Knowing that you may actually be outgrowing your existing ecommerce system usually comes with some mixed feelings. Perhaps it starts with elation when you begin to see signs that suggest your business has outgrown the enterprise ecommerce platform it was built on. Congratulations. That’s probably a good indication things have been going well. You might also be having some feelings of trepidation when you realize your business has outgrown the ecommerce platform it was built on. Understandable. That means there’s some in-depth analysis and planning that will need to take place in order to prepare for the next phase of expansion. Although this is no small undertaking by any measure, knowing there’s help out there lets you hang onto those good feelings you’ve worked so hard to earn.
As overwhelming as it may seem, you’re now in a unique position to improve the way you conduct business. The time to expand is also the time to tighten the nuts and bolts of operations by refining processes, customizing user friendly interface improvements, and integrating workflow and information sharing between back end systems like accounting and inventory management. Moving from a “shopping cart” to an “ecommerce system” means that you are leaving the world of one-size-fits-all and entering the world of getting exactly what you ask for. With that power comes responsibility. No external consulting group or software system can tell you how to do your job – that’s your responsibility. So it’s time to identify your needs and wants, define them in some detail, prioritize them, and pair them with a budget.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here though. The specific requirements of expansion will determine which enterprise ecommerce solutions your business should explore, and an in-depth analysis of both the front end and back end functions is mandatory in determining the most feasible approach. In other words, scrutinize all corners of the business to figure out what needs to happen and where the most help is going to be required. By identifying what you deem to be a weakness and what you believe is an opportunity, you can then set guidelines and priorities as the foundation of a new growth strategy. The future expansion of your business is on the line, so it’s time to plan, plan, plan.
Your site analysis may reveal a few different things about the next steps. It could be determined that it’s merely time to revamp site design, add interactive product features, make strides in personalization efforts, or improve the checkout process. Or perhaps it’s discovered that the longevity of the business requires an entirely new enterprise ecommerce platform, providing custom solutions and flexibility to allow for long term advancement.
There’s no doubt that what’s good for you may not be right for someone else, and making preparations for expansion means understanding all the necessary requirements in order to move forward on a plan. Like your detailed planning process, the coinciding enterprise ecommerce solution needs to be adaptable in order to align with changing business needs. At the core of this solution should be the company’s ability to focus on its customers and clients while possessing the capacity to adjust to those needs on the fly. After all, these two groups have a significant variable impact on growth, and you want to keep them satisfied.
The honest truth is that outgrowing your old system means there is some work ahead, but there is also tremendous opportunity. Although large-scale systematic changes are hardly ever flawless from start to finish, it’s hard to dispute the fact that growing and improving your existing system can strengthen the business, while making dramatic improvements in efficiency.
In many cases this is much more than just an internal process, and a business partner like HotWax Media can help you navigate the inevitable terrain of a system upgrade. Our account managers will help you identify realistic and viable strategies that will encourage grow, and our implementation team will work with you side by side in order to mitigate complications before they arise during deployment or migration.
So do some research about us, review our work, ask us questions and then meet us face to face. We’re confident you’re going to like what we’ve accomplished throughout our history of successful business relationships.
Jared Matkin is a staff writer for HotWax Media with a background in PR, Branding and Marketing. He’s also a light-hearted and an opinionated character who will join other HotWax Media employees and advisors in periodically posting his thoughts on topics ranging from enterprise eCommerce to business and technology.
