5 Must Ask Questions When Deciding on an Ecommerce Provider
Choosing an ecommerce partner can be very complicated business. How can you tell one from another? Everyone seems to say the same thing, and it is hard to figure out what you are getting and not getting. At ShopVisible, we encourage you to do your homework! Our best customers are informed customers. We believe that you should ask all the hard questions. To help you in this process we've created our "Free Ecommerce RFP" for you to use as you do your own diligence. Ask the tough questions, and hold us to the highest standards as you do. We are confident we'll stand out from the crowd.
Is the solution hosted? Is the software scalable, does it offer XML API integrations, and do you have to pay for upgrades and new versions?
The ShopVisible platform is a hosted SaaS (software as a service) solution, meaning clients access the ShopVisible platform via the Web, as opposed installing the software in house. A hosted solution is advantageous because our network infrastructure ensures exceptional site uptime records, fast loading pages, and the scalability to handle a large number of daily orders as well as a sharp surge in orders. In addition, all updates, fixes and platform upgrades are handled by ShopVisible experts and managed in our world-class data centers, eliminating the need for clients to invest in an IT department. We offer a robust API that can plug into almost any third party application. We offer the professional services to do this for you, but will also give you the keys if you want to drive.
What are my design options? (templates vs fully customizable)
ShopVisible provides complex flexibility when it comes to design. You can:
- choose a ShopVisible template
- bring your own design
- custom design your site with a ShopVisible designer
- connect with one of our partner agencies
The experienced designers at ShopVisible have worked with many of our clients in the past to create aesthetically pleasing user-friendly layouts that enhance the overall shopping experience for online shoppers. They have since transformed the most successful layouts into templates. Clients who do not want to customize their site can choose from a variety of pre-designed templates to use as the framework for their website.
What marketplaces do you support?
We’ve got seamless integration with Amazon, eBay, Overstock, Jellyfish and dozens of other marketplaces. Our robust channel integration is highly automated, allowing online merchants to upload their catalog in our system once and push their products out to as many channels as they desire. In addition, ShopVisible has built a revolutionary “complete cycle solution” that allows merchants to receive orders back into our single user-interface called the Site Manager. All channel transactions across the board are efficiently managed through this user-friendly interface. There is no need to manage separate communications, inventory, order reports, or sales statistics – one login and you’re done.
What shipping tools will be available for my online store?
Shipping is extremely complex. We offer best in class capabilities. In addition to three types of shipping built-in to our platform—shipping for all major carriers (UPS, USPS, FedEX, and dozens more), freight shipping, and customized shipping just for you—we also provide highly automated technology for clients who use drop-shippers. In addition to our own shipping tools, we are also able to integrate with third party shipping applications such as TrueShip and ShipWorks.
If I should leave what can I take with me?
The website and any custom applications (HTML, CSS, and XML coding) are yours to take with you in the rare chance you leave ShopVisible. Since the company’s inception and even throughout uncertain economic times, ShopVisible has maintained a very high retention rate of 96+ %! We’re confident that you will find our platform flexible, easy to manage, and effective in growing your business.