E-Commerce Integration ABC's: How Customer Portals Boost Satisfaction: Part 1

E-Commerce Integration: The ABC’s of Creating a Customer Portal

There are many benefits of using the Cloud to create a customer portal for your E-commerce business. Not only is it a more efficient for your spending, but recent studies show that customers prefer an online, self-service option for customer service and use telephone service as a last resort when both are offered. With many services offered online, it becomes simpler to manage the customer service presence and ensure that it is reliable, intuitive, accurate and well managed!

 In this article of this 3 part series we will explore the benefits, features for success, and design best practices of setting up a Customer Portal for driving efficiency through E-commerce integration. If you are planning to implement a customer portal, this series should provide you with a structure and method of approach to think about during your planning and offer some insight and suggestions for best integrating this approach into a growing business model.

ABCs of Customer Portals for Efficiency & Customer Satisfaction – Part 1

Accessibility is Most Efficient For Customers and Helps Cuts Costs

The customer portal presents the most efficient solution for everyone: having a self service option becomes easier for customers and will help you save time and money. Portals grant access to customers so they can self-manage simple tasks like updating their address, viewing payment history, transaction history, reordering, and payments. This gives them the freedom to control their account details while also freeing up some time for your support department to handle the bigger issues that a customer can not resolve on their own.

Bring Customers Home to a Centralized Information Base

Creating a forum and information repository (also known as a knowledge base) will help develop a relationship with your customers and keep them coming back to you to get industry and product information. Driving your customers to the same location allows you to communicate with them directly and thereby focus on what is important to them, ultimately raising their satisfaction and experience with your business.

Create a Scalable Relationship

Regardless of the number or customers, products and services you acquire as your Ecommerce business grows, the customer portal  is an infrastructure that is designed to grow with you. The customer portal becomes a flexible platform that can be changed and expanded throughout the life of the business.

Stay tuned for next article:  E-Commerce Integration: 5 Features of a Successful Customer Portal: Part 2

About I-Business Network:

Before you move to the Cloud or purchase an add-on for your system, give us a call and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I-Business Network has more than a decade of experience hosting a variety of ERP software and add-ons. We can walk you through the environmental needs of your software, what add-ons are recommended, and what you should expect from a Cloud provider.

Visit us at I-BN.com or contact Bob Tobey at 678-627-0646 ext. 231 or btobey@i-bn.net for help evaluating your ERP options. Whether you are outgrowing QuickBooks, another entry level accounting software, or if you need to move to cloud hosting with a cloud ERP solution or hosting your existing ERP software.

I-Business Network (I-BN) is an ERP and cloud solutions provider since 1999. Established by professionals in the accounting and software industry, I-BN has provided cloud hosting and business solutions including industry-specific solutions for distribution, light manufacturing and professional services. I-BN specializes in sales, implementation and cloud hosting for ERP software. We have deep experience and knowledge of Sage 100 ERP and SAP Business One software and understand its unique requirements and the support that you will need. Our national network of business software solution providers enables us to provide a local presence for training, implementation and support.

I-BN hosts a large number of cloud accounting software (ERP) applications including:

• Microsoft Dynamics AX, GP and NAV
• Sage BusinessWorks
• Sage CRM
• Sage FAS
• Sage MAS 90, MAS 200 and MAS 500
• SAP Business One
• Yardi

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Another version of this blog was previously posted on the I-BN Blog: Part 1 of 3: The Benefits of Having an Online Customer Portal

Tags: Cloud ERP Software, cloud accounting software, cloud accounting, cloud accounting solution, cloud accounting service

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