Tag Archive: ecommerce customer service

The Potential for Artificial Intelligence in Ecommerce

November 30, 2016  Published by

Artificial intelligence is becoming more ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Even ecommerce giant, Amazon.com, is paving the way for advancement with Echo – its smart-speaker running Alexa personal assistant software. But, while Echo and Alexa are consumer products, the technology behind them could soon become a mainstream component in ecommerce business strategies. The aforementioned Amazon products use advanced speech recognition technology to perform tasks – like searching for information or re-ordering specific products from Amazon. The algorithms that help Alexa understand people can be used to improve efficiencies in many sectors of ecommerce. Speech recognition technology can be used in…... View Article

How to Enhance the Customer Experience

September 21, 2016  Published by

Ecommerce businesses have access to a humongous audience. But getting a hold of the attention and trust of customers (and keeping it) in an industry packed with competitors is nothing short of challenging. That’s why focusing on the customer experience your company offers is critical for standing out from competitors and retaining customers. Below are some tips for enhancing the foundations of your customer experience efforts.     Start with staffing As representatives of your company, customer service staff can be a defining factor in the customer experience your business is known for. Give your current staff the authority and flexibility…... View Article

Little Things you can do to Retain Customers

February 17, 2016  Published by

In ecommerce, returning customers are your bread and butter. Once the hard work of getting their attention, trust, and first purchase is completed, they tend to buy more (and more often) from you. In fact, returning customers generate about three times more revenue than new customers. Keeping customers engaged and coming back to your site is critical for ecommerce success. Internet marketing efforts like email newsletters and a social media presence are good for accomplishing this, but the other half of customer retention is providing customers with a good experience the first time (and every time) they purchase from you.…... View Article

The Benefits of a Customer-Friendly Returns Process

May 27, 2015  Published by

A tedious, red tape-covered returns process can scare off potential new customers, and turn into a nightmare for customers who have a return issue. Streamlining returns will do wonders for your reputation and build customer trust. If you can turn your returns process into something hassle-free for customers – you can use that as a selling point to increase your sales. Simplified returns show customers that you stand behind your products and that you’re willing to fix any issues that cause returns. [more] Return policies come in all shapes and sizes, but when developing yours, there’s one key tenant to…... View Article

How to Improve Your Fulfillment Operations for 2015

February 25, 2015  Published by

Self-improvement is the purpose behind all New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve resolved to have a bigger and better 2015 for your ecommerce business, you’ll need to analyze your current operations for areas in need of improvement. Here are some suggestions for areas of your business you may be overlooking – and how to bolster them for 2015. [more] Develop trust with your fulfillment provider Fulfillment services can make a huge impact on customer service and levels of returning customers. A good fulfillment vendor is more than just an extra warehouse or shipping center. Ideally, your logistics provider should understand your…... View Article

What Shipping Features Shoppers Really Want

December 23, 2014  Published by

For all the advancements the Internet has made over the years, is appears some ecommerce stores are lagging behind. According to a survey of 2,000 consumers and 60 retailers conducted by OrderDynamics and Opinion Matters, most online retailers are disconnected from the shipping feature consumers want and expect. [more] Some insights from the survey include: 54% of shoppers want a specific delivery date at checkout (only 15% of retailers provide it) 61% of retailers have next-day shipping options (but only 10% of consumers were willing to pay for them. It’s no wonder why free shipping can increase sales) 45% of…... View Article

Preparing for Holiday Shipping

November 26, 2014  Published by

The busy season for ecommerce (or the “holiday season” for those not in the biz) is already underway. How well is your business prepared? Before you get up to your ears in orders, follow these tips to make sure your logistics and shipping processes are up to task. [more] Streamline your inventory: In many ways, your inventory is the foundation for many aspects of your ecommerce business. If your brand also works with retail locations and affiliates, then things get even more complex. A fully-equipped fulfillment management system will keep the ebb and flow of your inventory on track. Optimize…... View Article

Determining the Shipping Costs for Your Customers

November 5, 2014  Published by

It can be difficult enough to nail down what your shipping expenses will be as an ecommerce company. Deciding what to charge your customers for shipping can be even more difficult. Ideally, you could just charge your customers the same shipping costs that you pay – but that poses lots of potential problems. For one, there are many variables that determine your shipping costs as an ecommerce company. There are various surcharges that may apply depending on package size and delivery location. Plus, if you outsource your order fulfillment and/or have negotiated shipping discounts, you won’t really be able to…... View Article