E-commerce is commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet. In other words, it is the online buying and selling process. Advantages of E-commerce over retail sales include the ability to overcome geographical limitations, search engine visibility, targeted communication with customers, and the ability to be open 24/7. A commonly known disadvantage of e-commerce over retail sales is the fierce competition that ensues because of the ease of reaching consumers. One way to offset this disadvantage is the Six Sigma Methodology with a special concentration in E-commerce.
The main point of the Six Sigma process is to find, diagnose, and fix errors or defects using a statistics-based and data-driven process. This eliminates variability while improving quality and profitability. When you design or perfect an already existing sales funnel/shopping platform for your company using the Six Sigma process, you are taking the steps to separate your company from competitors with comparable products or services. Since e-commerce can happen anytime, anywhere, anyplace, competition becomes increasingly fierce. Efficiency, especially within the checkout process, is the one thing that will give your company or organization a leg-up to increase conversion rates, and eventually, profits.
Six Sigma maximizes efficiency using a data-driven approach to decrease waste and increase profits. When your products have speed of light ordering, checkouts, and shipping with next to zero mistakes, you will gain repeat customers; the ultimate goal in e-commerce. Online shopping is so easy and convenient for consumers that retail e-commerce sales statistics grow exponentially every year. Online shoppers have come to expect frictionless transactions from start to finish in order to be satisfied. Six Sigma is a perfect method to use to accomplish this goal for your company.