e-Commerce website development in Singapore is like a big thing. Everyone seems to be talking about it. With the current Covid-19 situation here in Singapore forcing almost everyone to stay home, this whole e-Commerce website development in Singapore seems like a necessity for business to survive.
But is it really something you need? That highly depends on the nature of your business…
What is e-Commerce?
e-Commerce is the action of electronically buying or selling products online or over the Internet. In other words, you could say that the standard definition of e-Commerce is a commercial transaction which happens over the internet.
e-Commerce can be a substitute for traditional brick-and-mortar stores, although some businesses choose to maintain both avenues. In today’s context, e-Commerce activities can be considered highly relevant due to the global Covid-19 pandemic because there’s a need for people to stay home and are thus unable to do purchases from brick-and-mortar stores.
Some classic examples of popular online stores that have e-Commerce solutions are Amazon, eBay and Shopify. In Singapore, the more familiar and popular names are Lazada, Shopee, Qoo10, Taobao as well as ezbuy.
There are mainly three types of e-Commerce: Business-to-Business (websites such as Shopify), Business-to-Consumer (websites such as Amazon and Shopee), and Consumer-to-Consumer (websites such as eBay).
What are e-Commerce solutions in Singapore then?
e-Commerce solutions in Singapore are the products and services that help a company conduct business electronically. The range of available e-Commerce solutions is vast, including those that allow traditional businesses to design, create, and operate online.
There is no right or wrong way to choose an e-Commerce solution. You have to consider what you need the platform to do for your business and base it on your company’s needs. Here are some pointers to consider before integrating e-Commerce solutions on your website:
• Ability to integrate with your website and social media
• Ease of navigation
• Payment method that you can trust
• Type of products you are selling
• Mobile-friendliness
In addition to this, you should also consider whether you are selling physical products that you will have shipped to customers or digital products that they will download online.
What are the advantages of having e-Commerce solutions in Singapore?
e-Commerce is a fuss-free way of purchasing goods as it can be conducted over computers, tablets, or smartphones, as long as you’re connected to the Internet. Nearly every imaginable product and service is available through e-Commerce transactions, including books, music, fashion, movie tickets, and financial services such as stock investing and online banking.
1. Convenience and more efficient sales
As a result, businesses with e-Commerce solutions can help them establish a wider market presence by providing cheaper and more efficient distribution channels for their products or services. Take local supermarkets like NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage for instance. They have supplemented its brick-and-mortar presence with an online store that allows customers to purchase their groceries in a more convenient and more affordable manner.
On the other hand, we have RedMart, an online grocery store that launched its business with an e-Commerce-based model of online sales and product delivery.
2. Increased selection of products
Another advantage is the ability to carry a wider range of products compared to a brick-and-mortar store. That’s because on an online site, there isn’t limited storage space like what you’d get in a traditional physical store. Thus, you can also choose to offer consumers exclusive inventory that is unavailable elsewhere.
3. Global presence
A website with e-Commerce solutions, has the ability to attract customers from all over the world, not just its home country. Companies are, hence, not restricted by any geographical or physical barriers because customers from all over the world can easily shop from e-Commerce websites.
4. Lowered expenses
As with all websites, an e-Commerce site has a low start-up cost and requires minimal operating costs. Manpower costs, for instance, is minimal once your business goes fully digital. The main bulk of the start-up costs will go to creating a website that has e-Commerce solutions.
5. Personalisation and positive user experience
e-Commerce websites have the ability to create unique user profiles that allow them to personalise the products offered and make suggestions for other products that consumers may find interesting. This helps to improve the user experience by making consumers feel understood on a personal level, which will in turn increase the chances of brand loyalty.
What are the disadvantages of having e-Commerce solutions in Singapore?
Of course, there are several disadvantages you’ll have to take note of when converting your brick-and-mortar store to an online one.
1. Limited customer service
When purchasing tech products such as a laptop or a smartphone, you can get assistance from the staff to demonstrate the product’s capabilities. However, if you purchase these products online, you can only chat online with a staff member, which can leave certain queries left unanswered.
2. Higher chance of uncertainty
This happens when you are shopping for clothes, shoes, etc. As sizing differs from brand to brand, there’s a chance consumers will purchase a product of a wrong size. Hence, if you are in the retail business, having a free refund policy helps in this aspect.
3. Lack of gratification
Unlike purchasing a product from a physical store, where you can instantly receive the products of your choice and feel satisfied about your purchase, delivery time is required when things are purchased online. Thus, big brands like Coupang (the largest online retailer in South Korea) and Amazon work towards same-day delivery to lessen the pain for consumers.
Who can I look for?
There are several promising digital and web development agencies in Singapore that are capable of creating e-Commerce solutions for your website.
One such agency is AKS Tech Pte Ltd. As a Pre-Approved Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) vendor, it offers small businesses at up to 80% funding from Enterprise Singapore to take their businesses online. AKS Tech also offers other business grants for SMEs such as Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) with the availability of RMC-certified consultants.
Other business services AKS Tech offers its clients include web design and development, brands strategy and consultation, videography and photoshoot, application development and social media management. With a strong and experienced team of developers, copywriters, graphic designers and digital marketers, your business will have pertinent cohesion across all channels.
You can drop the guys at AKS Tech an e-mail at info@akstech.com.sg or give them a call at +65 8388 0417 (sales) or +65 8291 8173 (support)
AKS Tech’s office is located at 33 Ubi Avenue 3 #05-22 Vertex Tower B, Singapore (408868).
