The best eCommerce platform for small businesses

If you’re a smaller or medium size business setting up an online store or expanding your current business, an eCommerce platform will help you customise your site and manage everything effectively, in one place.

But it can be difficult to know which is the best eCommerce platform for your small business, and which features you should be looking for.

What is an eCommerce platform?

An eCommerce platform is an application that allows businesses to sell their products and services online. In addition to this, eCommerce platforms also help the business to manage operations such as the website, marketing, and sales.

What are the best eCommerce platforms for smaller businesses?

There is a wide range of popular eCommerce platforms out there, all offering a wide variety of features. These platforms are used by businesses of all sizes, including Enterprise operations. So it’s important to consider what you’ll need from your eCommerce platform, both now and in the future, and look for features that will support your goals and your growth.

The best B2B UK eCommerce platform for your business is one that supports your existing systems and processes to deliver the outcomes and objectives you have set for your business, whether that’s boosting revenue, increasing sales, improving the customer experience, or entering a new market.

What features do the best eCommerce platforms offer?

Here are the key features to look out for in the best eCommerce platforms small, medium and enterprise.

ERP integration

It’s important that you can integrate your eCommerce solution into your existing ERP. Integrating your eCommerce platform with your accounting, warehouse management, and order processing systems will increase efficiency and reduce the need for repetitive manual inputs.

For example, RH Amar, the UK’s leading importer and exporter of premium grocery brands, recently implemented the TrueCommerce’s UK B2B eCommerce platform with SageX3 integration. This enabled them to synchronise their ERP and B2B solutions within one, easy to use solution, eliminating paper-based admin tasks so the company could reinvest time and resources into other areas of the business.

Stock management

Effective inventory management is essential for all UK eCommerce businesses, as poor inventory management can lead to costly delays and mistakes. Every eCommerce business faces challenges with inventory management, such as over or understocking resulting from lack of visibility. These issues are particularly common amongst businesses that manage their stock manually.

So look for an eCommerce platform that will allow you to track and manage stock automatically, particularly if you’re selling products through multiple channels.

For example, Poole Lighting’s TrueCommerce UK B2B eCommerce solution is helping them display more accurate stock availability online, while the tracking module allows customers to see where their orders are, and when they are likely to be delivered. This helps businesses that may already be at capacity become more efficient. Read the case study to find out more.

EDI

An end-to-end EDI solution offers an array of benefits for small businesses, from time and cost savings, to increased accuracy and productivity through automation. In addition to this, many large retailers mandate the use of EDI trading to their suppliers. So, if you want to have the best possible chance of winning new, valuable contracts, having an EDI solution in place can give you an advantage.

Find out more

TrueCommerce offers an industry-leading solution to integrate your accounting business or ERP system with the most popular eCommerce platforms for businesses of all sizes. So you can process online orders in minutes, and ensure your pricing and inventory availability are always up to date for your buyers.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help accelerate your B2B eCommerce strategy.

About the Author: Ben Taylor has held a variety of roles on both the vendor and client side under the banner of digital commerce / digital enablement for more than a decade. Currently, he shares his expertise with customers and prospects as Director of Pre Sales, Europe. Ben has deep experience across the procurement, sale and implementation of EDI, master data management, B2B ecommerce and Omnichannel trading solutions, including a wide range of use cases. He’s passionate about identifying and installing digital solutions that deliver tangible commercial benefits and oil the cogs of commerce.