A Guide for Businesses to Find the Perfect Partner for Outsourcing E-commerce Management Services
❝You would be surprised to know that despite being a booming industry, 80% of E-commerce businesses fail. This often stems from companies trying to be a jack of all trades but master of none.❞
Aakash Gabhrani
E-commerce strategist and leader at FBSPL
Now, the question arises: What is the most efficient and cost-effective way of running an E-commerce business?
We advise looking no further than 'E-commerce Outsourcing'!
Yes, you heard it right.
Our nearly two decades of experience have helped us know why even the leading brands in E-commerce, like – Alibaba and Amazon, do not rely solely on in-house operations. Instead, they strategically leverage E-commerce outsourcing to fuel their growth.
That being said, let's have a look at the most outsourced branches of E-commerce, as per the 2021 report released by Deloitte:
IT services (54%), finance (44%), payroll services (32%), and customer service (22%).
But, as we know, it is always those little details that make the most significant difference. Hence, before moving ahead with a third-party E-commerce management service, it is vital to understand its crucial selection criteria. Here is how to start and what to look for in an E-commerce outsourcing partner.
Nobody knows Your Business Better Than You
To eliminate any mismatch between expectations and deliverables, it is best to identify your exact business goals. This helps you avoid sharing vague requirements like ''I want to increase sales by 20%''.
Instead, your research would help you share insights that your service provider needs to know to develop an effective E-commerce
Moreover, this clarity allows you to determine the precise task or business function you want to outsource, the required expertise, your budget limitations, and the project timeline. Whether it is pre-sales support, order management, catalog management, data analysis, or marketplace integration, pinpointing your specific needs is as vital as defining your success matrix. To gain more understanding, read our blog on How Outsourcing E-commerce Management Streamlines Operations to Boost Profits.
The Key Takeaway
If you want to find the right E-commerce outsourcing partner with the right expertise and get the best result, be extra specific with your requirements. Knowing your specific preferences allows you to connect with compatible individuals and increases the chances of finding someone who truly connects with you.
The Key Takeaway
If you want to find the right E-commerce outsourcing partner with the right expertise and get the best result, be extra specific with your requirements. Knowing your specific preferences allows you to connect with compatible individuals and increases the chances of finding someone who truly connects with you.
Expertise is Directly Proportional to Excellence
After clearly defining your area of assignment, it is time to look for the right outsourcing E-commerce partner. And the best place to do this is Google, focusing on the vendors that offer the required services.
Once done, dig deeper, interview, and assess if they possess:
Cutting-edge Tech: Can they handle your technical demands?
Adaptive Skills: Are they flexible and capable of handling challenges?
Proven Track Record: Do they have a history of overcoming obstacles and achieving success?
Aligned Vision: Do their values and goals resonate with yours?
The Key Takeaway
By combining up-to-date technical skills, strong soft skills, and a shared vision, you create the foundation for high-quality work and successful project completion. Choose a partner who shares your vision and possesses the capabilities to bring it to life.
The Key Takeaway
By combining up-to-date technical skills, strong soft skills, and a shared vision, you create the foundation for high-quality work and successful project completion. Choose a partner who shares your vision and possesses the capabilities to bring it to life.
Client Feedback on E-commerce Management Services Matters
While factors like skills, experience, and vision are crucial, just counting on them for your final decision can be tricky.
Hence, we suggest you also take a sneak peek at their:
Client Reviews and Referrals: Utilize platforms like Clutch or Google Reviews, but filter and interpret feedback cautiously. Analyze trends in client experiences, paying attention to both strengths and weaknesses highlighted in the reviews.
Case Studies: Scrutinize case studies not just for claimed growth metrics but also for employed strategies, technical solutions, and measurable results. Look for tangible data.
Business Approach (Due Diligence): Assess their responsiveness and attentiveness throughout the selection process. Did they actively engage with your specific project details before presenting solutions? This reflects their genuine interest and potential client focus.
Website Ranking (SEO Expertise): Evaluate their Google ranking for relevant keywords. A well-optimized website reflects their internal SEO mastership, potentially translating to effective client services.
Social Media Presence (Content Strategy): Analyze their social media engagement and posting frequency. Do they showcase strategic content aligned with industry trends and best practices?
The Key Takeaway
Ignore slogans and chase facts. Believe only what unfolds before your eyes,ensuring clarity in objectives and continuous performance monitoring to drive the dynamic E-commerce landscape effectively. Check out these other best practices for outsourcing your E-commerce business.
The Key Takeaway
Ignore slogans and chase facts. Believe only what unfolds before your eyes,ensuring clarity in objectives and continuous performance monitoring to drive the dynamic E-commerce landscape effectively. Check out these other best practices for outsourcing your E-commerce business.
Be Ready to Invest More to Save More
We say this because failing to be transparent with your budget not only ruins your relationship with the outsourcing partner. But also, the success of your project. In addition, when looking for top-tier services, you may ought to pay more than average, as such expertise tends to come at a premium.
However, this higher initial outsourcing cost is worth the long-term savings it offers. It can help you save on hiring and training employees, investing in expensive data annotation and inventory management software and many other in-house operation expenditures.
Moreover, it comes with the assurance that your E-commerce partner is handling everything for you, right from order processing and shipment to customer experience and marketplace management. All you need to pay is a predictable monthly fee. You can also predefine your budget plan to ensure that it doesn't change after your project starts.
Lastly, if you choose to work with an existing client, discounts might come as the cherry on the cake, lowering expenses even further.
The Key Takeaway
Before approaching an E-commerce outsourcing partner, you must finalize how much you are willing to spend on your project and communicate it clearly to your selected partner.
The Key Takeaway
Before approaching an E-commerce outsourcing partner, you must finalize how much you are willing to spend on your project and communicate it clearly to your selected partner.
Take Network and Security Audits Seriously
When you outsource E-commerce, you share a lot of sensitive data with a third party. Thus, data privacy and security should be your top priority.
While signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is undoubtedly essential, depending only on them overlooks a crucial aspect of safeguarding your sensitive E-commerce data - the vendor's internal security practices.
Here's why we urge partnering with a vendor who conducts regular network and security audits.
Network Audits
Uncover security weaknesses in hardware, software, and configurations before attackers exploit them.
Ensure compliance with industry regulations and data privacy laws.
Pinpoint and fix bottlenecks that slow down your network performance.
Map current network usage and capacity to plan for future expansion needs.
Security Audits
Identify and address all potential risks to sensitive information, not just network infrastructure.
Safeguard customer details, financial records, and intellectual property from unauthorized access.
Prevent data breaches and cyberattacks.
The Key Takeaway
Ask about your provider's data security strategy—their protocols, certifications, and compliance with industry standards. Establish a non-disclosure agreement, but do not forget to scrutinize their network and security audits before sharing any discreet information.
The Key Takeaway
Ask about your provider's data security strategy—their protocols, certifications, and compliance with industry standards. Establish a non-disclosure agreement, but do not forget to scrutinize their network and security audits before sharing any discreet information.
Find an E-commerce Outsourcing Partner with Agile Methodologies
You will agree if we say there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the E-commerce platform. And the only way to survive in the market is to accommodate the customer's changing needs. Thus, vendors following agile methodologies should be your go-to choice here.
Let's see why!
Hiring an agile partner can help YOU:
Experiment fearlessly, testing new features and functionalities to adapt to evolving needs with lightning speed.
Listen closely to your customers, gather feedback, minimize risk, and maximize impact.
Unlock valuable insights through continuous analysis, enabling you to identify opportunities and optimize strategy.
Hand-in-hand with open communication that flows freely, fostering trust and collaborative problem-solving for unprecedented success.
Stay ahead of the curve by flexing their resources up or down depending on your needs, ensuring cost-efficiency even in engaged markets.
The Key Takeaway
Embracing agility isn't just about choosing a vendor; it's about adopting a flexible, customer-centric mindset. With the right partner by your side, you can confidently sail through the ever-changing E-commerce landscape.
The Key Takeaway
Embracing agility isn't just about choosing a vendor; it's about adopting a flexible, customer-centric mindset. With the right partner by your side, you can confidently sail through the ever-changing E-commerce landscape.
Flexibility takes center stage when you and your partner are in different time zones. An inflexible partner locked in their time zone and not ready to adjust to your internal rhythm, deadlines, and communication styles can cause friction and delays.
Remember, the E-commerce landscape is dynamic. New trends keep emerging, customer preferences evolve, and technology updates rapidly. Seasonal fluctuations, campaign launches, and unexpected surges in demand are all realities of E-commerce.
But choosing a flexible partner helps you bridge this gap like a pro. They adapt to your schedule, offer flexible communication channels, and are available when you need them, regardless of time zone differences. These partners value your input, embrace feedback, and are always ready to brainstorm and refine solutions together.
In summary,
A Rigid Partner
Fixed teams with limited skills
Relies on predefined processes and waits for instructions
Trusts gut feeling and intuition
Struggle with mismatched schedules and communication styles
Have rigid resource allocation
Locked with designated processes that cannot keep up with rapid technological advancements
A Flexible Partner
Dynamic teams with diverse skills that can be adapted to project needs
Anticipates needs and proactively suggests solutions
Makes data-driven decisions based on insights and analytics
Offers flexible schedules, diverse communication channels, and clear documentation
Go for seamless resource scaling to ensure you're always prepared, no matter the season or campaign
Kown as a partner who embraces feedback and iterates solutions to beat the competition
The Key Takeaway
Working across time zones can present challenges, but a flexible partner can mitigate them. Look for one with overlapping hours for key communication and meetings, utilize asynchronous communication tools, and prioritize clear documentation to ensure everyone is on the same page.
The Key Takeaway
Working across time zones can present challenges, but a flexible partner can mitigate them. Look for one with overlapping hours for key communication and meetings, utilize asynchronous communication tools, and prioritize clear documentation to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Thinking What It Will Look Like If You Choose to Outsource with Us?
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