The dynamic eCommerce landscape is an ever-changing realm where innovation knows no bounds. It’s a thrilling world where you can expect new technologies, e-commerce trends, increased customer expectations, and a spike in business requirements.

Remarkably, a staggering projection for the global online shopping market anticipates growth to $6.4 trillion by 2024 (Source: Oberoi). With this burgeoning surge in online shopping, businesses are actively seeking ways to delight their customers in every possible manner. This is precisely where Salesforce Commerce Cloud has managed to capture the spotlight.

To address e-commerce’s common challenges and provide insights into the best practices for smarter and faster selling, Shrey (CEO, Cyntexa) and Priyanshu (Salesforce Commerce Cloud expert, Cyntexa) recently hosted a webinar. They are ready to lead you through the intricacies of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, dispel myths, highlight emerging trends, and share invaluable tips that will empower you to elevate your sales strategy.

Without further delay, let’s embark on a journey into the realm of smarter and faster selling with Salesforce Commerce Cloud!

Before getting started, let’s understand what Salesforce Commerce Cloud is

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly known as Demandware, is a cloud-based platform that empowers businesses to create and effectively manage their online retail operations.

With this Cloud, businesses can deliver personalized shopping experiences to their customers by tailoring product recommendations and promotions based on individual preferences. This high level of personalization enhances customer satisfaction and drives sales. Additionally, it enables companies to establish a strong online presence across various digital channels.

Let’s uncover its major benefits and features in detail by going through this Salesforce Commerce Cloud implementation guide.

And focus on the best practices that our experts have shared in the webinar to win the hearts of customers.

Best Practices to Gain and Retain More Shoppers

The experts didn’t discuss industry challenges; instead, they focused on core solutions, suggesting best practices for winning customers’ hearts. Let’s delve into some tried-and-true strategies that Shrey and Priyanshu discussed in the webinar to help you acquire and retain more customers.

1. Search engine optimization (SEO)

When it comes to selling products like cool running sneakers online, having a solid SEO strategy is crucial. Salesforce Commerce Cloud can be a game-changer for your online business. It helps you create user SEO-friendly URLs, leverage canonical tags, redirect sites, and customize URL mapping without errors so that users can find your product on the Search Engine. Also, with Commerce Cloud, you can manage product data, add synonyms of original keywords to the list, create engaging product descriptions, ensure mobile-friendliness, improve site speed, and access analytics to refine your SEO efforts continually.

Also, you can refer here for details about the SEO tips for E-commerce businesses built on Commerce Cloud.

2. Abandoned cart engagement

There might be a situation that happens with everyone when you add products to your cart but don’t proceed to checkout. Abandoned carts represent missed opportunities. However, you can send emails or notifications with Salesforce Commerce Cloud to gently remind customers about their pending purchases. It’s a friendly nudge that can transform those almost-sales into completed transactions. You can also check here to learn how to convert Abandoned carts in sales with B2C Commerce Cloud.

3. Loyalty programs

Think about your go-to store. You keep visiting because they offer you a loyalty card and a free product after every ten purchases, right? Loyalty programs actually work wonders for engaging and gaining complete traction. That’s where Salesforce Commerce Cloud ensures ease in providing offer rewards, discounts, or exclusive access to keep shoppers back for more.

4. PWA, Headless & Native mobile apps

Today, shoppers aren’t just browsing from their desktops; they’re using their phones and tablets too. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), Headless Commerce, and Native Mobile Apps are about creating exceptional shopping experiences on mobile devices. With Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you can transform the look and feel of your online store and make it highly compatible with smartphones for the mobile-savvy audience.

5. Einstein product recommendations

Imagine having a virtual salesperson who knows exactly what you want to buy. That’s precisely what Einstein product recommendations do for your online store. By analyzing customer behavior and preferences, these intelligent algorithms suggest products that shoppers are likely to love. It’s similar to having a personal shopper without hefty price tags.

Top Trending Integrations to Elevate Business Growth

As you have seen, businesses are evolving within the growing marketing landscape, and staying ahead often involves the integration of tools and platforms. Are you curious to discover how integration can simplify your order management and attract shoppers? Let’s explore the analysis and experiences of experts.

Below are some trending and game-changing integrations that Shrey and Priyanshu discussed for B2B, B2C, and D2C brands during their webinar.

1. Administration integrations

Given that everyday administrative tasks are time-consuming but essential for running your e-commerce store, you’ll be pleased to know that you won’t have to hassle with error-prone tasks any longer. The Salesforce Commerce Cloud integration streamlines various backend tasks and processes. For example, integrating Order Management platforms like Brightpearl, Ordermotion, and IBM Sterling OMS with Salesforce centralizes order processing and inventory management, optimizing backend operations.

2. Checkout integrations

A seamless checkout process is crucial for e-commerce businesses. By integrating your online store with popular apps such as fraud detection, shipping rate calculators, AVS, tax rate calculators, and payment gateways, you can ensure a seamless checkout experience. For instance, integrating payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, or Razorpay enables easy payments and leads to increased conversion rates and revenue.

You can check here the 5 Essential Ecommerce Integrations for your Storefront.

3. CMS (Content Management System)

You’ve probably heard that “Content is king” in the digital world, and it’s absolutely true. Integrating your CMS with an experience builder, page designer, or third-party application can help you plan and strategize your content effectively. For example, by integrating Experience Builder with Salesforce, you can easily create unique and responsive experiences directly from Salesforce Commerce Cloud, elevating the storefront experience.

4. Email marketing integration

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for customer engagement and maximizing sales. However, integrating your email marketing platform (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid) with your CRM system allows you to segment your audience, personalize email campaigns, and track results, ultimately boosting your email marketing ROI. Additionally, you can leverage Pardot or Marketing Cloud for email marketing to bridge the gap between your e-commerce platform and email campaigns.

5. Security integrations

Protecting your business data is paramount. Security integrations such as two-factor authentication (2FA), bot detection, and single sign-on (SSO) solutions enhance your cybersecurity posture. With Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you will receive enhanced security measures, safeguarding user data and transactions through advanced encryption, authentication, and compliance with HIPAA and GDPR.

6. Miscellaneous integrations

Sometimes, the best solutions arise from integrating niche tools. Consider using integrations like rating and reviews to embed customer feedback mechanisms and dynamic content to design and personalize products directly from the website or content marketplace. These integrations can enhance your e-commerce capabilities, encourage user creativity, and persuade customers to purchase your products.

Role of Commerce Cloud in Improving the World of E-Commerce.

Commerce Cloud revolutionizes e-commerce by enhancing customer experiences, streamlining operations, and enabling businesses to scale globally, ultimately driving innovation and accessibility in the online shopping landscape.

Let’s take a look at an expert’s suggestion on this topic.

1. Order Management System (OMS)

An Order Management System (OMS) is like a smart computer program that businesses use to handle customer orders smoothly. It helps with everything from taking orders, keeping track of products, finding the best way to ship them, and making sure orders get to customers on time. OMSs are especially handy for online stores, shops, and companies that sell products, as they make sure everything runs efficiently, keep customers happy, and save costs by managing orders really well.

A few crucial tasks that an OMS perform include:

Order processing: Streamlining the order processing ensures that customers receive their purchases swiftly and accurately, creating a positive shopping experience and fostering trust in your e-commerce business.

Inventory management: Effective inventory management helps you maintain the right stock levels, preventing overstocking or understocking issues, ultimately reducing costs and improving order fulfillment.

Customer service: Creating a positive customer experience through prompt and effective communication is critical for establishing customer trust and cultivating enduring partnerships.

Returns and refunds: A hassle-free returns and refunds process demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction, encouraging shoppers to make purchases confidently, knowing they have options if a product doesn’t meet their expectations.

2. Commerce GPT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the e-commerce landscape, and Commerce Cloud is no exception. Commerce GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a cutting-edge AI tool integrated into the Commerce Cloud. It helps you understand customer preferences, predict trends, and even generate product descriptions and marketing content. This AI-powered assistant takes your personalization efforts to a whole new level, creating a tailored shopping experience for each customer.

3. Loyalty management

Customer loyalty is priceless in e-commerce. Commerce Cloud offers a robust Salesforce Loyalty Management system that allows you to reward your loyal customers and encourage repeat purchases. You can create customized loyalty programs, offer incentives, and track customer engagement.

4. Headless/PWA Kit

In today’s multi-device world, having a flexible and responsive e-commerce platform is essential. Commerce Cloud’s Headless/PWA (Progressive Web App) Kit enables you to deliver a seamless shopping experience across various devices and platforms. It decouples the frontend and backend of your website, allowing you to create highly customizable and user-friendly interfaces. As a result of this, the loading times become faster, the performance improves and the engagement of users increases.

5. Salesforce payments

Payment processing is a critical aspect of e-commerce, and Commerce Cloud offers an integrated solution through Salesforce Payments. With this feature, you can securely process payments, reduce cart abandonment rates, and provide a frictionless checkout experience for your customers. Salesforce Payments offers a diverse range of payment methods, such as credit cards and digital wallets, that can meet the various preferences of your valuable customers. This feature ensures that you can provide a convenient and seamless payment experience to a wider audience, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Curious how it all became possible? Watch the demo video to learn the real-world scenarios of how our Commerce Cloud solutions help e-commerce businesses maximize online sales.

Key Considerations For Salesforce Commerce Cloud Migration

When you’re planning to migrate your e-commerce store to Salesforce Commerce Cloud, there are several crucial factors to keep in mind. Let’s break them down in plain language:

1. First and foremost, you need to think about how you’ll move all your existing order data into Salesforce Commerce Cloud. This includes customer orders, order history, and any related information. A smooth transition ensures you don’t lose any valuable data.

2. Every e-commerce store has its unique features and customizations. You’ll want to ensure your custom settings, design elements, and specific functionalities are successfully migrated to the new platform.

3. Keeping SEO redirects in mind is crucial if you care about your website’s search engine ranking (and you should). You’ll need to set up proper redirects for all your old URLs to the new ones. This guarantees that your current customers can continue to find your website, protecting the SEO ranking you’ve worked hard to achieve.

4. Think about the various tools and systems your e-commerce store is currently integrated with. This might include payment gateways, inventory management, email marketing, and more. You’ll want to ensure that these integrations are smoothly transferred to Salesforce Commerce Cloud to maintain your operational efficiency.

5. If you are receiving international payments, then nothing is better than setting up multi/locale currency in the Salesforce commerce cloud to simplify payment management. However, separate sites are recommended for targeted branding and marketing.

6. Adjusting pricing structures and models is essential for currency conversions and tax calculations. During the migration process, ensure the pricing models used earlier are adapted in the Salesforce commerce cloud. Ensure that your product prices, discounts, and promotions are correctly configured in Salesforce Commerce Cloud to avoid any confusion or pricing errors for your customers.

How To Dominate Peak Seasons With Salesforce Commerce Cloud?

1. AI-powered insights and recommendations

Imagine having a smart assistant that helps you make better decisions. With Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you receive AI-powered product and category recommendations. This means the platform can analyze data to suggest which products to promote, what prices to set, and even when to run promotions. It’s akin to having a sales expert at your side, guiding you to make the best choices.

2. Omnichannel commerce

Consider your customers shopping on various devices and platforms – smartphones, tablets, websites, and physical stores. Salesforce Commerce Cloud helps you in delivering an exceptional shopping experience across all digital channels. They ensure whether a customer walks into your store or visits your website, they encounter the same products, prices, and promotions. It’s about making shopping easy and consistent, regardless of your customer’s location.

3. Scalability and performance

Envision your online store as a highway, and during peak seasons, there’s a traffic jam of customers rushing to buy. Salesforce Commerce Cloud ensures that your site can handle this rush effortlessly. It scales up to accommodate more shoppers without slowing down or crashing. It’s akin to having a highway that never becomes congested, even during a massive rush hour.

4. Personalization

Do you recall how your favorite shopping store remembers your usual order? Salesforce Commerce Cloud helps you achieve something similar for your online shoppers. It tracks product interests and browsing history to show them products they’re more likely to buy. It’s like tailoring your store to each customer’s taste, making them feel special.

5. Security and compliance

Think of your online store as a fortress. You want it to be secure from cyber threats and compliant with all rules and regulations. Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides top-notch security measures to protect your customers’ data and ensure you’re adhering to all legal requirements.

6. Loyalty

Remember that favorite store you always return to because they treat you well? Salesforce Commerce Cloud helps you establish loyalty programs. So, you can either offer the rewards for the customers to come back or offer discounts on early access for more sales. It’s like creating a VIP club for your most loyal shoppers, enticing them to return for more.

Salesforce Commerce cloud Relationship with other Clouds

Commerce Cloud focuses on e-commerce, whereas Sales, Service, Marketing, MuleSoft, Analytics, and Experience Cloud primarily serve distinct business functions.

Amazingly, all other Salesforce clouds can be integrated with Commerce Cloud for seamless shopping experiences, managing catalogs and inventories, processing payments, and refining customer journeys.

Also, by integrating Sales or Service Cloud, you can access their capabilities with Commerce Cloud in the Salesforce ecosystem, such as product merchandising and order management.

Moreover, by utilizing MuleSoft to connect various systems, Commerce Cloud effectively bridges the gap between products and consumers. Additionally, with the power of Analytics Cloud, Commerce Cloud can harness data-driven insights to continuously optimize the online shopping experience, ensuring that businesses can stay ahead in the dynamic world of e-commerce.

Also, in the webinar, the experts focused on the myths that roll out every day about the Salesforce commerce cloud. Let’s explore what’s that:

Myth 1: This cloud is solely for Large Enterprises

One of the most common misconceptions about Salesforce Commerce Cloud is that it’s exclusively designed for large enterprises. While it’s true that big corporations often use this robust platform to power their online businesses, it’s not limited to them. In fact, Salesforce Commerce Cloud caters to a wide range of businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Designed with different pricing tiers and features, SFCC caters to the diverse business needs of all sizes. Whether you’re a startup looking to establish your online presence or a mid-sized company aiming for growth, you can find a package that fits your requirements and budget.

Myth 2: Migration to SFCC seems risky and complex

While any migration can present challenges, Salesforce Commerce Cloud is renowned for its robust tools and support systems that help streamline the transition.

Salesforce offers comprehensive migration assistance and resources to ensure a smooth shift from your current platform. Their expert team will guide you through the process, ensuring minimal disruption to your business operations.

Additionally, Salesforce Commerce Cloud has a proven track record of successfully managing migrations for businesses of all sizes, further dispelling this myth.

Myth 3: The implementation process is time-consuming

Some believe that implementing Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a time-consuming affair, causing unnecessary delays in launching or upgrading their online stores. However, this is not necessarily the case.

SFCC is known for its rapid implementation capabilities. Its cloud-based architecture and pre-built functionalities can significantly reduce the time needed to set up your e-commerce platform.

Moreover, the platform offers a range of templates and tools that expedite the design and customization process, further accelerating the implementation timeline.

Of course, the exact timeline for implementation can vary based on your business’s specific needs and complexity, but it’s essential to know that SFCC is designed to minimize delays and get your online store up and running efficiently.

How to Choose the Right Salesforce Implementation Partner?

Choosing the right Salesforce implementation partner is pivotal for your business’s success. To make an informed choice:

1. Start by defining your goals and objectives. This clarity will help you find a partner with the expertise you need, whether it’s streamlining processes, improving customer experiences, or expanding your online presence.
2. Look for a partner with experience in businesses like yours, ensuring they can manage your project effectively.
3. Consider cultural alignment and evaluate certifications, references, and customer feedback.

You can make an informed decision by knowing the complete requirements, and the right partner, like Cyntexa, can get the commerce cloud implementation done for you. With this implementation, they can ensure your B2B, B2C, and D2C business transformation like never before.

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