Shops: a new e-commerce-oriented organization is needed to survive the crisis
These days, whether on social networks, TV or any other media, the health crisis is at the heart of discussions and debates.
Some are coping better than others in this oppressive environment. It's not uncommon to hear of small shopkeepers, restaurateurs, craftsmen, etc. going out of business because it hasn't been possible for them to keep their businesses afloat over the past year.
And yet, some small local players are doing just fine. But how? Why are they doing so? What are they doing that's different from the others?
Well, quite simply, they're building on what works. They understand change and adapt quickly to changing demand. We can see that retailers who survived the crisis and are still surviving today quickly integrated e-commerce into their organization. The digital transition was compulsory and had to be carried out in a hurry, for some.
The challenges of crisis and containment for commerce in 2021
Commerce has changed. Consumer behavior is also changing as a result of the current crisis. The challenges are as numerous as ever, and they are linked to digital technology. Confinements, curfews and other restrictions limit access to consumption. This means that companies have to find solutions to continue meeting consumer needs, while taking regulations into consideration.
For VSEs and SMEs, the challenges relate more specifically to a fall in sales and a drop in demand. The French tend to save in these gloomy times. Which seems logical, despite everything.
The challenge is also to seize the opportunities offered by this crisis, and by these repeated confinements. How can we adapt? And what exactly do we need to adapt to?
Customers' needs and expectations have changed. Their habits have changed. They tend to save more, to buy essential products.
Buying patterns have also changed. Consumers want to buy much more locally, avoiding physical stores in favor of online shopping, click and collect or any other type of delivery. When it comes to payment, contactless methods are obviously preferred.
So how can we meet these new expectations? How can we adapt to these new needs? VSEs and SMEs really need to take these considerations into account if they are to stay "in the game".
Online sales: a necessary digital transformation
It seems obvious that digital is part of the solution for small and medium-sized businesses to continue to address their consumers. In addition to opening up new avenues of action, digital technology can also boost team productivity, customer service management and, quite simply, brand-consumer relations.
In order to adapt to the current situation, and with the aim of not losing too many sales, some tools are essential for VSEs and SMEs:
- an e-commerce site is essential;
- CRM-type software (for better management of the customer experience, contact management, etc.) is essential;
- and solutions for managing day-to-day administrative tasks more efficiently are also essential, to save time on your core business: selling.
Existing during the crisis, but above all surviving the post-crisis period, requires accelerated digital transformation. In fact, SMEs that have successfully carried out their digital transformation seem to have been more resilient during the crisis.
It's no longer enough to have an e-commerce store. It's obvious that customer relations and easier management of administrative tasks (for example) are essential elements in ensuring the operation and survival of your VSE or SME.
Essential functions and tools for optimizing your e-commerce business
To boost the productivity of your teams, to support each department in the efficient accomplishment of its tasks, and with the aim of continuing to sell despite the crisis, you need to go beyond simply offering an e-commerce site to your target consumers.
Tools are available to help you manage the influx of new customers online. For example, you can synchronize your e-commerce site with your billing software.
Synchronizing your e-commerce site with your ERP
Synchronization software such as Atoo-Sync GesCom enables you to get up and running quickly. Rather than having to re-enter everything twice (on your e-commerce site and in your ERP software), synchronization software will :
- make it easier to put products online ;
- display products at the right price, based on stock availability;
- and above all, the flagship function of this type of tool, to import orders directly into the invoicing software.
This procedure ensures the security of data entry, reducing the risk of address, product or delivery quantity errors.
This type of software is essential for saving time on your day-to-day e-commerce tasks. Whatever your CMS, there's a way to connect your e-commerce site to your ERP and save time in the process!
Accounting for your e-commerce site
There are also modules that make it much easier to manage your e-commerce site's accounting. Atoo-Sync Export Compta, for example, is very useful for daily accounting tasks such as VAT, DEB and balance sheet editing. You don't even need to know anything about accounting.
SaaS software like Atoo-Sync Export Compta connects your e-commerce site to your accounting software. All you have to do is import sales, payments and credit notes directly into your accounting software. And for a more precise financial overview of your business, you can distinguish sales accounts by country and tax rate, and payment methods by account and bank journal.
Thanks to a gateway of this type, you no longer have to enter the same information in two different databases.
Your digital transformation is quick and easy! With these solutions, all company departments have access to a centralized database, enabling them to :
- manage the article database
- supplier purchasing management
- update price lists,
- transformation of sales documents through to invoicing (purchase order, delivery note, invoice),
- accounting management,
- BtoC and BtoB price management, etc.
Finally, it's essential to rely on time-saving tools to help you manage your business on a day-to-day basis, so as to be as efficient as possible in these times of crisis, when e-commerce has partly taken over from physical stores.
Start or continue your company's digital transformation with peace of mind, adapting to new market needs as simply as possible!
Article translated from French