Facing e-commerce challenges? Here's your essential guide.

Adapting to evolving customer needs and shopping habits is key for providing a great shopping experience. But it’s easier said than done. Here are the top 6 e-commerce challenges, and how you can overcome them.

When you’re running a small business, conducting smooth operations is important. One of the common challenges is using different tools to receive and fulfill orders. To minimize errors, you’ll need a shipping tool that automatically captures your order and prepares shipments for fulfillment.

How: Fedex Ship Manager^TM is an online shipping application available via fedex.com that connects your e-commerce store built on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, PrestaShop, or Magento, allowing you to create shipping labels in just a few clicks by importing your shipment orders from the platform to Fedex Ship Manager^TM.

Unlike other plugins on e-commerce platforms, FedEx Ship Manager^TM does not have a subscription fee. It’s a free, value-added service by FedEx, and you only need to pay the relevant transport and duty fees which are applicable to your shipment. Most importantly, as a trusted FedEx offering, FedEx Ship Manager^TM is completely safe in terms of securing customer and shopping information.

Why: Since the data is automatically imported from the e-commerce platform to FedEx Ship Manager^TM, it increases the efficiency and speed with which you can complete orders, while also eliminating manual typing errors.

Adding new payment options to your online store can make your e-commerce business stand out. However, it also exposes your business to cyberthreats. With a lot of data collected in e-commerce, even a small technical glitch hurts your operations and reputation. That's why data protection should be a top priority.

How: By making sure that your business and the payment gateway vendor you choose follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). These could include experts like VISA, who are constantly up to date with their security standards.

Why: Being PCI-certified means you and your payment gateway vendor can protect your customers' data and ensure secure payments. This builds trust with shoppers, making them feel confident in providing their card information and more likely to complete purchases on your online store.

 Supply chain disrupted? Fret not - this is the new norm. Yes, these disruptions make it tough to deliver products and services quickly, especially when customers want it faster. This is why a flexible global supply chain is crucial to how fast you can act to the disruption.

How: Look at everyone involved in your supply chain, starting from where you get your materials to how you fulfill orders. Then work together to understand any weak points that exist or might happen. Once you know, act together, create backup plans, and make improvements.

This might mean using local suppliers or using modern technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), or Tracing technology to make your e-commerce smarter.

Why: Improving supply chain resilience is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. That's why it's essential to conduct your supply chain due diligence. This helps to always improve and have backup plans ready in case things change.

Advanced technologies can be helpful here. They give you valuable information from your data, so your business is able to adapt quickly and make better decisions when faced with challenges.

In today's economy, customers want time-definite deliveries they can rely on. This greatly influences their decision to buy things online.

For your e-commerce business, it's crucial to prioritize timely delivery to meet your customers' needs. That's where time-definite, and flexible door-to-door services come in handy. They help ensure your loyal customers stay happy and satisfied.

How: You can team up with a reliable logistics provider that offers time-critical tools and services. For instance, if they’re able to digitalize the manual customs clearance process, it’ll help save time and streamline operations. This way, you ensure your deliveries reach customers without unnecessary delays.

Why: Customers see on-time delivery as part of your business’ reliability. This leads to happy customers who are likely to come back, tell others about your business, and leave positive reviews. It builds a good reputation and keeps customers loyal.

We’re all guilty of abandoning our online shopping carts. To encourage your shoppers to buy, start with removing barriers such as:

• Creating an account
• Complex forms
• Limited shipping options
• Coupon code issues
• Difficult return process
• Limited payment options

How: By building a quick, hassle-free checkout process with clear policies, pricing, automatic form completion and friendly error messages. You can also send timely cart-abandonment emails to retarget potential customer base and draw them back. It’s time to turn cart abandonment into sales.

Why: For your customers, trust begins with transparency. So, clear return policies and flexible options make it easier for customers to purchase and return items. The result: An increasing willingness to click the checkout button and come back for repeat purchases.

Every country has their own set of customs regulations. Along the way, you'll come across new taxes and customs & import duties that differ from what you know.

How: Partner with a logistics provider that possesses hands-on knowledge and proficiency in local customs regulations, import duties and. They should also have a worldwide presence and extensive reach.

Why: Having a logistics partner with a local presence means you can directly talk to immigration officers for quicker issue resolution. You won't have to wait behind a screen or phone. On the other hand, service providers without a local presence rely on other partners for cross-border operations, making it harder to handle disruptions.