Is Your E-Commerce Provider Living Up to Its Promises?

There are numerous factors which can be attributed to the success of an online business venture. Hard work, dedication, a clear-cut vision, and insightful marketing campaigns are only a handful of metrics to take into account. However, the driving force behind many projects stems directly from a cutting-edge and efficient e-commerce platform. There is no doubt that such platforms have evolved in leaps and bounds over the years and many now boast a user-friendly appeal that would have been nearly impossible to enjoy in the past. Still, there are times when a business will need to reevaluate its current provider in order to determine if any changes are warranted. Let’s look at this statement in greater detail.

Taking Normalcy for Granted

The core functions of an e-commerce solution will often take place behind the scenes. This also allows them to be taken for granted over time. Secure payment systems, inherent website functionality and mobile-responsive designs are a handful of traits which can be associated with a worthwhile service provider. However, we must also look at the concept of agility.

How easy is it to perform upgrades? Will the third-party solution be able to grow with the business or might certain features be sacrificed in the event that changes need to be made? These situations can represent critical setbacks if not taken seriously and unfortunately, many entrepreneurs fail to realise their importance until the damage as already been done. In other words, the notion of “business as usual” is by no means relevant in terms of an e-commerce solution. Adaptation is key to long-term success and there are many instances when a legacy provider no longer fits the bill. So, what steps should be taken in order to best determine the appropriate third-party service?

When the Time is Right for Migration

One of the main factors which will often influence the final decision involves software as a service (Saas). While platforms such as Magento are indeed impressive in regards to their developmental tools, the fact of the matter is that they might not be able to offer the hands-on edge which could be required by enterprise-level merchants. No one should need to be a coding expert before making pertinent changes to their website. After all, the experience of the end user is the top priority and any downtime will negatively impact the so-called “bottom line”.

The good news is that there are several alternatives to Magento Enterprise and many of these have learned to espouse a bespoke sense of intuitive agility. Thus, changes can be made when the time is right and the portal in question will not suffer from any debilitating downtime. It is just as important to mention that management and similar stakeholders have to adopt the correct mentality. They must be able to admit that there is a problem before objectively examining the issue. This is the best way to determine the root cause and ultimately, to discover if an outdated e-commerce platform is due for an upgrade.