![\"retail](\"https:\/\/opsdog.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/guide-for-over-300-retail-sales-kpi-e1557846377721.png\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nWhat are Retail Key Performance Indicators that Drive E-Commerce Performance?<\/h2>\n
Retail Key Performance Indicators that drive e-commerce are defined as the quantitative values used to determine how efficiently and effectively specific goals and objectives are achieved within a retailer\u2019s e-commerce function over a set period of time.<\/p>\n
There are many benefits to measuring and benchmarking Retail Key Performance Indicators for the retail industry in your company\u2019s business intelligence efforts, such as:<\/p>\n
1. Increased amount of incoming traffic to the company\u2019s website
\n2. Reduced number of employees needed to support online applications
\n3. Increased revenue generated by the company\u2019s e-commerce function
\n4. Increased instances of customer navigation to multiple pages within the company\u2019s website
\n5. Reduced costs associated with processing customer transactions<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at a few retail KPI examples that focus more specifically on e-commerce, and how these KPIs can help lower expenses and boost sales. These retail performance metrics will make world of difference when you implement them into your benchmarking and business intelligence efforts. So start now!<\/p>\n
Retail Key Performance Indicators Example # 1: Electronic Transaction Expense as a Percentage of E-Commerce Sales<\/h2>\n
Use the Electronic Transaction Expense as a Percentage of E-Commerce Sales Key Performance Indicator to compare the expenses incurred by the retailer related to processing payments from customers, such as any fees associated with processing payments, with the total amount of sales generated through the company\u2019s e-commerce platform. These fees can vary in cost depending on what service you use to process customer payments and which credit cards your company accepts.<\/p>\n
If you find yourself with a high value for this retail KPI example, a few underlying issues can be the cause:<\/p>\n
\u2022 High vendor fees charged to host products your company is selling, such as Amazon or Jet
\n\u2022 Payment processing errors
\n\u2022 High vendor fees charged for processing credit card customer transactions<\/p>\n
While e-commerce may appear to be cheaper than brick-and-mortar stores, that doesn\u2019t mean that you should consider the expenses that come from online transactions as trivial. Issues with e-commerce payment processing can cause inflated expenses, especially if there is an increase in processing errors which can cause high amounts of rework, customer disputes and the necessity to defend against legal actions. For this reason, it\u2019s important to consider closely monitoring vendor performance and exactly what percentage of sales could be lost in fees when deciding how to list items on online marketplace shops such as Amazon. To keep the value of this e-commerce performance metric low, seek to negotiate payment processing fees with vendors and keep on the lookout for cheaper vendors<\/p>\n
![\"retail](\"https:\/\/opsdog.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/retail-inventory-turnover-benchmark-and-more-inside-this-report-1-e1591294544469.png\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nRetail Key Performance Indicators Example # 2: Average Customer Order Value (E-Commerce Only)<\/h2>\n
Use the Average Customer Order Value (E-Commerce Only) Key Performance Indicator for the retail industry to examine the total dollar value of customer orders placed through the company\u2019s e-commerce website compared to the number of total orders made through the website. This e-commerce Key Performance Indicator is important in determining the spending habits of online customers, and which products, or services are being sold more than others. By analyzing this data, retailers can not only identify which products or services to invest in, but they can also determine how to best allocate resources for targeted advertising. After all, if you can create a profile of the highest spending consumers by using data from their spending habits, you can easily target those individuals with ads focused on other products, or services they would be interested in. Knowing your customer base can also make sending direct mailing more effective as you\u2019ll already know the interests of your customers, and who may appreciate updates on special sales and events.<\/p>\n
While you should be aiming for a high value for this retail KPI example, low values can be indicative of the following issues:<\/p>\n
\u2022 A confusing, or hard to navigate e-commerce website
\n\u2022 Poor advertising for the e-commerce website
\n\u2022 A complicated, or lengthy customer payment processing system
\n\u2022 Sub-par, or inaccurate inventory displays<\/p>\n
To ensure that values stay high for this e-commerce KPI, make sure to keep your e-commerce website up-to-date and geared towards improving the customer experience. This involves ensuring that there are no broken links, making sure that the displayed inventory is up-to-date and is not showing items as in-stock when they are on backorder or discontinued, and improving both the navigational features of the website, and the method used to purchase the company\u2019s products, or services. If your e-commerce website isn\u2019t consumer friendly, then customers will become frustrated and visit competitor websites that are much easier to navigate and understand. A sleek and easy to understand website will lead to higher sales and will project a strong online presence for your company that will attract even more customers.<\/p>\n
Retail Key Performance Indicators Example # 3: Bounce Rate<\/h2>\n
A customer clicks on a link and navigates away after only a brief glance at the loaded page. How many potential customers are being lost this way? To understand this, first use the Bounce Rate e-commerce Key Performance Indicator to measure the number of visitors who navigate away from the company\u2019s website after only viewing one page, compared by the total number of visitors received by the website.<\/p>\n
A high value for this retail KPI example can be suggestive of:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Poor website organization
\n\u2022 A homepage with little to no content that entices customers to navigate further
\n\u2022 A lack of \u201ccall to actions\u201d on website landing pages
\n\u2022 Poor overall website design that is not enticing<\/p>\n
You want customers to be both entranced by your website, and be able to easily navigate through provided menus so they can purchase your company\u2019s products, or services with as little effort as possible. To keep a low value for this e-commerce performance metric, ensure that the same navigational features are located across the website\u2019s landing pages, and that the navigational features are as clear and concise as possible to prevent customer confusion. You can also go one step further by making sure that there are plenty \u201ccalls to action,\u201d such as statements telling customers where to go or what to purchase to entice consumers to further explore the website. A high bounce rate can lead to poor customer satisfaction and interest in what is being sold, thereby reducing the overall amount of sales your company\u2019s e-commerce website can produce.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/opsdog.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/retail-field-metrics-encyclopedia-e1557846399715.png\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nRetail Key Performance Indicators Example # 4: Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s slightly harder to fill up a shopping cart in a brick-and-mortar store and then completely abandon it in the middle of an aisle, than it is to abandon a full shopping cart in a digital aisle when you\u2019re sitting in your pajamas in the living room. But both still happen. Use the Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate e-commerce Key Performance Indicator to measure the division between the number of visitors who add products to their shopping cart, but do not complete the checkout process and the total number of visitors who began the transaction process.<\/p>\n
This is another retail KPI example that can be connected to the effectiveness of your company\u2019s website design and high values here can indicate:<\/p>\n
\u2022 An excessive number of steps in the checkout process
\n\u2022 A checkout process that does not accept the preferred payment method of the customer
\n\u2022 Surprising, or excessive shipping fees<\/p>\n
Aim to keep a low value for this e-commerce key performance metric by simplifying the e-commerce checkout process as much as possible and ensuring that the navigation to and from the shopping cart is concise and easy to understand. This can include reducing the steps customers have to take within the checkout process, or even increasing the amount of information displayed in any one page in the checkout process. There should also be incentives to lead the customer to complete their check out, such as discounts and reduced shipping on large orders, in order to boost sales and ensure that shoppers aren\u2019t scared off by huge unexpected costs on an already expensive order.<\/p>\n
Retail Key Performance Indicators and How to Drive KPIs in an E-Commerce Business Unit Final Thoughts and Resources<\/h2>\n
Performing well in the online marketplace can not only generate high amounts of sales and improve your company\u2019s digital presence, but it can even end up boosting sales in your brick-and-mortar locations if consumers are impressed by your website and driven to shopping both online and in-person. Using retail Key Performance Indicators, metrics, and benchmarks can ensure that you are getting the most out of your e-commerce website and effectively staying ahead of competitors, while boosting your bottom line.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Poor advertising for the e-commerce website
\n\u2022 A complicated, or lengthy customer payment processing system
\n\u2022 Sub-par, or inaccurate inventory displays<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 A homepage with little to no content that entices customers to navigate further
\n\u2022 A lack of \u201ccall to actions\u201d on website landing pages
\n\u2022 Poor overall website design that is not enticing<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\nRetail Key Performance Indicators Example # 4: Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s slightly harder to fill up a shopping cart in a brick-and-mortar store and then completely abandon it in the middle of an aisle, than it is to abandon a full shopping cart in a digital aisle when you\u2019re sitting in your pajamas in the living room. But both still happen. Use the Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate e-commerce Key Performance Indicator to measure the division between the number of visitors who add products to their shopping cart, but do not complete the checkout process and the total number of visitors who began the transaction process.<\/p>\n
This is another retail KPI example that can be connected to the effectiveness of your company\u2019s website design and high values here can indicate:<\/p>\n
\u2022 An excessive number of steps in the checkout process
\n\u2022 A checkout process that does not accept the preferred payment method of the customer
\n\u2022 Surprising, or excessive shipping fees<\/p>\n
Aim to keep a low value for this e-commerce key performance metric by simplifying the e-commerce checkout process as much as possible and ensuring that the navigation to and from the shopping cart is concise and easy to understand. This can include reducing the steps customers have to take within the checkout process, or even increasing the amount of information displayed in any one page in the checkout process. There should also be incentives to lead the customer to complete their check out, such as discounts and reduced shipping on large orders, in order to boost sales and ensure that shoppers aren\u2019t scared off by huge unexpected costs on an already expensive order.<\/p>\n
Retail Key Performance Indicators and How to Drive KPIs in an E-Commerce Business Unit Final Thoughts and Resources<\/h2>\n
Performing well in the online marketplace can not only generate high amounts of sales and improve your company\u2019s digital presence, but it can even end up boosting sales in your brick-and-mortar locations if consumers are impressed by your website and driven to shopping both online and in-person. Using retail Key Performance Indicators, metrics, and benchmarks can ensure that you are getting the most out of your e-commerce website and effectively staying ahead of competitors, while boosting your bottom line.<\/p>\n