Table of Contents
You are a business owner with your very own slice of the internet. Your e-commerce store is slowly growing, and you couldn’t be happier. However, you are considering how outsourcing for e-commerce could help you expand further.
Why should you consider outsourcing? What’s in it for your business? The bottom line is that you cannot wear all the hats for your e-commerce store and expect fast growth. You’re spreading your time and resources too thin.
Outsourcing is a great way to keep costs low and gain a slew of other benefits. One of those is increasing revenue. Here are our top tips for e-commerce outsourcing as a business owner. Hopefully, you can gain some clarity on the next steps to take for your company.
Know When to Outsource for Your Store
The first tip we want to stress is knowing when you should outsource. This is a bit tricky for many business owners. But you will usually know when the time is right. For example, if you have more work than you can finish on your own in a day, you need help.
If you are in the digital products category, you can even hire a freelancer to help you create new products. There are no limits when it comes to freelancing or BPO (business process outsourcing).
Make a Plan
Once you feel like you’re at the point where you need help, make a plan on what to outsource. You should always strategically choose your tasks. What will cut the most operational costs? What will save you the most time?
Try to target critical areas that keep your business afloat. Prioritize what matters most in the beginning. We recommend you document all outsourcing activities, who you are working with, and any details about your arrangement.
The following business functions are essential areas you should look to first. Keep in mind that, within each area, there are usually multiple activities that need to be done.
E-Commerce Tasks You Could Be Outsourcing
According to a survey by Deloitte, about 59% of business owners use BPO. These activities tend to be the most popular for Business Process Outsourcing.
Web Design and Maintenance
Since you are in the e-commerce space, you will have a website that needs routine upkeep. Odds are, you’re probably not a web developer. And this task is better left to the professionals due to its complexity. You’ll save yourself hours of time by hiring someone to build, design, and maintain your store for you.
Social Media Management
The only visibility your e-commerce store has is online. That means social media should be of the utmost importance. Besides a Google search, social platforms will be how customers find your business. Hire a social media manager who can help you create posts and engage with your audience.
Data Entry
Data entry is an umbrella term that covers lots of tasks, from spreadsheet work to adding or removing inventory SKUs. Dealing with inventory is usually not a constant process. Updates might need to be made only a few times a year for small businesses. But these tasks can get quite complex as your company grows, so outsource appropriately.
Writing Product Descriptions
No matter if you sell a product or service in your e-commerce store, you’ll need product descriptions. This includes the actual description, titles, and metadata for each product. As you grow your inventory, this can be a daunting task. And not every business owner knows how to write an eye-catching description. So, hiring a writer is a no-brainer.
Customer Service
Do you need an extra set of eyes and ears to take care of customers? The great thing about running an online store is that your customer service team can be based anywhere in the world. All they need is a stable internet connection and the skills to provide great service. Having an online CS team can also help soothe customer concerns during the buying process to boost revenue.
Payroll
Another task you might want to outsource is payroll. Just because your business is online doesn’t mean you cannot have employees. Every task you outsource is also tax-deductible for your business, so it is important to keep track of it. Hiring a professional payroll processor can help mitigate errors and ensure you’re doing things legally.
Unity Communications- Global Award Winner for BPO
US-based companies are amazing at R&D, creative endeavors, product development, sales, and other professional crafts. But when it comes to repetitive, entry-level, and detailed tasks, sometimes it is better to outsource the work to keep wages and job satisfaction high.
Unity Communications was awarded as a Cluth Top 1000 B2B company in 2020 for BPO. If you want to get a taste of high-quality outsourcing and how it can benefit your company, take a look at our website and schedule a meeting to get started.
