The biggest challenge for Indian eCommerce brands is to navigate through the complex Indian market demographic.
It’s a unique market with a diverse demographic, unlike any other country. The large population of India has people with unpredictable interests.
Furthermore, a varying level of digital literacy makes eCommerce marketers struggle with the problems they must prioritize.
However, it’s possible to dissolve most of the eCommerce challenges with the right eCommerce website features. This helps improve the platform and declutters your sales funnel in the process.
That said, marketers can utilize an end number of features on the website to refine the eCommerce experience for the audience and improve the business.
However, there’s a possibility of getting stuck in analysis paralysis and trying a hundred features, leading to hardly any results.
13 Must-have eCommerce Website Features
India’s diverse market demographic not only demands a personalized marketing initiative for success. It also demands crafting eCommerce websites with a great level of attention to detail.
The following are some must-have eCommerce website features for Indian e-commerce platforms. These features not only improve the brand’s credibility, but they are also part of a strong SEO strategy for ecommerce websites.
1. Mobile Optimization
80% of the Indian eCommerce shoppers use their smartphones for browsing eCommerce platforms and shopping. So, SEO friendly website mobile searchers are not just essential, it’s mandatory.
eCommerce website features that keep the platform optimized for mobile users are a must-have for Indian e-commerce brands.
Brands must focus on using a flexible website layout and design for smaller mobile searchers.
eCommerce brands can consider the following aspects for the custom development of their eCommerce website:
Once optimized for mobile searchers, eCommerce websites get a reduced level of bounce rate, more on-page time, leading to a higher conversion rate.
2. Local Language Support
As a vast market with a varied audience segment, Indian brands must focus on eCommerce website features for multiple language support.
While English continues to be the main language for 99% of the eCommerce platforms, brands can utilize other popular languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Gujarati.
eCommerce websites can achieve this more effectively by identifying their major target segments and the language their audience speaks.
It helps to choose language options based on your audience’s segment. The effects of choosing multiple languages result in transformative changes for eCommerce websites.
- Multiple language support helps reach a wider customer base.
- It’s a way to build trust and credibility with different audience segments.
3. Secure Payment Gateways
eCommerce brands in India must also include these e-commerce website features to provide multiple payment gateways.
When it comes to eCommerce shopping habits, Indians rely on different payment methods and gateways. The checkout process becomes smoother and satisfying with comfortable payment options for different customer segments.
Here’s how Indian consumers typically pay when shopping from eCommerce platforms:
It helps customers when eCommerce brands provide multiple payment gateways, such as:
4. Customer Reviews and Ratings
Reviews and testimonials on listed products on eCommerce websites send trust signals to the audience. Most Indian audiences would check a product’s star rating and go through the user reviews on the eCommerce platform before purchasing it.
According to Fera, 66% users check online reviews before trusting a brand online. Furthermore, 72% of customers don’t take action unless there’s a review on a brand’s website.
It’s needless to say that product reviews are essential for Indian users to consider any product on eCommerce platforms. So, work with an eCommerce CMS that allows a review and ratings system integration to your website.
5. Clear Return And Exchange Policy
Here’s why a transparent exchange policy is essential:
It’s essential for businesses to include a transparent review for e-commerce success. As part of the eCommerce website feature, brands must outline and include transparent return and exchange policies.
Start by writing a transparent return policy for the platform. Consider clear communication, easy accessibility of the return policy, and a straightforward process as the strengths of the eCommerce platform.
6. Promotions and Discounts
Promotions and discounts aren’t inherently part of eCommerce website features. But they are very much visible on the front end. Most importantly, promotional features on eCommerce websites help improve sales significantly.
Thoughtful promotional tactics can make eCommerce platforms go viral. Common promotional tactics for eCommerce platforms are:
- Price reduction by amount or percentage.
- Special offers like buy one get one free” (BOGO), bundled deals, and free shipping can also motivate more leads to convert.
- Limited-time offers also help boost sales in a short amount of time.
- Loyalty programs for specific customers also help with customer retention in the long term.
7. User-Friendly Navigation
User friendliness is at the heart of most eCommerce platform success. Brands must consider the user-friendliness of their e-commerce website features to improve user experience, customer retention, and overall branding.
Most customers like to stick to eCommerce platforms that provide a smooth and clutter-free browsing and shopping experience.
Which is why Indian e-commerce brands must focus on creating a responsive e-commerce user interface. Work with SEO web development experts who can utilize the best technical SEO eCommerce features to build SEO friendly eCommerce websites.
Here Are The Following Tips For Improving E-commerce Conversion:
8. Personalization And Recommendations
Personalized recommendations are a great remarketing tool for e-commerce brands to influence their leads to convert.
This approach leverages customer data to create a more relevant and engaging online shopping journey. It ultimately boosts customer engagement and conversion.
eCommerce brands typically track their audience’s digital footprint and collect data to tailor remarketing messages.
Indian eCommerce brands must utilise remarketing tactics through product recommendations, as Zapier outlines in the following infographic.
AI-powered product suggestions take it to the next level. Marketers are using AI-powered social listening tools to analyze customer behavior and tailor recommendations accordingly. The result? A massive surge in eCommerce sales.
9. Optimize Product Pages
An e-commerce website feature that Indian brands must not avoid is a carefully crafted product page.
Product pages with detailed information always work better and provide more clarity to the buyers.
eCommerce brands must make it mandatory to include high-quality images, videos, and a 360-degree product visual to help audiences with their considerations.
Consider The Following Product Page Anatomy By SEMrush:
10. Secure Checkout Process & Order Management
eCommerce shoppers in India don’t like to struggle with the checkout process. eCommerce brands, small or large, must create a smooth checkout process that’s easy to navigate. It’s among the non-negotiable eCommerce website features to consider.
Here Are Some Areas You Must Work On:
- Have clear instructions for the checkout process.
- Multiple payment gateways are a must.
- Auto-populate and suggestion tools take a lot of customer effort, motivating them to make more sales. The checkout process optimized for mobile users can further improve user experience and sales.
Customers must have easy access to their order details. That’s why the e-commerce website features brands must focus on are order tracking, viewing history, and managing product returns.
11. Shipping and Delivery Information
Effective delivery and shipping details for every order are key to eCommerce success.
In addition to providing a strong order management system, e-commerce platforms must emphasize providing detailed information about shipments.
It’s one of the most essential e-commerce website features to maintain synchronization with distribution chains and customers.
It can lead to better customer satisfaction scores, brand reputation, and consistent sales.
According to gnani.ai, 81% of customers feel valued when they see a chat window opening to welcome them to the e-commerce platform.
Customers appreciate diverse communication channels for customer support to find a solution to their problems. One of the most essential e-commerce website features for customer support is to include multiple communication channels, such as:
13. Wishlist Functionality
According to WP Swings, 40% shoppers believe that a Wishlist improves their overall shopping experience. Also, the consideration phase for the Indian audience is typically longer.
Adding a Wishlist or Save for Later function is not just important; it’s among the most essential e-commerce website features to include in the platform.
Again, it’s important to note that Wish’s listed product data also helps personalize remarketing messages.
eCommerce Features That Lead To Success
eCommerce website features do more than improve the technical performance of the platform. The must-have features outlined in this blog post are also essential for e-commerce marketing and branding.
From improved user experience to the availability of a Wishlist, customers appreciate an all-around satisfactory experience. Indian customers prefer having a clear and well-prepared eCommerce experience from product discovery to receiving their parcel.
The thirteen features explained in this post are among the most essential for Indian eCommerce success. These features also help improve eCommerce SEO for Indian eCommerce brands.
