Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Ecommerce Hosting & Discussion : Top Shopping Cart Features you can't live without

[johnroger]

What are the top shopping cart features you can't live without? I am interested in your ideas and suggestions. Thanks.

[BigPuritan]

Well, johnroger, I think the most important feature I needed was the support. Me being a non-PHP guy I needed the help of the professionals to help me. That is why I chose digiSHOP. I am telling you, man, this cart is the best thing on the market today!

[cdgcommerce]

Well - here is a quick list of features that you might consider to be valuable in any shopping cart system:

- Ability to have multiple product attributes (size, color, value-adds, and ability to have different pricing for attributes)

- Ability to have cross-selling (i.e. if you buy prod X, offer prod Y)

- Ability to allow easy check out that is hassle-free for customer

- Ability to setup affiliates for 3rd party link tracking & referrals

- Ability to setup coupons and discount codes for sales

- Ability to have the ability to calculate S&H based upon custom formulas, shipping tiers (units, price, cost) or courier integration

- Ability to pass transaction data in real-time for customized real-time inventory management and tracking

- Ability to generate fulfillment orders for fulfillment centers/warehouses whereby the packing slips are printed

- Ability to handle continuity and recurring billing capacity

- Nice sales and visit reports, preferably with conversion details

- Seamless integration with the merchant's gateway/account

- Solid support with the system in a way that allows it to be expanded and adjusted over time

Hope that info is helpful!

[cartika-andrew]

Adding to Chris's outstanding list above....

- Integrate with some sort of ERP and CRM package

- Ability to post multiple images for any single product

- Incorporate leasing options

- Accept PO's

- Notify friends of products they may be interested in

[vito]

Great list, Chris.

Also:
Ability to incorporate Canadian federal/provincial sales taxes.

Vito

[cartika-andrew]

Good point Vito - also integration with Canadian Merchant Account Providers (like PSIgate for example)

[cdgcommerce]

In fact, since you mentioned Canadian merchants, multiple currency support overall might be a closely related one to add in too that goes right along with that.

Another feature that could be nice would be a real-time shipping tracking link / order status link. In other words, in the e-mail receipt there is a link generated by the store system that a customer can click on to see the status of the order.

[letsgo]

Reporting, reporting and more reporting...

[cdgcommerce]

Speaking of reporting... product-based reporting is a very useful feature.

I.e. so that you can see how many of each product SKU / prodID# have been sold over X to Y period of time.

I'm curious - what other kinds of reports have folks here in this forum found to be helpful for either yourselves or your merchants?