How MIS improves operational efficiency of online merchants

How MIS improves operational efficiency of online merchants

More often than not, online merchants face the issue of data accuracy and reliability. As enterprises of the information age, every business owner needs a robust information system, to manage the overwhelming amount of data and reduce human error. A Management Information System goes a long way in adding value to business functions and ensuring operational efficiency.

Here are some of the key contributions of MIS to your online business.

Helps in organizing data

With the high volume of data, information, and statistics your site collects every day, you need them to be organized for better analysis and make intelligent decisions. By sorting irrelevant data and organizing the necessary ones, it helps increase employee productivity and keeps the business processes seamless.

Addresses crisis situations

Imagine a system which can analyze stocks and predict future market performances. If you are in the stock business or dealing with the finance market online, then an MIS could be your valuable business tool. With the right MIS, you can have better foresight and avoid any probable crisis.

Helps store information

In a time of data overload, your business needs a mechanism that will help you archive vital data for future reference. MIS does just that. Such systems stores all necessary information in a user-friendly, easily retrievable database which helps you keep your data safe for a long time.

Encourages you to make decisions easily

Your business strategies and decision making are completely dependent on the kind of ‘information’ you have from your past performances, current market scenario, future predictions, and so on. With a comprehensive information system, you can have the entire picture laid out in front of you and be well-equipped for more strategic decisions.

Helps you get a better insight into your business

Markets are changing, leading every enterprise to stay ahead of their game. With an intelligent information system at your disposal, you can get better perspectives to the future of your business, your competition, and challenges.

As businesses become more data and information driven, the need for a robust system increases. MIS enables management of every piece of such dynamic information with minimal human intervention.

5 things to remember before you get your business on marketplaces

5 things to remember before you get your business on marketplaces

The most logical move for any retailer today is to explore online marketplaces. Whether you are a small start-up trying to establish your business, or a seasoned market player eyeing to expand, a marketplace gives you exposure to an infinite market and a whole lot of business benefits that can come handy in the long run. However, every new move takes a lot of preparation and sound decision making. Before you select and plan to foray into a marketplace, there are a few things to consider.

Here are the most important of them:

Traffic volume of the marketplace

How much traffic does your target market yield on a daily basis? Does the number suit your objectives? Although the site will have an existing customer base, it is still essential to know how big it is. More so for niche products/segments where the relative marketplace might not have a high traffic volume.

Marketplace fee structure

Of course, there are fees and associated costs involved when you enter a marketplace. Confirm if they charge a sales commission, listing fee, branding cost, or do they have a customized fee structure. Also, confirm if the shipping and handling charges will be borne by them or you.

Site Policies

Needless to say, you will have a few rules to follow on a marketplace than on your own e-commerce site. So ask about branding and marketing possibilities, setting up your own store, and most importantly, return policies.

Customer base

One of the biggest benefits of a marketplace is the readymade customer base they have. But that can never guarantee any sales figure for you. As a seller, you can make the most of that existing set of customers and use your own strategy to drive sales. There are various ways you can do this, including optimizing your product listing, increasing the visibility of your items, and product bundling.

Seller support

Since you are new to the marketplace you will need a lot of technical and operational support. Ask if you will be assigned an account manager or DIY tools and tutorials to guide you through the establishment process and even after. For more efficient operations, seek the support and advice of an online marketplace expert.

5 Strategies you should consider while running ads on marketplaces

5 Strategies you should consider while running ads on marketplaces

For every online retailer today, being present on leading marketplaces is a given. While the marketplace does their bit to boost sales for their sellers, the retailers also need to constantly upgrade their marketing techniques and strategies to be ahead of their competition. And one such activity to be seriously considered is advertising on marketplaces. Read on to discover a few techniques of marketplace management which can yield better results from your marketplace advertising.

Leverage the buyer’s intent

Most often than not, retailers place their product ads as a means of ‘awareness’. Shoppers on marketplaces are there with the intention of buying. While awareness is required but that could be saved for social ads or other newsfeed ads. Marketplace ads need to be more specific and ‘intent-driven’.

Make the most of keywords

Most leading marketplaces like Amazon have their own keyword tool. Like regular search engine optimization, this tool will also help you identify the right set of keywords you can use in your brand messaging and target users based on what they are looking for the most. This will not only make your ads more efficient but also help you drive better results.

Be clear about pricing

Your pricing strategy should be consistent and reflect on your advertising message. Whether you are offering a discount on your markup or bundling up products and offering a holistic price, your ads should be transparent and linear.

Optimize your targets

You can use both manual targeting and automatic targeting while developing your campaign. You can create a run a keyword campaign using manual targeting for better control and combine it with automatic targeting.

Content around context

Your ad copy needs to be in sync with the trend. For instance, a festive season and cannot be generic about the brand or a special feature. Rather, it should highlight the mood of the season and offer a purpose for the shopper for the particular time period.

Announce your offer

And we mean discounts. But discounts and freebies do the trick when they are pronounced out. Action words like ‘lightning deals’, ‘last X items remaining’, ‘going in X hours’  or bold, striking colors and images can make your offer look like one no shopper can refuse.

Indian Retail: Embracing a Marketplace Mindset

Indian Retail: Embracing a Marketplace Mindset

The Indian retail industry has emerged as one of the most dynamic, fast-paced, and profitable market segments. Global retail giants consider this market to be the 5th largest investment destination in the world owing to its expected growth of nearly USD 3600 billion by 2020. Riding on factors like the changing economic landscape and easy credit options, coupled with rising income of consumers, the retail space is enjoying a consistent growth, contributing to almost 10% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Furthermore, the increased digital connectivity of the dominating millennial population exposes them to global trends, creating an opportunity for retailers to meet the ever-changing lifestyle demands of the modern Indian consumer. Of all emerging trends in the retail industry, the rise of online retail has taken the industry by storm, especially in recent years. Driven by domestic startups and robust investments from international investors and ever-increasing internet users, India is expected to become one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world. Retailers with physical stores are exploring online retail to be at par with the changing trend and address competition from the newer players. In short, e-commerce has brought about a revolution in the Indian retail space.

But how does one successfully thrive amidst this ever-expanding and disruptive market? As the need of the modern consumer surpasses tangible products and extends to best user experience or online journey, their changing behaviors call for a smarter approach to retail. That is where the need for a smart marketplace strategy comes into play. By leveraging all digital channels and diverting resources towards online store management, retailers are now being able to target more customers across smaller cities and towns, where earlier it was impossible to reach physically. Furthermore, with marketplace management services offered by the marketplace giants, retailers today are not afraid to embrace new trends and explore the new domains with open arms.

And thus from the traditional brick-and-mortar stores to the vast, virtual marketplace, the Indian retail industry has come a long way, letting every marketer and retailer enjoy their very own piece of the pie!

Festive Season hacks to nail online Marketplace management

Festive Season hacks to nail online Marketplace management

For every Indian, this is the most awaited time of the year, when everyone strives to give and get the best things money can buy. Festive season shopping has evolved from store hopping to marketplace shopping, with grander shopping experiences and options. If you are a retailer or a marketer, you would want to invest all your time and efforts in your E-commerce marketplace management and make the most of this festive season:

Here are a few hacks to guide you through:

Personalize
The best way to reach out to different regions and cultural communities is to personalize your message/product for each of them. For example, for buyers in Chennai, it would have more impact if you use a regional connotation in your brand messaging, that your local shoppers can relate to.

Use the impact of scarcity
Psychologically, customers are always driven by a sense of urgency. For example, ‘Last 3 hours of sale’ or ‘Last 5 items remaining’ (for vanity products) have more chances of conversions than running a ’30-day festive sale’. Use the effect of scarcity to push customers through the marketplace funnel.

Avail the benefit of fulfillment services
With an increased demand for products, consider opting for fulfillment services offered by marketplaces, like FBA by Amazon. This helps you with on-demand warehousing, dedicated logistics, sales support etc. You can also look for a marketplace management service to manage operations, while you can focus more on the strategic aspects of your E-commerce business.

Create product mixes
Most shoppers look for a mix of products to gift this season. You can promote product combos based on what the marketplace is promoting or create your own combinations, based on your sales numbers. This is also a good time to add giveaways with slow-selling products and clear up the inventory.

Automate your processes
When you are running around to fulfill increased orders and deliveries, you cannot slack at any point in the entire process. To make it easier and more efficient, implement an automated inventory management system which will monitor inventory, delivery, returns etc.

With these smart hacks, you can get the maximum value in terms of sales, visibility, and traffic, and turn the festive season into the most successful time for your retail business.

Is it the right time to get your business on the marketplace?

Is it the right time to get your business on the marketplace

The constant endeavor of any retailer is to grow the business and take it to the next level. Whether you the owner of a brick-and-mortar store or a web store, your next move is obviously going to be on the marketplace. But are you ready to join the big, wide world of online marketplaces yet?
Here are a few indicators that could help make a better decision:

Your current set up is asking for more investment
Although it is easy to set up the store in the first place, it takes more investment of time, effort, and resources to take it to the next level and make it exceptional.

Managing your marketing activities is becoming cumbersome
No matter how much you push your marketing activities, there’s only so much you can do single-handedly. Marketplace management includes automatic marketing strategy that helps each retailer to be on the promotional bandwagon, and boost your own marketing efforts.

Your sales strategy feel outdated
The E-commerce industry is evolving every day, with new features and advanced processes, which can enhance your brand visibility online. Marketplaces make the most of these and build a robust strategy with live chat services, product videos, user-generated content, and so on, to keep themselves updated with the customers.

You realize the need for smarter payment methods
If you want to expand your customer base, you need to have universal payment methods that work everywhere. If you feel that the payment process is restricting you from expanding your market, then online marketplaces can help you reach out to more customers with their multiple, easy payment options, and suited to different regions.

You are not too savvy to handle tech operations
When it’s your own store, you have to take care of every operational aspect, including tech support. Even if you hire a resource, you still need to be well-aware of basic troubleshooting etc. With marketplaces, they have dedicated teams to handle the complexities of tech operations, so, even the non-technical retailers can operate without much hassle.

For more efficient operations, you can also seek the support of marketplace management services and enjoy your own piece of the E-commerce pie!

5 Actionable ways to make the most of Marketplaces

5 Actionable ways to make the most of Marketplaces

Online marketplaces have grown to become one of the major trends in retail business. However, with more aware and knowledgeable customers, marketers need to be more strategic in their approach to reap the benefits of marketplaces.

Here are 5 simple, yet actionable ways to optimize your existence and make the most of marketplaces.

Consider product upsell

By bundling similar or related items, or offering add-ons at the point of purchase, can grab the attention of the buyer. For an effective product upsell, it is essential for retailers to have a diverse and exhaustive product offering, for the customers to choose, thus increasing sales opportunities.

Integrate Instagram

In the current digital landscape, Instagram, with its extensive user base, has grown to be an effective promotional platform for retailers. By using high-quality images of your offerings and related photos, you can target your audience right where they are. Also, by associating with such Instagram influencers, retailers can leverage their social followers and expand the customer base. This also develops a better connection between the customers and the brand.

Reduce ‘abandon carts’

This is one of the most prevalent problems for online retailers. Despite the most user-friendly and interactive site, attractive product listings, and competitive pricing, retailers often face unfinished transactions. That is why is important to revamp the point of purchase and increase conversions. For instance, integrating a live chat at the checkout stage can create interactivity and convince the buyer to complete the transaction. Similarly, offering a time-based discount at the POP can also help reduce abandoned carts.

Invest in an Email campaign

Emails might be a traditional marketing tool, but it is still relevant for the millennial shopper. One of the most budget-friendly marketing techniques, emails can be an effective email marketing campaign can result in conversions. Depending on your product and expected outcome, emails can range from drip mailers, image-based, or text mailers.

Use the ‘Wishlist’ Reminder

Most often than not, customers would indulge in window-shopping and not end up purchasing, but their product preferences are saved in the ‘wishlist’ for later use. This buying behavior makes for an excellent opportunity for retailers to reach out to their customers using a wishlist reminder through a text message, email or remarketing campaigns, by displaying products from the wishlist.