SECOMM workshop – TECH TALK 2020

eCommerce has become an integral part of our daily lives, offering unparalleled convenience and access to a vast array of products. However, as the industry continues to grow, so does its environmental footprint. From excessive packaging waste to carbon emissions from shipping, the environmental impact of eCommerce cannot be ignored. This brings us to the concept of sustainable eCommerce—a transformative approach that seeks to minimize the negative environmental effects of online retail while promoting ethical business practices.

Sustainable eCommerce is not just a trend; it’s a response to the increasing consumer demand for environmentally friendly and socially responsible products. A survey shows that 72% of respondents reported that they were actively buying more environmentally friendly products than they did five years ago, while 81% said they expected to buy even more over the next five years.

In this blog, we will delve into the essence of sustainable eCommerce, explore its importance, examine the growing demand for it, and provide practical steps on how you can become a responsible merchant.

What is sustainable eCommerce?

Sustainable eCommerce refers to the practice of conducting online business in a way that minimizes environmental impact and promotes social responsibility. At its core, it involves making mindful decisions at every stage of the business process, from product sourcing and manufacturing to packaging, shipping, and customer engagement. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint, minimize waste, and ensure that ethical standards are upheld throughout the supply chain.

Key components of sustainable eCommerce

There are some common components in the eCommerce sustainability, including:

Eco-Friendly Products

Offering products that are made from sustainable materials, are biodegradable, or have a lower environmental impact is crucial. This means choosing materials that are renewable, such as organic cotton or bamboo, over conventional materials that may deplete natural resources or cause pollution. Additionally, promoting products that are ethically sourced ensures that they are produced under fair labor conditions, respecting workers’ rights and contributing to social sustainability.

Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable packaging involves using materials that can be recycled, are biodegradable, or are made from recycled content. For instance, using cardboard boxes made from recycled paper or packing peanuts that are biodegradable can greatly reduce the environmental footprint. This approach not only minimizes waste but also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.

Energy Efficiency

Reducing energy consumption in the warehousing and logistics aspects of eCommerce is another critical component. This can be achieved by:

• Using Renewable Energy: Powering warehouses and offices with solar, wind, or other renewable energy sources.
• Optimizing Delivery Routes: Using route optimization software to minimize fuel usage and emissions during delivery.
• Investing in Energy-Saving Technologies: Implementing LED lighting, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and other technologies that reduce overall energy consumption.

Waste Reduction

Minimizing waste throughout the entire eCommerce process is essential. This involves:

• Efficient Inventory Management: Using systems that prevent overstocking and reduce the likelihood of unsold goods going to waste.
• Recycling Programs: Implementing robust recycling programs in warehouses and encouraging customers to recycle packaging materials.
• Designing Durable Products: Creating products with a longer life cycle, which reduces the need for frequent replacements and lowers the overall waste generated.

Ethical Business Practices

Ensuring that all business practices are ethical and transparent is fundamental to sustainable eCommerce. This includes:

• Fair Labor Practices: Treating all employees and suppliers fairly, ensuring safe working conditions, and providing fair wages.
• Supporting Fair Trade: Sourcing products that adhere to fair trade principles, which support better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in developing countries.
• Transparency: Being open and honest with consumers about the sustainability efforts and practices of the business. This can build trust and loyalty among customers who value ethical and responsible business operations.

By integrating these key components to strategies, eCommerce businesses can significantly reduce their environmental impact, support social responsibility, and meet the growing demand from consumers for more sustainable and ethical products.

Why is eCommerce sustainability important?

Understanding the importance of eCommerce sustainability is crucial for businesses looking to thrive in today’s market. Here are several reasons why adopting sustainable practices in eCommerce is vital:

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of traditional eCommerce practices is significant. From the excessive use of plastic packaging to the carbon emissions from shipping and logistics, the eCommerce industry contributes to environmental degradation. By adopting sustainable practices, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint, decrease pollution, and help conserve natural resources. Sustainable eCommerce practices, such as using eco-friendly packaging and optimizing delivery routes, play a vital role in mitigating the industry’s environmental impact.

Consumer Behavior

Consumer behavior is shifting towards sustainability. More and more customers are becoming environmentally conscious and prefer to purchase from brands that align with their values. Studies show that a growing number of consumers are willing to pay a premium for products that are sustainably produced and packaged. By adopting sustainable practices, eCommerce businesses can meet this demand, attract a broader customer base, and enhance customer loyalty. Being a responsible and eco-friendly brand can also differentiate a business in a crowded market.

Business Benefits

Sustainable eCommerce practices can lead to significant business benefits. These include cost savings from reduced waste and energy consumption, improved brand reputation, and increased customer loyalty. Businesses that prioritize sustainability can also access new markets and opportunities, such as partnerships with other eco-friendly brands and certifications that can enhance credibility. Additionally, sustainable practices can lead to innovation, as companies find new ways to reduce their environmental impact and improve efficiency.

Regulatory Compliance

Governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly implementing stricter environmental regulations. Businesses that do not comply with these regulations risk facing fines, penalties, and damage to their reputation. By adopting sustainable practices, eCommerce businesses can stay ahead of regulatory changes, ensure compliance, and avoid potential legal issues. Proactively embracing sustainability also positions businesses as leaders in their industry, setting an example for others to follow.

Long-Term Viability

Sustainability is essential for the long-term viability of businesses. As natural resources become scarcer and environmental issues become more pressing, companies that do not adopt sustainable practices may face higher costs and supply chain disruptions. By integrating sustainability into their business model, eCommerce companies can ensure they are resilient to future challenges and are better prepared for a changing market landscape. Sustainable practices also contribute to a positive corporate image, which can attract investors and stakeholders who prioritize responsible business operations.

How to become a sustainable eCommerce business

Becoming a sustainable eCommerce business involves implementing practices that minimize environmental impact and promote social responsibility. Here are key steps to help you achieve sustainability:

Optimize Supply Chain

Optimizing your supply chain is crucial for sustainability. This involves sourcing materials and products from suppliers who adhere to ethical and environmental standards.

• Ethical Sourcing: Choose suppliers that provide eco-friendly materials, such as recycled or renewable resources. Ensure that these suppliers follow fair labor practices and maintain high environmental standards.
• Local Suppliers: Whenever possible, source products locally to reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation.
• Supplier Audits: Regularly audit your suppliers to ensure they comply with your sustainability criteria and make improvements where necessary.

Optimize Shipping Strategy

Shipping is a significant contributor to the environmental footprint of eCommerce. Optimizing your shipping strategy can help reduce emissions and improve efficiency.

• Route Optimization: Use software to plan the most efficient delivery routes, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• Eco-Friendly Shipping Options: Offer customers eco-friendly shipping options, such as slower shipping methods that are less carbon-intensive.
• Carbon Offsetting: Invest in carbon offset programs to compensate for the emissions generated by shipping activities. This can include projects like reforestation or renewable energy initiatives.

Offer Recyclable Packaging

Packaging is a major source of waste in eCommerce. Switching to recyclable packaging can significantly reduce environmental impact.

• Sustainable Materials: Use packaging materials that are recyclable, biodegradable, or made from recycled content, such as cardboard, paper, or compostable plastics.
• Minimal Packaging: Design packaging to be minimal yet protective, reducing the amount of material used.
• Customer Education: Include clear instructions on how customers can recycle or dispose of packaging materials responsibly. You can also encourage customers to reuse packaging for other purposes.

Join Environmental Charities

Supporting environmental charities and initiatives can enhance your sustainability efforts and demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact.

• Partnerships: Partner with environmental organizations to support projects like reforestation, conservation, or clean energy. This not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also enhances your brand image.
• Donations: Allocate a portion of your profits to donate to environmental causes. Publicize these efforts to show customers that their purchases contribute to a greater good.
• Employee Engagement: Encourage your employees to participate in environmental volunteer activities and promote sustainability within your organization.

By implementing these strategies, your eCommerce business can significantly reduce its environmental impact, meet the growing demand for sustainable practices, and build a loyal customer base that values social responsibility. Adopting sustainability is not only good for the planet but also beneficial for your business’s long-term success.

Final words

eCommerce sustainability is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing eco-friendly and socially responsible brands, and businesses must adapt to meet this demand. Embracing sustainable eCommerce practices, businesses can make informed decisions that contribute to a healthier planet.

Building upon the narratives in parts 1 and 2, this third part invites you to delve into the stories of the remaining brands within the series of 14 that migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify Plus. Explore how this strategic decision has led to their success in terms of sales and paved the way for sustainable growth in the future.

1. Alternative Brewing

Alternative Brewing is a leading brand in Australia specializing in providing high quality coffee making equipment and utensils. After operating on WooCommerce, Alternative Brewing encountered a problem. WooCommerce eCommerce websites require constant maintenance, causing a lot of worry on shopping occasions like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Within 4 months of converting to the Shopify Plus platform, Alternative Brewing’s new eCommerce website loaded faster and had faster checkout, helping the brand significantly increase average order value. Shopify Plus platform with an intuitive, user-friendly interface, Alternative Brewing does not need to deal with a lot of complicated code. This allows the Alternative Brewing team to focus on growing their business and make more informed decisions with Shopify’s in-depth reports and analytics.

Website: https://alternativebrewing.com.au/

Industry: FnB

Traffic: 919,295/month

Rank: #3,071 (Australia) & #144,195 (Global)

2. Duradry

Duradry is a leading personal care brand that offers effective antiperspirant products. Operating on WooCommerce costs Duradry a lot of money when testing many different marketing campaigns. The brand migrated to the Shopify Plus platform to take advantage of many exclusive tools and solutions that help them optimize operations and deploy marketing processes more effectively.

Duradry also leverages Shopify Collabs to partner with popular content creators to drive marketing success, bringing Duradry products to more potential customers. The result was 250 content creators joining Duradry’s community, $50k in sales through Shopify Collabs in less than 7 months.

Website: https://duradry.com/?view=hero-a

Industry: Beauty & Cosmetics

Traffic: 386,080/month

Rank: #119,405 (USA) & #445,775 (Global)

3. AMR Hair & Beauty

AMR Hair & Beauty is one of the leading suppliers of hair care and beauty products in Australia. Established in 2004, AMR has quickly grown to become a trusted destination for hair salons and individual consumers.

Although WooCommerce has served AMR Hair & Beauty well for many years, with the rapid growth of the business, the platform began to show its limitations. Among them are limited scalability, difficult order management, poor security, and suboptimal customer support.

After switching to Shopify Plus, AMR Hair & Beauty leveraged the B2B on Shopify solution to build a wholesale store and further customize advanced search features and filtering options. This means AMR Hair & Beauty’s B2B customers can quickly narrow down search results and view products along with prices and offers. As a result, AMR Hair & Beauty increased sales by 200%, average B2B order value by 77%, and conversion rate by 93%.

Website: https://amr.com.au/

Industry: Beauty & Cosmetics

Traffic: 258,448/month

Rank: #8,360 (Australia) & #381,873 (Global)

4. Abode Living

Abode Living was founded in 1991 and since then the brand has become Australia’s leading supplier of luxury bed linen, using the highest quality European fabrics and sewing products in its own factories. I’m in Australia.

With the need to increase online sales in Australia and other markets, and upgrade customer experience. However, the previous platform the company used, WooCommerce, did not offer enough flexibility to customize advanced features. WooCommerce also doesn’t give Abode Living the ability to add international marketplaces to its existing eCommerce system. Switching to Shopify Plus met all of Abode Living’s goals. The brand saw a 15% increase in average order value, faster page load speeds, and faster responses.

Website: https://www.abodeliving.com/

Industry: Home Funishing

Traffic: 16,645/month

Rank: #57,874 (Australia) & #2,352,607 (Global)

Final Words

So, SECOMM has gathered insights from 14 representative brands that courageously stepped out of the “WooCommerce world” to revamp their eCommerce websites with Shopify Plus. These brands prioritize customer experience and streamlined processes, inspiring others to confidently opt for platform migration.

Contact SECOMM or call directly at (+84)28 7108 9908 for advice and implementation of the eCommerce migration process from WooCommerce to Shopify Plus today!

When it comes to brands that re-platformed from WooCommerce to Shopify Plus, it’s good to read their success stories in sales behind.

In the second part of this series, let’s continue to delve into more brands that chose to migrate their eCommerce platforms from WooCommerce to Shopify Plus, and explore how this decision paved the way for boundless success.

1. HiSmile

HiSmile is a globally renowned brand for teeth whitening products, aiming to help customers achieve a bright, confident smile. Founded in 2014 in Australia, HiSmile quickly gained attention due to its high-quality, easy-to-use, and effective products.

In the early days of its eCommerce operations, HiSmile’s WooCommerce website performed well. However, as HiSmile gained recognition and became more popular, website traffic began to surge, especially during sales events. Page load issues and site crashes cost the HiSmile team a lot of money in repairs and maintenance. Therefore, they decided to seek a more robust and stable solution and chose Shopify Plus.

With the new Shopify Plus website, HiSmile boosted its social media sales strategy and expanded into the global market. To date, HiSmile has attracted over three million social media followers, 5.5 billion social media impressions, and over 1.5 billion views on its social media videos. These numbers demonstrate the brand’s extensive customer reach. Additionally, global sales have significantly increased since the transition.

Website: https://int.hismileteeth.com/

Industry: Beauty & Cosmetics

Traffic: 4.55M/month

Rank: #10,390 (USA) & #33,392 (Global)

2. Muscle Nation

Muscle Nation is renowned in the fitness and sports fashion industry, established with the goal of providing high-quality products tailored to the needs of fitness enthusiasts. The Muscle Nation team focuses on delivering an optimal customer experience and implements social media sales strategies. In its first year, the brand earned $1 million in revenue. At that time, Muscle Nation only had a basic website with eCommerce integration, which led to performance issues and a decline in sales.

Since transitioning to the Shopify Plus platform, Muscle Nation has leveraged the superior ecosystem of apps and tools offered by Plus to customize customer experiences and specific features. The brand uses Shopify Flow to manage high-risk orders and tag customers, Launchpad to handle product releases and event launches, and Peoplevox for warehouse management.

As a result, Muscle Nation generated over $4 million in revenue on Black Friday 2019 and handled more than 208,000 customers shopping simultaneously without any website issues.

Website: https://musclenation.org/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 961,900/month

Rank: #2,676 (Australia) & #137,488 (Global)

3. Junglück

Junglück is a renowned cosmetics brand in Germany, known for its natural and environmentally friendly skincare products. Initially, Junglück used WooCommerce to manage its online store. However, with the brand’s rapid growth, WooCommerce began to show limitations, including slow page load speeds, poor website performance, and restricted integration and scalability.

The cosmetics brand decided to switch to the Shopify Plus platform. This transition allowed Junglück to seamlessly integrate with various third-party systems such as CRM and ERP, enhancing operational efficiency. As a result, Junglück increased its revenue sevenfold since implementing the Shopify Plus website, boosted average order value by 22%, and improved conversion rates by 34%.

Website: https://junglueck.de/

Industry: Beauty & Cosmetics

Traffic: 355,059/month

Rank: #12,653 (Germany) & #308,899 (Global)

4. LVLY

LVLY is a prominent brand in the gift and fresh flower arrangement industry, known for its sophistication and modern style. Each LVLY product is meticulously designed and delivered promptly to the recipient, perfectly conveying messages of love and care.

Previously, LVLY used the WordPress platform and WooCommerce plugin to build its eCommerce website. The brand encountered many customization limitations, and the basic features gradually failed to support expansion. Particularly during major shopping events, the system became overloaded and couldn’t handle the high traffic volume. LVLY decided to switch to the Shopify Plus platform. The platform migration took less than 90 days without reducing the conversion rate. The scalability of Shopify Plus helped LVLY achieve its biggest Valentine’s Day sales ever in 2023. Personalization options and add-ons, which LVLY could not implement on its previous platform, also played a crucial role in the cross-sell/up-sell strategy during this shopping event.

Website: https://www.lvly.com.au/

Industry: Gifts & Flowers

Traffic: 354,352/month

Rank: #6,734 (Australia) & #334,427 (Global)

5. Mandaue Foam

Since its establishment in 1971, Mandaue Foam has become an indispensable name in the furniture industry in the Philippines. After four years of using the standard Shopify version, Mandaue Foam upgraded to Shopify Plus to seek solutions for expansion and customization.

The brand utilized LaunchPad – an exclusive feature of Shopify Plus – to schedule marketing campaigns and automate product price updates and discounts. Because LaunchPad allows tracking the performance of each campaign in real-time, the Mandaue Foam team can understand customer behavior and adjust campaigns accordingly.

Next, with Shopify Flow, Mandaue Foam automated its order management process by creating a workflow where, as soon as an order is placed, one of the 28 physical locations with inventory for that product is notified to process the order. This process ensures order fulfillment speed while eliminating the need for manual order tracking.

The platform switch and the implementation of eCommerce automation have helped Mandaue Foam increase order volume by 200%, total sales by 151% YOY, and customer return rate by 16%.

Website: https://mandauefoam.ph/

Industry: Furniture

Traffic: 486,503/month

Rank: #2,745 (Philippines) & #170,520 (Global)

Final Words

Here are the next 5 brands in the series re-platform from WooCommerce to Shopify Plus. Throughout SECOMM’s process of executing platform conversion projects, whether from WooCommerce or any other eCommerce platform to Shopify Plus, the pivotal factor determining success is a detailed and well-structured conversion plan.

Contact SECOMM or directly call the hotline at (028 7108 9908) to collaborate on devising the optimal plan for the platform migration to Shopify Plus.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, eCommerce has become a crucial aspect of how businesses operate and grow. As global internet access and adoption rapidly increase, with over five billion internet users worldwide, the number of people making purchases online is ever-increasing. In 2024, retail eCommerce sales are estimated to exceed 6.3 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide, and this figure is expected to reach new heights in the coming years.

Knowing this, companies are constantly seeking ways to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and provide a seamless customer experience. This is where eCommerce automation comes into play.

By leveraging advanced technologies and tools, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, streamline operations, and scale their efforts without the need for proportional increases in manual labor.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the concept of eCommerce automation, exploring its benefits and drawbacks to help you understand how it can transform your online business. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, understanding eCommerce automation can be a game-changer in optimizing your operations and staying competitive in the market.

1. What is eCommerce Automation?

At its core, eCommerce automation involves the use of software, tools, and technologies to streamline and automate various aspects of online business operations. This includes a wide range of tasks, from inventory management and order processing to marketing campaigns and customer service.

Essentially, eCommerce automation aims to reduce the need for manual intervention in repetitive and time-consuming processes, allowing you to operate more efficiently and effectively. By automating routine tasks, you can free up valuable time and resources, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives, innovation, and providing exceptional customer experiences. Whether it’s automatically updating inventory levels, sending personalized marketing emails, or providing instant customer support through chatbots, eCommerce automation empowers your team to work smarter, not harder, in today’s digital marketplace.

2. Five tasks you should automate

There are numerous tasks ripe for automation, but here are five crucial ones: inventory management, order processing, marketing campaigns, customer service, and reporting/analytics.

2.1 Inventory Management

Imagine you run an online store selling various products. Keeping track of inventory levels manually can be time-consuming and prone to errors. With automation, you can set up systems that automatically update your stock levels whenever a purchase is made or new stock arrives. Additionally, you can configure alerts to notify you when certain items are running low, prompting you to reorder them before they run out.

2.2 Order Processing

When a customer places an order on your website, there are several steps involved in processing and fulfilling that order. Automation can streamline this process by automatically routing orders to the appropriate fulfillment center or warehouse. It can also generate packing slips and shipping labels, ensuring that orders are processed quickly and accurately. With automated order tracking, both you and your customers can easily monitor the status of their orders from placement to delivery.

2.3 Marketing Campaigns

Marketing is essential for promoting your products and attracting customers to your online store. Automation can help you save time and reach a larger audience by automating email marketing campaigns and social media posts. You can set up automated email sequences to welcome new subscribers, nurture leads, and recover abandoned carts. Similarly, you can schedule social media posts in advance, ensuring consistent engagement with your audience across different platforms.

2.4 Customer Service

Providing excellent customer service is crucial for building trust and loyalty with your customers. However, managing customer inquiries and support tickets manually can be overwhelming, especially as your business grows. Automation can help lighten the load by using chatbots and automated response systems to handle common inquiries and support requests. These systems can provide instant responses to frequently asked questions, route complex queries to human agents, and even offer 24/7 support, improving the overall customer experience.

2.5 Reporting and Analytics

To make informed decisions and track the performance of your online store, you need access to accurate data and analytics. Manually collecting and analyzing data from various sources can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Automation can simplify this process by automatically collecting data from your website, sales platforms, and marketing channels. It can then generate customized reports and dashboards, providing valuable insights into your sales performance, customer behavior, and marketing ROI. With automated reporting and analytics, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your eCommerce operations and drive business growth.

By automating these five key tasks, you can streamline your eCommerce operations, improve efficiency, and focus your time and resources on growing your business and providing exceptional customer experiences.

3. Benefits of eCommerce automation

Adopting eCommerce automation can brings your business many benefits. Here are some of them

3.1 Efficiency

Automation streamlines your business processes by taking care of repetitive tasks, freeing up your time to focus on more strategic activities. Instead of manually updating inventory or processing orders, automation tools can handle these tasks quickly and efficiently, allowing you to operate more smoothly and effectively.

3.2 Accuracy

By reducing reliance on manual data entry and human intervention, eCommerce automation helps minimize the risk of errors. Whether it’s updating inventory levels or processing customer orders, automated systems can perform tasks with a high level of accuracy, ensuring that your business operations run smoothly and your customers receive the correct products on time.

3.3 Scalability

As your eCommerce business grows, automation allows you to scale your operations without a proportional increase in workload. Whether you’re handling a handful of orders or thousands of transactions per day, automated systems can adapt to the increasing demands of your business, ensuring that you can meet customer needs efficiently and effectively.

3.4 Cost Savings

While there may be initial investments required to implement automation tools and systems, the long-term cost savings can be significant. By streamlining your operations, reducing errors, and improving efficiency, eCommerce automation helps lower your overall operational costs, allowing you to allocate resources more effectively and invest in other areas of your business.

3.5 Enhanced Customer Experience

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, providing exceptional customer service is essential for building brand loyalty and driving repeat business. Automation plays a key role in enhancing the customer experience by providing quicker and more consistent service. Whether it’s responding to customer inquiries instantly with chatbots or delivering personalized marketing messages based on customer preferences, eCommerce automation helps create a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for your customers, ultimately leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.

By leveraging the benefits of eCommerce automation, you can streamline your operations, reduce costs, and deliver a superior customer experience, ultimately driving growth and success in the competitive online marketplace.

4. Drawbacks of eCommerce automation

While eCommerce automation offers numerous benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider.

4.1 Initial Costs

Implementing eCommerce automation systems can incur significant upfront expenses. You may need to invest in software licenses, hardware infrastructure, and training for employees to effectively use these systems. For enterprises with limited financial resources, or don’t want to invest too much in this aspect, these initial costs can be a barrier to adoption.

4.2 Complexity

Adopting eCommerce automation often involves navigating complex systems and technologies. You may encounter challenges in integrating automation tools with your existing workflows and processes. Additionally, employees may require time and training to familiarize themselves with the new systems, leading to potential productivity disruptions during the transition period.

4.3 Over-reliance

While automation can enhance efficiency and streamline operations, your team risk becoming overly dependent on technology. Reliance on automated systems may leave you vulnerable to disruptions such as technical failures or system downtimes. Without proper contingency plans in place, these disruptions could significantly impact business operations and customer satisfaction.

4.4 Customization Limits 

Off-the-shelf automation solutions may not always fully align with the unique needs and requirements of every business. Customizing and tailoring automation tools to fit specific business processes can be challenging and time-consuming. You may find yourself constrained by the limitations of pre-built automation solutions, hindering your ability to fully optimize your eCommerce operations.

4.5 Impact on Jobs

One of the most significant concerns surrounding eCommerce automation is its potential impact on employment. As your business automate repetitive and manual tasks, there is a risk of job displacement for workers whose roles are replaced by automated systems. This could lead to workforce reductions and require you to invest in reskilling and retraining programs for affected employees.

By understanding and addressing these drawbacks, you can make informed decisions about the extent to which you adopt eCommerce automation, mitigating potential challenges and maximizing the benefits of automation for your operations.

5. Case Study: Success Stories

5.1 Amazon

Background: Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, has evolved from an online bookstore to one of the world’s largest eCommerce platforms. With a vast array of products and a global customer base, Amazon’s success lies in its ability to innovate and optimize its operations continuously.

Automation Implemented: Amazon has heavily invested in automation across various aspects of its eCommerce operations.

• Inventory Management: To manage its extensive inventory efficiently, Amazon utilizes robots and automated sorting systems in its warehouses. These robots navigate through the aisles, retrieving items and bringing them to human workers for packing and shipping.
• Order Fulfillment: Amazon’s order fulfillment process is highly automated. Automated packing machines pack orders quickly and accurately, while conveyor belts transport packages to shipping stations. Robotic arms label and sort packages, ensuring that orders are dispatched promptly.

Results: Amazon’s automation efforts have yielded several significant benefits:

• Increased Efficiency and Speed: By automating tasks such as inventory management and order fulfillment, Amazon has significantly increased its operational efficiency. Orders are processed and shipped faster, reducing delivery times and improving overall customer satisfaction.
• Reduced Errors in Order Processing: Automation has minimized the risk of errors in order processing. With robotic systems handling tasks such as picking and packing, the likelihood of mistakes is greatly reduced, ensuring that customers receive the correct items in their orders.
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction with Quicker Delivery Times: Faster order processing and shipping have led to quicker delivery times for Amazon customers. With the implementation of automation, Amazon can fulfill orders more rapidly, meeting customer expectations for speedy delivery and enhancing their overall shopping experience.

5.2 Sephora

Background: Sephora is a leading global beauty retailer known for its wide range of cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance products. With a strong presence both in physical stores and online, Sephora has built a reputation for offering high-quality products and exceptional customer service.

Automation Implemented: Sephora has leveraged automation to enhance its personalized marketing efforts, catering to the unique preferences of individual customers.

• Data-driven Product Recommendations: Sephora utilizes customer data to analyze purchase history, browsing behavior, and product preferences. Based on this data, Sephora’s website and mobile app generate personalized product recommendations for each customer, suggesting items that align with their interests and needs.
• Automated Email Campaigns Tailored to Individual Customer Preferences: Sephora sends automated email campaigns tailored to each customer’s preferences and shopping habits. These emails include personalized product recommendations, exclusive offers, and reminders about new product launches or promotions. By segmenting its customer base and sending targeted emails, Sephora ensures that its marketing messages resonate with each recipient.

Results: Sephora’s automation efforts have yielded several positive outcomes:

• Improved Customer Engagement and Loyalty: By delivering personalized marketing messages, Sephora has strengthened its relationship with customers, leading to increased engagement and loyalty. Customers appreciate receiving relevant product recommendations and exclusive offers tailored to their preferences, leading to a deeper connection with the brand.
• Increased Sales Through Targeted Marketing: Sephora’s targeted marketing campaigns have proven highly effective in driving sales. By delivering personalized recommendations and promotions, Sephora encourages customers to make additional purchases, increasing their overall spend and lifetime value. The combination of personalized marketing and seamless shopping experiences has resulted in higher conversion rates and revenue growth for Sephora’s eCommerce platform.

Final Words

eCommerce automation offers significant benefits like increased efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction, but it also poses challenges such as initial costs and job displacement. However, by carefully implementing automation tools and strategies, businesses can streamline operations and drive growth. Case studies of companies like Amazon and Sephora demonstrate the transformative impact of automation on eCommerce success.

Ready to take your eCommerce empire to the next level? Contact SECOMM today!

Over the past decade, Magento has solidified its position as one of the leading eCommerce platforms in the market. With its robust capabilities, the platform serves not only B2C businesses but is also a popular choice for enterprises.

By combining Magento’s strength with the specific requirements of B2B Commerce, you can leverage this platform’s powerful benefits. In the following part of the article, let’s explore 10 reasons why Magento is the ideal choice for deploying this great business model.

What is B2B Commerce?

Business-to-business commerce (B2B Commerce) refers to the buying and selling of goods or services between businesses rather than between a business and end consumers (B2C). In the B2B environment, transactions often occur on a large scale and involve large orders, long-term contracts, and strategic partnerships.

This business model has distinct characteristics and requirements compared to B2C Commerce. In the B2B world, businesses typically have more complex demands regarding product management, order management, customer management, and compatibility with enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and other systems.

Additionally, the business model often requires features such as order confirmation, complex payment processes, batch ordering, and wholesale pricing. For B2B enterprises, choosing a suitable eCommerce platform is crucial to ensuring business efficiency and delivering the best user experience for their partners and customers.

What is Magento?

Magento is a powerful and flexible eCommerce platform developed by Magento Inc., a subsidiary of Adobe. Launched in 2008, it quickly became one of the top choices for you looking to build and operate professional online stores.

It allows you to create custom eCommerce websites. This platform provides a range of features, including product management, order management, payment integration, customer management, and many others, enabling you to easily manage and operate your online stores efficiently.

It is built on open-source code, meaning that you can access and customize the platform’s source code based on specific technical requirements.

Ten reasons why you should choose Magento for B2B Commerce

Reason 1: Customization and scalability

Magento’s open-source platform characteristic enables businesses to easily and effectively expand their business scale. This is particularly important as businesses grow and must enhance the system’s scalability.

Additionally, the platform provides high customization capabilities, allowing businesses to adjust to their specific business needs flexibly. This also means that the shopping experience can be customized to become unique and tailored to the target customers.

Reason 2: The Comprehensive B2B platform

In addition to offering built-in Magento B2B features, the platform allows businesses to seamlessly and quickly integrate with many third-party applications and systems, thereby creating a comprehensive and automated eCommerce system. Some integrated systems may include:

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
• Product Information Management (PIM) systems
• Point of Sale (POS) systems, and so on.

Reason 3: Order management

Magento B2B provides a variety of order management features, from creating and editing orders to tracking and processing orders efficiently. This helps B2B businesses easily monitor and manage their orders accurately and consistently.

Additionally, it offers tools and features that allow tracking and analysing their orders’ performance. From generating overview reports to tracking order history and purchasing trends, the eCommerce model deployed, you can better understand your activities and make informed strategic decisions.

Reason 4: Payment and shipping options

Implementing Magento B2B allows you to offer more payment methods to customers, from online payments through electronic payment gateways to cash on delivery (COD).

Additionally, you can integrate various payment gateways through Magento, such as PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, and many more. This ensures security and convenience in the payment process for both businesses and customers.

Reason 5: Segmentation

Magento B2B provides features and tools to implement customer segmentation strategies effectively. Among these, the most notable is the Advanced Reporting feature, which provides a dashboard for tracking and analyzing sales data.

With this feature, businesses can segment customers and customize experiences based on web browsing behavior, purchase history, and various other criteria.

Reason 6: Custom user roles and permissions

Customizing user roles and permissions is an important part of optimizing the B2B purchasing process. This feature allows B2B customers to create multiple accounts with different contact details for purchasing, ordering, quoting, negotiating, and payment. Additionally, Magento B2B allows sellers to create and assign admin accounts to manage specific customers.

Reason 7: Manage pricing through shared catalogs

In B2B Commerce, Magento helps manage quotations through shared catalogs, which effectively provides product information and prices to B2B partners and customers. These catalogs can be created based on criteria such as product type, product group, or other suitable business needs.

Within each shared catalog, administrators can define prices and special conditions for each product or product group. This helps create customized quotations that meet the specific requirements of each customer.

Reason 8: Advanced inventory management

Inventory management is a challenging task for businesses implementing B2B Commerce. The eCommerce platform provides advanced features to effectively manage and control your inventory levels. These features allow administrators to track inventory quantities and forecast future inventory needs.

Additionally, Magento B2B helps manage special types of inventory such as damaged goods, special inventory items, or batch inventory.

Reason 9: Enhanced security

Security is an important issue when building and developing online stores in general. Magento provides many advanced features to help B2B businesses to secure their eCommerce systems. Among these, PCI Compliance, 2FA, WAF, DDoS protection, and preventing CSRF and XSS attacks are notable.

Reason 10: Technical support

Technical support plays a crucial role in maintaining and operating an efficient online store. Magento B2B provides tools and support services to help users address technical issues and optimize the performance of their eCommerce websites.

This includes expert support via phone, email, or online. Additionally, Magento has a large and vibrant community of developers, experts, and end-users. You can search and ask questions on the forum to receive assistance from the community.

Build your first Magento B2B site today!

In the context of the increasingly developing and fiercely competitive eCommerce market, using a powerful eCommerce platform is extremely important to ensure the success. With its unique features and superior flexibility, Magento has proven to be a top choice for building and developing B2B stores.

Need more deep advice? Contact SECOMM or call (+84)28 7108 9908 now!

Upgrading to Shopify Plus is a strategic decision for growing ecommerce enterprises. Many merchants have encountered the challenges and opportunities this upgrade brings along their journey.

From optimizing business performance to expanding operations globally, upgrading to Shopify Plus isn’t just a technical step but also an opportunity to transform ecommerce activities into a springboard for market breakthroughs.

In this article, let’s explore the steps to upgrade to Shopify Plus and some critical considerations.

What is Shopify Plus?

This is the premium version of the Shopify platform, specially designed to meet the needs of large and rapidly growing ecommerce businesses. With Shopify Plus, you can experience many powerful features and services that help optimize operations, expand scale, and enhance customer experiences.

One notable aspect of Shopify Plus is its flexibility and ease of customization. You can leverage features such as multi-store management, integration with ERP and CRM systems, creating multilingual and multi-channel websites, as well as adjusting interfaces and features according to your specific needs.

In particular, Shopify Plus provides a secure and easily scalable infrastructure that is capable of handling large volumes of traffic and online transactions robustly. With Plus, you can ensure that your website operates smoothly and seamlessly, even during peak shopping seasons.

Why upgrade to the Shopify Plus plan?

Upgrading from the standard versions of the Shopify platform to the Plus version is a significant milestone in the transformation of ecommerce businesses. Below are eight benefits and also eight main reasons driving businesses to undergo the transition:

Enhanced customization & scalability

Shopify Plus offers a range of powerful features and tools to customize and expand ecommerce websites flexibly and efficiently. These include customizing checkout pages, personalizing customer experiences, and customizing product displays.

Additionally, you can utilize some exclusive solutions, such as LaunchPad, Shopify Scripts, and Shopify Functions, to customize shopping experiences and automate sales processes.

Increased bandwidth and staff accounts

High traffic volumes will require a large amount of bandwidth to maintain a stable website. Shopify Plus allows you to access unlimited bandwidth, 200TB of storage, and unlimited staff accounts to handle large transaction volumes efficiently.

Optimized transaction costs

Upgrading to Shopify Plus can help optimize transaction costs. If you use Shopify Payments, transaction fees are the lowest in all Shopify pricing plans but will be customized based on geographical regions. Conversely, Plus merchants must pay 0.2% per transaction for security and compliance costs.

Deploy Headless Commerce

In the Plus version, you’ll be provided with tools and solutions to build a Headless ecommerce website. Through the Hydrogen + Oxygen solution, you can leverage the power of Headless architecture to create more customized and flexible customer experiences.

Deploy B2B Commerce

Shopify Plus provides features and tools to expand your B2B operations. The recent Shopify Editions Winter ’24 update introduced new features to optimize B2B Commerce activities.

From Headless B2B and advanced order management to integrated payment systems and unique features for B2B customers, Shopify Plus helps you streamline your operations and enhance customer relationships.

Expand international sales

With Shopify Plus’s multilingual and multi-channel capabilities, you can efficiently expand your operations to international markets. Shopify Plus provides tools and features to customize websites according to each market’s needs, from handling currencies to managing orders and shipping.

Ultilize POS Pro

The Plus merchants can utilize the exclusive POS Pro system for free. With advanced features, POS Pro allows seamless integration of multi-channel sales operations into the website, enables unlimited staff account access, and provides professional retail reports. This helps enhance customers’ shopping experience and optimize your offline and online sales activities.

Advanced customer support

When upgrading, you can expect more in-depth customer support services, especially in terms of consultation and technical support by a team of experts. Through hotlines, emails, and live chat, you can access the 24/7 support team.

Additionally, to help clients better understand this platform, Shopify offers a free learning program called Shopify Plus Academy. There, you can access detailed tutorials on setting up stores, customizing store interfaces, and much more.

When to upgrade to the Shopify Plus plan?

You currently on one of Shopify’s standard pricing plans may consider upgrading to Shopify Plus under the following circumstances:

• Monthly revenue exceeds $800,000 with over 100 transactions per minute. In such cases, a more robust system is needed to handle high traffic volumes without compromising user experience, and to effectively manage and optimize business performance.

• Expanding sales to international markets requires flexibility in managing multilingual, multi-currency, and region-specific inventory.

• Desire to harness the advantages of Headless Commerce architecture to enhance user experience and achieve deeper customization of user interface and technical infrastructure.

What to prepare before upgrading to Shopify Plus?

Before deciding to upgrade to Shopify Plus, there are four important steps that businesses need to take to ensure a smooth and effective upgrade process:

Define business goals

Firstly, you have to clarify your needs and wants. This includes evaluating the current and future growth of the business, as well as the necessary features to meet specific needs.

Prepare the data and Infrastructure

Next, you’ll need to prepare data and technical infrastructure for the transition process. This may involve backing up current data, checking the compatibility of current applications and features, as well as ensuring that the technical infrastructure is robust enough to satisfy your requirements.

Define features and tools in need

Finally, you’ll identify the specific features and services you desire from Plus. This may include considering features such as multi-store management, integration with ERP and CRM systems, multi-language and multi-currency support, as well as special features like deploying Headless Commerce and accessing POS Pro systems.

Set up a Shopify Plus store

Setting up a Plus store will differ from deploying previous standard pricing plans. Plus usage fees start from $2,300 per month, and this price isn’t fixed but customized based on each case’s specific needs. Therefore, you’ll need to contact the Shopify Plus team for advice. When collaborating with a Shopify Plus agency, the developer will work with the platform to provide a specific pricing quote.

The six-step process to upgrade to Shopify Plus

Below are six specific steps for the entire process of upgrading your ecommerce website system from a lower version to Shopify Plus:

Step 1: Partner with a professional Shopify Plus agency

The first and most important step is collaborating with experienced teams specialising in Shopify Plus to optimize the upgrade process and post-operation, especially concerning costs.

To select a suitable Shopify Plus development partner, you should consider previous Shopify Plus projects they have completed, how they identify and solve problems in each project, and feedback from previous clients regarding those projects.

Step 2: Evaluate and plan

The next step is equally important as it determines the effectiveness of the conversion and future operations. You and your development partners need to clarify business goals, identify necessary features and data to be transferred, and develop a specific deployment schedule based on these goals.

You’ll also need to ensure data backup and updates are safely conducted to avoid data loss during the conversion process.

Step 3: Execute deployment

After assessment and planning, proceed with upgrading to Shopify Plus. The development partner will set up and configure new features, migrate data from the old platform to the new one, and test compatibility to ensure the website operates smoothly.

Step 4: Test and adjust

After deployment, test and adjust the Shopify Plus website to ensure all features and functions work correctly. The development partner’s QA/QC team will collaborate with you to check the quality of the website experience as actual end-users and correct any issues that arise.

Step 5: Golive

Once testing is complete, the new ecommerce website will be launched into the market, and promotional campaigns will be deployed to attract initial traffic and orders.

Step 6: Train staff

Finally, employees should be trained to use and manage the new website on the Shopify Plus platform. You’ll provide detailed instructions on new features and how to use them to optimize the performance. Additionally, since Plus has unlimited staff accounts, personnel allocation should be reasonable and planned accordingly.

The Final Words

While upgrading to Shopify Plus can be complex, it significantly benefits business growth. From high flexibility and customization to scalability and deep customer service, Shopify Plus is the perfect choice for expansion.

Various insights and a systematic 6-step deployment process make the upgrade process more manageable. However, to increase efficiency and maintain the stability of the new website, businesses need a professional development partner to accompany them.

Contact SECOMM or call us at (+84)28 7108 9908 to plan your deployment today!

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, eCommerce logistics, or eLogistics, plays a pivotal role in the seamless operation of online retail. It encompasses the intricate processes of managing and delivering goods from suppliers to customers efficiently and effectively. As businesses worldwide increasingly embrace digital platforms for sales, understanding the fundamentals of eCommerce logistics becomes indispensable for optimizing operations and staying competitive in the dynamic marketplace.

1. What is eCommerce Logistics?

eCommerce logistics, often referred to as eLogistics, is the specialized process of managing and fulfilling online orders from the point of sale to delivery to the customer’s doorstep. Unlike traditional logistics, which primarily focuses on moving goods through physical stores or distribution centers, eCommerce logistics is tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the online retail environment. It encompasses a range of activities including order processing, inventory management, warehousing, packaging, and transportation logistics. The goal of eCommerce logistics is to ensure that products are delivered to customers swiftly, accurately, and cost-effectively, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and optimizing operational efficiency for online merchants.

2. Components of eCommerce Logistics (eLogistics)

The eLogistics process includes some critical components. They work together to ensure that eCommerce businesses can fulfill orders accurately, efficiently, and on time, thereby meeting customer expectations and enhancing overall operational performance.

Order Processing:

This involves receiving and confirming orders placed on the eCommerce platform. It includes order verification, payment processing, and order entry into the system.

Inventory Management:

Efficient inventory management is crucial to eCommerce logistics. It involves tracking stock levels, monitoring inventory movements, and ensuring accurate stock counts to prevent stockouts or overstock situations.

Warehousing:

eCommerce logistics often utilizes warehouses or fulfillment centers strategically located to facilitate quick order processing and shipping. Warehouses are organized to efficiently store and pick items for orders.

Packaging:

Packaging in eCommerce logistics involves selecting appropriate packaging materials, ensuring products are securely packed to prevent damage during transit, and sometimes includes branding for a positive customer experience.

Shipping and Transportation:

This component includes selecting the optimal shipping method (e.g., ground, air) based on factors like delivery speed and cost-efficiency. It also involves managing logistics partners or carriers for timely delivery.

Returns Management:

Handling returns is a critical aspect of eCommerce logistics. It includes processing returned items, assessing their condition, restocking inventory, and issuing refunds or exchanges as per the company’s policies.
Technology and Integration:

eCommerce logistics relies heavily on technology for automation and integration. This includes using inventory management systems, order management systems, and transportation management systems (TMS) to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Customer Service:

While not always considered a logistics component, customer service plays a vital role in eCommerce logistics by managing inquiries related to orders, tracking shipments, and resolving any issues that may arise during the fulfillment process.

3. Types of eCommerce Logistics (eLogistics)

There are 4 common types of eLogistics. Each type of eCommerce logistics has its own advantages and challenges, and the choice depends on factors such as business size, product characteristics, target market, and strategic goals. Selecting the right logistics strategy is crucial for optimizing operational efficiency, enhancing customer satisfaction, and supporting business growth in the competitive eCommerce landscape.

3.1 Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a fulfillment method where the online retailer (the dropshipper) does not keep products in stock. Instead, when a customer places an order, the retailer forwards the order details and shipment instructions to a third-party supplier or manufacturer. The supplier then ships the product directly to the customer.

Dropshipping is advantageous because it eliminates the need for inventory storage and management, reducing upfront costs and risks for the retailer. However, it also means the retailer has less control over fulfillment and may face challenges in maintaining consistent product availability and quality.

3.2 Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

3PL providers offer outsourced logistics and supply chain management services to eCommerce businesses. These providers specialize in warehousing, order fulfillment, inventory management, shipping, and often additional services like reverse logistics (handling returns).

eCommerce businesses can benefit from partnering with a 3PL provider by leveraging their expertise, infrastructure, and established carrier relationships. This can lead to cost savings, improved efficiency in order fulfillment, and scalability as 3PL providers can handle fluctuations in order volume and seasonal peaks. However, businesses must carefully select a 3PL partner that aligns with their specific needs and standards for service quality.

3.3 In-House Fulfillment

In-house fulfillment involves eCommerce businesses managing their own logistics operations internally. This includes setting up and managing warehouses or fulfillment centers, hiring staff for picking, packing, and shipping orders, and overseeing the entire fulfillment process.

In-house fulfillment gives businesses greater control over the entire logistics chain, allowing for customization of processes and direct management of customer interactions. However, it requires significant upfront investment in infrastructure, technology, and manpower, as well as ongoing operational costs. Businesses opting for in-house fulfillment must also ensure they have the capability to handle fluctuations in demand and maintain service levels during peak periods.

3.4 Hybrid Model

Some businesses opt for hybrid logistics models that combine elements of dropshipping, 3PL services, and in-house fulfillment. For example, a business may use dropshipping for certain products or suppliers while managing warehousing and fulfillment for core or high-demand items.

Hybrid models offer flexibility and the ability to tailor logistics strategies to specific product lines or market conditions. However, managing multiple logistics models requires careful coordination and integration to ensure seamless operations and consistent customer experience.

4. Benefits of implementing eCommerce Logistics

Implementing eLogistics brings your business many benefits. By leveraging these benefits, you optimize the logistics operations to support growth, improve customer experiences, and maintain a competitive position in the online retail market.

Cost Efficiency:

By optimizing processes such as warehousing, inventory management, and shipping, eCommerce logistics helps reduce operational costs. This includes minimizing storage expenses, improving inventory turnover, and leveraging bulk shipping discounts.

Faster Delivery Times:

Efficient eCommerce logistics enable quicker fulfillment and shipping of orders. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also meets the expectations for fast delivery set by major eCommerce platforms.

Improved Customer Satisfaction:

Timely and accurate order fulfillment contributes to higher customer satisfaction. eCommerce logistics ensure that orders are processed promptly, shipments are tracked effectively, and customers receive their purchases in good condition.

Operational Transparency:

Modern eCommerce logistics systems often include real-time tracking and reporting capabilities. This transparency allows businesses to monitor inventory levels, track shipments, and analyze performance metrics to optimize operations continually.

Integration with Technology:

eCommerce logistics systems integrate with advanced technologies such as automation, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based platforms. These technologies streamline processes, reduce errors, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

Enhanced Flexibility:

eCommerce logistics provide flexibility in adapting to changing market demands and seasonal fluctuations. Businesses can adjust inventory levels, shipping methods, and distribution strategies dynamically to meet customer needs and market conditions.

5. Drawbacks of implementing eCommerce Logistics

Beyond the benefits that eCommerce logistics system can offer, there are some drawbacks to consider before applying logistics to eCommerce

Initial Setup Costs:

Setting up an effective eCommerce logistics system requires significant initial investment in infrastructure, technology, and personnel. This includes costs for warehouses or fulfillment centers, inventory management systems, transportation logistics, and training staff.

Complexity and Integration Challenges:

Integrating various components of eCommerce logistics, such as inventory management, order processing, and shipping systems, can be complex. Ensuring seamless integration often requires technical expertise and may involve compatibility issues with existing systems.

Dependency on Third-Party Providers:

Many eCommerce businesses rely on third-party logistics (3PL) providers for warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping. While this outsourcing can reduce operational burdens, it also introduces dependencies on external partners. Issues like service disruptions, communication gaps, and quality control concerns can arise, affecting overall service reliability.

Logistical Errors and Delays:

Despite technological advancements, logistical errors such as inventory discrepancies, shipping delays, and order inaccuracies can occur. These errors may lead to customer dissatisfaction, increased costs for returns and replacements, and potential damage to brand reputation.

Risk of Data Breaches:

eCommerce logistics involves handling sensitive customer data, including payment information and personal details. Protecting this data from cyber threats and data breaches is crucial but requires robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with data protection regulations.

Environmental Impact: The logistics and transportation involved in eCommerce can have a significant environmental impact, including carbon emissions from shipping vehicles and packaging waste. Implementing sustainable practices, such as optimizing delivery routes and using eco-friendly packaging, can mitigate these effects but may add to operational costs.

6. Tips for success eLogistics implementation

Understand Your Requirements:

Begin by assessing your business needs, including order volume, product characteristics, target market locations, and seasonal demand fluctuations. This understanding will guide your logistics strategy and help you choose the most suitable fulfillment model.

Choose the Right Logistics Partners:

Select reliable logistics partners or 3PL providers based on their expertise, track record, scalability, and ability to meet your specific requirements. Conduct thorough due diligence and consider visiting their facilities to ensure they align with your standards.

Invest in Technology:

Implement robust eCommerce and logistics management software that integrates order processing, inventory management, and shipping operations. Automation tools can streamline processes, reduce errors, and improve efficiency in fulfillment and customer service.

Automate Repetitive Tasks:
Implement automation for repetitive tasks such as order processing, inventory updates, and shipment tracking. Use robotic process automation (RPA) or software integrations to streamline workflows and reduce manual errors. Automation not only improves efficiency but also frees up resources to focus on strategic initiatives and customer-centric activities. Regularly review processes to identify opportunities for further automation and integration with your eCommerce platform and logistics systems.

7. Leading eLogistics company in the world

In the rapidly expanding world of eCommerce logistics, several key players stand out for their comprehensive services and innovative approaches. Companies like Amazon Logistics, FedEx Supply Chain, and UPS have reshaped the landscape with their extensive networks and advanced technologies.

Amazon Logistics

Known for its robust fulfillment network, Amazon Logistics leverages cutting-edge technology to offer fast and reliable shipping services to customers worldwide. Amazon’s fulfillment centers are strategically located, facilitating quick delivery times and efficient order processing. Their integration with Amazon Prime ensures premium shipping options and customer loyalty benefits, setting them apart in the eCommerce logistics sphere.

FedEx Supply Chain

FedEx Supply Chain specializes in providing end-to-end supply chain solutions tailored to eCommerce businesses. They offer warehousing, fulfillment, transportation, and reverse logistics services, supported by advanced analytics and technology-driven solutions. FedEx’s global network and commitment to innovation make them a preferred partner for businesses seeking scalable logistics solutions.

UPS

UPS is renowned for its extensive transportation and logistics capabilities, including parcel delivery, freight forwarding, and supply chain management services. UPS offers customizable logistics solutions designed to optimize efficiency and meet specific business needs. Their focus on sustainability and technological innovation, such as UPS My Choice and advanced tracking systems, enhances transparency and reliability in eCommerce logistics.

Final Words

eCommerce Logistics contributes to the success of online businesses by ensuring efficient order fulfillment, timely delivery, and enhanced customer satisfaction. From managing inventory and processing orders to optimizing shipping routes and leveraging technology, every aspect of eLogistics contributes to operational excellence in the digital marketplace.

A key takeaway from this article is the critical importance of selecting the right logistics partner. By partnering with a logistics provider that aligns with your specific business needs, you can streamline operations, mitigate logistical challenges, and position your eCommerce venture for sustained success.

SECOMM team has extensive experience of eCommerce in many APAC markets like Vietnam, Australia, NewZealand, HongKong and Singapore. We can help you apply logistics to eCommerce, optimize your customer shopping experience, streamline checkout, and more to make your eCommerce empire shine!

Contact us today for free consultation!

The cosmetics eCommerce industry in Singapore is witnessing explosive growth and continuous innovation, becoming one of the most promising and dynamic markets in the Southeast Asia region. With the increasing demand for beauty and personal care products from consumers, coupled with support from advanced technology and digital infrastructure, online cosmetics businesses in Singapore have been seizing opportunities to expand market share and enhance customer experiences.

Below are cosmetics 8 eCommerce websites trusted by Singaporean consumers for shopping.

1. Watsons Singapore

The cosmetics and healthcare retail chain Watsons has gained fame across Asia, and Singapore is no exception. As a member of the A.S. Watson Group, Watsons has solidified its position with thousands of stores worldwide and a robust eCommerce website.

Watsons Singapore is renowned for its extensive product portfolio, ranging from cosmetics and skincare to haircare and healthcare products. The eCommerce website of Watsons Singapore is built on the SAP Commerce Cloud platform, providing customers with a smooth and diverse shopping experience. Search, product filtering, and cart features are optimized and customized, while encouraging customers to create accounts to enjoy exclusive benefits. This helps track and measure customer behavior on the website, leading to the most effective sales and marketing strategies.

• Website: watsons.com.sg
• Platform: SAP Commerce Cloud
• Traffic: 1.852M/month
• Ranking: #322 (Singapore) & #69,750 (Global)

2. Guardian Singapore

Guardian is a retail chain specializing in healthcare, cosmetics, and other consumer products. Guardian has a presence in many countries and regions worldwide, including Singapore, offering a range of products from renowned and reliable brands.

The eCommerce website of Guardian is built on the SAP Commerce Cloud platform, providing many useful features for users. Customers can easily search for and purchase products, manage their shopping carts, and make convenient payments. Additionally, the website offers promotions and online support services to help customers have a comfortable and secure online shopping experience. Furthermore, customers can also review and provide feedback on products, providing useful information for other users.

• Website: https://guardian.com.sg/
• Platform: SAP Commerce Cloud
• Traffic: 1.349M/month
• Ranking: #676 (Singapore) & #126,366 (Global)

3. Sephora Singapore

Similar to Guardian, Sephora is a global retail chain specializing in cosmetics and beauty, known for offering a variety of beauty products from leading brands worldwide. Currently, Sephora has a presence in the Singapore market with physical stores in major shopping centers and an eCommerce system, including a website and app for customers. Sephora is loved for its product diversity, customer care services, and innovation in the online cosmetics shopping experience.

Sephora’s eCommerce system in Singapore is built on Vue.js and Nuxt.js programming languages. With this system, Sephora’s customers can quickly search for and explore products through smart search bars and diverse filters. The online shopping experience is optimized with detailed product information, crisp images, and customer reviews.

The Sephora app is also highly regarded, making shopping easier for customers with features like “Virtual Artist” and receiving notifications about promotions. Overall, Sephora provides a range of features and services to meet customers’ cosmetics shopping needs, creating a professional and convenient online shopping experience.

• Website: https://www.sephora.sg/
• Programming language: Vue.js, Nuxt.js
• Traffic: 1.287M/month
• Ranking: #605 (Singapore) & #93,279 (Global)

4. Venus Beauty

Venus Beauty is one of the retail chains for cosmetics and personal care present in most shopping centers across Singapore, beloved for its product diversity and quality. Since its establishment in 2002, Venus Beauty has continuously grown and expanded, becoming a familiar destination for many local consumers.

The eCommerce website of Venus Beauty is built and developed on the Magento platform, with superior customization and scalability. Customers can easily search for and purchase products thanks to the intuitive and user-friendly website interface. Venus Beauty also regularly offers attractive promotional programs to attract customers to shop more on the website and app.

• Website: venusbeauty.com.sg
• Platform: Magento Open Source
• Traffic: 325,090/month
• Ranking: #2,211 (Singapore) & #321,368 (Global)

5. LanCôme Singapore

Lancôme Singapore is the branch of the renowned cosmetics brand Lancôme, part of the globally famous L’Oréal Group. Lancôme is known for its high-quality skincare products, makeup, and fragrances, always endorsed by beauty experts and celebrities. In Singapore, Lancôme not only offers premium products suitable for various skin types but also provides optimal online shopping experiences for customers.

The Lancôme website is developed on the Salesforce Commerce Cloud infrastructure with a user-friendly interface, allowing customers to browse, search, view products, and make purchases easily and quickly. The website also integrates AR technology to provide a “Virtual Try-On” experience, allowing customers to try on lipsticks, eyeshadows, and other products realistically before making purchasing decisions.

• Website: lancome.com.sg
• Platform: Salesforce Commerce Cloud
• Traffic: 170,443/month
• Ranking: #7,671 (Singapore) & #1,007,547 (Global)

6. Cocomo Singapore

Cocomo is an eCommerce website specializing in beauty and personal care products from Korean brands. Cocomo boasts a rich product portfolio, including cosmetics, skincare products, haircare, and various other beauty items, catering to all customer beauty needs.

The Shopify website of Cocomo Singapore is designed with a clear, intuitive interface, making it easy for users to search for and select products. Product categories are organized logically, along with efficient search tools, making shopping quick and convenient. Cocomo frequently offers promotions, discounts, and special deals, helping customers save money. These promotional offers are regularly updated and can be easily found on the homepage or product category pages.

• Website: https://www.cocomo.sg/
• Platform: Shopify
• Traffic: 138,532/month
• Ranking: #13,831 (Singapore) & #1,356,641 (Global)

7. Paula’s Choice

In Singapore, the skincare brand Paula’s Choice is just as renowned as in other markets. Founded by skincare expert Paula Begoun, the brand is famous for its science-backed skincare products, known to be safe and effective, free from harmful ingredients like fragrances or dyes.

Paula’s Choice eCommerce website is built on Shopify Plus. The website offers a range of skincare products, including cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, and specialized treatments like BHA, AHA, and retinol. These products cater to all skin types, from oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone to aging skin. Each product on the website comes with detailed descriptions of ingredients, usage instructions, benefits, and supporting scientific research.

Paula’s Choice Singapore regularly runs discount programs, bundled gifts, and special offers for customers. Additionally, customers can easily access support from the customer service team via hotline, email, or live chat.

• Website: https://paulaschoice.sg/
• Platform: Shopify Plus
• Traffic: 132,171/month
• Ranking: #7,064 (Singapore) & #839,402 (Global)

8. Hush Singapore

Hush is a familiar destination for Singaporean consumers when they need to shop for cosmetics online. This retail giant specializes in providing beauty and personal care products from various leading brands worldwide such as Laneige, Aveeno, Bioderma, CeraVe, and more.

The Hush website is designed to be simple, modern, and user-friendly. Customers can easily search and browse through products thanks to clear categories and efficient search tools. Additionally, customers can make payments by registering an account or as a guest. Hush also offers fast and free delivery services, allowing customers to track their orders and estimated delivery times.

• Website: https://hush.sg/
• Programming language: Ruby
• Traffic: 77,937/month
• Ranking: #10,733 (Singapore) & #1,548,638 (Global)

Lời kết

In summary, the cosmetics eCommerce industry in Singapore has seen significant growth over the years with the presence of many reputable and well-known names. From international brands like Watsons, Lancôme, and Paula’s Choice to local eCommerce platforms like Cocomo and Hush, consumers have countless options to search for and purchase high-quality beauty and personal care products. Each website offers unique and convenient shopping experiences, catering to the increasingly diverse needs of customers.

Hopefully, the list above will help motivate many other beauty businesses to confidently build their own eCommerce websites.

Need more in-depth advice? Contact SECOMM today!

The wine eCommerce industry in Singapore is thriving, offering a wide variety of choices for consumers who appreciate fine wines and spirits from around the world. With the convenience and diversity of eCommerce websites, purchasing wine online has become easier than ever.

The following article introduces 8 leading wine eCommerce websites in Singapore, known as popular shopping destinations for modern consumers.

1. Paneco

Paneco is one of the most beloved wine eCommerce sites in Singapore, renowned for its product quality, delivery service, and customer care. Established with the aim of providing a convenient and reliable online shopping experience, Paneco offers a rich catalog ranging from wines and spirits to specialty beers and sake.

Focusing on customer experience, Paneco chose the Spree Open Source platform to build its eCommerce website, allowing for customization and scalability. Features such as inventory display, product variations, combo purchases, and bulk buying have been optimized for customization. Paneco also implemented a loyalty program, enabling customers to register as members, earn points from purchases, and enjoy exclusive prices.

• Website: https://www.paneco.com.sg/
• Platform: Spree Open Source
• Traffic: 183,355/month
• Ranking: #6,049 (Singapore) & #508,951 (Global)

2. Cellarbration

Cellarbration is an ideal destination in Singapore for wine and alcohol enthusiasts. This brand boasts an extensive collection of wines and alcoholic beverages from a wide variety of leading global brands.

Shopping on Cellarbration’s eCommerce website is highly optimized through the power of the Magento platform. Every aspect, from search functions and product browsing to checkout, is deeply customized to ensure an engaging shopping experience for customers.

Cellarbration is distinguished not only by its wide range of products but also by its professional and dedicated customer service. The brand is committed to customer satisfaction by offering personalized support and a variety of payment and delivery options.

• Website: https://cellarbration.com.sg/
• Platform: Magento Open Source
• Traffic: 147,008/month
• Ranking: #6,676 (Singapore) & #1,075,981 (Global)

3. The Liquor Shop

The Liquor Shop is one of the prominent brands in the wine ommerce sector in Singapore, known for its richness and variety of high-quality imported liquors. With a mission to bring customers the finest liquor products from around the world, The Liquor Shop offers a range of options, from wines, whiskies, rums, and tequilas to unique beers and sojus.

This retailer’s liquor website is built on the infrastructure of Shopify Plus, allowing for easy customization of many features such as age verification, quick purchase, product search suggestions, and upselling prompts. Additionally, Shopify Plus’ flexible system enables integration with a range of popular payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Visa/MasterCard.

• Website: https://www.theliquorshop.com.sg/
• Platform: Shopify Plus
• Traffic: 90,704/month
• Ranking: #41,516 (Singapore) & #888,587 (Global)

4. Wine Connection

In Singapore, the Wine Connection brand is a favorite destination for wine enthusiasts looking to explore premium wines from the most famous wine regions worldwide. Wine Connection also offers customers a rich and diverse collection of wines.

Wine Connection’s Magento website is optimized for an enhanced experience, allowing customers to search for wines by origin, grape variety, and explore special collections, as well as choose preferred payment and delivery methods.

Not only does Wine Connection provide a modern and engaging online shopping space, but it also serves as a source of wine knowledge. Customers can find articles and detailed guides on selecting and enjoying wines to better understand the art and science behind the exquisite flavors.

• Website: https://wineconnection.com.sg/
• Platform: Magento Open Source
• Traffic: 82,788/month
• Ranking: #12,447 (Singapore) & #1,701,444 (Global)

5. Millesima

Founded in 1983, Millesima is a reputable brand in the global retail wine industry, particularly renowned for its specialization in premium wines. Originating from France, Millesima has expanded its operations to many countries, including Singapore, to provide consumers with the opportunity to experience high-quality wines from renowned vineyards worldwide.

Millesima’s strength lies in its meticulous selection of wine products, ensuring high quality and clear origins. The product portfolio of Millesima includes wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and many other famous wine-producing regions. Customers can find classic wines, limited editions, and even internationally award-winning bottles.

Millesima’s eCommerce wine website is elegantly designed and user-friendly, making it easy for buyers to search for detailed information about products and place orders online. Additionally, Millesima offers professional advisory services to help customers select wines that suit their preferences and needs.

• Website: https://www.millesima.sg/
• Framework: Next.js
• Programming language: Node.js
• Traffic: 72,445/month
• Ranking: #28,409 (Singapore) & #2,950,063 (Global)

6. Wine Fridge Singapore

Wine Fridge Singapore is a prominent brand in providing wine cabinets and related products for wine storage in Singapore. Known for professionalism and high quality, Wine Fridge Singapore specializes in offering wine cabinets from renowned brands, ensuring the ideal conditions for wine storage.

The strength of Wine Fridge Singapore lies not only in providing quality products but also in professional customer advisory and support services. They understand the needs of wine enthusiasts and collectors, providing suitable storage solutions to maintain the flavor and quality of wine over time.

The website of Wine Fridge Singapore provides detailed information about various wine cabinets, from small-capacity cabinets for personal needs to large cabinets for extensive wine collections. Some customized features include product comparisons, selecting products by size and color, quick payments with Shop Pay or Google Pay, etc.

• Website: winefridge.sg
• Platform: Shopify
• Traffic: 69,460/month
• Ranking: #14,757 (Singapore) & #1,874,271 (Global)

7. Wines Wholesales

The Wine Wholesales brand is known as a destination for purchasing high-quality wines, wine cabinets, and related accessories at attractive wholesale prices. This brand has built its reputation through product diversity and quality services, aiming to provide customers with smooth and convenient online wine shopping experiences.

The eCommerce website of Wine Wholesales is user-friendly, making it easy to search for and select products. Customers can easily find detailed information about each wine, including origin, flavor profile, and reviews from previous buyers. Additionally, Wine Wholesales regularly offers promotions and discounts, allowing consumers to purchase quality products at affordable prices.

• Website: wineswholesales.com.sg
• Platform: Shopify
• Traffic: 58,550/month
• Ranking: #16,845 (Singapore) & #1,961,760 (Global)

8. Wines Online Singapore

This is a prominent name in the retail wine sector in Singapore, specializing in providing premium wines from around the world. Wines Online’s strength lies in its product diversity, ranging from wines and spirits to soju and sake, especially low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages.

Wines Online’s eCommerce website is built on Shopify, featuring an intuitive interface that allows customers to easily search for and select products. Wines Online Singapore is also known for its fast and reliable delivery service. They ensure that products are delivered to customers safely and on time. Additionally, Wines Online’s advisory team is always available to assist customers with any inquiries or requests, ensuring that every customer has the best shopping experience.

• Website: https://winesonline.com.sg/
• Platform: Shopify
• Traffic: 57,628/month
• Ranking: #31,363 (Singapore) & #1,429,220 (Global)

Wrap Up!

Here are the 8 most prominent eCommerce wine websites in Singapore. Each brand brings its own unique advantages, from product diversity and service quality to convenient shopping experiences.

Looking for advice on building an eCommerce wine website? Contact SECOMM now!

Replatforming is not only a business decision but also creates a leap to help businesses optimize operations and create a competitive advantage in the market. In this article, let’s dive into the journey of 8 iconic brands that have switched platforms from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus. Not only that, the platform transformation has impacted the development and growth of these brands in the ever-changing eCommerce market.

1. Slam Jam

Established in 1989, famous Italian fashion brand Slam Jam has served many fashionistas around the world. Slam Jam has implemented Omnichannel very successfully on the Shopify Plus platform. However, previously on the Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform, trying to reach an omnichannel approach caused Slam Jam to incur a lot of costs and technical difficulties.

After about a year after transitioning to the Shopify Plus platform, Slam Jam decided to use Shopify POS to increase omnichannel efficiency and build a longer-term omnichannel strategy. This has helped this fashion brand increase its average daily orders by 15%, reducing setup and operating costs by 50%.

Website: https://slamjam.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 2.3M/month

Rank: #40,182 (USA) & #54,510 (Global)

2. NYDJ

NYDJ, the fashion brand known for its premium denim and womenswear products, decided to make a big pivot in its eCommerce strategy by migrating from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus. This decision comes from the desire to optimize the online shopping experience and better meet customer needs.

Migrating to Shopify Plus gave NYDJ access to many unique features and a robust and mature infrastructure for eCommerce growth. This helps NYDJ quickly respond to market changes and expand its business without encountering technical limitations. Thanks to that, NYDJ has enhanced the shopping experience, increased customer satisfaction and promoted sustainable sales growth.

Website: https://nydj.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 1.5M/month

Rank: #15,226 (USA) & #64,453 (Global)

3. MZ Wallace

MZ Wallace is a brand famous for its high-end handbags and accessories. After a period of operating the eCommerce system, this brand found that Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC) was difficult to manage as well as development and maintenance costs were quite high, and customizing new features was also difficult. .

After considering many platforms, MZ Wallace decided to switch to Shopify Plus because this solution helps save a lot of development and maintenance costs. As a result, when operating on Shopify Plus, MZ Wallace can customize many new powerful features and functions to optimize operational efficiency. Moving to Shopify Plus freed up time and resources, allowing MZ Wallace to grow quickly and proactively focus on attracting, converting, and retaining customers, rather than overcoming growth and development barriers. budget constraints.

Website: https://www.mzwallace.com/en-vn

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 1M/month

Rank: #18,292 (USA) & #108,437 (Global)

4. Bauer

Since its founding in 1927, Bauer has gradually become a tycoon in manufacturing and selling products for the sport of hockey. After operating an eCommerce system on the Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform, Bauer realized they needed more than what their current platform could give them to expand and customize.

With many growth goals such as expanding international markets, customizing hockey warranties, and implementing a loyalty program, Bauer converted to Shopify Plus to find the best solution for its needs. Since moving to Shopify, Bauer has been able to save on technology costs and redirect those dollars toward improvements that drive results for the business. They can also bring new features to market faster than before. Shopify’s checkout feature was also strong for Bauer, especially on mobile, contributing to an 18% increase in conversion rate and 30% increase in orders.

Website: https://www.bauer.com/

Industry: Sport

Traffic: 765,322/month

Rank: #44,392 (USA) & #134,184 (Global)

5. Decor Steals

Decor Steals is an online store based in the US specializing in selling home decoration products with a variety of designs, beautiful and on-trend. At 10 am every day, Decor Steals will introduce on the website 3 carefully selected products at affordable prices and will be sold within 24 hours until sold out.

This strategy helps keep inventory flowing and creates an engaging experience for customers looking for decorative items at more accessible prices. At the same time, this helped Decor Steals’ online sales skyrocket and it was time for them to customize more in-depth features and integrate more sales channels, but the current SFCC system did not meet their needs. this bridge. As a result, Decor Steals converted to the Shopify Plus platform and launched the website in less than 6 months.

The brand only has a lean team for operations consisting of an internal manager and several external contractors, which helps them save more than $300,000 in implementation costs compared to operating with Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

Website: https://www.decorsteals.com/

Industry: Home Decor

Traffic: 745,010/month

Rank: #40,759 (USA) & #218,245 (Global)

6. The Cambridge Satchel Company

The Cambridge Satchel Company, the prestigious British brand known for its exquisitely crafted leather briefcases, has decided to make a major move by migrating from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus. The reason is because the company finds that the investment to reach new customers is more than the revenue each new customer brings. As a business that always places its value on product quality and business ethics, The Cambridge Satchel Company fell into a cycle of burning more money on the technology than on the product itself.

Not long after switching to Shopify Plus, technology investment costs were significantly reduced and Satchel’s specialized team could operate well with very little development support from third parties. The Cambridge Satchel Company also uses Shopify to provide AR experiences to customers with the “Try On” feature via smartphones.

Website: https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 411,724/month

Rank: #143,743 (USA) & #329,411 (Global)

7. Mustang Survival

Established in Canada for more than 50 years, Mustang Survival specializes in designing, manufacturing and supplying products for water rescue professionals, military personnel, and water recreation enthusiasts.

As eCommerce websites become the dominant sales channel, gradually replacing the remaining sales channels in their business strategy, Mustang Survival needs a platform that provides a higher level of customization and expansion. As a result, Mustang Survival moved its entire operations from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus.

The brand quickly took advantage of the platform’s two most cutting-edge automation solutions, Flow and LaunchPad, to save time and costs and increase accuracy and efficiency. This helped Mustang Survival increase conversion rates by 172% and reduce average page load time by 50% in just under 3 months of switching to Shopify Plus.

Website: https://mustangsurvival.com/

Industry: Sport

Traffic: 157,988/month

Rank: #144,575 (Canada) & #626,414 (Global)

8. Rémy Cointreau

Rémy Cointreau is a famous French luxury spirits group, owning more than 14 different brands. But as shopping moved online during the pandemic, traditional in-store and on-premise purchases stagnated – while online deliveries soared. Rémy Cointreau recognized the urgent need to rapidly expand its eCommerce capabilities and continue serving customers online across multiple channels over the long term.

This brand has converted to Shopify Plus and uses the Shopify POS solution, allowing the implementation of an effective sales process on many different channels such as eCommerce websites, traditional stores and direct sales through personal sales managers. This seamless omnichannel approach gives Rémy Cointreau unprecedented flexibility. The platform transformation has helped this giant grow incredibly, and eCommerce operations have become a pillar of Rémy Cointreau’s sales strategy.

Website: https://www.remy-cointreau.com/en/

Industry: Wine & Spirits

Traffic: 50,768/month

Rank: #88,991 (France) & #1,704,449 (Global)

Final Words

The transition from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus is not only a technological change, but also an important strategy that helps brands like Bauer, Slam Jam, Rémy Cointreau, NYDJ, MZ Wallace, Mustang Survival, Decor Steals and The Cambridge Satchel Company enhance customer experience and optimize business operations. The right choice of foundation not only brings immediate results but also lays a solid foundation for sustainable development and prosperity in the future.

Need advice on switching platforms from Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify Plus? Contact SECOMM now!

In today’s digital marketplace, having a unique eCommerce system is crucial for businesses to differentiate themselves. Shopify, like several eCommerce platforms, provides companies with a flexible “sandbox” for creating a unique online presence, beyond the basic templates. This customization is made possible by Shopify Liquid, a templating language for developers. This discussion explores Shopify Liquid’s features, highlighting how it can elevate the eCommerce business.

What Is Shopify Liquid?

Shopify Liquid is a templating language that helps online stores show changing content on their pages. It connects the store’s data to what customers see. With Liquid, companies can make shopping feel personal, run their stores more smoothly, and increase sales.

While Liquid can help with smoother store operations through better content management, it’s not directly responsible for running the store itself. Although it can enhance the shopping experience, leading potentially to more sales, it doesn’t guarantee increased revenue. It’s a tool that, when used effectively, can contribute to a store’s overall success strategy.

Understanding the Basics of Shopify Liquid

Before diving into the basics of Shopify Liquid, it’s important to know the definitions of it. Liquid is a templating language created to safely generate and show changing content on websites. Liquid offers tools like tags and filters that help businesses manage and present their store’s information effectively.

Liquid Tags

Liquid tags are essential components in Shopify’s templating system, allowing businesses to direct their website’s structure. They execute a range of functions, from looping through data to displaying content conditionally. Key tags include:

• {% for %}/{% endfor %}: These tags loop through lists or groups of items.
• {% if %}/{% elsif %}/{% else %}/{% endif %}: These are used for making decisions in the code, showing different content based on certain conditions.
• {% assign %}: This tag is for setting up variables that can be used throughout the template.

These tags help in organizing and presenting the store’s data in a way that aligns with the company’s branding and customer engagement strategies

Liquid Objects and Filters

Shopify Liquid grants companies the ability to interact with different store components, like products, collections, and customer profiles. These components have attributes and actions that help in accessing and adjusting store information1.

In contrast, filters in Liquid are applied to change how objects or variables appear. They’re used for various functions, such as altering text format, organizing dates, and calculating figures. For instance, the | upcase filter transforms text to uppercase, and the | money filter arranges a figure to reflect the store’s currency preferences

Liquid Code Snippets

Shopify Liquid offers a feature for using code snippets—small, reusable code blocks that can be integrated across various templates. This functionality encourages a modular approach to coding and simplifies the process of maintaining and updating the design of the online store

Benefits of Using Shopify Liquid for eCommerce Businesses

Shopify Liquid is a valuable tool for eCommerce companies, offering several advantages:

1. Customization: It allows companies to personalize their online store, ensuring it showcases their brand through specially designed product pages, collections, and checkout experiences.
2. Dynamic Content: Liquid automatically refreshes store content based on customer actions, inventory changes, and current sales, making sure shoppers always see relevant information.
3. User Experience: The language aids in creating a pleasant and easy shopping environment, complete with custom recommendations and efficient navigation, which can boost customer happiness and increase purchases.
4. Growth: With Liquid, companies can easily introduce new features and integrate apps, allowing their store to grow while keeping its distinctive style.
5. Efficiency: Using Liquid helps save time and resources in updating the store, which means companies can spend less on upkeep and more on expanding their business.

These benefits make Shopify Liquid an essential part of building a successful online store that stands out and operates efficiently.

Advanced Techniques and Tips for Using Shopify Liquid

Exploring Shopify Liquid’s advanced features can greatly enhance an eCommerce platform:

1. Variables and Scope: Liquid variables store and modify data within templates. Understanding how to use these variables across different templates is vital for creating dynamic store features.
2. Operators: Liquid includes operators for math, comparisons, and logical decisions. These are key for developing intelligent, complex templates.
3. Loops and Iterations: Using loops, companies can manage and display groups of data, like product arrays or customer orders. Liquid provides various loop options for data handling.
4. Includes and Snippets: Code reusability is made easy with Liquid’s includes and snippets, helping to keep templates organized and easy to update.
5. Extensions and Apps: Shopify’s wide range of apps and extensions, compatible with Liquid, allows for enhanced store functionality and unique customer experiences.
6. Debugging and Testing: As Liquid usage grows, so does the need for debugging and testing. Shopify has tools to help identify and fix template issues, ensuring a seamless operation.

These advanced Liquid features support businesses in creating a more robust and personalized online shopping environment.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in Shopify Liquid

Shopify Liquid’s versatility in tailoring online stores is unmatched, yet it comes with its set of challenges:

1. Code Syntax Precision: Liquid’s coding requires meticulous attention to detail. Any small syntax error can disrupt the functioning of a template. It’s crucial for businesses to thoroughly inspect their code for any omissions, misalignments, or typing mistakes. The theme editor provided by Shopify is an excellent resource for detecting and fixing these errors.
2. Template Display Dilemmas: If a business’s templates are not displaying correctly, it may be due to interference with other Liquid scripts or third-party applications. It’s important to identify the specific section causing trouble and utilize Shopify’s diagnostic tools to find the solution.
3. Speed Snags: Complex or poorly written Liquid scripts can slow down a website, causing longer load times. Businesses should refine their scripts by eliminating unnecessary repetitions, caching data that is accessed often, and implementing Shopify’s recommended performance enhancement strategies.
4. Keeping Up to Date: Shopify frequently updates its platform and the Liquid language. Businesses need to ensure their Liquid scripts are up to date with Shopify’s latest releases, replacing any outdated tags or functionalities.
5. App Synchronization: When adding third-party apps to a Shopify store, companies must verify that the app’s Liquid scripts are compatible with their existing setup. Comprehensive testing and consulting the app’s documentation or support can help avoid integration issues.

By following these straightforward strategies, companies can enjoy a more seamless and efficient use of Shopify Liquid. Businesses need to stay updated and proactive to tackle these typical challenges effectively.

Final words

Shopify Liquid is a transformative tool for eCommerce companies, providing exceptional flexibility to tailor online stores. Mastery of this language enables a business to design distinctive and captivating shopping environments that align with customer preferences and distinguish the company’s brand in the marketplace. 

Need help with building an eCommerce system with Shopify? Contact SECOMM now!

Welcome to the final installment of our three-part series on brands that have successfully embraced international expansion with Shopify Plus. In the previous parts, we explored the journeys of ten dynamic brands that leveraged Shopify Plus to navigate the complexities of global growth. In this concluding chapter, we turn our attention to five more outstanding brands: Ellana Cosmetics, Dollar Shave Club, Daniel Wellington, BONIA, and AIMER.

Dollar Shave Club

Dollar Shave Club (DSC) is a renowned American company that revolutionized the personal care industry with its subscription model for razors and personal care products.

Initially, DSC built its own custom eCommerce platform, which provided flexibility and high customization. While this allowed DSC to shape its business model in the digital landscape, managing and maintaining it became complex and resource-intensive over time. As technological solutions like Shopify emerged, offering features and tools that DSC could leverage, the company explored available solutions to integrate them into its existing system. After careful consideration, DSC transitioned to Shopify Plus to better support its profit growth and international expansion goals.

Through Shopify Plus, DSC operates and manages its subscription business model more effectively, integrating multiple applications within the Shopify ecosystem to optimize marketing campaigns and customer care. As a result, DSC reduced system maintenance resources by 40%, reached over 100 million global consumers through ShopApp, swiftly converted international stores to Shopify Plus within weeks instead of months, and increased conversion rates using Shopify’s applications.

Website: dollarshaveclub.com

Industry: Men Health

Traffic: 3.148M/month

Rank: #9,907 (USA) & #50,278 (Global)

Daniel Wellington

Launched in Sweden in 2011, Daniel Wellington is known for its elegant, minimalist watch designs and superior quality. Before Daniel Wellington adopted Shopify, they faced significant operational challenges, particularly the complexity and cost of their current technology systems, which included an e-commerce platform lacking user interface from CommerceTools and Contentful as their chosen CMS platform. The development and rollout of new features were time-consuming and cumbersome, consuming substantial resources. Additionally, Daniel Wellington used an on-premise ERP system, which increased costs and complexity. With multiple stores and integrated systems, product changes took months or even years to implement, resulting in delayed time-to-market.

Since transitioning to Shopify Plus, all these issues have been thoroughly addressed. Website features that previously took months or even years to develop and launch now take only days or weeks. This practical approach allows for quicker decision-making and agile response based on market dynamics. Other notable outcomes include the rapid launch of 12 expansion stores, a 50% reduction in platform fees, and fewer resource expenditures on maintenance and development compared to before.

Website: https://global.danielwellington.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 2.773M/month

Rank: #78,900 (USA) & #63,785 (Global)

BONIA

Established in 1974, BONIA has gradually become a prestigious and irreplaceable fashion brand in Southeast Asia. After making the strategic decision to transition from Adobe Commerce to Shopify due to previous challenges with product launch speed and website responsiveness, BONIA aimed to leverage its online presence for international expansion. Recognizing the need to provide personalized experiences for customers while maintaining a consistent brand identity across different markets, BONIA also sought to ensure that managing multiple websites wouldn’t burden its team with excessive time and costs.

Therefore, BONIA upgraded to Shopify Plus. This strategic move enabled BONIA to harness the expansive capabilities of Shopify Plus storefronts, allowing them to establish multiple online storefronts alongside their flagship Malaysian website. Leveraging this capability, BONIA seamlessly integrated themes and layouts from its Malaysian store while ensuring each new store exudes its own distinct charm and is localized to specific locations. This localization was achieved through customized adjustments tailored to each specific region. Shopify Plus’s organizational admin also played a crucial role, providing BONIA with a centralized command center for all its stores.

As a result, BONIA increased its overall revenue by 10% through expansion into Singapore and saw a 25% annual increase in website traffic.

Website: https://bonia.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 108,842/month

Rank: #27,473 (Malaysia) & #1,510,285 (Global)

Ellana Cosmetics

In 2007, Ellana Cosmetics was founded with the goal of helping global consumers achieve better skin and improve their skincare knowledge. Recognizing the opportunity to reach more customers online, the brand initially started with a basic HTML website, then moved to Adobe Commerce and later WooCommerce. However, Ellana Cosmetics was dissatisfied with the results these platforms provided. The lack of robust data management tools made it difficult to personalize customer experiences across different markets, resulting in significant online sales losses.

Ellana Cosmetics switched to Shopify when their e-commerce marketing efforts were still in their infancy in the Philippines. This allowed Ellana to strengthen its technological foundation and accelerate growth and efficiency by upgrading to Shopify Plus shortly thereafter. The company leveraged various solutions to optimize managing multiple expanded storefronts, including Shopify Flow. As a result, the average order value increased by 17%, payment failure rates decreased by 40%, and online revenue increased by 50%.

Website: https://www.ellanacosmetics.com/

Industry: Cosmetics

Traffic: 88,075/month

Rank: #61,563 (Philippines) & #2,754,014 (Global)

AIMER

Founded in 1993, AIMER is one of the leading lingerie brands in China. With over 20 years of experience in designing and creating premium and luxurious lingerie, AIMER takes pride in its continuously evolving creative design team, which has developed more than 400 new products under its five main brands: AIMER, imi’s, LA CLOVER, AIMER Men, and Aimer Kids. Supported by these innovative products, AIMER has established an international presence far beyond its homeland, including regions such as North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

International sales are a crucial part of AIMER’s development strategy. However, the brand faced challenges regarding customization, taxation, and compliance with tax rules. AIMER migrated its platform to Shopify Plus, leveraging its customization capabilities to meet the needs of customers in international markets.

Additionally, utilizing Shopify Plus’s Avalara tax automation feature helped AIMER automatically calculate taxes based on the customer’s international address. Instead of manually calculating taxes, Shopify Plus accurately computed taxes for each order based on the latest tax regulations of the target market and automatically added taxes to the final checkout page, ensuring transparency in tax costs for consumers.

As a result, AIMER saw a 105% increase in monthly site visits, a 57% increase in monthly conversion rates, and a 62% increase in monthly page views.

Website: https://aimeronline.com/

Industry: Fashion

Traffic: 32,449/month

Rank: #51,992 (Hong Kong) & #1,948,207 (Global)

Final Words

In this final part of our series, we’ve delved into the inspiring journeys of Ellana Cosmetics, Dollar Shave Club, Daniel Wellington, BONIA, and AIMER. These brands exemplify how leveraging Shopify Plus can transform the challenges of international expansion into opportunities for growth and success.

As we conclude our series, it is evident that the journey to international expansion is complex but highly rewarding with the right tools and strategies. For brands looking to embark on this path, the experiences of 15 success stories will provide valuable insights and inspiration.

Need a deep consultation? Contact SECOMM for free!