Assessing E-Commerce Readiness

How can an e-commerce readiness assessment support my business? 

 

Selling online has advantages over selling in traditional shops and stores. Businesses can reach customers worldwide and enter new markets quickly and easily. Geography no longer creates the same physical barriers to trade. It is always best to check that you have everything in place before you start. An E-commerce readiness assessment can help you evaluate what stage you are at.

 

What is an e-commerce readiness assessment? 

 

An E-commerce readiness assessment is the starting point to help any businesses understand what is needed to design an online sales strategy. An e-commerce readiness assessment is a tool that evaluates the capabilities needed to set up and run a successful online business. It will help you evaluate strengths, as well as identifying areas that need improving. It shows that by investing in market research, online payment systems, developing good fulfillment and logistics, and creating great customer service experiences, will help build a more successful business.

 

What is the structure of an e-commerce readiness assessment? 

 

The International Trade Centre ITC has developed a quick and easy short quiz to check your businesses readiness to start online sales. It will look at the following five sections:

  • E-commerce planning: This involves getting you to think about your product and services value proposition, ask yourself why customers should buy your products. It gets you to think about your ideal target customers.  Confirm if your products or services comply with regulations in your target markets.
  • Online presence: This involves identifying whether you are going to run your own e-commerce website, or if you will list products and services in marketplaces.
  • Digital marketing: This involves looking at the extent to which businesses use digital marketing to promote their online sales and monitor digital goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Shipping and inventory: This involves checking that your inventory, fulfillment and shipping options meet the expectations of your customers. Confirming that you can manage the customs import duties, taxes and other charges needed is essential.
  • Customer service: This involves understanding what good customer service is and that your business is supplying the right information about products and services. Coupled with the ability to communicate, interact and build trusted relationships with your customers and clients, will ensure your business will thrive.

 

Links to Supporting Information

 

ITC International Trade Centre  ITC ecomConnect – Readiness  an e-commerce readiness assessment quiz

 

ITC International Trade Centre  How to Start Your First E-commerce Business | ecomConnect

 

ITC  ITC ecomConnect – Calculator  & Video tutorials from ecomConnect

 

Strive Community’s Ecommerce Training Toolkit ecomConnect

 

IOE&IT Export essentials: How to make the most of ecommerce platforms – The Institute of Export and International Trade

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