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E-commerce platforms

E-commerce is here to stay. In recent times, the increase in e-commerce transactions has been exponential. In Spain, 23% of total purchases were made through the internet in 2020, and e-commerce exceeded €12.4 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

What are e-commerce platforms?

It is a technological solution to create and manage an online store, constituting the necessary software for companies to sell to their customers. E-commerce platforms facilitate all the operations of an online store, such as product display, sales, stock control, payments, and promotions.

It is clear that nowadays having a way to reach customers online is key for any company. However, it is important to know what to evaluate when choosing an e-commerce platform.

Among the main aspects we should consider its reliability, its flexibility, the interface for buyers, the ease of use for the company itself (for example, that the configuration panel is intuitive, or the fact of having a mobile application to manage the store), the possibility of accessing analytical data that can be used to design growth strategies, and the support service (preferably 24/7).

When evaluating the interface for customers, we could consider whether the platform has attractive themes to make products look better, whether product views with videos and close-ups can be configured, whether it has a shipping calculator, whether it has call-to-action buttons and comment boxes for customers to post reviews.

We could also analyze the platform according to the size of the company in question, since there are options for specialized packages for small, medium and large companies, with features suited to the requirements of each type of company, even considering whether the type of business is B2B or B2C.

Currently, these types of platforms go beyond being an online store, integrating products, payments and shipments with different sales channels, such as social networks (Facebook or Instagram). Among the main advantages of having an e-commerce platform are the possibility of selling to and from anywhere in the world, the fact of being present and available 24/7 for customers, the reduction of costs compared to a physical store, the simplicity in the automation of inventory management, as well as the possibility of collecting a large amount of valuable data about buyers.

Macrotest is a partner of Easycommerce, with an omnichannel e-commerce software platform developed based on more than 20 years of experience in different countries and in conjunction with different business partners. Among its main features are that it is multichannel, 100% interoperable, cross border, and has multiple integrations with permanent updates.

If you are thinking of incorporating an e-commerce platform, we are waiting for you!

What is and what is not e-business?

The Internet has revolutionised everything around us, including organisations, generating changes in business models. Surely you have heard of e-business, a phenomenon that has changed the way we do business and transactions. When we refer to e-business we are talking about those organisational processes that are carried out through electronic means, such as a website, an App, a social network or an instant message. In this way, the different areas of a company can incorporate e-business into their processes, creating a new business model, adapting to the constant variations in customer needs.

This type of business model is used by small, medium and big companies and is characterised by the fact that it does not depend on a physical location to be able to function, its transactions are carried out online every day of the year, having clients that can be in other cities and even other countries.

In this way, we can conceptualise e-business as the type of business developed by organisations that rely on the use of the Internet or related technologies, with the purpose of improving their productivity and profitability.

It is often confused with the term e-commerce or electronic commerce, however, they are not the same. In this sense, every e-commerce is an e-business, but not necessarily every e-business is an e-commerce. E-commerce refers only to the marketing of products and services on the Internet, covering the processes by which customers and suppliers are reached. A specific example is online shopping. E-business, on the other hand, has a much broader range of applications. It includes in its existence all aspects of e-commerce in its entirety, and also incorporates various processes such as production, administration, product development, finance, human resources, among others.

What are its main advantages?

International presence: allows companies to reach different locations without the need for a physical presence.
Opening hours: allows operations to be carried out 24 hours a day, which helps the business to increase sales and profits.
Access to information: by having a platform where customers can search for the products and/or services they require, it provides better service, facilitating transactions and improving the customer experience.
Cost reduction: e-business allows for greater customer coverage without the need to incur fixed costs such as having a physical store in each location.
Usability: customers can easily access any information about the product or service to make their decision.
Reliability: it is safe for both the customer and the company, as it guarantees that the payment will be made in a simple, agile and transparent way, and that the accreditation of the payment will be made in the correct way.

E-business involves taking business processes to the internet, which is not as simple as designing a website or installing software. It requires experience and knowledge of the internet, business, and technology tools. At Macrotest we are here to help you transform your business, and accompany you in the process of adaptation so that you can start to experience the benefits that e-business can bring to your business.