Building an online shop without deep IT knowledge
eCommerce has helped many companies achieve strong growth in recent years and has opened up entirely new business areas. Compared to the global market, online retail in Switzerland is experiencing continuous strong growth. An online store can also be a worthwhile investment for small and medium-sized businesses. For example, many local companies can expand their catchment area and operate throughout Switzerland through online stores.
SMEs also gain market share
Using the internet as a communication and commerce platform offers advantages that are difficult to achieve by other means. In particular, the significant expansion of the target market at low cost. This works equally well in B2C and B2B businesses. Companies also search for their service providers and suppliers online or compare prices there.
But it’s not just large companies like Amazon or Zalando that benefit from online commerce. Small businesses that don’t exclusively sell via e-commerce can also gain new market share and profit. The increasing need to tap into new sales markets and the growing relevance of online commerce are enabling many SMEs to enter e-commerce. A considered entry that weighs up risks and, if necessary, creates new sales and shipping structures is definitely worthwhile.
Why have your own online shop?
This is a legitimate question given the numerous marketplaces available online. Amazon and eBay, for example, offer platforms for online sales. This can be a good starting point. It allows you to take advantage of the high number of visitors the platforms generate without investing a lot of money yourself.
There’s a problem, though: commissions are typically between 5-20%, depending on the product. This adds up very quickly. Furthermore, you usually don’t have access to customer data and therefore can’t send advertising.
Having your own online store frees you from these high fees. Instead, you only incur administrative costs and fees for third-party payment providers (e.g., credit card or PayPal). In the long run, it’s definitely cheaper. In the long run, having your own website with an online store is by far the best way to build your own brand and gain loyal customers.
Checklist for the requirements of your shop system
This is a fundamental decision. How much time and resources are you willing to invest in the project of “creating an online shop“? Anyone who wants to set up a shop quickly, easily, and without IT knowledge should study this table carefully. We divide the providers into three categories:
There are big differences here:
A simple shop, like the one from MyCOMMERCE, can be set up in a very short time. Any experienced internet user can navigate the interface within a few hours. A weekend is often enough to put a functioning online shop online.
Mid-range shop systems offer more detailed features, require much more training time, and a higher budget. These systems are good for experienced users because technical knowledge is required.
Implementing a highly complex online shop with WooCommerce, PrestaShop, or especially Magento is a completely different project. For a beginner without technical knowledge, it’s almost impossible to do alone, as you have to install and configure these systems yourself. You also need your own web space. This isn’t necessary with simple and mid-range systems, as they run in the provider’s cloud. The project duration can vary greatly depending on the IT service provider you hire and how customized the design and programming needs to be.
Build an online shop – Easier with a simple modular system
The main advantage of a simple online shop with a modular system, such as MyCOMMERCE, is the quick start, as installation and many configuration steps are eliminated or simplified. In the simplest case, the shop operator selects one of the suggested layouts, enters some essential information, such as the shop name, tax information, contact information, and terms and conditions, maintains their products, and otherwise relies on the shop solution. Hosting costs are usually included in the fees.
Another advantage of a modular system is the shop’s flexibility, which can be expanded as the retailer and their success grows. Modular systems often work with product versions: Starter, Standard, and Professional. Depending on the version, there are more features available or you can personalize and customize more in-depth areas of the shop. This has the advantage that a beginner isn’t overwhelmed with many complicated settings, and an experienced retailer can consciously focus on the desired details.
You can find more information about creating an online shop here.
Have we piqued your interest in creating your own online shop? Here you’ll find more useful information:
