Essential Features of an E-Commerce Website


(Thomas, 2021)


E-commerce websites contain within a large number of sections, thereby, letting the search for its features more complex. These same sections can be categorized into three types of features: Navigation features, Product searching features, and Marketing features (Okhrem, 2022).


Navigation Features

An essential detail is the home page of a website. the home page can be divided into three parts the header, body, and footer. The header contains a navigation bar and the navigation bar contains all search categories (IJRASET Publication, 2022).

The E-commerce navigation features could be divided into Breadcrumbs, User-Friendly Menu, Advanced Search Function and Filtering. 


Breadcrumbs 

In the context of E-commerce website development, a breadcrumb trail is an effective website navigation element that displays the user's location on the website. It is commonly found on websites that have numerous product categories arranged in a hierarchical manner. Breadcrumbs consist of a series of links that indicate the user's position within the site's hierarchy, with each link separated by the symbol (>) (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 1)


User-Friendly Menu

An essential aspect of an E-commerce website is its user-friendly menu. Users generally expect to see a menu positioned horizontally at the top of the website or vertically on the left side. However, there are different menu options available even within these common configurations (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 2)


Advanced Search Function and Filtering

These features allow customers to easily and swiftly locate the products they are seeking. It is particularly advantageous if the search engine is powered by artificial intelligence, as it can anticipate a user's search query, further enhancing the browsing experience on your website (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 3)


About Us Page

Adding an "About Us" section to your E-Commerce website can help users navigate better. It not only builds loyalty and trust in such brands but also allows them to introduce their teams, mission, and products to potential customers (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 3)


Products Searching Features

The process of rummaging through the clutter to locate desired items is generally disliked by individuals. This principle also applies to the presentation of product listings on E-Commerce websites. Customers seek a seamless experience in which they can effortlessly navigate through product categories and items, enabling them to identify available products and select those that align most effectively with their specific requirements (Okhrem, 2022).


High-Quality Photos

Even if your E-Commerce store offers top-quality products, if the product photos appear unappealing, potential customers are unlikely to pay attention to them. This is why having high-quality and visually appealing photos that are optimized for quick loading on web pages is essential for any E-Commerce business (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 4)

Swatches

A significant and impactful feature found in E-Commerce websites is the utilization of color swatches. These small thumbnail images represent various colors, patterns, and shapes associated with different product options (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 5)


Product Page

Within the collection of features offered by an E-Commerce website, a product page is undoubtedly the most obvious functionality. It serves a dual purpose: firstly, it enables you to effectively showcase the value of your products, and secondly, it empowers customers to make informed decisions about whether or not they genuinely desire to proceed with a purchase (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 6)


Marketing Features

''Marketing is all about the strategy for reaching customer leads. And you can materialize this strategy in E-Commerce store features. Discounts, coupons, special offers, gift cards, custom pricing rules, and more are added to boost your marketing campaigns'' (Okhrem, 2022, ''Marketing'').


Product Reviews

Reviews serve as effective design features in E-Commerce websites, as they generate social proof and enhance customer loyalty. Depending on the functionality of the website, E-Commerce stores have the option to incorporate modules from popular review platforms like Yelp, Trust Pilot, and Facebook (Okhrem, 2022).


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 7)


Special Offers and Discounts

One of the most effective features of E-Commerce websites is the inclusion of discounts, offers, and freebies directly on the product page. This is advantageous because it creates a perception among customers that they are saving more, ultimately leading to increased purchase behavior.


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 8)

E-Commerce Website Purchasing Features

''An easy-to-use checkout, well-designed shopping cart, secure payment options, and various shipping possibilities are some of the key features of an E-Commerce website in our customers’ functional and non-functional requirements'' (Okhrem, 2022, ''E-Commerce Website Purchasing Features'').


A Well-Designed Shop Cart

The primary essential component of all E-Commerce websites is the shopping cart. It serves as a central hub where customers can review a summary of their intended purchase, add or remove products from their cart, adjust quantities, select shipping preferences, apply promotional codes, and continue browsing for additional items.

(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 9)

Secure Payment Options

A trustworthy ecommerce store must incorporate a secure payment gateway, such as PayPal, Stripe, or Braintree. Additionally, customers should be provided with a range of payment gateway options and the flexibility to select their preferred one based on their individual preferences.


(Okhrem, 2022, Figure 10)













Reference(s): 

IJRASET Publication (2022) Academia Available at: Amazon E-Commerce Website | IJRASET Publication - Academia.edu (Accessed: 08/07/2023)

Okhrem, P (2022) Elogic Available at: 14 Must-Have eCommerce Website Features in 2023 | Elogic (Accessed: 08/07/2023)

Thomas, M (2021) A computer screen with the Amazon logo on it photo Available at: A computer screen with the amazon logo on it photo – Free Online shopping Image on Unsplash (Accessed: 08/07/2023)

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