As the owner of a brand, you might have an omni-commerce business model in place. This is mostly to maximize your brand visibility and increase sales. In this case, there is a good chance that you used a couple of omni-commerce tools. These tools help you smoothly manage your omni-commerce business.
If you are not using any omni-commerce tools then please continue reading. Because we are about to reveal how you can easily and efficiently manage your omni-commerce business without getting overwhelmed.
Running an omni-commerce business is a very rewarding way to do business with your customer. In addition, it is also a great way to keep up with the latest trends in the commerce industry. Furthermore, it is estimated that 52% of e-commerce websites are omni-commerce capable.
However, running an omni-commerce business can also be very challenging. This is due to all the micro-managing you will need to do across all the channels of your business.
Therefore, in this article, we will introduce 5 of the best omni-commerce tools. These tools can make managing your omni-commerce business easier and more enjoyable.
Before we introduce the 5 best omni-commerce tools, let’s first define “omni-commerce” for those who are still new to this concept or are just starting with omni-commerce.
Omni-commerce means using multiple “channels”, both online and offline, to conduct business tasks. These tasks include marketing, sales, customer support, payment transfers, etc.
A brand that uses multiple channels to do business is an omni-commerce business. There are a few key differences between multichannel and omnichannel business models that all business owners need to be aware of, be sure to check them out.
For example, a brand with a brick-and-mortar store can become an omni-commerce business by also having an e-commerce website. Since this brand sells products or services both online and offline, it is an omni-commerce business.
According to a study, a brand loses 10% to 30 % of sales if they don’t sell on multiple channels.
More than 53% of retailers are investing in tools and technologies that allow them to sell through different channels. Therefore, if you would like to remain ahead of the game, you should also consider investing in an omni-commerce tool.
You can read the following Ultimate Guide to Omni-Commerce article for a more detailed look into omni-commerce.
Omni-commerce is a method through which brands can achieve the following sought-out goals:
As mentioned earlier, running an omni-commerce business can be very challenging if not planned properly. Even the two most popular types of omni-commerce business models can be challenging to run.
With omni-commerce, you will be able to interact and engage with your customers using multiple online and offline channels. Due to the presence of multiple channels, it can get overwhelming trying to make sure each channel is working properly.
Indeed, managing a couple of channels (a store + social media) requires a good amount of planning and dedication. Having even more channels raises the challenge level of an omni-commerce business.
One report even mentions that about 66% of consumers expect retailers to be more digitally innovative.
Luckily, there are quite a few software applications (tools) that help brands manage their omni-commerce business. These tools can perform a variety of tasks in areas such as
Having an omni-commerce tool (or two installed) can help you easily manage all your channels. Which would otherwise be very difficult to manage.
With the automation and convenience provided by omni-commerce tools, you will save a lot of your valuable time. Furthermore, you can use this saved time in other areas of your business.
Using omni-commerce tools can be a cost-effective way to run your business. This is because omni-commerce tools help you perform tasks that would have otherwise taken you a long time to do. As a result, you will save time and other resources.
There are many omni-commerce tools that can perform functions in almost all aspects of business.
Overall, the main benefits omni-commerce tools provide include:
Let’s now get into the main topic.
To effectively and efficiently manage an omni-commerce business you may want to consider using an omni-commerce tool (or two).
Omni-commerce tools will make it easy for you to manage your omni-commerce business by taking care of a few tasks. As a result, you won’t have to worry about the tasks that are handled by an omni-commerce tool.
Here are, in our opinion, the 5 best omni-commerce tools that are sure to be very useful for brand owners.
The first omni-commerce tool on this list is Agile Store Locator. This is a tool that is used to enhance both your online channels (website) and offline channels (physical store).
Agile Store Locator is a WordPress plugin that allows users to instantly add a store locator widget to their website. All you need to do is configure the store locator according to your specifications, then you can insert the store locator page via a short code.
The store locator widget is basically a map that shows the locations of all your stores. In addition, it also provides your visitors with accurate information on how to get to your stores such as address, directions, store timings, etc. As a result, your potential customers will have everything they need to reach any of your stores easily and quickly. As a result, you have the opportunity to make more sales.
Agile Store Locator is an excellent tool for brands that want to direct customers from their website to their physical location ( stores, kiosks, pickup points, etc.). This is because, through the store locator widget, you will ensure customers who are in a “buying mood” have all the information they need to reach your store without getting lost and frustrated.
This will raise the chances of more visitors coming to your store from your website. As a result, you will have more opportunities to build relationships with customers which may eventually lead to more sales.
Agile Store Locator also comes with several useful features. These features are designed to help you make a store locator widget that functions how you want it, some of these features include:
The next omni-commerce tool we will look at is WP Maps.
WP Maps is a software application that allows users to add both a product locator and a store locator widget to their website. Therefore, WP Maps is another omni-commerce tool that enhances both your online and offline channels.
Similarly to Agile Store Loactor, WP Maps is capable of adding a store locator widget to your website. However, the extra benefit that WP Maps provides is that it can also add a product locator widget to your website. Therefore, you are essentially getting two services for the price of one.
The WP Maps product locator allows you to display all your products in neat and organized ways on your website, using filters, tabs, sliders, etc. Thus ensuring your visitors can easily locate the product they are searching for.
Once a product is selected by a customer, they will be directed to the WP Maps store locator. The store locator widget will display a map that will show all your locations that have the customer’s selected product available.
In addition, the customer will also be provided with accurate information on how to get to your store. All these features are designed to make sure your customers have everything they need to make a purchase from one of your physical locations.
WP Maps is also very easy to use. All you need to do is import store and product data into WP Maps and configure the store and product locator settings. After which you will be provided with an HTML that needs to be added to your website.
Once this is done, your product and store locator widget will be good to go.
Key features of WP Maps include:
The next omni-commerce tool we will talk about is Cloud Commerce Pro. This omni-commerce tool is mainly used to automate several functions that are carried out by omni-commerce businesses.
Let’s take a look at some of the areas where we can use this omni-commerce tool.
With Cloud Commerce Pro you will be able to save time and reduce errors by automating order fulfillment across multiple sales channels. This omni-commerce tool will allow you to manage your orders from marketplaces and websites in one system.
Warehouse management is another area that can be automated by Cloud Commerce Pro. As a result, you will be able to save time and money by ensuring all warehouse-related operations happen automatically and on schedule.
Last, but not least, Cloud Commerce Pro can also be used for stock control. This tool can be used to make accurate stock entries and updates that ensure you do not incur any losses.
These are just a few ways Cloud Commerce Pro can assist you with your omni-commerce business.
Key Feature of Cloud Commerce Pro:
The next omni-commerce tool on our list is NetSuite Commerce.
Similar to the previous omni-commerce tool on our list, NetSuite is a software application that provides integrated solutions across various business functions.
If you have multiple online and offline channels then NetSuite can be a very useful omni-commerce tool that can help you unify various functions of your business so that you can provide a seamless, cross-platform experience to your customers.
Here is a list of functions that can be connected using NetSuite:
In summary, NetSuite unifies omni-commerce business functions so that you can focus on other important areas such as customer support, marketing, etc.
Key features of NetSuite include:
The Final omni-commerce tool we will introduce is SalesForce Commerce Cloud.
SalesForce Commerce Cloud is another omni-commerce tool that uses AI to give your customers a personalized shopping experience.
The SalesForce AI can analyze customer behavior, purchase activity, etc. across multiple channels, and it then uses this data to provide a personalized experience for each of your customers. For example, the SalesForce Commerce Cloud can analyze a customer’s purchase history to offer more relevant product recommendations and search results.
With SalesForce Commerce Cloud, you will be able to retain old customers by using connected journeys regardless of which channels they use. As a result, you will have more opportunities to sell products to your existing customer base.
You can even use the platform to manage all your websites, brands, and devices from a single framework.
Key Features of SalesForce Commerce Cloud:
Brands operating an omni-commerce business will at one point or another find it difficult to manage various operations across multiple channels. Therefore, it will be very beneficial for these brands to make use of omni-commerce tools that can perform certain functions and take the load off of you.
For example, WP Maps and Agile Store Locator are tools that help brands display their products and stores in a creative and professional way on their website. These tools can make it easier for customers to find stores and products, which can lead to increased sales.
Other omni-commerce tools can streamline different processes that are common in omni-commerce businesses such as shipping, order management, stock control, etc. By using these tools, brands can save time and resources, and focus on delivering a better shopping experience for their customers.
Investing in any one of the five omni-commerce tools mentioned above could prove to be a worthwhile decision for your brand. Furthermore, you can even try these 5 omni-commerce business improvement strategies to further enhance your business.
If you would like to explore more diverse topics related to e-commerce, please see our blog page.
Waleed Daad Khan is a results-driven Marketing Consultant with a passion for Businesses. He holds certifications From Wharton, McKinsey, Hubspot and SEMrush, and has helped businesses of all sizes improve their online visibility and reach. With 4 years of experience in the field, Waleed stays up-to-date on the latest digital marketing trends to deliver cutting-edge strategies.
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