5 E-Commerce Tools That Help Local Businesses Thrive in Bath

According to recent statistics, e-commerce businesses in Bath have been experiencing significant growth, with the city becoming a major hotspot for digital innovation.

With its range of support systems in place, it’s also become an increasingly attractive spot for entrepreneurs looking to avoid the more substantial costs associated with London and Manchester – two of the other major digital hubs in the UK. 

If you’re looking to set up an e-commerce company, then Bath could be the perfect destination. But what can you do to ensure you stay ahead of the competition? Below, we’re going to walk through the 5 most popular e-commerce tools that have been helping local businesses thrive in Bath, and how you can apply them to your own business strategy.

Abandoned Cart Recovery Tools

The first tool we want to mention is abandoned cart recovery software. Through Shopify plugins, you have the ability to automatically send Shopify SMS messages to customers who have abandoned their carts, working to turn them back in the direction of your site and complete their purchase. 

This is particularly helpful given the number of customers who ultimately finish the purchasing process without clicking ‘Buy’ – perhaps the biggest problem e-commerce businesses have to deal with in 2024. By automatically reminding them that they have items in their cart – with options for personalised content and discount-oriented incentives – you’ll be giving these customers a nudge while also demonstrating their value to your business, which can be helpful for inciting future loyalty. 

Point of Sale Tools

Speaking of Shopify, the ‘Shopify POS’ tool has been a game changer for businesses operating both in-store and online. For those unaware, this is a tool that integrates online and offline sales, enabling you to track inventory and customer data across both channels in a single system. Consistency is key in business, of course. Whether you’re synchronising product listings or stock levels, you want to make sure that every sale is updated in real-time, keeping your operations smooth and your customers happy.

Google Analytical Tools

Just as consistency is key in business, so too is understanding your customers and ascertaining exactly what they want. Google Analytics is a particularly helpful tool in this regard, providing valuable insights into a website’s performance, traffic sources, and conversion rates. Especially in those first few years of operation, you’re going to need a simple way to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Trial and error are to be expected, but by gaining deeper insights into your customers and their behaviour, you can subsequently optimise your website, improve the user experience, and ensure everything is in place to turn casual visitors into repeat visitors.

Real-Time Customer Support Tools

Another pitfall that can affect e-commerce businesses is customer support. When everything is behind a screen, it can be difficult for customers to feel like they’re being listened to, valued, and supported. But with 83% of customers feeling more loyal to brands that respond to and resolve their complaints, this is an area that you need to get right in order to succeed. 

Thankfully, there are numerous tools out there that allow you to handle customer inquiries across multiple channels, including email, chat, and social media. The use of chatbot tools has also become more common, helping to save time by automating responses to more basic customer questions, which subsequently allows the human support team to focus on more serious complaints. By using these tools, you have a chance to boost your customer satisfaction levels, which will ultimately convert more visitors into consumers and increase a sense of loyalty that is crucial for local businesses to grow.

Review and Rating Tools

Lastly, we cannot overestimate the importance of utilising review and rating management software, especially for local businesses trying to make an impact in Bath. According to another survey, nearly 98% of all customers read online reviews before buying from new businesses, so to build credibility and trust, you need to be utilising platforms that collect, manage, and display customer reviews across multiple channels. By leveraging these platforms – and making sure to respond effectively and appropriately to any negative experiences – you can begin to enhance your reputation, improve engagement, and ultimately stand out as a key player in Bath’s e-commerce industry.