How Choose Multi Channel Ecommerce Software

Top 7 Features to look for – How to Choose Multi Channel Ecommerce Software

Listing your products on many ecommerce websites can take hours of tedious work.

Without multi channel software, retailers have to make constant updates to their individual listings. This is tough when the same product is on five different websites.

Luckily, listing software relieves the hassle of selling identical listings over many websites.

Yet, the question still remains: How to choose the best multichannel ecommerce software?

If you are an online retailer who wants to increase sales, listing software is a must-have tool.

Soon, all online merchants will use multi channel software to stay profitable.

Listing data management services come in a wide variety of focuses. There is a huge scope of services that a provider might offer – with little overlap between providers.

For sellers that are looking into multi channel sales software; here are some basic criteria for choosing the best solution.

Multichannel Ecommerce Software Essentials and Tips

All multichannel ecommerce listing software providers are not created equal. Some of the service providers on the market are high quality and some are not.

Depending on the service you have, retailers might even get penalized for overselling their product.

Most retailers want to avoid this issue, so here are some key aspects of a reliable, quality listing management service …

1. What to Look For

The best multichannel ecommerce software offers a range of customizable settings and features.

This can combine automation and human-tech support. Sometimes, the best services are the ones that still use a telephone. (telephone support is included with your Listing Mirror account)

2. Ease-of-Access Tools

As a business owner, you want control over your sales. We understand.

The first thing you should look for in listing management software is a tool for editing.

Don’t rely on a software support team to correct things like typos. It should not take your management service hours to make simple changes.

Those are hours of lost revenue potential. So, you will want a tool to edit product details, which will sync all your listing channels.

3. Listing Data Management

When you are looking for a good multichannel software provider, think about how they go about their business:

Do they manage listings by hand? Or, does their software copy and export the products content fields?

The best software will, , copy your current product listing into other sales channels.

Look for a service that includes; images, descriptions, variations, pricing, specifications, etc.

Data management is among the most important aspect of a multi channel ecommerce software provider.

4. Order Fulfillment Process

When an order is placed from any one of your sales channels, you want to fulfill the order through your established logistics provider.

Take Amazon sellers for instance. Since Amazon already ships their products, it makes sense to look for a service that fulfills orders through FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon).

The best services automate orders through a customer’s original order fulfillment process.

But, this might not be enough, in and of itself. Also, a great listing service will work with other third party shipment services.

For a startup online retailer, the need for this versatility can become more and more prominent as their ecommerce business grows.

A service providers ability to manage third party shipments is based on their listing management software.

It’s worth it for retailers to seek out detailed specifications of any one services software design.

5. Inventory Syncing

One of the most important things – when choosing a multi channel software service – is inventory syncing.

This is especially important for retailers selling one-of-a-kind products.

Let’s say you are selling a single handcrafted chair on five websites. The moment that your chair sells on any one of the five channels, four channels are displaying an item that is out-of-stock.

When you sell an item on ebay; the software should notify and update all the other channels (within minutes) to reflect the items current stock.

In our example of the chair, each channel is updated to an out-of-stock quantity.

Inventory syncing is a crucial feature for an effective listing management system.

6. A Range of Sales Channels

Every extra sales channel you list a product on is a one hundred percent increase in potential online viewership.

Choosing the best software provider can depend on the sales channels they support.

A few of the essential channels are:

• Amazon
• Ebay
• Jet
• Walmart
• Etsy
• Shopify
• Shipstation

Some multi channel software can only support a max number of channels per retailer – or a max amount of product listing SKUs (Stock Keeping Units).

This is not a problem, as long as the software is versatile enough to make room for future expansion, more sales outlets, and higher SKU maximums.

Choose a software that allows for, at least, 300 SKUs to begin with.

For startup sellers, this allows for a period of growth and expansion, without paying more for unneeded SKUs.

For larger sellers, choose a service that accommodates upwards of around 20,000 SKUs, to insure your retail profit potential.

7. Personal Customer Service

Choose a multichannel ecommerce software with personal, individualized customer service and support.

Having personal contact with a support technician is above any other essential feature.

Setting up shop for a multichannel online retail operation can be tedious at times.

The customer should never have to sweat over a service that they pay for, so the best listing management software providers will offer:

• One-on-One Support Contact
• Full Software Setup Service
• Unlimited Order Support
• Ongoing and Unlimited Update Support
• Individualized Order Fulfillment Facilitation

Finally, (when you have found a listing service that fulfills all your requirements) consider the price.

Many software providers are too overpriced for the features offered through their software.

The best multichannel listing software usually starts out well over $100 per month.

Among the best service providers, is Listing Mirror.

Listing Mirror offers a Starter package at under $69 per month.

Unlike many other listing services, Listing Mirror does not charge performance based fees.

No extra charges for selling beyond your inventory.

Base your choice of software the individual providers service quality, of item listing management, fulfillment automation and customized support.