How to choose an ecommerce product? - Part II

In the part I, I had discussed briefly about how most of the small businesses go about selecting a product, whereas a successful small businessmen would be careful and would evaluate the product based on various aspects listed below before making a choice.
I will relist all the important factors, which one should consider before buying an ecommerce product (www.ritecart.co.uk ) or software for their company.
1.Ease of configuration
2.Ability to Scale
3.Useful latest features
4.Available marketing tools with the product
5.Ability to analyze data (analytics, not only google analytics!!)
6.Reports
7.Integration (with other modules, Like epos with near realtime online/offline synchronization of data and other packaged application )
8.Customer Service
9.Technical Support
10.Technical Implementation Aspects
11.Build vs Buy
Ease of Configuration-

Create Composite product and offer discount for composite products
Dynamic pricing of composite products. To price dynamically user created composite products
More current features product has, easier it is, for the merchant to rollout new marketing initiatives. Also it is very important that the product is designed and built in such a way that it is easier to add/remove features.
Available marketing tools with the product
Sooner or later you will want to provide returning customers with a special discount, or use a coupon as a promotional device. Does your ecommerce product (www.ritecart.co.uk ) or solution allow for that contingency in your checkout? Can you easily generate creative marketing content and integrate it into the site's infrastructure? Can you easily identify your targeted customers based on the data you have by analyzing the data in hand? and or does the system seem limiting?
Coupons and other promotions can be key conversion tools, so make sure your ecommerce product (www.ritecart.co.uk ) allows for this kind of marketing flexibility. Remember, promotions and marketing tools can make a difference in the crowded online marketplace, and can help set you apart from others who have their online presence in the market.
Ability to analyze data

Other important aspect of reporting is the support of different formats. The most common formats are CVS (Microsoft Excel), PDF (Adobe) and Quickbooks.
Integration


Our product RiteCart (www.ritecart.co.uk ) is built using robust MVC/Struts framework, which is modular, extensible and configurable. Technologies used in this product are Java, XML, BSH.
Build vs. Buy
Over the period of time, this has become one of my favorite customer questions. Build or Buy?
I usually answer this by asking a question- how much ROI do you expect out of your ecommerce investment and product?
Building is an expensive option (not from cost point of view but from ROI Point of view).
You can build your solution using one of these options
1.Build with a good reliable vendor onsite (with or without an open source solution)
2.Build with a good vendor offshore
3.Build with a small vendor onsite/offshore
4.Go for your own development with some open source tools

Point 1, 2 &3 are feasible but one should ask himself the following questions, is the cost feasible? Will the vendor understand all the functional needs of the ecommerce solution? How long has the vendor been in the ecommerce solution market? Will the solution be ever built? Will it work as per expectations? Can the software vendor be relied upon? How much time will it take? What impact does it have on my business if it is not delivered to my satisfaction?
Finally for option 4, if you decide to pursue an open-source application to manage your store, make sure to thoroughly research and examine your options. Is the project continuously updated, or has it been stagnant for a long time, with very few updates on the project and very little news as to where it is headed? Several open-source solutions are released every year. However, very few have the longevity that you will need to be used as a foundation for your online store. Examine the programmers behind it, and others who use the program.
Buying option is a much easier option. One can feel and see the solution. One can make sure that he has got everything in the product he needs. Also, he can be rest assured that the company has the required functional, technical and support expertise to support all of his needs.
Finally, look at the company that's behind your eCommerce solution (www.ritecart.co.uk ). What have they done in the past? Are they a growing enterprise, likely to continually make improvements to their firm, and pass on those benefits to you? When considering a package, make sure that the company you are dealing with is credible, with a solid reputation to back up any claims. See where your customer and technical support will come from. Is it in-house or out-sourced? Do they have a solid, supportive community in the form of a forum, blog, or network of satisfied eCommerce businesses (www.ritecart.co.uk )? Examine the philosophy behind the company. Ask for references or email others, who've used their services in the past, and see what they have to say about the different aspects of the company you may be working with. These are the people who are going to help you build your business and make it a success; so choose wisely.
Ritecart product (www.ritecart.co.uk ) is sold in two flavors (Lite & enterprise). If you are looking for ecommerce software, Please request for a quotation from our Sales team.
We have got the right product for you tagged with the right price!!!
Author is working as a Senior Retail Analyst with Palindrome Software Labs (www.palindromesoftware.com )