The Beginner’s Guide to eCommerce Integration
Written for Small Teams with Big Plans
You’re here because you’re either looking for efficiency gains through a better eCommerce process, being required to connect with a retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer – or both. Either way, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled this “beginners guide” resource to provide small teams what they need to know in ½ the time!
Here’s a list of topics we cover in this article:
What is eCommerce integration?
Why would you want to consider eCommerce Integration?
3 examples of eCommerce integration workflows
3 steps to building an eCommerce integration plan
What is eCommerce Integration?
eCommerce integration is the action of connecting one (or many) systems together to exchange eCommerce data and documents through a standard set of protocols and secure communications. Many online merchants use eCommerce integration to connect their online shop with their CRM, ERP, accounting software, or other back office systems. When establishing this connection, the online merchant also has the opportunity to securely send and receive electronic documents with their retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers.
There are hundreds of different eCommerce data and documents that businesses exchange everyday. Some popular types include: purchase orders, invoices, product catalog updates, inventory inquiries, purchase order acknowledgments, and advance shipping notices (ASNs).
Why would you want to consider eCommerce Integration?
There are several benefits small teams need to think through when considering eCommerce integration. Here’s the top 5 benefits of eCommerce integration:
Compliance with Third Parties: Many retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers require specific types of eCommerce protocols like electronic document interchange (EDI) or XML data transfer. Connecting systems ensures your business will meet the necessary service level agreement of your partners – keeping your business in a positive light. When systems are not connected, these third parties expect small businesses to manually process these electronic documents.
Better Efficiency Drives Assurance: Small businesses who automate their document exchange gain assurance. That assurance builds internal confidence and peace-of-mind in the process and accuracy of data. When eCommerce systems are connected, it eliminates manual data entry and related human errors. Automated processes allow for additional efficiencies like real-time inventory updates, product catalog synchronization and many other options.
Elevated Customer Experience: Regardless of industry, customers expect instant gratification. Connected workflows and processes allow for near or real-time processing to align with consumers expectations. A recent analyst firm noted, “the race to provide ever-faster omnichannel order fulfillment is on.”
3 Examples of eCommerce Integration Workflows
For individuals who are new to eCommerce integration, identifying use cases and examples to pursue can be difficult when first starting out. Below are a few examples showcasing a high-level workflow, basic workflow, and advanced workflow between an online merchant (web shop) and a wholesaler. Remember, these can be across several third parties and systems.
3 Steps to Building an eCommerce Integration Plan
Below is an example of topics you need to consider when building your eCommerce integration plan:
Define Your Project Goals and Objectives
- What are the short, mid and long term needs?
- What do you want to achieve?
- What are the numerical goals?
Create an Operational Plan & Document Workflows
- What people, process and technology do you have currently?
- What people, process and technology do you need?- How much budget do you need?
- What’s the timeline?
- What’s reasonable? What’s not reasonable?
Conduct a Readiness Assessment & Plan Execution
- Review with internal stakeholders
- Review with external stakeholders
- Identify approach (build vs buy)
- Building, testing and going live
Does your team need eCommerce integration?
We can help. That’s right. Our eCommerce integration team has decades of experience, and is specifically focused on helping small businesses win. Contact us for an easy conversation to better understand your needs.
