SaaS stands for Software-as-a-Service. It is a model in which the software is hosted on the cloud. The user receives a license to use the software on a subscription fee format, meaning that they don’t have to purchase the software and install it on their system. You can access the software through any web browser or an app. The pricing varies based on the level of service opted for, the number of users, etc., and can be paid monthly or annually.

Some of the most common SaaS apps that we use daily are the email programs that we access through a browser, such as Gmail and Office 365 (Outlook).

Advantages of SaaS

Traditionally software companies have all sold their software as products. Customers used to purchase the software for a one-time fee and load it onto their systems. The responsibility to meet and maintain the hardware requirements rested on the customer. In instances where hardware had to be upgraded, customers had to purchase a newer version of the software that pairs with the new hardware. All this has changed with SaaS. Below we list a few advantages and disadvantages of the SaaS model.

Flexibility: The fact that you can access the software from any device connected to the internet makes it fully flexible compared to the traditional model. You don’t have any location restrictions in SaaS. You can access the software from anywhere in the world and continue to do your work without any hiccups. 

Scalability: SaaS models are highly scalable. At each stage of your business, you can access just the required, right amount of features and go all out when you decide to scale up. You do not have to worry about purchasing new hardware, servers and upgrading networks, etc. All you have to do is opt for the next tier of features and services depending on the number of users who require access to the software.

No upgrades required: With SaaS, upgrades to the software are automatically available to the customers. It means that you are continuously working on the latest version of the software. The cost and effort associated with this kind of service are much lower than the traditional model, where you have to buy new versions whenever there is a software upgrade happening. 

Less time required to get started: In SaaS, the software does not have to be installed and configured and is immediately ready to use. It is a much faster and low-cost entry option for businesses compared to the time and effort required to develop your software, maintain and upgrade it. 

Cost savings: Most of the SaaS companies provide tiered packages depending on your business requirements. Moreover, the application is hosted on a shared multi-tenant space. This reduces the license cost, making it more affordable compared to the traditional model. Security and safety of data: SaaS service providers follow strict security protocols and undergo thorough security audits to ensure that the customers data is safe and secure at all times. They usually invest more in security, maintenance and back-up technology compared to small businesses.

Disadvantages of SaaS

Reduced control: You have better control when the software and programs are hosted on-premise rather than on the cloud. Moreover, since SaaS solutions are delivered through the web, you need to ensure 24×7 access to the internet. Otherwise, you may lose access to your software or data, which can be detrimental and costly.

Slower speed: SaaS solutions may run at slower speeds than on-premise applications, which might affect the performance of your online store for example.  Concerns about data security: When you opt for a SaaS model, you are giving a third-party service provider access to sensitive data. You should check on identity and access management clauses before you sign up with the service provider.

SaaS Platforms in eCommerce

If you are looking to expand your brick-and-mortar retail store and establish a presence online, then the first question that you will encounter is which eCommerce platform to adopt. The software you choose will determine the scalability of your business, the features it has, and how well you manage your online store – its marketing, sales, and other operations. When it comes to eCommerce platforms, there are two routes available for merchants. One is Open Source and the other is SaaS platforms. 

Open-Source eCommerce platforms are highly flexible – you can modify almost all aspects of the code. They are most suited for large enterprises that have unique requirements and a large IT team who can design and maintain their store. Within open-source, you have cloud solutions and on-premise solutions. With on-premise solutions, the platform updates and patches require manual implementation. You will also be fully responsible for the security of your store and will have to spend on additional applications and integrations to make your store fully functional. 

SaaS eCommerce platforms are cloud-hosted and remove the complexities associated with open-source platforms. Hosting, technology updates, security, etc., are taken care of by the service provider. They are easy to use and reduce your time-to-market considerably. BigCommerce, Shopify, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Magento Commerce are all SaaS platforms.

If you are looking to develop an eCommerce site on a SaaS platform, connect with us at info@sorcible.com or call +359 898 707 570 / +1 877 787 2248

The post The Benefits and Drawbacks of SaaS appeared first on Sorcible.

Both platforms are rich in features, and many online merchants have had to make the tough decision of choosing one over the other. When Magento 1 was phased out, many of them decided to stay loyal and chose Magento 2, also because of the flexibility it offers. Being an open-source platform, Magento allows you to do unlimited customizations and is most suited for merchants with unique requirements.

Differences between Magento and BigCommerce

Hosting

Magento is an open-source, self-hosted platform. It means that it can be hosted on-premise or by a third party. Meanwhile, BigCommerce is a SaaS eCommerce platform with cloud hosting and maintenance services which you can use with a subscription fee.

Ease of use

Setting up a Magento store is not easy. You will need to rely on a developer or an outside agency to code and build the store for you. BigCommerce comes with a drag-and-drop page builder feature which means that merchants can set up their shop themselves. However, if the store is complex, you have access to BigCommerce partner agencies who will help you set up your store for a fee.

Go-to-market time

Being a cloud-based platform, BigCommerce has a much faster launch time. The built-in templates and functionalities make it much easier to design and launch a store on BigCommerce. In Magento you have to take care of website design, hosting, maintenance, etc. and it can be a very time-consuming process.

The cost of setting up a store on Magento will depend on the complexity and functionalities required for the store. While the software is available for free in the Magento Open Source version, merchants need to spend on store development, hosting and integration of various third-party apps and solutions. BigCommerce is a SaaS platform that takes care of the software, infrastructure, and technical support costs within the subscription fee. Merchants will still need to spend on store development and third-party integrations.

Reasons why store owners might migrate from Magento to BigCommerce

1. Automatic upgrades and patches: One reason merchants decide to re-platform to BigCommerce is the access to the latest upgrades and patches. It means that your store is automatically upgraded with all the features and is running on the latest version with no downtime.
2. Apps and Extensions: BigCommerce comes built-in with a whole host of features that help improve store performance. The BigCommerce marketplace has a wide range of Apps, both from BigCommerce and third-party solution providers, performing various functions from Marketing to Analytics and Reporting.
3. Integrated marketing features: eCommerce merchants have understood that it is just not enough to sell on one’s site. You have to be present in various social channels and marketplaces and provide customers the option to buy from there. By default, BigCommerce links all stores to different social channels. In Magento, merchants have to opt for a multi-channel selling tool to integrate with other marketplaces.
4. High Security: For eCommerce merchants, security is always a topic of concern. Being a fully hosted platform, BigCommerce takes care of the complete security of your site and automatically applies all security patches regularly.
5. The lower total cost of ownership: Being a hosted solution, BigCommerce covers expenses for hosting and maintenance improvements within the subscription fee. It can help limit expenses, especially for new businesses who are just setting up their store.
6. 24/7 support: BigCommerce offers 24/7 support through phone, live chat, email, and a dedicated help centre. BigCommerce provides access to highly trained support staff and this can be a boon for small entrepreneurs and business owners who don’t have in-house technical resources to turn to every time they face issues.

Points to consider while contemplating migration from Magento to BigCommerce

• Audit your existing site for its functionalities and performance. Scan through all possible reports and do detailed data analysis to identify gaps and areas to be improved. 
• List out all the features that you want to include in the new site.
• Explore BigCommerce functionalities and identify the third-party software and integrations you will need for the new store. 
• Back up all your data – customer details, orders, product information, website content, etc., before you make any changes.
• While migrating, try and retain your domain name because changing the domain name can severely impact your already established search engine rankings.
• Put a date plan for the new store launch after considering the time required to develop the new site and transfer all the data.
• Carry out final checks and thoroughly test before you publicly launch the new store.

If you are looking to migrate your eCommerce store, contact us at info@sorcible.com or call +359 898 707 570 / +1 877 787 2248

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• Building organic traffic
• Customer Service
• Customer Engagement
• Social media tools
• Analytics

Building Organic Traffic

Starting an online store has become so easy that we see new players entering this space every day. The competition is going up and identifying and attracting new customers has become critical. Relying on paid traffic can be a drain on your resources. It makes business sense to invest in developing organic traffic. While this process might take months and sometimes years to see results, the earlier you start, the better.

So if you are looking to develop relevant content that will help you push your site up in Google rankings, then the eCommerce tool to invest in is SEM Rush.

Semrush is one of the best SEO tools available оn the market today. With Semrush, you can do a site audit to understand your site performance and take corrective actions.

The SEO Ideas tool analyzes each page on your site and gives you actionable SEO advice – new keywords, page improvements, backlink opportunities, etc. You can also identify all the keywords bringing traffic to your site, track competitor sites, identify keywords they are ranking for and find new keywords that you can target. This tool provides you all the data that is required to come up with a winning content strategy.

While we are discussing building organic traffic, we also need to talk about the various email marketing tools available today. Email marketing, if utilized well, can help you connect with your leads, nurture them, and eventually convert them into customers. Some of the most popular email marketing tools available are Klaviyo, MailChimp, SmartrMail, etc. To learn more, see our blog on how email marketing can help you drive sales and traffic to your store.

Customer Service

The average conversion rate in eCommerce is 1-2%. Live chat tools can help increase conversion rates and improve customer service. The live chat facility is similar to the traditional store assistant in a brick-and-mortar shop who will help you with your queries and identify the product you are looking for. The live chat facility has been automated to a large extent now and comes populated with the answers to frequently asked questions.

Livechat ranks among the top live chat tools for eCommerce. It can be integrated with all the leading eCommerce platforms and offers a 30-day free trial. It allows two-way file sharing between agents and customers, canned messages and comes with advanced analytics.

Other popular live chat tools are Olark, LiveAgent, ZenDesk Chat, etc.

Customer Engagement

Only the engaged customer can in time become a loyal customer. So how do you engage with your customers? From personalized content to social media contests – any activity conceived to drive excitement and create a smooth shopping experience falls under customer engagement. This topic is vast. In this blog, we will discuss only tools that will enhance customer conversations.

Omnisend is more than just an email marketing platform that you need to check out for customer engagement. It enables you to create email campaigns and automation workflows in a few easy clicks. A few features of Omnisend that are worth mentioning are:  post-purchase follow-up emails, landing pages for your paid ads or promotional emails, SMS facilities, auto-generated discount codes, data capture forms and pop-ups and advanced sales reporting.

Searchspring is yet another tool that makes upselling and cross-selling easy to existing customers. This powerful search tool allows you to present the right product to the right person at the right time. It analyzes all the products on your site, categorizes them correctly, and provides the shopper with the most accurate results when they search.

All these tools can help you provide a personalized shopping experience to your customers.

Social media scheduling tools

There are 1.47 billion daily active users on Facebook every day and 60% of Instagram users say they come across new brands and products on Instagram. It means that eCommerce businesses should look at social media presence seriously. But setting up an account here is just the starting point. To be successful, you need to publish relevant content consistently. Yes, consistency is the name of the game. Often, businesses lose interest because they do not have a dedicated resource to maintain their social channels.

Hootsuite is one tool that will help you have a consistent and engaging social media presence. With Hootsuite, you can schedule posts or updates, interact with customers, watch what people are saying about your brand or products and have access to powerful analytics and insights that will help you further improve your marketing efforts.

Analytics

Analytics tools provide you with rich data which is insightful and can help you assess your business performance. The visitor metrics can tell you the number of visitors to your site, their interactions with your site, their movement, etc. Corrective actions and future marketing strategies all depend on the data that analytics throws up. So, which are the popular tools available in the market today?

Google Analytics: This one is a must have. It is free, easy to use and comes with powerful metrics that enable eCommerce owners to track traffic through the entire sales cycle. If you dig deep, it gives you insights on customer movement, pages where they spent maximum time, the page from which they exited your website and the effectiveness of your check-out process. Google Analytics also provides you data on the devices where your traffic is coming from, which products are in demand, etc. All these are valuable data that can help streamline and improve your business operations.

Glew.io is another versatile tool catering to both small and large eCommerce businesses. It allows you to review your product performance, identify ones selling well and mark out those with poor revenues. If you have a presence on multiple platforms, you can integrate Glew.io with all and track sales from all the channels on one dashboard. It allows you to segment customers and do deep research on customer types, what they buy and how they buy. It also gives you information on your marketing spends by pulling data from the various advertising platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

A few other names to check out are Kissmetrics, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, etc.

If you are looking to develop an eCommerce site, connect with us at info@sorcible.com or call +359 898 707 570 / +1 877 787 2248

The post A few ‘Must Have’ eCommerce tools to increase site traffic and earnings appeared first on Sorcible.