10 Key Features to Look for in an E-commerce Development Company

Living in a digital age, online shopping is only norm. In fact, for most consumers, it's the primary way to buy things. No wonder e-commerce businesses are on an increasing spree. Reportedly, the global e-commerce market is poised to reach $ 4.32 trillion in 2025. In time, it's only going to expand in leaps and bounds. 

Look around, how every business today has an online presence. But having a website isn't enough. You will need to incorporate the right features to make it count for today's digitally-first customers. That's where an e-commerce development company comes in. With the right expertise and strategic approach, e-commerce development experts can help you even out from the competition. 

But the question is, how do you select the best e-commerce development company? There's a thin line between "just okay" companies and "functional solution providers." Once you figure that out, the rest is easy. In this article, we take a closer look at 10 key features that you should look for in an e-commerce development company.

1. Mobile-First Design and Responsiveness

Mobile shopping is going great guns. And by all means, things will stay in vogue for long. From easy-to-tap buttons to thumb-friendly navigation, little details matter the most. Besides user convenience, search engines prefer mobile-first e-commerce websites for higher rankings. That's why it's necessary to partner with a professional agency that prioritizes mobile-first design so your website looks flawless across small screens.

2. Fast Page Loading Time

Patience is a great virtue, but not when one's shopping online. Imagine getting stuck on the payment gateway page or when adding items to your cart takes ages. That's quite a bummer for consumers as they are more likely to abandon such sites.

The agency can keep the page loading time low by carefully optimizing the site. From compressing images to fast hosting, the goal is to make every page pop up within the blink of an eye. Search engines also reward fast-loading sites by placing them higher across SERPS.

3. Seamless Payment Gateway Integration

Most e-retailers experience a high bounce rate from their "Add to Cart" page. A functional agency pays attention to seamless payment gateway integration. They also include multiple payment options to match customer preferences.

4. Keeping it Customizable and Scalable

You might be running a small online business today, but there’s no stopping you from growing tomorrow.  So, you will need to keep things scalable with functional e-commerce development. That way, you will be in a commendable position in situations like peak holiday season traffic or expanding into newer markets.

Also, keeping things customized with clean and modular code will help you integrate new features without fuss. In short, partnering with a reliable e-commerce development company will future-proof your online store like nothing else. Always discuss your custom needs before hiring a company.

5. Advanced Reporting and Analytics

When it comes to online businesses, data is everything. Every single click, every product view, and every purchase matters. Such data helps an e-commerce business improve and move through the spaces. E-commerce analytics is a must-have feature to keep track of vital data like total visitors, average order value, conversion and cart abandonment rate, and more.

A functional development agency allows you to take the lead with smart analytics integration. That way, you will be one step closer to boosting sales figures and improving the customer satisfaction ratio. After all, witnessing your progress graphs rising through the roof is oddly satisfying!

6. Personalized Shopping 

Have you ever noticed how online stores rightly read your mind for the kind of products that you've been browsing? That's the magic of personalization. For every successful e-commerce store, personalization is a must-have feature.

Industry reports indicate that over 80% of consumers are more likely to buy from an online store that promises personalized experiences, including product/service recommendations like "You might also like…" and custom homepages to return quickly to where you left off. Other options include follow-up emails based on a customer's buying history and preferences.

To incorporate personalization, e-commerce development companies should be capable of running the right algorithm. These are mostly powered by machine learning and AI, so customers realize they are seen and understood. That way, they are more likely to hit the "Buy Now" button.

7. Support for Multi-Currency and Multi-Language

One of the most potent reasons e-commerce became successful is its omnipresence. No matter where you are or what you do, you can get a product delivered to your doorstep in just a few clicks. So, when choosing an e-commerce agency for your business, ensure they have the right experts to incorporate support for multiple languages and multiple currencies.

Imagine how tempted one might feel when they see the “Buy Now” button in their native language.  Auto-translation of dates, figures, and forms in a preferred language to show prices and conversion rates, and accepting various payment modes are a much-needed feature for any international seller. More than a technical standpoint, such features are comfort inclusions for your target customers, increasing the chance of conversion.

8. Third-Party Integrations 

It's only normal for e-commerce stores to work with a variety of tools and services. It usually calls for several third-party integrations, from CRM to inventory management and social media to delivery partners. So, you will need to find a reliable e-commerce development company adept at integrating seamless third-party tools. In turn, it will make your brand omnichannel-ready and save ample time. Customers who want to return or exchange a product can track the status without switching between different platforms.

9. Inventory Management & Order Fulfillment 

Not getting the right size for a T-shirt? Maybe you got the size right, but a different color? Can't be sure whether the store has more "in stock" items matching your needs? If these scenarios are relatable, you already know how important inventory management is. 

In numerous cases, online stores have oversold a particular item only to realize it's back-ordered. You don't want to go there! That's why you need a seasoned e-commerce development agency to design the perfect inventory management solution with a seamless order-tracking feature. That way, you can let your customers know whether a particular product is "out of stock" and even send real-time alerts when the product is back in stock.In turn, it will help your brand build credibility and gain customer trust. In no time, you’ll create a band of loyalists. Besides, when a hot-selling item goes out of stock, the listing is automatically hidden.

10. Safety First 

With data breaches and cyber threats becoming common, it only makes sense to up the security standards. So, no matter how talented an e-commerce development company is, ensure they are well-versed in embracing the industry's best security standards like SSL encryption and PCI DSS.

Remember, one single breach can wreak havoc with your brand reputation. Thus, hiring a professional e-commerce development agency that knows how to implement the right security protocols in place is essential. After all, when shoppers feel safe, they continue to buy with confidence. As an e-commerce brand, it's your job to keep it that way.

Time To Choose the Right E-Commerce Partner for Your Online Store

So, you see how hiring the right e-commerce development company can be tricky for most businesses. But now that you know the must-have features for your e-commerce site, you should be able to zero down on the best e-commerce solutions partner. Happy store building!