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Chapter 1: How has ecommerce
transformed business?
1. Ecommerce stores are always open.
2. Ecommerce has increased competition.
3. Ecommerce data drives business decisions.
4. Customers are comfortable with
ecommerce.
5. Retail stores now connect to ecommerce
stores.
Ecommerce stores are always open.
The sheer accessibility of ecommerce has transformed shopping for both
consumers and businesses. Now, customers can buy almost anything —
anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Today’s consumers expect this as
a fundamental component of the online shopping experience.
As such, businesses must provide seamless ecommerce experiences
across channels to meet customers’ shopping expectations. They also
need the ability to fulfill purchases quickly, a process aided by the
sophisticated order management software built into some ecommerce
platforms, which can also be configured to extend the accessibility of
ecommerce into physical stores.
Ecommerce has increased competition.
The open, extensive, and endlessly competitive landscape of ecommerce
is great for consumers, 80% of whom are more likely to shop where they
have seamless and connected digital shopping experiences. Ecommerce
is the great commercial equalizer — any business of any size can succeed
and scale online.
Many tools and platforms for providing these experiences are readily
available to help any business succeed in ecommerce. It is also easier
than ever for brands to outsource ecommerce infrastructure to an outside
provider, eliminating the need to develop costly and inflexible in-house
solutions.
Ecommerce data drives business decisions.
Ecommerce isn’t just great for consumers, of course. It also provides a
whole new world of customer data and insights for businesses, which can
drive truly impactful marketing and product development decisions. A
solid ecommerce platform will automatically collect data from digital
shoppers, allowing businesses to know customers more intimately than
ever before, with every click they make.
ARTICLE
Ecommerce analytics can help you optimize your
website with data-driven insights.
LEARN MORE
By coupling consumer insights with the power of artificial intelligence,
brands can finally conquer effective personalization and exceed customer
expectations time and time again. Most consumers consider this a fair
trade, as 82% of shoppers are happy to share relevant personal
information in exchange for the seamless connection of their in-person
and online experiences.
Customers are comfortable with ecommerce.
The simplicity and reliability of ecommerce is increasingly winning
consumers over. For many consumers, ecommerce stores are now their
primary forums for interaction with brands.
For brands with ecommerce stores aiming to attract the 46% of
shoppers who still prefer to make purchases in physical stores, it’s vital
to invest in an ecommerce platform that can help mirror, or even improve
upon, the experience of a truly excellent physical store visit.
Consumers sometimes judge the core characteristics and qualities of a
brand based solely on the brand’s ecommerce presence — the landing
page is the new storefront window display.
Retail stores now connect to ecommerce
stores.
For retail businesses with brick-and-mortar locations, seamless
integration between physical and digital inventory is now essential.
Practically speaking, there is only so much inventory that any physical
store can stock. When sales associates are empowered by a robust
ecommerce platform to access digital inventory in real time, they can
recover customers’ interest before losing a sale, and set up flexible
shipping and returns. This makes for omni-channel customer experiences
that cross physical and digital lines. A 71% majority of shoppers now
even browse on their phones while in stores, comparing prices and
reading reviews to find the best value.
GUIDE
Rethink your retail operations and create the
store of the future.
GET THE GUIDE
It is unlikely that physical retail will ever be fully eclipsed by ecommerce
— but the lines between the two are now blurring, and their roles are
shifting. After all, in a reversal of previous tradition, many brands now find
success online before ever opening physical retail locations or pop-up
shops. Brick-and-mortar stores will probably always play some part in
customer journeys, as places shoppers can go to experience products
firsthand before making a final purchase online.
PREVIOUS CHAPTER
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DEMO
Salesforce B2C Commerce can help you create unified, intelligent digital
commerce experiences — both online and in the store.
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DEMO
Salesforce B2B Commerce offers buyers seamless, self-service online
shopping experiences with all the B2B functionality they demand.
WATCH B2B DEMO
Getting Started with Ecommerce
OVERVIEW
What is ecommerce?
CHAPTER 1
How has ecommerce transformed business?
CHAPTER 2
How do you choose the best ecommerce
platform?
CHAPTER 3
What are the key features of an ecommerce
website?
CHAPTER 4
What are the vital metrics for ecommerce
success?
CHAPTER 5
What are the keys to a winning ecommerce
strategy?
CHAPTER 6
Why Commerce Cloud is the world’s leading
ecommerce platform.
Call us at 1-800-667-6389
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