Advantage and disadvantages of e business

There's no doubt that the ability to sell online has made many businesses viable and profitable. Like all business models, eCommerce has its advantages and disadvantages. It's important to get a good handle on the pros and cons so you can be informed when making your strategic decisions:

Advantages of eCommerce 

There are many obvious and not-so-obvious advantages to doing business online. Understanding exactly what they are can help you leverage them to your advantage:

1. A Larger Market

eCommerce allows you to reach customers all over the country and around the world. Your customers can make a purchase anywhere and anytime, especially since more people are getting used to shopping on their mobile devices.

2. Customer Insights Through Tracking And Analytics

Whether you're sending visitors to your eCommerce website through SEO, PPC ads or a good old postcard, there is a way to track your traffic and customers' entire user journey to get insights into keywords, user experience, marketing message, pricing strategy, and more.

3. Fast Response To Consumer Trends And Market Demand

The streamlined logistics, especially for merchants who do "drop ship," allow businesses to respond to market and eCommerce trends and consumer demands in a nimble manner. Merchants can also create promotions and deals on the fly to attract customers and generate more sales.

4. Lower Cost

With the advance in eCommerce platform technologies, it has become very easy and affordable to set up and maintain an eCommerce store with a low overhead. Merchants no longer have to spend a large budget on TV ads or billboards, nor worry about the expense for personnel and real estate.

5. More Opportunities To "Sell"

Merchants can only provide a limited amount of information on a product in a physical store. On the other hand, eCommerce websites allow the space to include more information such as demo videos, reviews, and customer testimonials to help increase conversion.

6. Personalized Messages

eCommerce platforms give merchants the opportunity to serve up personalized content and product recommendations to registered customers. These targeted communications can help increase conversion by showing the most relevant content to each visitor.

7. Increased Sales With Instant Gratification

For businesses that sell digital goods, eCommerce allows the delivery of products within seconds of making a purchase. This satisfies consumers' need for instant gratification and helps increase sales, especially for low-cost items that are often "impulse buys."

8. Ability to Scale Up (Or Down) Quickly And Unlimited "Shelf Space"

The growth of an online business is not limited by the availability of physical space. Even though logistics can become an issue as one grows, it's less of a challenge compared to those running a brick-and-mortar store. eCommerce merchants can scale up or down their operations quickly, and take advantage of the unlimited "shelf space," as a response to market trends and consumer demands.

Disadvantages of eCommerce

Running an eCommerce business is not all rainbows and unicorns. There are challenges unique to this business model -- knowing them will help you navigate the choppy waters and avoid common pitfalls:

1. Lack Of Personal Touch

Some consumers value the personal touch they get from visiting a physical store and interacting with sales associates. Such personal touch is particularly important for businesses selling high-end products as customers not only want to buy the merchandise but also have a great experience during the process.

2. Lack Of Tactile Experience

No matter how well a video is made, consumers still can't touch and feel a product. Not to mention, it's not an easy feat to deliver a brand experience, which could often include the sense of touch, smell, taste, and sound, through the two-dimensionality of a screen.

3. Price And Product Comparison

With online shopping, consumers can compare many products and find the lowest price. This forces many merchants to compete on price and reduce their profit margin.

4. Need For Internet Access

This is pretty obvious, but don't forget that your customers do need Internet access before they can purchase from you! Since many eCommerce platforms have features and functionalities that require high-speed Internet access for an optimal customer experience, there's a chance you're excluding visitors who have slow connections.

5.  Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is a real and growing problem for online businesses. It can lead to chargebacks that result in the loss of revenue, penalties, and a bad reputation. Some businesses are at higher risk than others for credit card fraud or failure which can impact whether or not e-commerce is right for your business.

6. IT Security Issues

More and more businesses and organizations have fallen prey to malicious hackers who have stolen customer information from their databases. Not only could this have legal and financial implications but also lessen the trust customers have in the company.

7. All the Eggs In One Basket

eCommerce businesses rely heavily (or solely) on their websites. Even just a few minutes of downtime or technology hiccups can cause a substantial loss of revenue and customer dissatisfaction.

8. Complexity In Taxation, Regulations, and Compliance

If an online business sells to customers in different territories, they'll have to adhere to regulations not only in their own states/countries but also in their customers' place of residence. This could create a lot of complexities in accounting, compliance, and taxation.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce. Choosing to move your business online is a big choice with many factors to be considered. Both online and in-person business models come with their own challenges, but with the right information, and a developed action plan, a successful e-commerce operation is in your future. 

Looking to grow your B2B e-commerce business? Apruve can help – moving to an e-commerce platform comes with its own challenges, let us make your financing and accounts receivable process easier with Apruves credit and AR automation programs. Learn more about Apruve or contact Apruve’s specialists to sign up for a demo today!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of e

What are the advantages and advantages of e

What are disadvantages of e

Which is the advantage of e

What are 3 disadvantages of e

What are the 10 disadvantages of e