Discover how to streamline your manufacturing business with a powerful, easy-to-implement eCommerce solution
"You make it hard to do business with you." Those words can sting, and it's the last thing any manufacturer wants to hear. While you’re focused on turning a profit, ensuring quality, and pleasing customers, you might unknowingly be the biggest roadblock to your own growth. How can this be? If you are falling behind the times and not allowing your customers to purchase online, you're alienating an increasingly large segment of your customer base.
Embracing eCommerce is no longer optional for manufacturers. Once upon a time, eCommerce was a nice-to-have; in today's world, it's now a need-to-have. The digital age demands that businesses, regardless of their industry, make their products and services accessible online. Let's dive into how an effective eCommerce platform can transform your manufacturing business.
To thrive in the competitive online marketplace, your eCommerce platform needs to be robust, versatile, and tailored to the unique demands of the manufacturing industry. Here are some key features to look for:
An ideal eCommerce platform offers a wide range of features designed to cover all your business needs. These include order processing, product displays, categorization, customer login, and administrative tools. Having these functionalities integrated into your eCommerce platform ensures a seamless experience for both your customers and your team.
For manufacturers, having specialized B2B tools is crucial. Features like quote submission, custom product catalogs, and advanced pricing options cater to the unique needs of B2B transactions. The ability to assign sales teams to specific accounts and customize checkout fields for detailed order specifications adds significant value to your eCommerce platform.
Starting with a basic setup can be quick and straightforward. In just about 16 hours, you can have a fully functional eCommerce site. This includes setting up a product catalog and basic design elements. While it may not have all the customizations from the start, it provides a solid foundation to build upon.
SwiftOtter has analyzed 65 points on four eCommerce platforms. See how this maps to your business requirements.
Payments
Setting up a payment system can seem daunting, but starting with a solution like PayPal is a great way to simplify this process. It's easy to set up, and you can always integrate more complex systems as your business grows.
Shipping
Accurate shipping calculations are crucial. Utilize integrated tools like Shipper HQ to provide real-time shipping rates to your customers, ensuring transparency and reliability.
Taxes
Managing sales tax can be complex, but third-party applications like Avalara or TaxJar can automate this process, handling all the calculations and compliance issues for you.
ERP Integration
While integrating your ERP system with your eCommerce platform is important, it doesn’t have to be a day-one task. Start with manual order entries and scale to full ERP integration as your online sales grow and the process becomes a necessity.
The decision to go DIY or hire an agency depends on your specific needs and resources. A DIY approach can be sufficient for a simple, initial setup, while partnering with an agency brings in expertise for a more polished, optimized, and scalable solution. Agencies can also assist with SEO, advanced customizations, and integrating your e-commerce site with other business systems.
Launching an e-commerce platform might seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and tools, it can be straightforward and highly beneficial. Focus on creating a minimum viable product to get started and build from there. By making your products available online, you not only meet the expectations of today’s market but also pave the way for significant growth and efficiency in your operations.
