What Is a 3PL and Why Are They Important to Retailers?
(This article was last published on May 12, 2016. It has been updated for accuracy and completeness.)
Providing a good delivery experience can determine whether a customer buys from you again or not.
According to ShipStation’s latest report, 83% of consumers are less likely to re-purchase from a retailer after a negative delivery or shipping experience.
Unfortunately, a lot of online sellers struggle with delivery, causing their business to suffer. But, building and managing your own logistics network is challenging, as it’s expensive and time-consuming.
To meet customer expectations and protect their bottom lines, merchants are partnering with 3PLs to outsource their fulfillment needs. In the years to come, 3PLs will be critical to competing online and growing your business.
Shopify Plus reported that demand for 3PLs is set to nearly double to $408 billion in the first half of this decade.
So, what is a 3PL exactly? What role can they play in your business? And, how to do pick the right one to partner with?
(more…)The Best Way to Integrate Magento with Google Analytics
(This article was last published on February 26, 2015. It’s been updated for accuracy and completeness by our friends over at 121eCommerce, a seasoned Magento Professional Partner and web development agency specializing in B2B and B2C eCommerce.)
If you run an eCommerce store, data-driven decisions are the best way to improve conversion rates, bring in more sales, and propel your business to new heights.
But how can you get the data you use to make your decisions?
Unlike the owner of a retailer store, for example, you can’t just watch customers and see where they linger – and the items or sections of your store that they ignore.
So what should you do?
Google Analytics is a great place to start. It gives you the tools you need to analyze how your site traffic behaves. And, it’s FREE! As a result, it has become the de facto web analytics platform.
And if you use Magento for your eCommerce store, you should definitely use Google Analytics – it’s easy to integrate, offers excellent features, and is totally free.
In this updated guide we’ll take a look at why Google Analytics is such a great tool for eCommerce entrepreneurs and how to integrate it into your Magento storefront.
(more…)Cloud Vs SaaS: What’s the Difference?
(This post was last published on February 6th, 2018. It has been updated for accuracy and completeness.)
Cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) are two terms you see all the time now. When evaluating different technology options to run your business, you’ll see descriptions like cloud-based, hosted, SaaS, IaaS, or PaaS.
It’s important to understand these terms because their differences affect how you interact with the different technology you use every day.
So, what do these different terms actually mean?
(more…)Vendor-Managed Inventory Benefits & Advantages
(This article was last published on July 21, 2015. It has been updated for accuracy and completeness.)
While vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is not a new concept, it’s still not widely adopted by merchants. Yet, when executed correctly, a vendor-managed inventory strategy can bring huge benefits to your business (think cost savings and better customer experience).
In this post, learn what exactly VMI is, it’s benefits, and how you can implement a VMI program for any size business.
(more…)10 Advantages of B2B eCommerce Selling
(This post was last published on January 1, 2018. We’ve updated it for accuracy and completeness.)
Online shopping is disrupting traditional B2B selling. Digital-savvy buyers want the convenience, speed, accuracy, and personalization that eCommerce stores, mobile apps, and B2B marketplaces like Amazon Business offer.
In fact, 68% of B2B buyers prefer to do business online versus with a salesperson.
Leading B2B merchants are tackling eCommerce head-on, realizing that it’s essential for growing revenue and driving new customer acquisitions. Otherwise, you risk getting left behind by the competition.
As the B2B industry undergoes a digital transformation, look at the top 10 advantages of eCommerce.
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