Best Practices for E-Commerce Project Management

Defines the goals and objectives of the project, including deadlines, budgets and expected results.

Document the above so that the path and expectations of the project are clear.

Hire an experienced agency or assemble a team of collaborators with the right skills to make the project successful.

You should include software architects, analysts, developers, designers, testers, content managers, marketers, and project managers (among other roles).

If you are going to hire an agency, make sure they have enough verifiable experience creating E-Commerce sites.

Many agencies specialize in corporate presence sites or other web applications, but an eCommerce site is very different from the above.

Create a detailed project plan that outlines all the tasks, timelines, risk mitigation, and resources necessary for the success of the project.

Don't confuse a project plan with a schedule, because they are different artifacts.

Defines a formal process for the receipt, registration and authorization of changes.

Be sure to clarify which requirements will be included in the different versions of the online store.

Communicates the impacts on time, quality and cost.

By keeping formal change control, you will be able to control the requirements and expectations of internal customers.

E-commerce is about offering an excellent user experience.

Make sure the website is user friendly, responsive and easy to navigate.

But do not only focus on the graphic interface, also consider the practicality of the different processes of the online store.

Continually test and iterate your online store to ensure it meets the needs of various types of users.

It also validates that the functionalities and services support and drive the business results that are expected to be achieved.

Establish a version-based release policy to keep track of requested features.

Regularly monitor and control key performance metrics such as progress, planned cost vs. the actual and the cost for late release.

And once the new store is released, it monitors the conversion rate, bounce rate, and average order value.

In this way you can support the continuous improvement of the online store.

Implements a formal approach to project management, which includes activities such as creating your charter, recording stakeholder responsibilities, recording risks, defining the work breakdown structure, planning the project by phases or concrete deliverables, and manageable, as well as periodically review compliance with progress.

We suggest that the E-Commerce project manager, before starting the project, be sufficiently trained in the E-Commerce issues that he will manage.

This will help you quickly and effectively resolve any inconvenience that may arise in the project.

Make sure all stakeholders are informed and involved throughout the project life cycle.

Establish clear lines of communication and keep everyone up to date on developments and changes.

Use a communication plan with its respective communication matrix, this will avoid unnecessary problems.

It guarantees that the online store is secure and that it complies with all relevant regulations on data protection.

Within your project plan and schedule, contemplate activities to validate the computer security of the online store.

No online store should ignore security issues.

Plan for the future by choosing the right eCommerce platform and design an online store with scalability in mind.

Consider issues such as hosting, number of daily visits, volume of concurrent users, daily orders, and other technical factors on both normal days and peak seasons.

This will ensure that it can grow and evolve as the business expands.