In this blog, we are going to discuss the role of e-commerce virtual assistants in simplifying and streamlining our day-to-day online transactions.
But before we get into that, you might be wondering what e-commerce actually is.
It is the exchanging or buying and selling of goods, products, and services and the transfer of data and monetary funds between buyers and sellers over the Internet. In short, all of the transactions take place online on respective e-commerce platforms. E-commerce is almost entirely dependent on online platforms powered by technology and digital means, including websites, shopping apps, and relevant social media platforms, to execute the buying and selling process.
The flourishing success of e-commerce has carved its own new niche in the retail world in leaps and bounds. With the clientele now used to the comfort of shopping
online, local businesses and stores have been dealing with its aftermath for a while now. Traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts, which were previously the
backbone of community buying and selling, have been struggling with losses since buyers now prefer the comfort of shopping from home.
E-commerce platforms have brought forth new models of business, such as services based on subscriptions and sales that are solely directed toward the consumers, breaking the barriers of the stereotypical retail shops where people shop by being present there physically. Plus, e-commerce shopping platforms not only offer a shift in people's shopping patterns but also the way in which they shop, what they anticipate, and how businesses retort to their anticipation.
In addition to shopping from the comfort of their homes, e-commerce platforms also offer huge discounts, making them all the more appealing to shoppers.
How does E-Commerce work?
E-commerce uses electronic and digital channels and media to bring together sellers and buyers situated in different parts of the country or world in one place and keeps them connected over the internet.
- A business creates a list or catalog of its products and services.
- Customers peruse the said catalog to select what they need and then add the products and services to their cart.
- The customers then pay for the articles using the payment options made available to them by the shopping platform.
- The respective business receives a notification of the order placed on its dashboard.
- The payment is made, the transaction is processed, and the order is confirmed.
- The manager in charge of orders sends this particular order to the fulfillment branch or warehouse to sanction the dispatch.
- The shopper receives an email or text message (sometimes both) stating that the order has been confirmed and that they shall be notified when the order is shipped.
- When the order is shipped, they receive another notification containing the shipping information and tracking number.
- The business ships a product and keeps track of the whole delivery process from shipping to delivery.
Major E-Commerce companies/platforms
Many platforms aid in the building of your e-commerce store. These include Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. Each web builder differs from the other when it comes to user-friendliness, pricing, and customization, so it is difficult to determine which is better than the other.
Who is an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant?
An e-commerce virtual assistant is an assistant who works online remotely, helping businesses with a variety of tasks related to the buying and selling of products and services over the Internet via e-commerce platforms.
These virtual assistants will help you set up a strong base for your business and e-commerce endeavors, taking things to the next level and making things simpler for you and your business, making it easy for you to navigate the whole e-commerce world and dominate the seller lists all across the world.
How can an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant help you?
These e-commerce virtual assistants can aid and assist with each and everything that will help you run your online business or e-commerce venture smoothly.
You can easily delegate a huge chunk of your daily tasks to the e-commerce virtual assistant or their team and relax while they take care of the rest.
From drafting a sales pitch or report to keeping tabs on vendors, an e-commerce Virtual Assistant can handle it all.
Let us look at a few tasks an e-commerce assistant can handle:
- Product management
- Product Listing
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service
- Data entry
- Content creation
- Market research
- Social media management
- Email marketing
- Email campaign
- Website maintenance
- General administration
How do you get the best out of your E-Commerce VA?
While hiring a virtual assistant for your e-commerce business, keep in mind the nature and field of your business and whether the assistants are equipped with the resources to meet your expectations. Be aware of your own requirements and what exactly you would expect out of the VA, and effectively communicate with team members regarding them. Conduct a thorough screening process, vet them, test them, and hire the best VA or VA company for your online business.
Once you have hired a VA of your choice, monitor their work meticulously, stay in the loop, and give them regular updates and feedback regarding the tasks they have performed.
Benefits of hiring an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant
Effective Management and Administration of Your Online Store
E-commerce assistants provide many advantages. They can help you run your eCommerce store smoothly by sorting, classifying, and organizing products under various categories.
They can also create discount codes or special bonanza offers based on your specifications. They can manage the store inventory and give you important updates about stock, supply, and logistics.
Since the e-commerce assistant works for you virtually, you can have all their services at your disposal at all times, from account management and setup to product page handling and creation.
Your e-commerce VA can take care of your shipping, refunds, delivery, sales, order cancellations, and returns on the store dashboard, along with adding product information and images.
Excellent Customer Service
Since your e-commerce VA handles customer calls, inquiries, order placements, order processing, shipping, and support, they ensure that responses are on time, personalized, and suited to your customer’s needs. Virtual assistants easily address and assist customers with grievances, resulting in a happy and satisfying experience for your customers, which reflects well on your business.
Better Online Visibility
An e-commerce VA can be in charge of your product’s social media accounts and analyze metrics and customer behavior to multiply your service/product’s follower base. They handle social media automation, respond to interactions, and build an active online fanbase for your business.
Time-Saving
When you are delegating a huge chunk of your monumental work to an e-commerce online assistant or a team of e-commerce online assistants, you are already reducing your workload, giving you ample time to focus on the inner workings of your business.
Lower Operating Cost
When you hire an e-commerce virtual assistant, they work remotely and assist you online, so you don't have to bear the overhead costs of renting an office space, providing tea, coffee, and snacks, or giving these assistants paid leaves. There’s some money saved!
The bottom line is that hiring an e-commerce VA can greatly support your business and take it to new heights, given the fact you have hired the perfect VA tailored to your needs and requirements.
However, if you are still looking for an e-commerce virtual assistant or assistant, you can always elevate your e-commerce success with MyTasker's expert virtual assistant services! From streamlining product management to boosting your online presence, our VAs handle it all so you can focus on growing your business. Contact us today to see how we can transform your operations and drive your success!
