Need an ecommerce consultant? What to do next.

Just realized you need an ecommerce consultant to help you maximize profits? Here’s what to do next.

You have decided to call in an ecommerce consultant. What do you need to do next?

Determine what you need in an ecommerce consultant. An ecommerce consultant can help with more than just your website. Look at areas you want them to weigh in on like workflow automation, competitive analysis, stakeholder interviews and tech stack evaluations.
Thoroughly research consultant candidates. Ask for recommendations, read case studies, and take advantage of free consultations. Pro tip: Let your stakeholders talk to short-listed consultants so everyone gets a feel for them.
Prepare for the long-game. Embarking on a digital project with an ecommerce consultant is a long process. Expect to spend up to 18 months working closely with them.

If you run a rapidly growing ecommerce company, you may reach a point where you need some outside help to continue to scale your business. Ecommerce experts can offer a bird’s-eye view of your technology, marketing strategies and the user experience your site delivers. Whether you are dealing with challenges like abandoned shopping carts or simply want to add more personalization to your site, ecommerce consulting services can help.

So what should you look for in an ecommerce consultant? That depends on your company’s needs, as different ecommerce consultants specialize in different fields. But also find a few common denominators among the best ecommerce specialists, their capabilities, and commitment to service.

Determine what you need in an ecommerce consultant

First, meet with the stakeholders in your company to determine why you need an ecommerce consultant. Ecommerce consultants can provide services that range from helping you re-platform your website for increased flexibility to providing strategic direction for advertising campaigns.

Here are some other services and benefits an ecommerce consultant may offer:

Improving and/or customizing the user experience on your site.
Streamlining workflows within your organization.
Providing competitive analysis and review.
Creating a cohesive look and feel between ecommerce and brick-and-mortar experiences.
Evaluating your technology stack to reduce IT costs overall while increasing effectiveness.

For instance, when TELUS Mobility called on Acro Commerce to create a B2C custom commerce architecture to increase conversions, they knew they needed an ecommerce consultant who could create a better UX through open source architecture. Acro Commerce had the expertise to diagram the new digital workflow and architecture, determine which software solutions would stay and which would go and, ultimately, create a highly scalable headless or decoupled platform that integrated all the elements the client needed for growth.

Do you need a platform built on open source architecture?

For some ecommerce websites, an out-of-the-box or service as a software (SaaS) solution isn’t enough to provide the flexibility and scalability they need. Rather than finding an ecommerce consultant adept in just marketing strategy or digital advertising, you need a firm that understands how all the components of your ecommerce website work together for success.

Replatforming to an open source architecture solution can take additional time and money, but the results are worth it for ecommerce sites that can’t advance any further on their current platform.

Choosing an ecommerce consultant: your next steps

Fortunately, once you’ve nailed down your needs for ecommerce consulting services, finding a consultant can move quickly. Follow these easy steps in your search:

Ask your professional network for recommendations on how they’ve collaborated with consultants.
Read case studies.
Ask for references.
Take advantage of free consultations. (You can learn more about Acro Commerce consultants and schedule a complimentary session here).

Let your stakeholders interview the ecommerce experts

Once you have a promising ecommerce expert in mind, gather the stakeholders, including your IT staff and marketing team, to interview them individually. Don’t be afraid to ask difficult or specific questions. You want to make sure the ecommerce consultant understands your needs and has the expertise to offer practical technology solutions.

Commit for the long haul

Once you’ve found an ecommerce consultant who understands your challenges and has the technology to fix them, buckle your seatbelts and prepare for an exciting ride. Expect to spend six months to a year creating a digital roadmap that will lead to the execution of a more efficient, effective, user-friendly website.

Realizing you need an ecommerce consultant is an important first step toward improving the user experience on your website and increasing conversions for greater profits. Determine the type of consultant you need. Find one that possesses the knowledge you require and fits in culturally with your team. Be prepared for a collaborative experience that will yield long-term success.

Want to learn more about working with Acro Commerce? Check out our case studies and reach out today!

_{Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer specializing in technology, ecommerce, and finance, and is the owner of boutique content marketing agency Allcot Media.}