axis vMerchant eCommerce White Papers

4. Choosing an eCommerce Solution for Retail

When evaluating possible eCommerce Solutions for a B2C (retail) web site, you should consider the following points:

• Does it integrate with your Back Office system?
• Does it offer sufficient design flexibility to look how you want it look?
• Does it support your required pricing models (e.g. quantity discounts, order value discounts, special offers)?
• Does it offer good Usability?
• Does it support Voucher Code promotions?
• Can it support your chosen payment methods (e.g. credit/debit card, PayPal)
• Does it produce Search-Engine friendly pages?
• Does it allow you track order sources (e.g. visitors originating from Sponsored Keyword campaigns, referals from Partner Sites, etc.)
• Does it build a useable database for future targeted marketing?
• Can you make regular updates to content, such as Delivery Terms or Terms & Conditions (usually known as Content Management)?
• Can you create cross-selling links?
• Are you able to maintain your own promotional adverts on the site?
• Does it provide data for Shopping Comparison sites such as Google Products?
• Can you offer your customers the option of creating their own account (usually called Registration) so that they can login in the future to see Favourites and/or Order History?
• Are you able to control all of the above without needing to become a part-time web designer?
• If your site offers both B2C and B2B, can it also handle your trade requirements?