E-commerce Statistics tips for Strategic Planning in 2019

Owning your own eCommerce business? Then this is a must-read article for you. Whether you own your an online business or in-store one, you should be aware of the current e-commerce trend and where the market is going in-order to expand your business and get more sales. 

The below mentioned points will update your pre-existing knowledge on e-commerce and will remove the pre-existing notions that you have. On the whole, it will help strengthen your strategies for e-commerce marketing and in expanding your business.

E-commerce Statistics Tips

In order to study the E-commerce trend and get your business going accordingly, you should have knowledge about the following points

• ·         General Facts
• ·         Online Shopping trend
• ·         Mobile-based e-commerce statistics review
• ·         Behavioral study of the shopper

General facts

Here are a few general facts that you should take into consideration while developing e-commerce strategies for your business.

•            The total value of global retail e-commerce sales
•            More than 10% of global retail sales will be covered by e-commerce
•      There are about 12-24 million global e-commerce sites
•      Credit cards are the most preferred form of payment

The total value of Global retail e-commerce sales 

E-commerce statistics report a steady rise in global e-commerce sales. And this rise is speculated to reach over $4878 billion in 2019. (Source: Statista)

More than 10% of global retail sales will be covered by e-commerce

There is constant and steady growth in the field of e-commerce retail sales. While e-commerce accounted for only 7.4% of total retail sales in the year 2015, it has shown a remarkable increase and accounted for more than 10% of e-commerce sales in the year 2019.

More than 12-24 million global e-commerce sites

There are a huge number of e-commerce companies in the world. Actually, there is no particular definition of an e-commerce company. There are companies which have a business online and sell their products on their website. There are other e-commerce companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Alibaba, etc. and companies who have their site but do not really sell anything online. All these companies altogether account for about 12-24 million global e-commerce sites.

Credit cards are the most preferred form of payment

According to a survey most of the online shoppers prefer credit cards as their mode of online payment. This is followed by electronic payment with sites like PayTM and then follows payment with Debit cards and cash on delivery.

Online shopping trend

As per the notice, here are the few shopping trends that are observed in the shoppers throughout the world.

• Men shop more from e-commerce sites than women
• The most active online shoppers

Read the main article on Andolasoft Blog.

How to Minimize the Cloud Security Risks for SaaS Application

Software as a Service (SaaS) has grown to become the world’s most popular software delivery model and is showing no sign of slowing down. Most modern businesses want to work with a set of applications that don’t require them to have their own storage, backups, and server rooms on site.

As a SaaS provider, you need to store plenty of sensitive data for both information and customer related as well. In this complex world that seems to see new cyber attacks and data breaches every week, all SaaS apps and businesses must take measures to keep their internal as well as customer data safe and secure.

As security technologies are changing fast and hackers inventing new ideas, how can SaaS companies keep up?

SaaS is literally taking over the cloud computing market. So, it is no surprise to find that the global public cloud service market is projected to grow to more than $200 billion in 2019, up from $175.8 billion in 2018, according to Gartner.

For medium-size organizations, SaaS is primarily a hassle-free and cost-effective alternative that offers new possibilities, flexible costs, as well as easy maintenance and deployment.

In case, if you have been running with a limited budget there are still many free and open-source tools are available to execute your security strategy. Now before we get into the best practices for securing SaaS application, let’s discuss the security challenges.

Security Challenges for SaaS:

Today, enterprises are focusing on data and business processes like records, pricing information, transactions, etc. If your SaaS provider is leveraging a public cloud computing service, all the data is possibly being stored with other SaaS applications.

So here’s the list of 9 common SaaS security challenges;

·         Data access risk

·         Instability

·         Lack of transparency

·         Identity theft

·         Uncertainty of your data location

·         Paying upfront and long-term

·         Not sure what you agreed to

·         How your data is actually secured

·         No direct control over your own data

Study says, “By 2021, 27% of corporate data traffic will bypass perimeter security, up from 10% today.”

Data stored in SaaS application needs careful analysis of the security controls and processes in each platform for efficient protection. However, as the huge number of SaaS apps are being used, SaaS App Security is what needed the most.

Main Article Source: How to Minimize the Cloud Security Risks for SaaS Application – Andolasoft Blog

How to Reduce SaaS Churn?

If you’ve just started to acquire your very first customers in your SaaS business, then churn may not be a big deal for you. But as you get over a thousand customers, churn becomes vital. And gradually it can be a big hurdle in the success of your business.

A high churn rate can put an impact on your company valuation, business growth, and the overall perception of customer satisfaction.

So where does the problem rely on?

High-growth expected SaaS startups think they have figured out every aspect. The path seems clear until churn begins to smack them in the face.

Suddenly, customers begin canceling and leaving at a faster rate than expected. Who is responsible for such flaws? No one will take the blame and that is obvious.

Sales team starts blaming the product team for not delivering whereas product teams blame customer success for not onboarding. Gradually marketing starts to worry about company reputation and growth. This is a common scenario.  

I’ve gone through some survey and what I found is extremely shocking. Here’s the list;

• Bessemer Venture Partners says an acceptable churn rate is in the 5 – 7% range ANNUALLY, depending upon whether you measure customers or revenue.
• Roughly 70% of SaaS companies in their survey had annual churn in the < 10% range, with 75% of those at 5% or under.
• 30% of SaaS providers surveyed have an unacceptable level of churn.

Why do customers leave?

There could be either number of reasons whereas the customer decides to hit that “CANCEL” button, and here are a few of the most common:

They’ve faced a poor customer service experience. That means they might have tried to find help for something and couldn’t get what they wanted.

• They might have had a poor onboarding experience and couldn’t achieve what they were expecting.
• They tried your software and it wasn’t meant for them.
• Your software might cost them a lot

Sometimes there’s no indication that churn is coming as customer cancels without raising any issues. However, there are some signs even before that customer cancels.

Common signs of churn-

• Payment issues: These include late or missing payments; credit card hasn’t been updated, and so on.
• Disengagement with your product: it means the customer doesn’t seem to be engaged with your product. it might include signs like fewer logins, increased bounce rates, etc.
• More complaints: When customers face numerous difficulties or bugs to use your product, they start raising issues and complain against it. This is the biggest sign that your customer is unhappy with your product or services.

Read the main article on Andolasoft Blog.

5 Exclusive Growth Hacking Tips to Grow Your Business

Starting a new business is always an important venture for every entrepreneur, and making it successful is the most challenging object for them. So, you need a flawless and unique strategy to build a successful business. And it is quite likely that you need a roadmap to improve your business sale.

However, increasing the product or business sales ensures your business costs and a move towards profitability.

In fact, there are many ways that can help to boost your business growth. And implementing the proven ideas allow you to reduce unwanted expenditure, enhance productivity, and expand your business connectivity; all of which can together increase the likelihood of more sales.

Let’s consider a real-life situation here-

You have an awesome startup idea and you’re quite confident that it will work. Or perhaps you’ve launched your small business. Now you are searching for some effective ways to grow.

Both the scenario offers a host of challenges. The study says, 90% of small business startups eventually fail. But with some outstanding growth hacking tips, you can count your business is a part of that remaining 10% that succeed.

Building and running a small business can be a monumental challenge. But if you stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and figure out growth hacking tips, your chances of survival are much higher.

Here, I uncover the simple yet amazing growth hacking tips and techniques for 2019. Utilize them wisely and you will be a true performer.

Business Growth Hacking Tips:

1. Automate As Much As Possible:

Implementing software that automates manually is one of the most important steps you should take to ensure your business maintains high levels of productivity.

List out your needs and decide which type of software would be beneficial for your business. There are loads of software solutions available in the market. However, particularly these two are must-haves for your business:

·         Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Customer relationship management or CRM is a tool, strategy, or process that helps businesses to better organize and access customer data. You can adopt an all-in-one CRM that includes sales and marketing automation on the same platform.

Managing multiple projects at the same time has become a big mess for all most every organization. But those who are using project management software are away from the race.

So along with CRM, if you are using a project management software, then you are getting an extra bonus. It will help to manage your time, task, and other resources effortlessly.

Small businesses are vigorously selecting this option as it saves time, reduces technology costs, and improves collaboration.

·         Marketing Automation

Marketing automation solutions streamline processes, increase brand awareness, automate tasks, and attract leads easily. With built-in features like email marketing, lead generation web forms, landing page builders, and more it becomes an essential marketing growth hack idea.

Main Article Source:  5 Exclusive Growth Hacking Tips to Grow Your Business – Andolasoft Blog

Benefits of Ruby on Rails for Web Application Development

Ruby on rails has been one of the top most popular and advanced server site web frameworks for a few years. Bu still, some investor ask why we suggest Ruby on rails to develop their web application since all other framework and languages are available. 

And obviously, they do not have any clue about it, it’s sure.

When you think a bit about it, it does seem there right is to ask as he/she the person who is investing to build the object and is going to use it as well.

So before I embark to the discussion of the benefits for using Ruby on Rails, let me explain first what Ruby on Rails actually is. 

What is Ruby on Rails:

 Ruby is a dynamic; fully object-oriented scripting language created back in 1995. Using HTML, Javascript and CSS developers can build an architecturally clean and high-quality web application.

 During the building of Basecamp in 2005, David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) envisioned a controlling library over the Ruby programming language, thus originating the rails framework. Later he made it extensible and flexible and uprooted with the open-source market.

 And the framework was further improved and makes the breakthrough for web application development.

 The Key principle of RoR development is “Convention over Configuration”. It means the developer does not need to spend much time to configure the files in order to set up where are Rails comes with a set of convections that helps to speed up the development process.

 From the management point of view, Ruby on rails community supports an iterative development method knows as Agile Development. This Method encourages the collaborative and flexible approach which well appropriate for the web app development with fast-changing necessities.

 Over the years Ruby on Rails has been upgrading its version (Currently: 6.0.0.beta3 – March 13, 2019) and gained a huge following.

 I think this is enough for the introduction. Now Let’s see the advantages of using this framework on web application development.

 Main Article Source: Benefits of Ruby on Rails for Web Application Development

How AI Can Bring a Modern Revolution in Mobile App Development

The emerging technology like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), IoT, and Artificial Intelligence has been covering up for the marketing next-generation mobility elucidation. Out of all these technologies, AI has found a separate place on mobile application development as because of the increasing popularity of mobile app users around the globe.

And the trend to integrate this popular feature in the business app has been emerging among entrepreneurs in the global market as well.

So let’s see what actually AI is and the role in your business mobile app?

Defining AI could sound little more technical to you. On a simpler note, AI is an aspect of computer science which focus on the development of intelligent machines that could perform like the human brain. Such as creating & performing tasks and resolve to the inputs while learning from users’ experiences.

And when it comes to mobile app developments, AI includes certain traits such as; ability to manipulate and move the objectives, solve problems, enhance perception and artificial knowledge.

The Impact at Business Industries:

These days the smart entrepreneurs are enthusiastic about AI when they have to judge the integration of smart interfaces and devices to achieve their business growth.

AI can imitator to human behavior or experiences by gathering different data and then performed by means of decode it. And it can continue to add and create more values with better knowledge as well as the faster and spontaneous business process.

Concerning to the user demand, the flexibility, and adaptability can be address by AI-based apps considering their various aspects.

In similar fashion, the demand for fulfilling the personalized experience has been increasing which can be drive through AI technology. Users can expect more personalized and predictive experience through an AI-based application.

So, it is very definite, the AI factor that can take the mobile use and development process to the next level.

Let’s see what AI elements can make differences in your app.

Main Article Source: How AI Can Bring a Modern Revolution in Mobile App Development – AndolasoftBlog.

Why SaaS and How It Impact on Business Growth Rate

Many Industries and business owners trust SaaS (Software as a Service) as a double-edged solution. It presents the ideal solutions to every old aged problem and re-construct the new module of maintenance, adds new challenges in security policies and managing insightful data.

Meanwhile, some other companies are generating more revenues and profits on SaaS solutions with choosing over migrating an existing solution or building their own cloud-based applications. But every industry views the benefits differently and figure out their unique cloud journeys.

Whereas the switching to SaaS ideas is being around it for more than 30 years, the web-based technology started the support after the 2000s.

In today’s scenario, SaaS is an alternative cost-effective IT deployment where the business owners just need to build their own infrastructure or outsource to a professional team.  And the team will configure the software application and maintain it all.

Still, it has lots of questions for business owners whether SaaS is the viable option for them or not. Like;

·        How worthful for Moving the business to SaaS?

·        What possible business advantages at SaaS Module?

·        Or, it just another Business contraction?

Well, let me explain all these above questions. Here you go;

Original Article Source: Why SaaS and How It Impact on Business Growth Rate – Andolasoft Blog

Hiring Full-Stack Developers - New Trend or Real Need?

Today, several industries, even companies are competing to attract customers with the best possible efforts. Because change is the only constant in the ever-changing world of technology. With the growing demand for the technology, change your business approach is the only way to provide users with better and sharper products and software tool. With larger people are moving towards the virtual world, anyone with any sort of enterprise needs to have an online presence.

 We all know that maintaining a competitive edge in this race is quite harder for any business.

 You must have acknowledged, many entrepreneurs are upgrading their business store to the online market. And some are even pushing their industry services to the mobile platform as well.

 In order to get your success, you must need to charm your plans and put something extraordinary.

 As an example- if you are choosing a mobile app development plan, then you must aware that how much the mobile sector is constantly getting a good response. So,

·        Do you have enough budgets for it?

·        Are you sure that your business idea is viable?

You found an excellent idea for a startup and you want to turn that into reality. But building even the simplest product needs investment, which is now a major challenge for every entrepreneur.

 However simple or complex, it’s obvious to validate that idea to ensure all your investment doesn’t go waste.

 So, what’s the best way to validate the idea?

The answer is MVP.

 Most of the starting up business starts with the MVP development before moving on to the full-fledged web product. Well, this is the right step as it minimizes the risk of product failure upon its launch.

 In simple words, it helps to find out whether you should move ahead with the idea to develop the product or not.

 But who is going to will build the MVP for your approach?

 Well, here’s the thing…

 If you’ve required technical knowledge, then without wasting much time, you should go ahead and start building your MVP. But, what if you are a non-technical entrepreneur? Hire a full-stack developer rather relying on anyone else.

 Now before you rush in finding full-stack developers all over the web, it’s vital to understand who exactly the full-stack developers are?

 In simple words, a full stack developer is a jack of all trades developer. They are well-aware with most of the technologies to build an entire application.

 They can work on both front-end and back-end development. In the app development industries, full-stack developers are stood as T-shaped professionals.

Read the full original article on AndolasoftBlog.