New technologies are changing consumer habits, who are increasingly using mobile phones or computers to make all kinds of purchases and sales. Therefore, companies, regardless of their size, are focusing great efforts on the so-called "E-Commerce" .
E-commerce, also known as electronic commerce, is the purchase and sale of goods, products or services over the Internet. The data show that we are facing a movement that is revolutionizing the way we interact as consumers with the commerce sector .
Companies take advantage of the possibilities of e-commerce to achieve the following advantages:
Open every day of the year: consumers do not need to leave home to make their purchases and can do so at any time.
Cost savings: costs for catalogues, postal mail and maintenance of a physical location are eliminated.
Increase sales: Customers around the world compare prices and product details before making a purchase. They feel in control.
What criteria should an e-commerce expert follow to carry out his/her work well?
Competition in e-commerce is fierce, so experts must opt for the best marketing strategy to gain ground on their rivals. We have spoken to two specialists in the field to explain what the work of professionals who exploit the benefits of the Internet to get the most out of a business is like.
José Carlos Cortizo, co-founder and marketing director of BrainSINSJose Carlos Cortizo
An e-commerce project is a business project (sales), where marketing is key to the sale and technology is the support that makes it a reality. In order to be able to carry out their work well, an e-commerce professional must meet at least a series of requirements:
1) Be properly trained. E-commerce is a complex business that requires knowledge of both the digital world and retail , as well as logistics, technology, payments, etc. A good e-commerce professional must have at least high-level skills in all areas involved in the proper functioning of an online store and more in-depth knowledge in some of the main areas.
2) Stay up to date. E-commerce, like any other digital trend, is evolving and changing all the time. You have to be informed, up to date, know the trends, the new best practices, know what your competition is doing, etc.
3) Have a great team , outsourcing non-critical parts to experts in each of the specialties. Always rely on the best, it is cheaper in the long run and you "save" a lot of headaches.
Every expert must take into account the profitability of each of their lawyer email address list actions. The long-term profitability of an e-commerce depends on many factors: the cost of visits, the volume of visits, the conversion offered, the average order, the profitability of the products sold and customer loyalty. In each of these factors, many different variables come into play; for example, to optimize conversion, we must consider the usability of the website, as well as its compatibility, accessibility and, of course, its persuasiveness, a factor that in turn depends on many others, mainly related to marketing.
In any case, e-commerce is just another channel, with all the advantages it has in opening up new business opportunities, both in terms of market development and market penetration; but it is by no means a lifeline or an urgent economic measure to lift failing companies. There is no secret formula and no one has magic wands. We prefer to believe that they exist because they would make life easier, but that is not the case. I prefer examples of success that include hard work and profits after years of investment. I do not like cases of lightning success with hardly any investment or effort: unfortunately, they are the ones that triumph in the media.
Types of e-commerce
Depending on who is involved in the transactions, there are several types of e-commerce. These are the most well-known:
B2B (Business-to-Business): companies that trade with other companies or organizations.
B2C (Business-to-Consumer): companies that do business with consumers. This is the most common.
B2E (Business-to-Employee): companies that do business with their employees.
C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer): commerce between individuals, that is, consumers who buy and sell to other users.
G2C (Government-to-Consumer): institutions that allow their citizens to carry out procedures online.
If you are interested in the world of e-commerce as a professional , whether in the retail sector or to specialise in e-commerce services, we recommend that you train appropriately. The Ministry of Labour, through the state public employment service, provides various types of courses adapted to the needs of workers, self-employed and unemployed people. Find out on our website about the possibilities it offers you in the field of e-commerce, always with free courses that are compatible with your job and activities.