Launching an e-commerce store sure can be exciting—the potential, the money, the fame. Either you may want to have a significant bite of the eye-watering, $6.5 trillion worth international e-commerce market pie or, you have this burning desire of being the next Jeff Bezos or Jack Ma.
Good for you.
However, that won’t suffice.
Running an e-commerce store isn’t just about selling amazing products or the quirky technology that runs the platform or the clever SEO techniques to push it up the online rush. While you are neck-deep focusing solely on your core business activities, something else in the background is tarnishing your reputation, slowly but steadily.
E-commerce Data.
Customer is King and so is your e-commerce data. The process of entering, updating and managing information isn’t going to be as easy as you thought it would be—especially when you have tens of thousands of products constantly moving in and out of your inventory. It requires an immense amount of dedication, attention to detail and a significant investment of time and resources to keep it running smoothly.
Without proper management of those data—updated inventory levels, apt product descriptions, colorful images, relevant keywords—your e-commerce dream would take an instant U-turn, ending up with frustrated customers and lost sales.
This is where ecommerce data entry services from a professional data entry company can pull you out of this seemingly perpetual misery.
How? Let’s dive in.
E-commerce Data – What’s in the Mix?
Did you think that the system architecture was the backbone of your platform? Wrong.
It is your e-commerce data. From product descriptions, pricing to customer orders and reviews, your platform’s longevity depends on how well-organized and accurate your data is. Without it, customers visiting your store would be lost, struggling to figure out what you are selling, whether the product is in stock or how much it costs.
Accurate data builds trust and encourages customers to make a purchase with confidence. It also helps improve the product’s SERP rankings, boosting visibility and bringing in even more customers.
What Are the Different Types of E-commerce Data?
Let us break down the different types of data to better understand the complexity it holds.
- Inventory/Product Data
- Stock levels & restock schedules
- Supplier information
- Product name, description, specifications
- Price (MRP, sale price, offer)
- Images and videos
- Order Data
- Shipping details (customer address and contact details)
- Order details (product quantity, options and customizations)
- Payment info (banking details and billing addresses)
- Order tracking details (tracking number and status updates)
- Customer Data
- Name, contact details and address
- Purchase preferences and history
- Review and Feedback Data
- Customer reviews and testimonials
These are the most important datasets which shape the shopping experience of an e-commerce platform. Even though these datasets are basic and may be easy to acquire, organizing and managing it is no small feat. It requires a seamless collaboration between specific skill sets and advanced technology, especially when your platform grows.
What Are the Challenges of Managing E-commerce Data?
Here are some of the most common hurdles an e-commerce owner might encounter:
- Data Volume
An upstart platform will have hundreds or even thousands of SKUs and handling that much amount of data can be overwhelming.
- Time-consuming
Handling e-commerce data is a strenuous process that takes a lot of your time—valuable time which you could spend on core activities such as marketing or product development.
- Accuracy Problems
The data entry process being manual, is prone to errors and even a minor error in pricing or stock levels can lead to lost sales and damage reputation irreversibly.
- Regular Updates
Every second, fresh e-commerce data comes in. This means, inventory levels change, prices fluctuate, and new products are added. This makes data management frustrating.
- Resource-intensive
It is expensive to hire an in-house team to handle data entry. It gets worse for small and medium-sized businesses, who would already be on a tight budget.
Why Hire Outsourced E-commerce Data Entry Services
Now that we’ve discussed the issues, let’s talk about the panacea: outsourcing.
Entrusting e-commerce data entry to a third-party service provider can bring a host of benefits.
- Cost-Effective
Good luck with hiring and training an in-house team. It is expensive and will be difficult to manage. Outsourcing, on the other hand, will enable you to pay for only the services you need and that too, when you need them.
- Time Savings
As a direct effect of outsourcing, you will immediately free up your in-house team to focus on other relevant business operations like marketing, customer service, and product development—increasing overall productivity.
- Access to Expertise
A major advantage while outsourcing is the unprecedented access to the pool of trained data entry professionals who are capable of handling complex and repetitive tasks efficiently. They ensure your data is accurate, up-to-date, and organized.
- Scalability
Insourcing data entry leads to stagnation of resources and skill sets. Outsourcing can help you easily scale up on the required services based on your needs, regardless of if you’re launching a new product or gearing up for promotional sales.
- Technology
Professional outsourcing teams bring in advanced tools and software into their operational workflow to ensure data accuracy, adding an additional layer of validation and reducing the risk of errors that could potentially jeopardize your business.
- Round-the-Clock Operations
It is common for outsourcing companies to function 24/7, ensuring that your ecommerce data is regularly edited, updated and managed, thereby improving your customer’s shopping experience.
How to Choose the Right Outsourcing Partner?
There are a number of capable data entry outsourcing providers, but the key lies in finding one that fits your requirements. Here are some factors to consider:
- Track Record: Look for an agency with a proven track record in e-commerce data entry.
- Technology: Ensure they use the latest tools and software for data management.
- Custom Solutions: The right partner should possess the flexibility to build services to suit your unique business needs.
- Data Confidentiality: Ensure they have standard guidelines to safeguard your business and customer information.
Why Partner with MOS for E-commerce Data Entry Services?
With years of experience and a team of skilled professionals, Managed Outsource Solutions (MOS) understands the challenges of handling e-commerce data like no other, as we offer custom, comprehensive e-commerce data entry solutions tailored to your business needs.
Regardless of whether you are looking for assistance in inventory/product catalog management or order processing, we’ve got you covered. Our services don’t stop at e-commerce. We offer a range of BPO solutions that span across industries, providing reliable and reasonable support for businesses of all sizes.
