How Can An eCommerce Consultant Help Your Business?

Many companies want to make a shift to digital commerce, but don't have the organizational talent across the board, or the vision to make it happen. With the help of RMW Commerce’s expert eCommerce advisors, we have outlined just how an eCommerce Consultant can help you.


What Do eCommerce Consultants Do?

First: How Can We Help You To Build A Proper Business Plan?

When you know something major needs to happen, but you are not quite sure how it should work and you need to make a business plan - setting expectations with the Board and all stakeholders: this is how much we should invest, why, and what it would mean for the eCommerce business. Expert consultants work with companies to get that case developed and approved.  Sometimes, this is called a Value Creation Plan (VCP) by private equity investors.

Second: How Do We Help Guide Project Execution?

After there is a willingness to invest, top consulting firms like RMW Commerce will help build a team that stays with you to help guide the execution. Many companies are doing this for the first time. We help them with organizational design and vetting, project management, sequencing, supply chain, vendor and agency selection, and more. Read more about our eCommerce consulting services here.


How To Overcome Common Challenges of An Online Business

Does Your Sales And Marketing Messaging Need An Update?

Most vendors are still relying on their 2016-2021 messaging. I'm here to tell you that your messaging needs to change. What do I mean?

2020 messaging:

  • Everyone is growing, but most especially our customers!

  • You want growth.

  • We help you grow very fast!

The game has really changed. In today's world, you need to work harder to find your niche. First of all, not everyone even believes this message anymore. Your prospects are in a different position.

Second, for many companies more growth would just help them lose money faster. Customers are still struggling, but it's more than about growth. Here are a few themes for you to consider as you think about your next-generation messaging:

  • Digital Marketing Efficiency

  • Sales efficiency

  • Staying relevant to consumers and customers in a time where they are reprioritizing spending and conserving cash slightly more.

  • Operational improvements

  • Supply chain savings

  • Customer experience improvements

Of course, which one resonates depends on who you are and where you want to go, and that is the tougher part. Prospects very quickly size up if they believe you can be a winner in whatever space you are claiming.

The reason? No one wants to adopt and then uninstall something. So much wasted time.

So be careful with your messaging headed into 2023 and choose wisely as you pivot away from your traditional growth footing.


What Are The Reasons For Working With An eCommerce Consultant?

Consequences of Mistakes Are Extremely High

The consequences of eCommerce strategy and strategic technology mistakes in retail are extremely high in terms of opportunity cost, lost sales, and missed revenue. When you make the wrong choices and improperly manage a project, you lose time, you lose the benefits of what you could have chosen, you may directly lose revenue, your customers may be dissatisfied, your costs go up, your employees become frustrated, and your competitors gain. Plus you have to start the process all over again.

Too Few Independent Resources

There are very few independent resources in eCommerce. If you contact a vendor or a service provider, they may advise on their preferred eCommerce solutions even if it’s against your interest. eCommerce Consultants work only for you.

A Robust Network of eCommerce Consulting Experts

My 2,500+ industry network allows me to bring true experts to bear on your problem and offer critical e-commerce help/consultation.. This saves you a lot of time. Time to market is crucial.


How Will You Grow Your eCommerce Company?

When growth is elusive, I am an expert at asking incisive questions to surface the real issues and then present straightforward ideas that your team can actually implement.

Mistakes are expensive. They cost money, of course. What’s worse is the opportunity cost. I work with investors and management teams worldwide to help them get a handle on their digital business plans to execute a clear path forward.



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Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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When Is Not The Right Time To Hire An eCommerce Strategy Consultant