Highlights of e-commerce or why is online shopping better?
- Webshop advantages at a glance
- Disadvantages of online shopping
- Reasons for choosing our full-service online store agency
In today's fast-paced life, people have less and less time for themselves or have become lazy. There is not enough time to go to the department store or visit a restaurant. And what's the point? Nowadays it's no longer necessary, because you can order everything from the comfort of your couch at home. It's very practical to shop online. You don't have to exert yourself during a thunderstorm or in the heat. A lot has changed since the development of online stores. The customer has become a full-fledged king, to whom others bring everything they need. For their part, store operators offer the highest quality products and the best conditions.
Webshop advantages at a glance
E-commerce is no longer just a trend, but an indispensable part of our lives. Both retailers and large companies offer their products and services online, which leads to a broadening of the customer base and an increase in sales. This allows B2B and B2C companies to present their brand worldwide and become competitive, and customers also have many advantages when shopping online. Thanks to the general accessibility of the required information, various payment and shipping methods, they can easily satisfy their own wishes and needs. In our article we describe online store advantages from the customer's and seller's point of view. We also compare the strong points of online stores and physical stores.
Advantages of online trading compared to retail stores
When comparing the two forms of retail, e-commerce naturally wins. It is developing dramatically and continues to grow, eclipsing traditional bricks-and-mortar retail. The most important advantages of e-commerce include
- It is easy and simple to make purchases on the Internet.
- You can choose from a wide variety of branded products, compare prices immediately, read product information and customer reviews.
- You can save a lot of time by buying goods online.
- Online shopping offers a particular advantage for people with physical disabilities or in times of crisis and pandemic (as was the case during the coronavirus crisis).
To avoid losing customers in the physical store, the owners are rethinking their own business models. They are looking for new, innovative concepts, offering the premises as showrooms where products can be presented online and then purchased. Some store owners still combine both forms of retail. They sell products both in the local store and online. Read on to find out why online retail is so advantageous.
Rapid development and successful growth
As e-commerce is preferred nowadays, it must always keep pace with digitalization and adapt to changing market conditions. Professional help is provided by an agency for online stores, which small and medium-sized retailers as well as large companies can turn to. It then succeeds in meeting the increasing challenges.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the trend towards online retail has spread dramatically. After rapid growth rates of 14%, development has slowed down since 2022. E-commerce has really boosted the retail sector and it is now difficult to raise the bar any higher. Online sales normalized in 2023. However, the benefits of online shopping for customers cannot be underestimated and it is therefore predicted that the market share of e-commerce will reach 30% by 2025.
No limits for the business
With the local store, sellers are not able to cover as large a customer base as with online shopping. Even if there are several branches in different locations, there is a significant difference. With location-independent retail, potential customers can be found nationwide or even worldwide. That is why this trend is so popular and why retailers and entire companies are increasingly interested in Webshop Preise.
Customer acquisition via social media
Social media plays a major role in the lives of modern people. It's where they meet, chat, discover new and interesting opportunities for education, cooking and, of course, shopping. Those who present their own business via social media generally attract even more attention and enjoy popularity. In this way, prospective customers quickly and easily become real buyers through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp.
Lower personnel costs
This is a major advantage for an online store, as you don't need staff to advise and serve customers like in a local store. Products are available around the clock in an online store. However, this does not mean that you can do completely without employees. Someone should be responsible for development, data maintenance, online marketing and logistics. However, the costs are lower and sales can be much higher.
Comprehensive information through high-quality content
In the online store, customers receive complete information about the product on offer. If any questions arise, they can ask the provider further questions. The FAQ section provides answers to the most common questions. It is advisable to think about creating blog posts. This is an additional source of information for customers, where, for example, the functions or features of a product are clearly described.
Variety of secure online transactions
It is possible to extend the functionality of your online store with secure, innovative solutions. Various payment methods (PayPal, Klarna, Google Pay) offer a perfect opportunity to improve usability. They allow you to complete the purchase with just a few clicks and create a sense of security for the customer thanks to buyer protection.
Upselling and additional offers
Upselling can be used to encourage customers to purchase services or premium products in addition to those they have already paid for or subscribed to. This strategy is aimed at generating additional revenue from existing customers. This is another advantage for online stores, as you don't have to spend too many resources on acquiring new customers.
Own online store instead of a digital marketplace
Many companies are starting out on online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. This enables quick and easy market entry. Sellers immediately gain open access to a huge customer base and professional marketing support, saving costs. It requires almost no programming effort. But over time, if you want to grow, creating your own webshop is an advantage. This gives you direct contact with customers and complete control over the customer's shopping experience.
Cost savings through lower fees
Online marketplaces usually charge fees for using the platform. They vary depending on the marketplace (10-15%) and affect the seller's profit margins. Store operators also have to pay transaction and hosting fees, but the cumulative margin is higher.
Find out more about the topic Shopware Kosten and discover the advantages of an online store based on Shopware.
Strengthening customer loyalty and brand awareness
When you buy from Amazon or eBay, the name of the retailer is often unknown. The positive memory is then attributed to the platform. When you buy from an independent store, you know exactly who to give credit to. It's no wonder that people buy there again next time, and retargeting ads are a good solution for building customer loyalty.
Design individualization
The online marketplaces offer only limited options for customizing the business appearance of the corporate identity. The product pages can only be customized in a rudimentary way and there are strict layout restrictions. When designing their own webshops, operators can give free rein to their own imagination, which is a huge advantage.
No marketplace conditions
As the operator of your own online store, you bear full responsibility for this and control everything yourself. There are considerable restrictions on online marketplaces for the smallest breaches of guidelines. This means that partial sales can be stopped for some time. In order not to be annoyed by this, it is advisable to open your own online store.
Disadvantages of online shopping
Although the purchasing power of e-commerce is increasing, it has several advantages as well as disadvantages. Anyone entering this world has to put in hard work, technical understanding and potential risks. There is a risk of fraud or identity theft. That is why it is important to use secure payment methods. You need to read customer reviews in advance to learn about the merchant and be especially wary of phishing emails. They appear to come from reputable companies, but can steal personal data. It is therefore strictly forbidden to click on links in e-mails or enter personal information on unknown and insecure websites.
No contact with the product
This is one of the main disadvantages, because you cannot observe, touch and thoroughly examine the product. Salespeople must use high-quality photos and provide detailed information so that customers can learn as much as possible. You can use the KennerPIM software developed by us for this purpose.
Doubts
If there is no trust in the online store, the customer will not trust you to make a purchase. You have to present the company and your own brand and constantly work on your image. The option to pay on receipt inspires more trust in the customer. But then it is a risk for the store operator. You can also create a customer reviews section in the online store where customers can describe their own experiences.
Exchange of goods and returns
It also happens that customers want to exchange the ordered goods or even do without them. This is not good for the entrepreneur, as they lose both time and money. You have to process customer orders as efficiently as possible, listen to their wishes and offer high-quality goods in order to avoid such situations.
Not for all sectors
Unfortunately, not all entrepreneurs can assess the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping. Some goods, such as food, have to be bought fresh. This is impossible when shopping online, as it takes time for delivery. Some medicines need to be stored at a special temperature, which is not maintained during shipping. This is why online sales are not desirable.
Question of time
When you buy online, you cannot use the product immediately. It takes time for the order to be processed and dispatched. Sometimes delivery times cannot be met. The customer then has to wait until they receive their goods. It is better to buy goods that are needed immediately in a stationary store.
Problems with communication
Some customers particularly value the contact with the salesperson and the lively advice, which is not possible when shopping online. That's why they don't have the confidence to place an order.
Reasons for choosing our full-service online store agency
If you decide to trade online, you need to find a competent service provider. You need to familiarize yourself with the range of services and reviews. Kenner Soft Service GmbH is not only an excellent IT specialist, but also your trustworthy partner offering the high-quality service and favorable prices. The strengths of our agency include:
Sound professional experience
KennerSoft developers have completed projects of varying complexity over the 10 years of our agency's activity. We know what is better for your store and offer the best possible solutions.
Comprehensive know-how
As specialists in software development, we are very familiar with innovative technologies and can equip your online store with them. As a certified Magento, Shopware and Oxid eShop agency, we can help you create online stores based on these e-commerce platforms.
Individual approach
We respond to the needs of our customers and offer complete technical support. Our solutions meet your requirements and expectations.
High quality standard
KennerSoft guarantees the highest performance quality. Because we ensure security, efficiency, reliability and accuracy, you will discover all the advantages of online trading with us.
