Running an e-commerce business can be a complex operation. You need to set up your digital storefront, draw in customers, and, of course, manage your orders and inventory. By outsourcing some of the steps in this process, you can streamline your operations, increase your production capacity, and effectively scale your online retail business. Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that specialize in e-commerce tasks can provide you with the resources, systems, and manpower you need to revolutionize the process of online sales. Learn more about call centers for retail services.
What Is E-Commerce BPO?
E-commerce BPO involves hiring a third-party company to handle all kinds of tasks related to making sales online. Your vendor can take over administrative and back-office tasks, so you can prioritize core functions like developing your products, building a compelling catalog to showcase online, and finding ways to boost sales.
Top E-Commerce BPO Services
You can outsource a wide range of functions for your e-commerce business, depending on where you need support and which tasks take up most of your time and resources. The following are a few common services you can employ to make your company more efficient.
Order Processing
In order for your e-commerce business to be successful, you need a solid system for taking orders. Outsourcing companies can verify orders, send confirmations, and update shipping information. If customers ever need to make a return, they can also guide them through the refund process.
Inventory Management
Before you can make sales, you need the inventory. Your partner can manage inventory on your behalf, ensuring you have products in stock and that your website accurately reflects available products. They can also assist with actual order fulfillment, including picking products and sending them from your warehouse.
Customer Service
When you operate an online shop, you’ll probably need to resolve customer issues at some point. Many outsourcing providers have customer service teams and e-commerce call centers that can handle calls, emails, and social media messages from customers who need support. They can do anything from processing refunds to answering questions about how to use a product.
Technical Support
Outsourcing providers don’t just support your customers. They can also provide valuable technical expertise for your in-house team. Your provider can help you keep your website up and running, troubleshoot issues with your payment system, and handle the other technical aspects of operating a digital storefront.
Benefits of Using E-Commerce BPO Outsourcing Services
Partnering with an experienced BPO company can set you up with a wide range of operational and financial advantages, such as the ones noted below.
Saving Money
One of the major draws of outsourcing is the potential cost savings. BPO providers have the infrastructure in place to conduct all sorts of back-office duties on a large scale for you and other clients. Because of these systems and resources, they can often do the same tasks for less.
For example, instead of hiring an in-house customer service team, going through an expensive recruiting process, and paying salaries, you can save money by hiring the services of an established BPO. In fact, companies that partner with vendors to outsource secondary tasks save an average of 15% to 30% on operational costs.
Boosting Efficiency
When you use a vendor to handle time-consuming tasks, you can streamline your entire business. Instead of putting your staff in charge of tedious manual tasks, you can tap into your BPO partner’s expertise. They have the resources, workflows, and automated systems required to handle anything from data entry to customer service efficiently. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to invest more in growing your business, improving your products, and advertising your online shop.
Enhancing the Customer Experience
By helping your business operate more smoothly, outsourcing can improve the online shopping experience for your customers. For example, a BPO team can elevate customer experiences and make it possible for you to provide 24/7 support to clients all over the globe. They’ll enjoy faster response times when checking up on a package or inquiring about a product, giving them a better experience with your brand. Depending on the tasks you outsource, BPO vendors can also improve other aspects of the customer experience, such as ensuring all product prices and descriptions are up to date.
Improving Scalability
Selling more products is the key to boosting cash flow and growing your business. As your business expands, you’ll need to expand your team to keep up with demand. Instead of paying for the increased back-office expenses associated with expanding your team, you can use an out-of-the-box, scalable solution from your outsourcing partner.
Because BPO providers already have trained staff and trusted systems, they can quickly integrate with your existing workflows while also helping you grow your business. They can field calls from customers, manage a growing inventory, and ensure your website is always up to date, even as you launch new product lines.
Upcoming E-Commerce BPO Trends
The internet is already at the forefront of the business world, with 38% of American consumers preferring to shop online. You can also expect digital tools and processes to play a massive role in the future of BPO. As more people conduct businesses online, BPO providers are undergoing digital outsourcing for businesses, focusing more on omnichannel support that integrates all digital communications with your customers.
Additionally, AI will likely play a massive role in e-commerce BPO. Companies have already started leveraging machine learning to provide online stores with predictive data analytics and personalized insights.
Choosing the Right E-Commerce BPO Partner
Your outsourcing vendor can have an impact on your efficiency, branding, reputation, and more. Get started by looking for a provider that has experience in the online retail field and understands what it takes to operate a successful online store.
Even if you plan to outsource only one aspect of your shop at first, such as customer service, it’s also a good idea to select a partner that offers a wide variety of administrative services. With other services already in place, it will be easier to expand your business with support from the same vendor instead of having to coordinate with multiple outsourcing partners.
Revolutionizing E-Commerce With BPO Support
E-commerce businesses can leverage BPO services to make more sales and become more efficient without the burden of managing a large in-house team. By hiring a third party to handle customer service, data entry, and order processing, you can focus on building a streamlined system that maximizes your profits. The right provider will also have the tools to keep your business up to date on digital trends in the online retail industry, helping you remain competitive as your business expands.
As the premier provider of BPO services for a wide range of industries, Confie has all the tools you need to transform your e-commerce operations.
Call us at 800-684-2276 or reach out online to start leveraging the power of outsourcing in your business.
