increase sales.  

Mixpanel’s capabilities extend to tracking user engagement metrics too. It can analyze engagement by tracking site visits, visit durations, and sign-ups, offering a granular view of user interactions. From every click to every scroll, it meticulously traces all actions users perform within the application, whether it’s sharing content, uploading images, or leaving comments.  

But the insights don’t stop there. Mixpanel goes the extra mile by tracking the devices through which businesses access their websites or applications. This wealth of information helps in optimizing user experiences, as it can assist developers tailor their products to different devices and deliver a seamless experience across the board. 

Generative AI Capabilities of Mixpanel  

Using a new feature called Spark, Mixpanel users can now conduct a natural language chat with their data to receive immediate insights into customer experience and the impact of their product and marketing decisions. Spark makes use of OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 Turbo model, a more streamlined version of GPT-3. This allows users to raise straightforward business questions in everyday language. Based on the nature of a query, Spark can create the required inquiry, execute it within Mixpanel, and present a chart showing conversion trends among different user groups in various markets. 

Mixpanel has a few limitations to be aware of:

• Mixpanel doesn’t support manual event tracking, requiring your product team to invest engineering effort for detailed user behavior tracking.
• Some users may find Mixpanel’s user interface clunkier and less user-friendly compared to newer alternatives.
  
• Mixpanel lacks access to complete historical data, which may limit your long-term trend analysis and historical user behavior insights.

What Are Alternatives and Competitors of Mixpanel 

You know the Mixpanel benefits are many. They include event tracking by customers, data governance features, providing granular data on user activity, and so on. However, Mixpanel also has some limitations which will make you search for other alternatives.  

Some noteworthy Mixpanel alternatives and competitors include Heap, which addresses the issue of manual tracking, Pendo, offering additional features like user and employee onboarding, Clevertap, specializing in consumer sector needs and leveraging AI for increasing conversions and revenue, Amplitude, with a focus on identifying user behavioral patterns and key features like customizable data structure, and Google Analytics, which excels in providing detailed insights into user website interactions. Lastly, Adobe Analytics, though feature-rich, is notable for its cost and the absence of a free version. Google Analytics is a robust analytics platform that provides intricate insights into your website’s performance, including information on how users discover your website and their geographic origins. On the other hand, Adobe Analytics, while feature-rich, does not offer a free version, making it a costly and feature-heavy option for businesses. However, it has customizable options that large organizations will find valuable.  

Conclusion 

This cutting-edge technology is fostering smooth collaboration and operations among product managers, data analysts, and software developers, ensuring that everyone is aligned in their understanding of user behavior. Looking to the future, Mixpanel’s role as a bridge connecting diverse roles is set to become even more critical. As the SaaS landscape continues to evolve, Mixpanel’s capabilities will be indispensable in helping businesses adapt and thrive by providing the answers to essential questions about user behavior, ultimately guiding them towards more informed, successful decisions and strategies.   

The post Exploring Mixpanel for E-commerce Success appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

Let’s explore some fascinating statistics that shed light on the growing influence of online sales. By 2023, it is estimated that global online sales will account for approximately 22% of total retail sales. This remarkable shift in consumer behavior translates to a staggering $6.54 trillion in eCommerce sales worldwide. The digital revolution is well underway, evident from the substantial investment in digital advertising, which reached $261.1 billion in 2022 and is projected to climb even higher, reaching $440.3 billion by 2027. These figures highlight the significant impact of the digital landscape on the retail industry.

Speaking of online shoppers, a whopping 48% of them prefer to head straight to large eCommerce marketplaces for their purchases. It’s clear that the way consumers shop is rapidly evolving, and retailers need to adapt accordingly.

Meanwhile, the retail digital transformation market is on an upward trajectory, expected to reach an astounding $388.51 billion by 2026. With an anticipated CAGR of 18.2% from 2021 to 2026, retailers are recognizing the need to embark on this transformative journey to secure their place in the market.

In this blog, we will explore the transformative power of intelligent solutions in the retail sector and how Experion, as a forward-thinking company, is leading the way.

The Evolving Retail Landscape

Retail has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by changing consumer behaviors and the rise of digital technologies. Today’s customers expect personalized experiences, seamless transactions, and instant access to information. To meet these demands, retailers must adapt and leverage advanced solutions that enable them to optimize operations, drive sales, and build customer loyalty.

The Promise of Intelligent Solutions

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things seamlessly come together to empower retailers with unprecedented capabilities. These technologies offer unparalleled opportunities, allowing retailers to make data-driven decisions, streamline processes, and enhance customer engagement. By harnessing the power of AI and ML algorithms, retailers can gain valuable insights into consumer behavior, optimize inventory management, and accurately forecast demand. The global smart retail technology market is set to skyrocket from $22.6 billion in 2021 to a staggering $68.8 billion by 2026. That’s a jaw-dropping compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.9%. These cutting-edge technologies are transforming the retail landscape, enhancing operations, and delivering seamless customer experiences.

Intelligent solutions offer a myriad of benefits for retailers, enabling them to tackle key challenges and unlock new avenues for success:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging advanced analytics and AI-powered algorithms, retailers can make informed decisions based on real-time data. This enables them to identify trends, optimize pricing strategies, and deliver personalized experiences that resonate with customers.
• Seamless Customer Experiences: Intelligent solutions enable retailers to provide frictionless shopping experiences across multiple touchpoints. From personalized recommendations to seamless checkout processes, retailers can enhance customer satisfaction and build long-lasting relationships.
• Efficient Supply Chain Management: By integrating intelligent solutions into supply chain operations, retailers can optimize inventory management, automate procurement processes, and minimize wastage. This leads to improved cost-efficiency and a streamlined supply chain network.
• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Automation and AI-driven tools empower retailers to streamline back-office functions, such as inventory tracking, employee scheduling, and reporting. This frees up valuable time and resources, allowing retailers to focus on strategic initiatives and customer-centric activities.

Experion Technologies: Empowering Retail Innovation

As retailers navigate this digital transformation, partnering with an experienced technology provider becomes paramount. Experion, with its DNA in product engineering and digital transformation services, has been at the forefront of driving innovation in the retail domain. With a deep understanding of the industry’s pain points and a wealth of expertise, Experion has empowered numerous retail businesses to embrace intelligent solutions and achieve sustainable growth.

At Experion, we are not only passionate about technology, but we are also committed to empowering our clients in the retail sector. Our collaboration with a leading retail technology provider in Australia stands as a testament to our capabilities and the remarkable outcomes we deliver.

Our solution has transformed the operations of our client, processing a staggering 380 million transactions monthly. With an impressive product portfolio of over 17 million SKUs, our solution has successfully optimized their processes. It is currently deployed across 20,000+ terminals and self-checkouts, ensuring seamless operations and enhanced customer experiences.

The impact of our solution goes beyond efficiency. By leveraging our expertise, our client has achieved a significant 30% reduction in labor and operational costs. This achievement demonstrates the tangible benefits that our innovative approach brings to the table.

The future of retail is not a distant concept—it is here and now, and at Experion, we are leading the charge. With its deep industry knowledge and expertise, Experion Technologies is empowering retailers to embrace intelligent solutions and unlock a world of possibilities. By embracing these technologies and staying at the forefront of innovation, retailers can shape their destiny in an ever-evolving industry.

The future of retail is here, and the possibilities are limitless.

The post Unleashing the Potential of Intelligent Solutions in Retail appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

• COVID-19 forced 79% of Retail Leaders to set up online presence and launch Digital Commerce
• According to Statista, Revenue in the eCommerce market is projected to reach US$4.11tn in 2023 and resulting in a projected market volume of US$6.35tn by 2027.
• According to Gartner 86% of Marketing Leaders Believe Digital Commerce will become the most important Sales Channel within the next two years.
• 70% of customers believe Market Places are the most convenient way to shop

As Benjamin Franklin said, “Out of adversity comes opportunity” and during COVID, organizations across verticals, not to let go of the opportunity, were in a rush to land an eCommerce platform in some way or other– be it B2C /B2B/D2C. Ultimately their goal was multifold and to ensure:

• To have a scalable platform
• To create business tools that empower business to perform operations (Ex: set up products, set up promotions & festive banners etc) with minimal IT intervention
• To leverage their current infrastructure and data
• To integrate with their inhouse systems (read legacy)
• The ability to operate internationally

which brought the million Dollar question for every CIO – Should I build or Should I buy, my eCommerce platform?

The choice of eCommerce platform– Build vs Buy, depends on many factors. In general, building an eCommerce platform from scratch is a very time-consuming exercise, fraught with risks and is best suited for very mature organizations.

Below table shows some considerations for the Build vs Buy choice:

Here are the top 5 considerations that can help determine a Build vs Buy choice.

• Time to Market and accelerated Global Rollouts

Faster time to market should be the most important consideration to launch an eCommerce website. Organizations want a transactional platform, where their end users can place orders. In this case a Most Viable Product (MVP) launch is the best strategy. Once the site stabilizes, they can go for a multisite global roll out, (in case of multiple brands), maintaining the same codebase but different branding and local integrations. eCommerce platforms such as Adobe Commerce on Cloud (erstwhile Magento) and SaaS platforms like BigCommerce, Commercetools can accelerate these roll outs, compared to a bespoke platform.

• Organization Budgets and Cloud Strategy

Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $4.6 trillion in 2023, an increase of 5.1% from 2022. “Enterprise IT spending is recession-proof as CEOs and CFOs, rather than cutting IT budgets, are increasing spending on digital business initiatives,” said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. While the trend shows an increase, Small Medium Businesses have limited IT budgets. Adoption of COTS eCommerce platforms incur significant costs. Most of the eCommerce software providers charge on parameters such as Order Lines or GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) or pricing based on a specific set of features. The costs may include a one-time signing fee and a monthly/yearly license fee. Additionally, Organizations typically need to engage a System Integrator, to customize, brand, integrate and launch their website. Also, most organizations have a preferred cloud provider and would like to have their eCommerce website also hosted on the same cloud provider. Building a bespoke platform, may go light on budgets in terms of license fees, but would still incur cloud hosting charges.

• User Experience – Headless and Composable Commerce

According to Forrester, improving UX experience can increase conversions upto 400%. Mobile devices account for ~70% of all user traffic to websites. Add to that, according to Google, probability of a user leaving a website goes up by ~30% if there is an increase in page load time. All this highlights the importance of building a superior User Experience.
Of late Progressive Webapps are preferred over separate Mobile apps.

Organizations can focus on best practices such as

• Headless Commerce – where the frontend UI (Ex: React js, Next js) is decoupled from backend services (Ex: REST Services) in order to provide a diverse experience based on the eCommerce channel or device. This may be used in conjunction with a Content Management System (CMS)
• Composable Commerce – which involves choosing Commerce components and combining or ‘composing’ them into a custom application built for specific business needs

Platforms such as Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce provide native support for Headless/ Composable Commerce. When building a bespoke platform however, a lot of additional effort is needed on the UX part and support for Headless and Composable Commerce

• Organization Maturity and inhouse eCommerce IT expertise
  In case of Organizations that are very mature – in terms of enterprise-wide adoption of cloud and latest technology stacks – and have a very strong IT team inhouse or partnering with a System Integrator – defining and building a bespoke platform following MACH (Microservices based, API first, Cloud-native and Headless) principles is the preferred option.
• Support for B2B

B2B market is not as mature as B2C. However, B2B eCommerce sales reached $1.2trillion, as per eMarketer. Increasingly Organizations are expecting B2B features on their eCommerce platforms – such as Quotes, CPQ, Punch out, Custom pricing, ERP Integration etc. Platforms such as HCL Commerce, SAP Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce come bundled with many of these features along with B2C features on a common codebase and can accelerate B2B rollouts. Building B2B features on bespoke platforms is quite complex.

References: Gartner, Forrester, eMarketer, Statista, Sitecore

The post Build vs Buy – Choosing your eCommerce Platform appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

Leveraging Digital Technology for Business Transformation 

Digital platforms are defined as online networks or systems that facilitate the exchange of information, products, and services between different parties. Examples of digital platforms include e-commerce platforms like Amazon, social media platforms like Facebook, and online marketplaces like eBay. 

A digital transformation is the adoption of digital technology to fundamentally change how an organization operates and delivers value to its customers. This can include the use of technology to automate processes, improve the customer experience, and drive innovation. Digital transformation services can help organizations become more agile, efficient, and competitive in today’s digital economy. However, it also requires significant changes to an organization’s culture, business processes, and technology infrastructure.

Innovative Models: Exploring New Ways of Doing Business 

Digital platforms may initially appear to be just another channel for delivering goods or services. However, companies with platforms build value with external customers, in a way switching manufacturing from the inside to the outside, whereas a traditional company scales by selling more and more for less and less of that product or service. The value of the platform ecosystem, which enables the exchange of value between various parties, increases with the number of players. These businesses have also been able to produce network effects that increase value at a previously unknown rate without the labor, production, and infrastructure expenditures that traditional players bear. 

Digital platforms have several advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. For example, they have low barriers to entry, allowing small businesses to reach a global audience without the need for a physical storefront. They also offer flexibility, allowing businesses to quickly respond to changing market conditions and consumer preferences. 

However, digital platforms also come with their own set of challenges. For example, they are subject to intense competition, with new competitors entering the market all the time. This can make it difficult for businesses to differentiate themselves and stand out from the crowd. Additionally, digital platforms are constantly evolving, requiring businesses to constantly innovate and adapt to new technologies and consumer behavior. 

A Look at the Digital Future 

The future of the marketplace looks bright for businesses that are able to effectively leverage digital platforms. As more and more consumers turn to online channels for their shopping needs, digital platforms will continue to play a crucial role in driving growth and success in the marketplace of the future. 

The digital platform titans of today face unique challenges, ranging from charges of spreading fake news to looming antitrust action. However, there are numerous lessons to be drawn from their success for more traditional, non-digital platform businesses. Many of these companies have already progressed with their digital platform and ecosystem strategies. While the big names may get the most attention, the growing platform presence outside of these few may indicate that the true impact of digital platforms and ecosystems has yet to be felt. 

The post How Digital Platforms are Transforming future of Marketplace appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.

In theory, managing multiple brands is a good strategy for a CPG/FMCG/Retail company or any business in the B2C space. A varied product portfolio across different price brackets can reduce investments in overlapping product development and marketing efforts. Having a multi-brand portfolio can prevent competition from attaining a higher market share for the same type of products. This strategy can also increase healthy competition between various brand managers, leading to growth in sales figures.

Companies can also experiment with different brands in the portfolio by killing off weaker or ill-fitting components from the product range, thus freeing marketers to focus resources on stronger brands. Such brands will be positioned strategically compared to competition. This effectively reduces the complexity of marketing effort, and counteracts decreasing efficiency of traditional distribution channels.

The Reality

However in practice, B2C companies today face a tough challenge. Sustaining multiple brands in a demanding market with fragmented customer needs is not easy. Many brand managers today feel the need to cut down on their brand portfolio. This is easier said than done. Most companies and managers who work for them often react to this pressure by expanding rather than pruning their brand portfolios.

Role of Brand Managers

Brand managers play a very crucial role in deciding which brands to cull and which to promote. If a manager kills off an unproductive brand, it would mean the remaining brands in his portfolio must capture the affected brand’s volume in order to break even! The worst fear of businesses therefore, is making the wrong call and losing important market presence. This is apart from the fact that companies can punish brand managers for missing out on an emerging market-opportunity.

Technology Solutions to Portfolio Management

Many B2C giants in the recent past have reversed their traditional cautious approach and used the latest technology solutions for brand portfolio management. For example, Procter & Gamble has rolled out a successful global corporate strategy shift over the past few years that is also combined with digital power. They had a shake-up of their product portfolio, where they consolidated some product portfolios while others were pruned. Several other companies such as PepsiCo, Unilever and Nestlé have achieved rates of revenue growth two to five times greater than historic norms and saved 20% of overall marketing expenditure by managing brand portfolios much more effectively using digital innovation.

As per an article that was published by Huawei recently, customers now have new methods to communicate with companies and agile businesses can take advantage of opportunities to create new engagement platforms and expand the types of services they offer. Procter & Gamble has taken complete advantage of this situation. P&G is one of the largest B2C companies in the world, with annual sales of US$65 billion and operations across the globe. Despite being in business for 180 years, mobile has created one of the largest disruptions the company has experienced. (Read More)

How did these companies accomplish it?

They did it in part by establishing clear roles, relationships, and boundaries for their brands and then, within these guidelines, giving individual brand managers autonomy over not just branding and marketing but also over auxiliary activities such as product quality, packaging and even creating a memorable unboxing experience. Only Portfolio managers responsible for the portfolio as a whole would supervise these brand managers.

In addition to this, since new portfolio strategies frequently prompt reactions from competitors, in order to mitigate any unanticipated consequences, companies have opted for a robust data analytics system that highlight unexpected shifts in real time.

Of late, mobile technology has transformed everything from logistics to marketing. The advantage of mobile technology lies in its capability to expand reach of products among the target market. Moreover, the prevalence of internet makes it easier for the field sales staff to use applications that can collate market data, which can then be used to draw insights.

As per a recent report by BCG, “Demand-centric insights can help companies identify which of their smaller brands, if properly repositioned, enhanced, and extended, have growth headroom. In our experience, many small brands have an avid following that can be expanded by more clearly targeting them at attractive demand spaces. For these, added complexity is worthwhile. Brands lacking demand headroom are candidates for complexity reduction or divestiture.” (Read More)

Solutions that help Brand Managers

FMCG companies often focus on innovating the existing product portfolio while developing new ones. And brand managers have to be updated in real-time with all the vital market data and dashboards 24X7. For brand managers to succeed, they must master the technique of launching new products into the market at the right time.

“Large FMCG businesses are increasingly using data insights to manufacture better products, improve sales and the revenue per customer.”

This entails that brand managers adopt newer methods of data consolidation and visualization to understand, predict and prescribe new products that can sell. Technologies such as BI Analytics can be leveraged to find gaps in the market that will help launch or prune products.

Role of Mobile SFA in Brand Portfolio Management

Technology plays a huge role in successful product portfolio management. All key decisions that are going to be game changers are taken only after careful and in-depth analysis of several months of collated market data, trends, parameters, and demographic data among other metrics.

A major requirement/tool in the hands of the brand manager would be however, a centralized information system (CIS) that can analyze market data from various sources. Any modern Sales Force Automation System (SFA) can be used to collate such important data. Such a system would be a combination of a mobile-based information collection application to be used to collect data from the field, and a web/desktop based system with Business Intelligence capabilities that can analyse the data collected.

Mobile SFAs can act as the windows through which brand managers extract vital data from the field related to brand performance. They can also monitor resource performances from a grass roots level. SFAs feed valuable information such as sales promotion results, customer feedback, dispatch delays/mismatches, and so on to the support team working for the brand. This data can then be analysed with historical sales and production data to make quick decisions/actions. In addition, SFA systems help brand managers monitor demographic data with which they can align regional teams towards overall brand goals.

Conclusion

Many new Mobile SFA solutions providers are adding Business Intelligence, Machine Learning and other such AI-based applications into their product portfolio. It has become easier for managers to collect and analyse data using such advanced solutions that can provide a 360 degree view of all their brands, as well as monitor market performance of each brand real-time. In future, we would be able to use solutions that provide predictive or even prescriptive analysis of data.

Brand Portfolio management is always a rigorous and continuous process for any FMCG/CPG organization. For companies to succeed, setting the right portfolio strategy is absolutely crucial. Adding correct technology aids will help portfolio managers at the right time (the earlier the better) and can pay big dividends into the company’s bottom-line in the medium and long term.

Lastly, it has to be remembered that getting strategy and technology right is only part of the battle; companies must also make organizational changes if they are to adapt their brand portfolios quickly to match shifting trends, competitive responses, mergers, and new-product launches, while also managing the natural lifecycle of their existing brands. Since taking action with one often means doing so with another, companies must look into employing a skilled brand portfolio manager who can lead individual brand teams. This will be a person who can collect, understand, analyse data from different sources and create coherent logical solutions from them.

Experion has been working with world-class businesses in the FMCG/CPG sector to help them grow sales, engage field sales teams, grow market reach and enhance connection with the retailer. To know more about how Experion uses digital technologies to boost FMCG sales, write to us today at sales@experionglobal.com

The post Mobile Sales Force Automation in B2C Brand Portfolio Management appeared first on Experion Technologies – Software Product Engineering Services.