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02/14/2023
Sales & Marketing
Having the ability to integrate your accounting system with your eCommerce platform is critical to successful and smooth operations. Sage is one of the most widely deployed ERP systems that have an installed base of over three (3) million customers. With Dreaming Code's Sage integration, eCommerce brands can process customer payments, create invoices, and manage orders without manually entering the data into their ERP system. This saves time and reduces errors allowing the two platforms to communicate seamlessly.
Integration into Sage Accounting can benefit brands in several ways:
- Automate Invoicing and Bill Payment: Automating invoicing and bill payment processes is an invaluable advantage of integrating Sage into an eCommerce system. Automating these processes allows businesses to reduce costs, save time, and improve accuracy. In addition, automating invoicing and bill payment processes also eliminates the need for manual data entry and other manual techniques.
- Streamline Financial Transactions: With an integrated Sage system, businesses can streamline their financial transactions. This eliminates the need to enter each transaction manually and reduces the chance of errors. Companies can also easily track their financial transactions, allowing them to gain better insights into their financial performance.
- Consolidate Data: Data consolidation is another crucial benefit of integrating Sage into an eCommerce system. Businesses can consolidate their financial data, eliminating the need to input it into multiple systems manually. This makes it easier to view and analyze financial data, which can be crucial for making informed decisions.
- Improve Efficiency: Integrating Sage into an eCommerce system can help businesses increase their efficiency. Automating processes and streamlining financial transactions can help companies to save time and reduce costs, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business.
The challenge of integrating ERP systems is that it can be time-consuming and complex. Integration requires a good understanding of the two systems being connected and the data being exchanged. Dreaming Code supports this by bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience and employing a rapid approach through a certified adapter. With Dreaming code's integration support, the process can be smooth, and businesses need not invest significantly in the setup and implementation of the integration. Once the integration is complete, companies' systems are kept up to date and monitored for errors.
Overall, the business benefits of seamless integration to Sage make economic and operational sense. Having an integrated system will create a more streamlined and efficient accounting process. Additionally, it will reduce errors, save time, and ensure that data is accurate and updated. With the proper setup and implementation, companies can reduce the time and effort needed to manage their accounting processes and improve the accuracy of the data.
Dreaming Code offers full support for Sage Accounting Integration in our eCommerce as a service offering. The team of experienced DreamingCode solution consultants can provide support and our award-winning solution to ensure your integration is smooth. Contact us today to find out more! To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
02/10/2023
Helpdesk & Support
46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees. Cyber insurance is a type of insurance policy designed to protect businesses from losses due to a cyber-attack or data breach. It covers various potential risks, including hacking, malware, data loss, and cyber extortion to name a few.
What does it cover?
Cyber insurance protects businesses from any financial losses they may incur due to a cyber attack. Only some events or incidents are covered, so it's essential to work with companies who understand the risk of threats in the cyber world today. Without cyber insurance, businesses can be left vulnerable to substantial financial losses due to a data breach or cyber attack. Cyber insurance can also cover the costs of legal fees, investigations, or regulatory fines that brands may incur due to a data breach.
What does it not cover?
It's important to note that cyber insurance does not cover all types of cyber risks. It does not cover physical damage due to a cyber attack or any losses from a company's negligence or mistakes. Many eCommerce brands may think that their general business liability insurance is enough to cover them in the event of a cyber attack. However, this is different. General business liability insurance only covers physical damage due to accidents or negligence, and it does not cover any losses due to a cyber-attack or data breach.
Peace of mind
Cyber insurance is essential for any eCommerce brand. It provides financial protection in the event of a cyber-attack or data breach and can help cover the costs of any legal or regulatory fines that brands may incur. For any eCommerce brand, cyber insurance is a must-have to ensure their financial security and protect their customers' data.
Dreaming Code is committed to guiding and supporting our customers to find the right comprehensive cyber insurance for their needs. We understand the importance of security and want to ensure our customers are fully protected. Contact us today to learn more about our cyber insurance solutions and how we can help protect your eCommerce brand.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
02/07/2023
Google Shopping is an online marketing platform that allows eCommerce brands to promote their products and services to a wide range of customers. Through Google Shopping, brands can list their products and services, allowing customers to discover and purchase the items they need quickly. This makes it a powerful tool for eCommerce brands to increase sales and brand exposure.
Google Shopping exists to make it easier for shoppers to find the products they need. It is a platform where shoppers can search for products and compare prices from brands and retailers. Customers can get the best deal possible, making it easier for them to purchase what they need inside a single marketplace.
The platform can be a great way for eCommerce brands to promote and provide offers to their customers in a very easy manner. This is also known as a Comparison Shopping Engine (CSE). Google Shopping results show up as thumbnail images that display each product's retailer and price. It allows them to get their products in front of more customers and increase their visibility in the marketplace. It can also help brands build trust with customers by showing them their product offerings and reviews.
For businesses looking to set up Google Shopping, there are several steps to follow:
- Create a Merchant Center account to manage your product listings and campaigns.
- Upload your product data. You must provide detailed product information, such as titles, descriptions, images, and prices.
- Set up your campaigns. You can use the Merchant Center to create campaigns and bid on keywords to ensure your products appear alongside relevant search results.
- Monitor and optimize. Monitor your campaigns to ensure they run effectively and make necessary adjustments.
Google Shopping can be an excellent tool for eCommerce brands looking to increase sales and brand exposure. It enables businesses to appear more prominent in SERPs and tailor their product listings to reach the right customers. By following the steps outlined above, companies can set up Google Shopping and start reaping the rewards.
Dreaming Code has helped several online businesses configure and efficiently manage this channel to generate sales, test new ways to market, and improve their reach to market segments. The DreamingCode eCommerce product integrates with Google Shopping.
Set an appointment with us today to learn more about this exciting marketing channel.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
02/03/2023
Helpdesk & Support
The dark web has been a hot topic in the news lately, and it has become increasingly important for eCommerce brands to understand what it is, why it exists, and how it can impact their business. The dark web is an anonymous, hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines, and people can use it for a variety of activities, both legal and illegal. The dark web exists to provide an anonymous platform for those who wish to remain undetected while engaging in activities such as buying and selling illegal goods, money laundering, and various other illicit activities.
As an eCommerce business, it is essential to be aware of the dark web and the risks that can arise from its use. While people can use the dark web for nefarious purposes, it can also positively impact eCommerce businesses. For example, the dark web can provide a platform for companies to test new products and services anonymously or to conduct market research. Brands can also use it to develop innovative ways to interact with customers and increase online sales. However, the dark web can also be dangerous for eCommerce businesses. It can be a place where criminals can target businesses with cyberattacks and other malicious activities.
E-commerce brands should take the following steps to protect their business from the dark web:
- Educate yourself and your team about the dark web and the risks that come with it.
- Ensure that your website and all connected networks are secure and up-to-date with the latest security measures.
- Utilize advanced authentication and encryption technologies to protect sensitive customer data.
- Monitor the dark web for any suspicious or malicious activity related to your business.
- Stay informed about the latest developments in the dark web and cybercrime.
By taking these steps, eCommerce businesses can better protect themselves from the dark web and its associated risks. Understanding the dark web and its potential impact on your business is essential for any eCommerce brand. With the proper knowledge and security measures in place, eCommerce businesses can protect themselves and their customers from the dangers of the dark web.
The team of experienced Dreaming Code solution consultants is here to support brands that need education, advice, and protection from new and existing threats. Contact us today to find out more!
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
01/24/2023
Introduction
As we look ahead to 2023, the economy is uncertain and B2C and B2B eCommerce landscapes are evolving rapidly. Uncertainty can bring about change and innovation, leading to new and exciting possibilities for businesses. This type of economy allows for flexibility and adaptation as companies are finding new ways to navigate and succeed in a shifting landscape. While there may be a few new, groundbreaking ideas emerging, there is a lot of momentum behind the trends that have been gaining traction over the past couple of years.
One of the most notable trends is the growing importance of brand loyalty, as customers become more discerning and demand a higher level of service and engagement from the brands. With the current uncertainty, brands need sustainable and less costly revenue growth strategies.
Rules about customer data in 2023 will become increasingly under scrutiny, and brands of all sizes need to be more deliberate about collecting, protecting, and understanding their own first-party customer data. This data, when analyzed and understood, will be a strategic asset for brands to get better insights about their customers.
Social commerce also continues to outperform other demand-generation strategies, with businesses leveraging platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to drive sales and engage customers. Any brand today can harness social commerce to access new markets and audiences with very little investment. More about that later.
These trends indicate that businesses continuously embrace new ideas to remain competitive. Brands should key in on a few ideas that they believe will be low lift but high value. In this first of two-part series, we will dive deeper into these ideas and explain how they can create impact and value for your brand in 2023.
Brand loyalty is often overlooked
The competitive landscape in most markets is fierce as brands use technology to help them scale faster. Shopify's research shows that while only 28% of consumers tend to make repeat purchases from the same online store, these loyal customers make up a significant portion of a brand's revenue, accounting for 44% on average. There are several vital points for businesses looking to maximize customer loyalty.
Brand leaders need to take the time to look at their customers' purchase history. It's essential to understand and calculate typical customer lifetime value (CLV) and look for common characteristics among those customers who are loyal to your brand. CLV will inform the type of customers a brand should target and how to tailor marketing campaigns to access them.
Many people talk about loyalty, but few brands use offers and rewards to incentivize customers to make repeat purchases. You can encourage customers to come back and make purchases with the right offers and rewards. Rewards will help drive loyalty revenue, increase customer retention and incentivize customers to become sources of recommendation and referral.
After brands understand their customers, they need to use technology to help engage with customers on an individual basis. You can reach customers based on their past purchasing habits through automated messages and tailored campaigns with personalized recommendations. These recommendations will give customers the feeling that they are being treated as individuals and increase their chances of making repeat purchases.
By focusing on the above points, businesses can realize an increase in sales and a stronger relationship with their customers. The value of this type of loyalty should be considered, as it provides an excellent source of repeat and referral revenue. With the right approach, businesses can capitalize on this trend and build an even more successful eCommerce brand.
Using new data rules to thrive
The importance of first-party data in the world of eCommerce is becoming increasingly apparent as businesses realize the value of this type of data and the insights it can provide. According to a study by Accenture and Adobe, seventy-seven percent (77%) of CEOs know that they must fundamentally change how they interact and engage with customers.
First-party data is considered more reliable and accurate than third-party data, making it an invaluable asset in helping businesses make informed decisions about their eCommerce strategy. Third-party data can still be relevant and useful in certain situations, but its use has recently been scrutinized due to data privacy and accuracy concerns. Third-party data is typically collected by companies other than the business using it and can be less reliable and accurate than first-party data. Additionally, with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) coming into effect, stricter laws and regulations on collecting and using third-party data make this data harder to use.
For businesses looking to capitalize on the trend of first-party data, there are several vital points to consider. Start by setting up systems to collect customer data and obtain customer consent. Store and organize the data securely, and use tools to analyze it. Businesses can decide about their website, marketing campaigns, or product offerings with the insights gained. It is also essential to continuously monitor and maintain the data collection and storage systems, update data analysis tools and methods, and comply with data privacy regulations.
By focusing on these key points and using first-party data to improve the customer experience, businesses should realize an increase in sales, build stronger relationships with their customers, and more effectively target and personalize their marketing campaigns.
Access to billions through social
Social commerce has become increasingly crucial for brands in recent years, and its growth is only set to accelerate. Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin are new revenue tools that brands can leverage their large user bases to access new customers. According to recent research, the social commerce market is expected to hit $1.3 trillion in 2023, exceeding the $1 trillion mark for the first time. This is a 30.8% increase from the previous year when social commerce sales amounted to $958 billion.
For brands looking to capitalize on this trend, there are some tips:
- Platform selection is a crucial first step. Brands must consider where their target audience is most active and choose platforms that align with their business goals. The data about the audience is readily available from platforms and easy to access to test and gather data.
- Developing a solid content strategy is also essential, as businesses must create visual, informational, and interactive content that resonates with their audience and drives conversions. B2C brands need to align with influencers who can help attract new users. B2B customers need to use platforms to educate customers on their products and services and turn them into leads.
- Businesses need to ensure that their social commerce operations comply with data privacy regulations and ensure that the payment and checkout process is secure for customers. Integrating social commerce with customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce systems can also help to track customer interactions and orders across all channels. By allowing customers to purchase products directly through social media platforms, social commerce can help increase sales and revenue for a brand.
Social commerce can increase the average order value by providing a seamless and convenient shopping experience. In addition, social media platforms allow brands to cost-effectively promote their products and services to their user bases at less cost than traditional advertising. To maximize the value of social commerce, brands need to focus on providing personalized experiences for their customers. By using data to personalize customer interactions, brands can increase conversion rates and ensure that they provide the best possible experience to their customers. Customer service is also a key benefit of social commerce, so responding to customer inquiries and handling complaints quickly and professionally is essential. By understanding and capitalizing on the trend of social commerce, businesses can increase sales and revenue and build stronger relationships with their customers. With the right approach, companies can maximize the value of social commerce and create an even more successful eCommerce brand.
Conclusion
2023 is kicking off with its share of uncertainty. Brand loyalty, first-party data, and social commerce are individual trends that can help eCommerce brands succeed with certainty. When all these platforms and trends are used together, eCommerce brands can interact with greater clarity and develop focused strategies to leverage that data to grow existing and new revenue streams.
Dreaming Code helps brands enable a feature-rich eCommerce for their customers using our industry-leading SaaS product. With minimal configuration and access to our solutions consulting team, we package processes, services, and results to enable brands to succeed all for a straightforward monthly fee. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
01/20/2023
Sales & Marketing
In today's fast-paced business environment, ensuring that customer platforms and systems always remain operational is crucial for success. Downtime can result in lost revenue, damage to a brand's reputation, and negatively impact customer satisfaction. To combat these issues, DreamingCode customers rely on Radical Support to ensure the continuous and reliable operation of their customer platforms and systems.
What is Radical Support?
DreamingCode Radical Support is a global, 24/7 support experience that is available every day of the year. This means that customers can access support at any time and location and receive the same level of service and expertise. This is achieved by having a team of experts who are available around the clock, and who have the knowledge and skills necessary to quickly and effectively resolve any issues that may arise.
Why is it important to me?
The key benefit of Radical Support is that it provides customers with a sense of security and reliability. They know that if an issue arises, they can access support quickly and have it resolved in a timely manner. This is particularly important for businesses that operate in a global environment, as it ensures that all customers, regardless of location, have access to the same level of service and support.
One of the key principles of Radical Support is the use of advanced technologies such as automation and AI to keep your platform current with the latest software. These technologies allow for faster and more efficient problem resolution and can help to reduce the need for human intervention. This helps to ensure that customer issues are resolved quickly and effectively, minimizing the impact of downtime on a business's operations.
In addition to providing around-the-clock support, Radical Support also includes continuous monitoring of customer platforms and systems. This allows for early detection and resolution of potential issues, helping to prevent downtime and ensure that customer systems are always operational.
Lastly, the Radical Support team is giving continuous training and certifications to ensure our team members are updated on the latest monitoring, threats, and technologies that could impact the smooth operation of your eCommerce solution.
DreamingCode Radical Support is essential for any business that operates in a global environment. It ensures that all our customer platforms and systems always remain operational, and updated and that customers have access to a continuous and reliable support experience. With the use of advanced technologies and continuous monitoring, a radical support model can help businesses to minimize downtime and improve customer satisfaction.
DreamingCode helps brands enable a feature-rich eCommerce for their customers using our industry-leading SaaS product. With minimal configuration and access to our solutions consulting team, we package processes, services, and results to enable brands to succeed all for a straightforward monthly fee. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
01/17/2023
The eCommerce industry continues to expand rapidly, with the global market reaching $5.7 trillion at the start of 2023, according to eMarketer. Exceptional customer service remains a priority; however, customer expectations are shifting. Not surprisingly, 69% of customers say they're willing to interact with a bot on simple issues, a 23% increase from 2021, according to Zendesk. Brands need more than human-assisted support like telephone and live chat. Below are four of the most contemporary strategies that eCommerce brands should consider for the latest customer self-service solutions:
AI Chatbots is becoming a "must-have" for digital customer support to providing customers with the ability to quickly get answers to their questions without needing a live agent. AI chatbots can answer customer inquiries like product information, order status, and shipping information. They can also provide complex customer support, like troubleshooting device issues, addressing customer complaints, or resolving problems that only humans could handle a few years ago. Today's chatbots are more intelligent and easier to implement with the need for technical staff.
Knowledge Bases and FAQs with searchable content are vital to any self-service solution. They provide customers with detailed information on various topics related to a brand's product or service. Many brands can mine their historical customer requests to help inform and extend FAQs in the knowledge base. The ideal way to deploy these knowledge bases and FAQs is on the website, through a dedicated support search, or via most AI chatbots.
My Account services provide a personalized self-service organized after a customer provides a secure account login. These My Account services offer customers a convenient way to manage their orders and customer service inquiries. This self-service allows customers to view order status, track packages, and read frequently asked questions. It also allows them to update their profile, contact information, and payment options. These solutions are valuable as they can know a customer's identity and provide contextual support based on their profile and past transactions with a brand.
Dark Social is the most intriguing and unknown channel where customers can get support and help. Customer support often lies within a highly used set of social apps where people share content one to one to provide feedback and ask questions about products and services. They are referred to as dark social as they are hard to track or attribute as a referral source to web traffic. These apps include:
- Open social platforms that are trackable sources (very public, but can produce dark social when someone interacts with a peer's shared content).
- Closed social platforms (dark social if copied and pasted – but trackable via share buttons).
- WhatsApp and Slack messaging
- Direct messaging (Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn DMs, Instagram DMs, etc.).
- SMS (text message) and Email
- Private social groups and communities
Customers can use these forums to share their experiences about a company with other customers. Dark social has become a powerful source of word-of-mouth advice that is often more trusted and followed as it's not curated or moderated by the brand. Expect dark social to be the fastest-growing content source brands need to monitor and understand.
In conclusion, a solid customer self-service strategy is a competitive advantage for eCommerce brands if done right. By understanding expectations and embracing new technologies, eCommerce brands can provide their customers with a better customer experience while also improving their bottom line. Implementing AI chatbots, knowledge bases and FAQs, personalized self-service, and knowing dark social are all excellent strategies that will become reliable ways that customers can get support.
Dreaming Code supports hundreds of brands through the complex and ever-changing world of customer self-service. We can offer strategy, services, and solutions to ensure your customers can get the help they need when it is required. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
01/13/2023
We are now in a new digital growth phase for many brands who scale their business using content. More and more, today's business-to-business (B2B) buyers what to do their research and education on products and services for themselves. They want to access meaningful ungated content to learn and explore information about solutions they can easily access on a brand's website. Once they have determined the right solution, they expect to engage with subject matter experts who can help them solve their challenges.
Content marketing is one of the most powerful tools available to businesses today, and it's an essential element of any successful digital growth strategy. It's creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer actions like leads and revenue.
Content marketing helps businesses to scale the education of potential customers, build trust, and drive lead generation. It also serves as an effective way to improve search rank and online reputation. But creating content that resonates with your audience and drives the desired action can be challenging. To help, here are some content marketing basics and tips to get you started:
Develop a Content Strategy: Creating content without a plan is like shooting in the dark. Developing a content strategy is key to ensuring your content is effective and has the desired impact. A good strategy is built around critical questions your audience is looking to have answered about your solution. A content strategy should include objectives, audience personas, topics, and a content calendar.
Research Your Audience: Knowing your audience is vital to creating resonating content. Research your target audience to understand their needs, interests, and behaviors. Use this research to identify topics and create content relevant to their interests.
Optimize Your Content for Search: When creating content, optimize it for search engines. Use keywords and phrases in your content that target your audience and are likely to appear in search results. It's also essential to think about words that your audience identifies with your solution.
Create Compelling Content: Focus on creating informative, helpful, and engaging content. Content should be well-written, well-structured, and visually appealing. Leveraging your team as subject matter experts (SMEs) is essential to help give the best context for great content. Use images, videos, and interactive elements to break up text and keep readers engaged.
Promote Your Content: Creating content is only half the battle. The other half is letting your target audience know about it. Promote your content across multiple channels, including social media, email, and guest blogging.
Analyze and Adjust: Evaluate the success of your content and make adjustments to ensure it is as effective as possible. Monitor metrics such as website traffic, conversions, engagement, and leads to understand which content resonates most with your audience.
Content marketing can be a powerful tool for businesses, but it's essential to understand the basics and do it right. With the right approach, content marketing can help you achieve your marketing goals and reach new customers.
DreamingCode offers content marketing to help users of its industry-leading Commerce as a service and DXP platforms to drive demand and grow revenue. DreamingCode Content Marketing establishes a solid strategy, content creation, and performance management without hiring new marketing staff. We can package processes, services, and results to enable brands to start and grow their content marketing, all for a straightforward monthly fee. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
01/10/2023
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a must for any business today. In the online world, 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine according to BrightEdge however, 90.63% of pages get no organic search traffic from Google according to Ahrefs. With the increasing competition for markets and search priority, businesses must ensure their websites are optimized for higher rankings in search engine results. SEO optimization can help businesses stand out from the crowd, drive more traffic to their websites and do so without the need for paid search.
SEO optimization involves tuning a website's technical configuration, content relevance, and link popularity. There are a number of types of SEO that a marketer must understand.
- Technical SEO involves improving the website's structure and code to make it more search-engine friendly. This includes improving page speed, structure, and code.
- Content SEO focuses on improving the quality of the content on the website. This includes ensuring that the content is relevant and engaging to users.
- Link SEO focuses on improving the website's link popularity by ensuring that it is linked to quality websites.
When done correctly, SEO optimization can help businesses rank higher in search engine results. This will help draw more traffic to the website, leading to higher sales and more leads. However, businesses should ensure that their SEO strategy is in line with the latest trends in their industry. Some of the trends for 2023 include:
One of the biggest trends is the use of natural language search. Businesses need to ensure that their websites are optimized for natural language search as search engines like Google and site search is made much easier when users can speak or type into a device using their everyday language rather than keywords. This means that businesses should ensure their content is written in natural language and optimized for featured snippets.
Another trend is mobile optimization as according to Exploding Topics, 59.6% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. Businesses should ensure that their websites are optimized for mobile devices and are easy to navigate.
Finally, businesses should also ensure that their websites are secure. Websites should be HTTPS-secured and have a valid SSL certificate to ensure that user data is secure. This will help businesses build user trust and improve their search engine rankings.
SEO optimization is an essential part of any business's digital marketing strategy, and the automotive industry is no different. Businesses need to ensure that their websites are optimized for higher rankings in search engine results and are in line with the latest industry trends. This will help businesses draw more traffic to their websites, leading to higher sales and more leads.
Dreaming Code helps brands excel at their SEO strategy, with many of the key principles for good SEO embodied in our SaaS product. With minimal configuration and some help with keywords, we package processes, services, and results to enable brands to rank high and quickly, all for a straightforward monthly fee. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
12/20/2022
Introduction
The internet has become a primary source of information gathering and commerce for consumers, with eCommerce brands playing a significant role in our digital lives. However, with the rise of digital technology comes an increase in the potential for the abuse of consumer data. The regulations and laws are changing rapidly. As an eCommerce brand, it's essential to understand consumer privacy's importance and how to protect customer data adequately.
Consumers have the right to expect their personal information to be handled responsibly and securely. This personal information can include but is not limited to names, emails, Social Security numbers, credit card, or other account data. This means that businesses must be aware of the laws, regulations, and best practices related to consumer privacy. Companies must demonstrate compliance and establish a culture of respect and trust with their customers by providing transparency and access to information on privacy settings and opt-outs.
Here are six steps to ensure that your eCommerce brand is making steps in the right direction with respect to consumer privacy.
Understand the Relevant Laws and Regulations: The most important thing for businesses to know is the laws and regulations governing consumer data collection and use. This includes the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada. Knowing these laws and understanding the requirements of each will help you create a compliant privacy policy and ensure that your business respects consumer privacy.
Create a Privacy Policy: Your privacy policy should clearly explain how you collect, store, and use customer data. It should also include details on how customers can access, update, or delete their data and what security measures are in place. Keep this policy up-to-date with any changes in law or best practices.
Provide Access to Information: Your customers should be able to access their data and information on its use. This includes providing information on their privacy settings and opt-out options. Make sure that this information is easily accessible and in plain language so that customers can easily understand it.
Train Your Staff: Your staff should be aware of the laws and regulations related to consumer privacy and your company's specific policies. Having your team trained on the appropriate measures for collecting and handling customer data will help ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Establish Secure Data Collection Methods: Collecting customer data needs to be done securely. Use secure methods such as HTTPS and TLS (Transport Layer Security) to protect sensitive data in transit. Also, ensure that any stored data is encrypted and securely backed up.
Monitor Activity: Regularly monitor your systems for suspicious activity, such as unauthorized access or data changes. This will help detect potential breaches and help you take the necessary steps to protect customer data.
Final Thoughts
Consumer privacy is an important issue that all eCommerce brands need to take seriously. Taking the time to understand the laws and regulations related to the collection and use of customer data and implementing the necessary measures to protect it will help your business create a culture of trust and respect with your customers. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you're providing a secure and positive customer experience.
Dreaming Code supports hundreds of brands through the complex and ever-changing world of consumer privacy. We can offer strategy, services, and products to ensure your customers are confident that you are protecting their data. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
12/16/2022
Introduction
Web accessibility is a critical technology solution in the digital world today. Web accessibility makes web content available to all users, including those with disabilities. Brands can achieve this compliance by following the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (ADA compliance). The goal is to ensure that people with disabilities can access all electronic information and technology.
Most web users expect that a website they visit will be ADA-compliant, ensuring they are not being excluded or discriminated against due to disability. It is vital for public sector bodies, commercial facilities, and any private entities that receive federal funds, as they must maintain digital accessibility to comply with the WCAG 2.0 requirements.
Web accessibility guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities purchase goods and services. Web accessibility is a way to deliver a high standard of usability, level the playing field and ensure that no one is excluded from great web experiences.
Why is it important?
By creating a website that is accessible, users can benefit from features such as properly marked-up semantic structure, well-labeled links and images, and the ability to access the same content that all other users do. It helps make the website more discoverable by search engines, and more importantly, it ensures that people with disabilities can access all of the available content. The solution improves the brand's business by allowing them to comply with federal and state laws and provide equal access to all users.
How can we become compliant?
The solution to improving website accessibility can be complex as there are many things to consider. Brands can use accessibility checker software on a website to get a detailed audit report that can be actioned. High-level items that the software evaluates include:
- Ensure that the formatting of labels, images, and navigational elements adhere to heading hierarchies and have alternative descriptive texts.
- Poor contrast text is another challenge brands can avoid using a color contrast checker when designing the website.
- Keyboard accessibility and navigability are also essential, as visually impaired users or users with mobility disabilities may find it challenging to use a mouse or trackpad to navigate the website.
- Brands should also consider mobile-first design, as businesses must ensure websites are optimized to accommodate accessibility requirements.
Next Steps
Web accessibility and ADA compliance are essential steps for any eCommerce brand. It is important to understand the steps needed to make your website ADA-compliant to maintain a successful online presence.
Dreaming Code provides the tools and services to ensure that eCommerce brands are ADA-compliant. The Dreaming Code product and user interfaces are designed with ADA compliance in mind, and our team of experts can provide a comprehensive website audit to detect any issues that may be present. This audit will provide an accessibility score and outline any issues that need to be fixed. Brands can start to fix the problems or advise their partners of the updates required.
Our team of experts understands the importance of ADA compliance and can help you with any questions. If you are an eCommerce brand and have questions about ADA compliance and how it could impact you, feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
12/13/2022
Returns management is an essential process for any eCommerce business. It manages customer returns, including receiving, processing, and repackaging products for resale. As eCommerce continues to grow, returns have become an increasingly important part of the logistics process for retailers. The average eCommerce return rate hovers around 20-30%, and according to a survey by Pitney Bowes, the cost of online returns can be as high as 21% of order value.
For online merchants, returns management involves finding cost-effective ways to manage the process while providing a stress-free experience for customers. To help manage returns, retailers are turning to technology solutions that can improve the returns process. These solutions can help retailers reduce the cost of returns, improve customer satisfaction, and create a better overall shopping experience.
Technology solutions for returns management include SaaS solutions that allow customers to quickly initiate returns and track the status of their returns, third-party vendors who manage the process end to end, and analytical tools that provide insights into customer behavior and help retailers prevent returns before they happen. By using technology solutions to streamline the returns process and gain insights into customer behavior, retailers can turn returns management into an opportunity to improve their bottom line.
Data on why returns happen is important
Returns are an inevitable part of eCommerce, but with a sound returns management strategy, you can design a pre-purchase and post-purchase process that will maximize the economic potential of returns.
Online merchants need to understand why people are returning products, such as if they purchased with the intent to return, the product didn't fit or work as expected, the product didn't match the description, they're returning a gift, and more. Returns management provides insights into customer behavior, allowing brands to understand their needs and preferences better. With this data, brands can create a personalized shopping experience that encourages customers to purchase items they will keep. Data can also recognize fraudulent activities and implement measures to protect your business.
Returns management gives you the power to make informed decisions that will positively impact your business. By leveraging data insights to design an optimal pre-purchase and post-purchase process, you can ensure customers have the best shopping experience while maximizing the economic potential of returns.
Building a solid returns strategy
Understanding the reasons behind returns is integral to building a proactive strategy focused on improving the pre-purchase and post-purchase processes. Brands can target online experience updates that prevent and simplify returns.
Here are two strategies that brands can implement to reduce returns:
Pre-Order Support: Product descriptions should be updated to include more missing detail and a symptom of returns for that product. Additionally, having helpful sizing charts and featured product reviews can help customers make informed decisions before they buy. Offering free and straightforward returns is also an excellent policy to have in place.
Post-Order Support: A live chat or a simplified customer support system is essential. Merchants should also consider offering alternative products to customers if their original choice needs to be revised. Live chat can be an excellent opportunity to engage customers to turn returns into opportunities for loyalty and upselling.
These recommendations are relatively simple to implement but will demonstrate to customers that an online brand is committed to their satisfaction. These updates can help build loyalty and excellent word-of-mouth referrals.
Conclusion:
Brands should use data on why people are returning products to improve the pre and post-purchase experience. This data should be analyzed regularly to improve and continuously improve the online experience for your customers. Dreaming Code can provide strategy and product solutions that can help guide you through the solution's selection, implementation, and ongoing management. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.
To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.
To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.
