5 essential tools for any growing ecommerce business

Get ready to equip yourself for the next stage of your ecommerce business.

Speed and efficiency are critical for any ecommerce business.

You need to be able to react, make critical decisions and meet customer expectations on the fly.

Without the right tools, you're not setting yourself or your staff up for success. And that hurts your chances of reaching your full potential.

We've put together some of the key tools you'll need to grow your ecommerce business fast and effectively.

1. Business debit solutions

When you're growing your business, financial decisions often need to be made in a snap.

It could be a great deal from a supplier, an opportunity from an overseas client, an emergency freight situation or any of the zillion other things that arise when you're a business owner.

It's critical that you and your staff have the financial resources handy to pull the trigger when necessary.

Of course, you don't want spending going out of hand either.

That's why corporate debit cards can be a good option. You still have the flexibility of credit cards, but you're not at risk of overspending.

In fact, with the right business debit solution, you can create virtual cards for your team.

For example, Airwallex's corporate cards allow you to create virtual cards for your team members in minutes. You never need to worry about an employee being caught without a card.

With finance, every company's day-to-day needs are different. Make sure you investigate a few options to find the right one for your business.

By setting your business and staff up with the right solution early on, you'll have a much easier time when you expand.

2. A world-class website

If you're in ecommerce, you need to have a world-class website to stand out from the rest of the competition.

Customers expect a seamless experience. A clunky, out-of-date interface that's held together with chewing gum and sloppy HTML isn't going to cut it.

Your website reflects your brand's quality and customers' perception of it.

So make sure you invest wisely in your back end. Speedy loading, efficient layouts and a smooth interface are critical.

There are a variety of options but these days, Shopify is arguably the gold standard for ecommerce. It offers straightforward functionality for yourself and the consumer, plus security, easy customisability, payment integration and a host of other features.

But perhaps most importantly, it's also scalable. So when your business is looking at ways to grow, you won't need to worry about your back end being unable to keep up.

3. Strong accounting software

No matter how big or small your business may be, you always need to have a close eye on your finances. That way, you'll be able to consolidate everything easily when tax time hits.

In practical terms, this means investing in good accounting and bookkeeping software.

Ideally, your software should be able to interface with your other everyday business tools too. It's a way to maximise your time and push for greater efficiency in your processes.

For example, the Airwallex integrates directly with Xero. This allows you to carry out reconciliation on a near-instant basis. You don't have to wait for an end-of-month report or manually compile transactions.

4. An effective shipping strategy

Shipping solutions need to be implemented from very early on in the lifespan of your business.

Having effective fulfillment in place will enable you to build a better customer experience – and in turn, breed repeat customers.

So when you're looking at shipping solutions and providers, make sure you choose carefully.

And just like your website's back end, it's got to be scalable. The last thing you want is to be hit by a ton of orders and find yourself unable to fulfill them fast and efficiently.

5. Communication software to stay connected

No matter the size of your business, it's critical to have effective internal communication tools.

Email and verbal comms obviously have their place. Sometimes you need something a little more succinct but can be easily referenced later.

That's where programs such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, Skype and more come into play. Their chat programs provide a way to discreetly communicate internally – and instantly – while providing an easy-to-access record of prior comms.

These are useful in an era when many people are working remotely – but not every conversation requires a dedicated call.

Having the right comms tools ensures that critical information and tasks don't get lost.

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