Author: hello@scuti

Import tax & duty in Singapore: The complete guide you must know

Posted on by hello@scuti

Online businesses have a great opportunity to grow thanks to international sales. However, they also bring up a number of issues, such as how to handle import regulations. It is imperative for business owners to do a research on Singapore’s import tax and customs fees before shipping goods there. In this article, we would introduce everything you need to know about import tax & duty in Singapore.

What is import tax in Singapore?

Except for items that fall under an exempt category, all commodities carried into Singapore are subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Singapore Goods and Services Tax (GST) 

GST is computed using the item’s worth and may additionally take into account the cost, insurance, freight, and other chargeable expenses. You must pay regardless of whether you already paid a foreign sales tax when purchasing the products. All items entering Singapore are subject to a 7% Goods and Service Tax. However, the government has declared that by 2025, this will be increased to 9% (The Straits Times).

Singapore customs duty

All commodities that enter one country from another often have to pay customs duty; because the goods are crossing international borders. Singapore does not often impose Singapore customs duty on imported goods because it runs a free port. 

Singapore excise duty

The majority of nations charge an excise tax on imported goods that they aim to deter citizens from purchasing. As a result, they are typically used in conjunction with products that could be regarded hazardous for both social and environmental reasons. The majority of internet sellers won’t have to worry about paying excise duty when importing goods to Singapore. For this sort of Singapore import duty, the nation mentions the following four product categories: 

      • – alcoholic beverages

      • – motor vehicles

      • – tobacco and cigarettes 

      • – petroleum products and biodiesel mixes

    How does the import tax in Singapore operate?

    All items arriving in Singapore are subject to GST, one component of the Singapore import tax regime, as we have already mentioned. 

    Two ways to pay import tax in Singapore

    In Singapore, there are two ways to pay customs tax:

    The first way is to submit a declaration in advance before returning to Singapore (or before the goods arrive). Utilizing the Customs@SG mobile app or website, you must do this no later than three days before your arrival. Once this process is finished, you should be given an electronic receipt to carry with you in case you are questioned by customs upon entering Singapore. You can easily present this as proof of GST payment on your smartphone or other mobile device. 

    The other way is to submit a GST declaration and payment at the Customs Tax Payment Office.

    As the importer of the products, it is your responsibility to declare the value of the goods honestly, accurately, and completely and to pay the appropriate GST.

    You still need to pay the import tax even if the item(s) you’re importing don’t have a receipt or price tag. The price paid at the time of purchase or the price of comparable or identical items in the nation in which you purchased the item will serve as the basis for an estimation of value for GST purposes.

    GST relief

    You should notice that products brought back for consuming or personal use are exempt from GST. 

    GST relief for Singaporean holiday makers

    You may be eligible for GST relief if you purchase items outside of Singapore with the intention of bringing them back for personal use.

    You cannot receive GST relief if you import goods into Singapore for your company since this does not apply to any goods brought in for business.

    The length of your absence from Singapore will determine how much GST relief you receive. You will receive S$500 in GST relief if you travel abroad for at least 48 hours. You can only receive a GST reduction of S$100 for international journeys that last less than 48 hours.

    The most expensive item you can bring back into Singapore (for personal use) without having to pay customs tax is worth up to this amount. If the price of your items exceeds your GST relief limitation, you will be responsible for paying tax on the balance.

    GST exemptions for postal or courier orders

    You can receive GST relief on purchases up to S$400 if you shop online and use international shipping for postal imports of products from abroad.

    However, a significant distinction from importing items into the nation on your own is that if the order value is greater than S$400, you won’t be eligible for any GST relief. Therefore, the import tax of 7% is applied to the entire order amount if you go over this limit. 

    Singapore GST exemptions

    Not all of the items you want to bring back from your vacation will be exempt from GST. The GST exemptions are (including purchases made during online shopping): 

        • – alcoholic beverages

        • – motor vehicles

        • – tobacco and cigarettes 

        • – petroleum products and biodiesel mixes

      Remember that only Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the GST relief. You might not be qualified for GST exemption even if your time in Singapore is covered by a work, student, dependent, or long-term pass. Thus, the 7% import tax may apply to everything you ship to Singapore or bring back from outside. 

      Payment of import tax in Singapore

      All import taxes and charges in Singapore must be settled in Singapore Dollars. This holds true even if you purchased things using a different currency. To make this easier, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) releases a Singapore custom exchange rate each week. The MAS website has the rates released one week in advance.

      The following payment methods are also available for paying duties and GST:

      – Visa or Master credit cards on the Customs@SG Web Application 

      – All major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, and American Express), mobile wallets, NETS, and Cashcard are accepted at the Singapore Customs Tax Payment Office.

      Conclusion

      Making sure your consumers are at ease making purchases from your store and have confidence that their order will be delivered safely to their location is one of the most crucial aspects of managing a global e-commerce brand. Making sure clients are aware of the exact amount of import tax and duty they will be required to pay is one aspect of this. By assisting you to compute these automatically in your store, Shopify makes this procedure simpler for customers in Singapore and elsewhere. If you want to build an ecommerce website on Shopify, Scuti is here to help. 

      Omnichannel vs Multichannel: Main differences and which one is the best choice for your business

      Posted on by hello@scuti

      The terms “omnichannel” vs “multichannel” are frequently used in business and marketing. Additionally, both require using multiple marketing channels to reach customers, so it can be challenging to define the difference between these concepts. In this article, we will distinguish these two terms and guide you how to choose the best one for your business.

      Definition of multichannel

      Multichannel definition

      Multichannel marketing is the use of multiple media channels to reach out to customers to promote and spread a brand’s message. However, there is no integration between these several channels. For instance, the content of your Facebook advertisement may be totally dissimilar from what you publish on Instagram or in your marketing emails. 

      In a nutshell, every channel in a multichannel approach functions independently and presents its own set of sales opportunities.

      Definition of omnichannel

      Omnichannel definition

      The phrase “omnichannel” also describes using multiple channels to communicate with clients. However, in this instance, the various channels are combined to give the customer a smooth experience. In other words, a user can continue where they left off on one channel or another. For instance, a clothing company may sell its goods online, through its app, on Shopee Mall, in the “Shopping” section of Facebook, and in physical storefronts.

      In short, omnichannel allows customers to shift between channels smoothly while interacting with your business. Any marketing content customers encounter when they go to your website, Facebook page, physical store, or any other channel, will be centered on a single idea or message.

      Key difference of “omnichannel” vs “multichannel” 

      The strategy’s goal distinguishes omnichannel from multichannel the most. Multichannel uses one or two marketing channels to focus on a product or service, while omnichannel uses marketing channels that are customer-focused. 

      On the one hand, maximizing the number of channels used to promote a brand is the goal of multichannel marketing. Furthermore, more channels provide customers more options for how they want to interact with a brand. The customer has more options the more channels are available.

      On the other hand, the customer, not the channel, is the main focus of omnichannel marketing. Putting the consumer first, the goal is to give them the best experience possible as they switch between channels, reducing friction across various digital touchpoints.

      In addition, multichannel emphasizes flexibility, whereas omnichannel concentrates around consistency. In detail, the goal of multichannel marketing is to reach as many people as you can in order to increase brand awareness. Meanwhile, the goal of omnichannel marketing is to provide customers who are already aware of and interacting with a company with a consistent customer experience.

      Examples of “omnichannel” vs “multichannel”

      Starbucks omnichannel strategy

      Starbucks is a great example of using omnichannel to focus on the customer experience. The seamless user experience that Starbucks offers is outstanding. Every time a customer uses a Starbucks card to make a purchase, whether they use a physical card or a mobile device, they earn reward points.

      Additionally, on the linked app, coffee enthusiasts are able to:

      • – Find nearby stores

      • – Give gifts

      • – For a quicker experience, place your drink orders in advance.

      Additionally, customers may check the songs that are now playing in that particular store and add them to their playlists thanks to the recent Spotify integration.

      The application of the omnichannel experience is executed brilliantly and effortlessly in Starbucks’ business model. 

      If you want to build a Shopify website to give your customer seamless user experience, learn more here.

      Adidas multichannel strategy

      Adidas, a maker of sporting products, is a good illustration of multichannel marketing. They sell their goods through both online and physical stores, as well as through their own website and the Adidas Concept Stores, which are their flagship locations. Adidas is adaptable when it comes to marketing and communication. They employ a variety of mediums, from traditional TV advertisements to social media. On each channel, they send a different message to reach their customers.

      This is their message on online shop:

      Adidas multichannel strategy

      This is their advertisement on Facebook page:

      Adidas multichannel strategy

      Want to hire web developers in Singapore to build your ecommerce website, learn more here.

      How to select the best choice for your business?

      At first glance, it would make sense to choose omnichannel, which provides a better customer experience. But it’s not quite that simple. You should depend on your business’s goal when choosing between “omnichannel” and “multichannel”.

      Choose the “multichannel” strategy for your business if

      If you want to promote your brands and bring your products to customers quickly, using multichannel marketing strategy should be your choice.

      In addition, if you lack the funds to fully implement an omnichannel strategy, multichannel marketing may be a good alternative. You could think it’s simpler to remain with multichannel marketing because it can still produce positive outcomes even though omnichannel marketing requires more work to deploy.

      The main benefit of multichannel is that it provides flexibility by enabling each channel to operate independently. The stakeholders of each channel can concentrate on expanding their channels without having to worry as much about communication.

      Choose the “omnichannel” strategy for your business if

      Omnichannel marketing, when done correctly, is a fantastic choice for companies of all kinds, including smaller and developing ecommerce marketers.

      Going omnichannel can need additional resources in terms of investment and operation, but the benefits of an effective omnichannel strategy far outweigh these costs. If you’re willing to put in the effort, omnichannel is the way to go. Benefits range from a better user experience and increased customer retention to improved sales and stronger brand loyalty.

      Conclusion

      The first step in choosing the best strategy for your brand is to understand the distinction between omnichannel and multichannel. Whether you invest in multichannel or omnichannel, having the adaptability to incorporate new channels will decide your success in the future. If you are starting your ecommerce business and want to hire an ecommerce agency to help, contact us today.

      What is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)? How can businesses use it?

      Posted on by hello@scuti

      A stock keeping unit (SKU) is an alphanumeric code given to inventory that enables businesses to keep track of their inventory, calculate sales by product and category, plan store layouts and traffic patterns, and improve customer experiences. A stock keeping unit can be used for more than just product identification. Understanding these codes and how to create one is crucial. In this article, we will discuss what is a SKU and all other information you need to know about SKU. 

      What is the definition of a SKU?

      SKU and UPC

      SKU, which stand for “stock keeping unit”, is scannable barcode that is most frequently found printed on product labels at retail establishments. Retailers utilize SKUs, to distinguish between products and maintain track of inventory levels. Typically, an SKU has eight alphanumeric digits. Different SKU numbers are given to products based on factors including price, manufacturer, color, style, kind, and size. 

      Organizations have different SKUs for the same products because SKUs are created internally by businesses to maintain inventory. 

      Noticeably, SKU is different from UPC. UPC, which stand for “universal product code”, is intended to distinguish identical goods, wherever they may be marketed. SKU is assigned only to the retailer who is selling the products. UPC is issued by the Global Standards Organization. The barcodes or UPCs of two products could be identical, though. Additionally, SKUs are alpha-numeric and can have a range of lengths, whereas UPC barcodes normally only contain numbers with 12 characters. 

      How do SKUs work?

      SKUs help to distinguish products from one another. Because it would be challenging to keep track of sales and inventories without grouping them according to their origin, model, kind, color, size, or any other distinguishing characteristics. 

      For instance, a store selling shoes will need SKUs to track their inventory. The sellers may assign letter A for Adidas shoes, letter B for Nike shoes. The next series of the SKUs codes could be a size indicator (numbers from 3 to 6) and then colors (such as 001, 002, 003, etc.). A Nike red shoe of size 5 could have SKU of B5001. 

      Why are SKUs crucial for retailers?

      SKUs allow customers to compare the qualities of similar products. For instance, online retailers may show comparable films purchased by other customers when a customer purchases a specific DVD based on SKU data. The customer may make further purchases as a result of this strategy, boosting sales for the business. 

      SKUs serve more purposes than merely product identification. With the data gathered, you have data that can be examined to determine the profitability and effectiveness of your retail operation.

      1. Inventory Control

      An SKU system’s primary function is inventory management. Retailers can monitor inventory levels, turnover, and flow by using an SKU. Using the data received from sales, they can establish inventory levels and timetables, which serve as triggers for starting or finishing inventory orders. 

      2. Information analysis

      SKUs give retailers the ability to gather information that enables them to analyze sales patterns in their various consumer categories or decide which products are most popular. They are able to stock inventory in accordance with consumer behavior trends thanks to this analysis.

      3. Customer experience enhancing

      For example, when a client asks for an alternate version of a product, a store employee can scan an SKU to swiftly determine what is in stock, increasing sales efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

      4. Product Suggestions

      Additionally, applying SKUs codes to improve customer experiences on ecommerce websites is a good idea. For instance, many online stores can use SKUs to select products to show as “suggestions” when you are shopping. Each product has simply received a special SKU from the corporation, along with all of its distinguishing characteristics. The purchasing platform may show you additional blenders that are comparable to the one you are viewing. 

      How to use SKUs for your business?

      Before learning how to apply SKUs for your business, you need to create SKUs to label your products. SKU numbers are company-specific and not globally standardized because they are used by the producer to track products. Therefore, you are free to create whatever SKU system that works for your products and meets your demands. Typically, you will want to design a system with a logical flow for your products. Here are several ideas for you to apply SKUs for your company.

      1. Using SKUs for inventory tracking

      SKUs define product characteristics, making them useful tools for monitoring the availability of your whole inventory.

      You may decide precisely when to place fresh product orders by using your SKU data to monitor product statuses. This accuracy leads to productivity and efficiency. Real-time inventory management helps you keep up with your company’s changing needs.

      2. SKUs data help you balance between demand and supply

      By collecting information from your inventory management, you can also forecast demand and sales. 

      Maintaining a pulse on these dynamic components of your retail business establishes you as a trustworthy business partner to your clients and suppliers. You may carefully assess your inventory to estimate demand and fulfill clients by organizing your SKU numbers to express the details that buyers care about about your products. 

      3. Highlight your most lucrative products

      Your SKU architecture showcases both your most popular products and your least popular ones. Your SKUs can also help you get inventive with your best-selling products in addition to helping you determine your reorder points and which products to eliminate.

      Moreover, data about your top revenue-generating products can inform decisions on in-store product displays and visual merchandising, as well as tactical marketing initiatives that speed up the turnover of that popular stock.

      4. Boost sales by offering products suggestion to customers

      SKUs can be used on the sales floor as well. For instance, if a product is out of stock, your retail staff can use their understanding of SKUs to point clients toward alternatives. As an alternative, if a customer’s desired item is in stock, your staff members might recommend complementary items.

      Additionally, ecommerce websites frequently use this. When you browse products online, merchants frequently present similar goods you might enjoy. This is most commonly accomplished through a retailer’s SKU architecture, where an algorithm has been used to generate suggestions for products with comparable qualities or attributes. 

      Want to build an ecommerce website? Scuti is here to help_____________

      Conclusion

      Undoubtedly, with SKUs, it is less likely that customers would receive the incorrect item from you and it helps with refunds if necessary. You may create an SKU architecture that enables you to effectively manage your inventory and expand your retail business by having a clear grasp of what’s important to you, your vendors, and your customers. 

      Singpost delivery time and shipping: Everything you need to know

      Posted on by hello@scuti

      When selecting local and international shipping from Singapore, Singapore Post (SingPost) will undoubtedly be one of your courier options you should take into consideration. This is because SingPost has been Singapore’s local postal service provider for over 160 years. In this article, we provide all the information you require regarding SingPost’s shipping costs and delivery time both domestically and internationally.

      SingPost delivery time and shipping for local

      1. SingPost basic services

      SingPost basic service

      For mail sent locally using SingPost Basic, packages need to be with dimensions of 324 x 229 x 65mm, and weight up to 2kg. 

      In addition, with basic mail of standard service sent by SingPost, it needs to have 324 x 229 x 14mm in dimension and have weight below 500g. Meanwhile, basic mail of non-standard service has 324 x 229 x 65mm in dimension, and weight up to 500g. 

      SingPost delivery time for basic services locally

      Mail and letters sent locally by SingPost basic services require 2 working days.

      SingPost delivery rates for basic services locally

      • Packages: $1.55

      • Basic mail standard: from $0.31 to $1.15 

      • Basic mail (non-standard): from $0.60 to $1.70

      2. SingPost speedpost delivery

      SingPost speedpost service's delivery time

      For the Speedpost standard package, it can be 600 x 400 x 300mm in dimension, and up to 30kg. Besides, for Speedpost express service, the package can be up to 5kg, with dimensions of 320 x 250 x 100mm.

      SingPost delivery time for speedpost service

      For Speedpost standard, the service requires 1 working day. Meanwhile, the Speedpost express service can be less than 2 hours. 

      SingPost delivery rates for speedpost service

      • Speedpost standard: from $6.10 to $12.15

      • Speedpost express: from $15.15 to $25.25

      3. SingPost tracked services

      tracked package - SingPost delivery time

      Tracked package service is for packages with dimensions of 324 x 229 x 65mm and weight up to 2kg. In addition, tracked mail is for mail with dimensions of 324 x 229 x 65mm and weight up to 500g. 

      SingPost delivery time for tracked service

      Tracked mail service requires 2 working days. Similarly, the same amount of time is for tracked package.  

      SingPost delivery rates for speedpost service

      Tracked mail rate is from $2.60 to $3.45. Meanwhile, the tracked package fee is $2.

      4. Postage-paid packaging 

      Postage-paid packaging - SingPost delivery time and shipping

      This is a brand-new postage-paid alternative for senders seeking a hassle-free shipping experience at a reasonable price. For Poly M service with size of 230mm x 165mm and 330mm x 240mm, the fee is $20.50.

      Another option of postage-paid packaging service is smartpac. Everything you need to do is to purchase smartpac from any post office offline or online. There are 3 sizes of pack you can choose. You can pack anything in the smartpac with no weight limit. Depending on sizes of smartpac, you may pay an amount of money from $22.00 to $32.00.

      SingPost delivery time and shipping overseas

      In fact, geographic zones determine the SingPost’s foreign delivery times and costs.

      • Zone 1: Brunei and Malaysia

      • Zone 2: Asia and the Pacific nations (except Australia, Japan & New Zealand)

      • Zone 3: The rest of the world, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand

      1. SingPost ordinary mail for overseas

      Ordinary mail service - SingPost delivery time and shipping

      For both letters and small goods, the Airmail service requirement maximum weight limit is 2kg. For Surface mail service, the mail needs to have dimensions of 240 x 162 x 6mm. Additionally, you should notice the main difference between Airmail service and Surface mail are: Surface mail is restricted to sending letters only and does not deliver parcels to Zone 1 (Malaysia & Brunei).

      SingPost delivery time for ordinary mail service overseas

      Airmail mail service requires from 3 to 12 working days. Meanwhile, Surface mail service 3 to 17 weeks. 

      SingPost delivery rates for ordinary mail service overseas

      Depending on different zones, the Airmail service rate is from $0.80 to $1.50. 

      2. SingPost Speedpost international delivery

      Speedpost for overseas - SingPost delivery time and shipping

      There are 3 types of service of Speedpost international delivery. They are Speedpost express, Speedpost economy and Speedpost priority. The package sent by these services can be up to 20kg.

      SingPost delivery time for Speedpost international delivery

      Speedpost express requires 2-9 working days. Speedpost priority requires 3 to 14 working days. In addition, the Speedpost economy needs 3-15 weeks. 

      SingPost delivery rates for Speedpost international delivery

      Depending on different zones, this service charges different prices for the package you want to send. You can view detailed information of your postage fee through this link. 

      Conclusion

      Researching carefully through SingPost is a crucial step before sending your package. If you own an ecommerce website, you can also use the SingPost service to send your products to customers. If you want to hire Singapore web developers to improve the quality of your ecommerce site, Scuti are here to help. 

      How to optimize the shopping cart of your ecommerce site SEO – friendly?

      Posted on by hello@scuti

      Your online store’s checkout process is a crucial step in boosting conversions. According to statistics, 69.99% of shoppers abandon their carts on average across all industries. You wouldn’t want it to occur in your online store’s shopping cart, if you were an ecommerce firm owner. Therefore, in this article, we will suggest different ways to optimize your shopping cart SEO-friendly of your ecommerce website.

      1. Improve your ecommerce site’s loading speed

      The overall consumer experience depends on loading times, but they are especially important during the checkout process.

      Hubspot estimates that a 1-second delay in the site’s loading speed would cost Amazon $1.6 billion in lost sales annually. Furthermore, 40% of your visitors will abandon their shopping carts if it takes longer than three seconds for your sites to load. You should make an effort to make sure that your checkout pages load as quickly as possible.

      If you want to hire an ecommerce agency to help you improve your website’s loading speed, learn more here.

      2. Offer a range of shipping choices

      Various shipping methods help optimize your shopping cart

      If you give more clients more ways to buy and pay for their purchases, they will appreciate your e-commerce website more.

      If you put yourself in the position of your potential clients, you will realize that some of them require the product right away, making urgent delivery a fantastic shipping choice. Some shipping choices to include on your ecommerce website’s checkout cart page should be standard local delivery, free shipping, urgent shipping, etc.

      3. Offer a variety of payment options

      Various payment methods make your shopping cart SEO-friendly

      Although the majority of consumers find online shopping simple, not everyone agrees. Despite having a well-designed website, some customers prefer a range of payment methods, and if their preferred one is not available, they can stop shopping at the ecommerce site.

      Recognize that as an owner of an online store, you cannot please everyone and that the only way to get these clients to shop is by providing a variety of payment options. Some payment options you should provide in your ecommerce site are bank transfer, cash on delivery, digital wallet, etc.

      Learn more about how to choose the best Shopify payment gateway in Singapore for your ecommerce business here.

      4. Add comments on your product page

      The typical customer reads ten internet reviews before making a decision. Consumers (88%) think online reviews are just as reliable as personal recommendations. More prospective customers will be persuaded to add a product to their shopping cart if there are more supportive remarks in the product reviews. They’ll probably post a comment as well if they have a great experience. 

      Star rating is also a trustworthy source for customers to buy your products. As stated by HubSpot 57% of consumers will only buy or use a business service if it has at least a 4-star rating. Therefore, don’t encourage customers to read reviews on independent websites. Customers’ comments should be included on your product pages. 

      5. Send a reminder email regarding an ignored shopping cart

      Online purchasing allows you window shopping as well. Before completing a purchase, customers will put the item to their shopping carts and leave it there for several days. However, customers frequently forget the item they placed in their shopping cart, which leads them to abandon their unfinished purchases. Use abandoned cart emails to inform your consumers and stop that from happening.

      By doing this, people will be informed and reminded to check out the products. 

      6. Automated account creation using social media and email

      Automated email to create account

      Even if creating an account on an e-commerce website is simple, not everyone has the time to fill up their account profile. Instead of spending time on each transaction by having to fill out their personal information on an ecommerce website, customers prefer speedy checkout.

      According to a poll by the Baynard Institute on cart abandonment, 24% of prospective buyers leave their online shopping carts empty on websites that allow them to make purchases by creating accounts.

      To solve this problem, make it possible for customers to check out as anonymous visitors by enabling automated sign-up using their Facebook or Gmail accounts. Upon authorization, this will retrieve basic customer information from the relevant service providers. 

      7. Add limited time on the purchase process to create urgency

      If people feel they will lose out on the desired goods, they are more likely to add items to their carts and make purchases. This is also known as FOMO (fear of missing out) (FOMO). Therefore, by making your products seem special and providing limited-time offers, you subtly push the customer to act now or miss out.

      8. Offer live chat support

      Live chat support helps optimize your shopping cart

      A small feature called live chat has been found to boost conversions. Live chat is even more essential if your business is new or does not have a strong brand.

      Consumers want to know that they are doing business with a trustworthy company because they are very aware of internet fraud. Live chat conversations with your customers might help them feel more at ease while making purchases on your website. 

      Additionally, if clients have to look around for too long to find your contact information, they can lose interest or think you’re unreliable. The only way chat boxes are useful is if you can monitor them and respond to questions immediately.

      Conclusion

      Making your shopping cart SEO-friendly is a crucial step to encourage customers to purchase your products.Without obstacles, shopping ought to be a pleasant experience where consumers can focus on their purchases. If you need help from ecommerce agency to optimize your shopping cart, we are here to help.

      Established in 2015, Scuti with 7+ years has developed into a dynamic, flexible, and quick-moving business that specializes in delivering web development for the ecommerce industry. We’ve created a global presence and work with clients in many different industry sectors. We place a strong emphasis on scope discovery to accurately identify client goals and objectives. We assist our clients in reducing operational complexity and putting innovative ecommerce solutions for businesses of all sizes, from startups, SMEs to large enterprises. Our main areas of specialty include Shopify, Adobe Commerce (also known as Magento), and ecommerce tools.

      How to create customer referral programs for your Shopify store with amazing examples

      Posted on by hello@scuti

      Referral marketing or ‘refer-a-friend’ marketing is a cost-effective marketing strategy that rewards current customers for referring your goods to their friends and relatives. This tactic is used by many big brands around the world. Unsure whether you need your own referral programs? In this article, we will discuss the benefits of it and guide you to create successful referral programs for your Shopify store with some real-world examples.

      Referral marketing and referral program

      Referral marketing is a tactic that rewards current clients for introducing you to their personal networks. This can be mentioned as word-of-mouth marketing. 

      Meanwhile, if you already have a group of content customers who are recommending your goods to their contacts, a referral program fuels the machine that generates recommendations for you by persuading more people to do so (and to do it more often.)

      With a referral scheme, you can gain new clients without spending money on advertising and then gaining their trust with valuable content. The fact that the suggestion comes from someone who already owns that increases the credibility of your goods.

      The way that referral programs work

      how do referral programs work?

      A referral program works by asking your current clients to represent your business. When they sign up for your referral marketing scheme, they receive a special code or link to distribute to their network.

      Your referral program software monitors how a customer’s code or link is being used. A reward will be given to the referrer if a sale is made utilizing it.

      Various kinds of referral programs

      Direct referral

      Direct referrals take place when individuals looking for a product similar to yours actively refer you to them. It’s the oldest and most natural method of recommendation. The person making the referral is simply genuinely pleased with the product and prepared to recommend it to their friends; there isn’t necessarily any financial benefit for them to do so.

      Reputation referral

      This kind of reputation occurs when your brand is so well-known that customers feel comfortable recommending you to others who are looking for the things you sell, even if they haven’t personally used your services. 

      This comes about as an indirect effect of having excellent items and a robust brand recognition.

      Incentivized referral

      This is the most common kind of referral. This business strategy gives someone a benefit for recommending your goods to their contacts, such as a cash reward or a discount on their subsequent purchase. Some referral programs offer two different incentives. Retailers have the option of rewarding both the referrer and the new customer for participating in the program.

      Benefits of having successful referral programs

      Bring loyal customers to your brand

      Encouraging repeated purchase after first purchase and establishing a long term relationship with referred customers are easier than attracting new ones. This is because they already trust your brand before buying your products. According to research from the Wharton School of Business, referred customers are worth 16 to 25% in lifetime value. Additionally, referred customers are 37% more likely to remain loyal to your brand, as stated by Deloitte.

      Promote your brand

      referral programs help promote your brand

      If customers have good experience with your brand, it’s common that they will become brand ambassadors and recommend it to their friends and family. Nielsen study indicated that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know rather than other types of advertising. Meanwhile, about 18% of Gen X discover brands by referral marketing (Statista). You can see that this type of word of mouth marketing gives your brand more credibility and wins potential customers’ trust.

      Increase your revenue

      referral programs help your business increase revenue

      According to Nielsen, when recommended by a friend, people are four times more likely to make a purchase. Moreover, your revenue can rise by 16%  thanks to referrals. In addition, the American Marketing Association stated that providing reward makes referrals more likely, but the size of the prize is unimportant. This implies that you can save more money in word of mouth marketing strategy, while earning more profit.

      Steps to create a referral program

      1. Bring the best quality of products or services to your customer

      If you want to gain a reputation for your brand and establish a long term relationship with your customers, the first step is to make sure that your products or services are great. Only when you can convince your existing customers that you create the best products and services, will they be likely to recommend your brand to others. 

      Learn more about how to encourage impulse buy in your Shopify store here.

      2. Decide referral reward 

      A great strategy to increase program usage is to reward customers who recommend other people. Decide on the type of incentive you’ll offer those who recommend their family and friends. Remember that you establish a win-win relationship with your customers. New customers are encouraged to purchase through a referral link. When they do, the person who referred them gets rewarded. 

      3. Pick a referral marketing device

      The following step is to select a referral marketing platform that manages invites for referrals, creates special codes or links, and keeps track of the activity generated through them.

      Thankfully, Shopify offers a number of powerful referral program tools on Shopify apps to help you motivate customers to promote your company:

          • Referral Candy

          • Referrals & Abandoned Cart

          • Talkable Referrals

        4. Invite existing customer to participate in your program

        The best referral sources are existing customers. Through email marketing, invite them to join your referral program.

        Send a broadcast first to introduce your new initiative and the rewards you’re providing (if any). The majority of referral marketing platforms have an email option that automatically inserts a customer’s specific referral code or link without them needing to join up.

        Examples of successful referral programs

        Rothy’s

        Rothy's referral programs

        Rothy’s makes essentials such as vintage shoes and bags. The progress the neighborhood is making serves as a source of inspiration. When your friends place their first order, they will receive a $20 reward as part of their refer-a-friend program. Also, referral receives $20 off for the next purchase.

        Quad Lock

        For cyclists, motorists, motorcyclists, and runners, Quad Lock provides phone mounts and cases. It has sold over 1 million items in more than ten nations. It offers 5% in cash if customers refer their brand to friends, and 10% off in the first purchase for referred customers.

        Decathlon

        Decathlon is a sports supply store that sells everything from electric scooters and kayaks to running socks and bikinis. Its marketing strategy is ‘Give $10, Get $10’, which offer $10 off in points when you refer the brand to friends, and $10 off in the first purchase for the referred customers.

        Rae Wellness 

        Rae Wellness provides dietary supplements to support your overall health and wellbeing. ‘Help your friends feel their best’ is a line in their marketing campaign that plays on the positive emotions you’ll have when helping others and after using Rae supplements. They offer 5% of the next order and 5% of first order for existing customers and their friends, respectively.

        The last word

        To sum up, creating your own referral program would be beneficial for your ecommerce business in the long run. Therefore, creating trust with customers, choosing rewards to give them for participating in referral programs can be one of your top strategies to build long term relationships with customers and attract new ones. If you are considering building a Shopify store, learn more here.

        Top ecommerce marketing trends of 2023 for better conversions in Singapore

        Posted on by hello@scuti

        As more people choose to buy their goods online, online shopping is obviously a common occurrence in Singapore. Therefore, more companies are establishing more online presence. To differentiate yourself from your competitors, you must develop an outstanding ecommerce marketing strategy. Setting up your marketing plan from ecommerce marketing trends is one technique to make your company stand out from the competition. In this article, we will discuss top ecommerce marketing trends of 2023 in Singapore that you may use to expand your online business.

        1. Search engine optimization (SEO) – top ecommerce marketing trend 2023 in Singapore

        Obviously, the increase in internet consumers presents an opportunity for you to increase your customers. Using SEO tactics is the best strategy to raise your search engine ranks and increase your website’s natural visibility to your potential customers. Along with making your product pages SEO-friendly, you should also focus on developing SEO content that speaks to the other phases of the sales process. 

        There are several processes involved in producing SEO content, from creating content changes to writing drafts to posting. Consider paying for content marketing services if you’re short on time. 

        2. Conversion rate optimization (CRO)

        The process of raising the proportion of users who perform a desired activity on a website is known as conversion rate optimization (CRO). A product purchase, selecting “add to basket,” signing up for a service, completing a form, or clicking a link are examples of desired activities. 

        Optimizing your conversion rates is a  method of generating more income from your current traffic. This is so that CRO can evaluate different iterations of your website, such as brand-new designs, copy, or page features. 

        Any website analytics tool can be used to calculate the ecommerce conversion rate of a website. You can use the most popular one, Google Analytics, which concentrates on data from websites solely.

        3. Omnichannel marketing – one of the best ecommerce marketing trends 2023 in Singapore

        Omnichannel marketing - best ecommerce marketing trends

        Omnichannel marketing is a strategy used by businesses to promote lead generation and user engagement by allowing customers to access their goods and services via a variety of platforms, gadgets, and channels. According to McKinsey & Company, omnichannel marketing has been a crucial component of ecommerce developments in 2022 and will continue to be important at least until 2030. 

        You may reach and engage your audience through a variety of techniques with omnichannel marketing. To enable your audience to engage with your brand, you may build a variety of touchpoints.

        You can combine any number of digital marketing techniques, such as: email marketing, SEO, pay-per-click marketing, etc.

        Learn more about omnichannel marketing & multichannel marketing here.

        4. Marketplaces

        marketplace

        A research found that 32% of Gen Z anticipate shopping online over the holidays. Businesses should benefit from this by utilizing a variety of market strategies, such as product personalization and customization requests, omnichannel strategy, and cross-border commerce. A number of online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and Shopee, are refining their platforms to improve the user experience for both consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises who are switching to the channel. 

        Want to discover the top best online marketplace to sell your products? Learn more here.

        5. Social media shopping – the rising marketing trend in Singapore

        social media shopping - top ecommerce marketing trends

        Popular social media sites like Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Shopping have their very own ecommerce setups. Since so many individuals use social media apps, they are the ideal venue for product promotion because vendors can easily upload their product catalogs along with price. Additionally, this type of ecommerce marketing and advertising approach encourages visitors to the e-commerce website to click on the CTA button where they locate the product to view the item. And that is how social media shopping contributes to increased traffic and consumer base.

        6. Augmented reality

        The number 6 spot on this list goes to augmented reality (AR), a developing ecommerce trend. Your company can make virtual products come to life wherever your clients are by using augmented reality technology. The user’s actual surroundings are enhanced with augmented reality (AR) elements. 

        AR has completely changed the e-commerce industry over time and has integrated itself into Singaporean business patterns. With AR, your online customers will be able to view the product they are looking at, which would help them assess their options and make the best decision. As a result, ecommerce company owners should anticipate AR rocking up the sector in the years to come.

        7. QR codes

        The QR code will take control once more in 2023. Anyone with a smartphone are able to read QR codes, which will increase customer interaction and traffic to ecommerce websites.

        Here are the steps you need to do in order to use QR codes in digital marketing efficiently.

            • 1. On the product packaging for your online store, print QR codes.

            • 2. Offer discounts or coupons with QR codes for specific goods or services.

            • 3. Include QR codes to direct customers to your social media or to your feedback page.

          You may track your marketing metrics by using QR codes as well. The number of times the QR code was scanned, from a single scan to repeated scans, can be seen by brands thanks to software and applications. These results can also be sorted by location, date, and operating system. These statistics can help you understand how you connect with your audience.

          8. Live-streaming – one of popular Singapore ecommerce marketing trends

          Live-stream - one of top ecommerce marketing trends in Singapore

          Online shopping has evolved as a result of live streaming commerce. The salesperson can showcase their goods and services as if the customers are standing right in front of them, much like in a more formal setting.

          This ecommerce marketing approach has been very popular in the last two years. Live streaming commerce is the ideal technique to entice customers to make a purchase as the pandemic continues and many are still reluctant to shop in person. Be sure to follow Singapore’s ecommerce trends.

          9. Video marketing

          The creation of video promotions is next on our list of ecommerce marketing trends.

          A great approach to grab your audience’s attention and spark their interest in what you have to offer is through video promotions. According to Think with Google, when researching a purchase, 80% of individuals alternate between video and online search. Moreover, videos have a big impact on your organization; they raise conversion rates by 86% (Business 2 Community) 

          You can make movies on your goods, information about your sector, or an inside peek at your company. In order to keep your audience interested, your videos should be both educational and interesting. It’s a terrific approach to spread the word about your content so that more people become familiar with your company and brand.

          10. Influencer endorsement

          Influencer - Singapore ecommerce marketing trend

          Influencer marketing will keep rising in 2023 as social media usage grows even more. As more consumers trust brands that work with influencers, this ecommerce marketing technique will gain popularity. Statistics showed that influencer marketing was rated as an effective method by 91% of respondents to an Influencer Marketing Hub poll. 

          A recent HubSpot study found that 30% of buyers allow influencer recommendations to influence their choice of products. Therefore, you should begin your search for the ideal influencer who aligns with the values of your business now if you intend to employ this e-commerce marketing trend for your campaign in 2023. Your influencer partnership would be much more successful if you did this.

          Conclusion

          Even if the ecommerce sector experiences a surge in 2022, there is still room for improvement in 2023. Make sure to prepare for 2023 with the best marketing strategy based on top ecommerce marketing trends to make your business stand out from the crowd. If you want to hire an ecommerce agency to build a Shopify store with the best conversion rate, Scuti are here to help.

          Effective strategies to encourage impulse buy in your Shopify store

          Posted on by hello@scuti

          Despite being less appealing than online shopping these days, physical stores do succeed at one thing: promoting impulse purchases. People are more motivated to make a purchase the longer they wait in line at checkouts stocked with magazines, beverages, and snacks. Online businesses are unable to use the same triggers (seeing, touching) to promote impulse buying. However, there are still different ways to encourage impulse buy in your Shopify store. In this article, we will discover the psychology of impulse buy and discuss how to apply it to your ecommerce website to promote impulse purchases.

          Definition of impulse buy

          definition of impulse buy

          An impulse buy is an unplanned purchase. It can be something minor, like picking up a candy bar at the checkout that wasn’t on your shopping list, or something major, like going into a vehicle dealership “just to browse” and leaving with a brand-new car. Impulse purchases are made on the spur of the moment, are difficult to prevent, and are influenced by emotions like delight or rage. 

          Multiple factors influence impulse buy of customers

          Emotions – key role in triggering impulse buy

          Emotional state plays a key role in people’s shopping behavior. Study found that consumer purchasing decisions are affected by both positive and negative emotions. Impulsive purchases may result from gaining face in a social setting. For example, a woman will buy a jacket in the store if the seller gives her a compliment about how she looks good on that item. On the contrary, someone may make an impulsive purchase if they lose face or feel humiliated, worried, or rejected. This way of behavior is known as self-gifting, or retail therapy. 

          Past experience

          The norms of a shopper also influence the psychology of impulse purchases. For instance, a consumer may think that purchasing a pair of pants will make them feel better about themselves or reduce their bad emotions.

          If the product is novel and warns the customer that they’re missing out, these beliefs are more relevant. A customer is more likely to view an impulse buy favorably if they previously had a comparable purchasing experience that left them feeling pleased.

          Believing of getting a deal

          Impulse buy may be caused by the feeling of saving money in the long run. Because consumers are price sensitive, sales promotions frequently have a positive impact on sales. As a result, people are more likely to purchase goods that provide bigger discounts. 

          Bundling

          Bundling - factor promote impulse buy

          Product bundling refers to a technique in which a number of products are packed and sold for a single price as a single unit. Studies have indicated that bundling offers for hedonic goods, but not for utilitarian goods, increase the likelihood of impulse purchases. 

          Different ways to encourage impulse buy on your Shopify store

          Offer free shipping 

          Freeship encourage impulse buy

          Free shipping is a persuasive promotion that has been found to be more valuable to online customers than the actual shipping charge. 93% of customers favored free delivery over other advantages like discounts and free extra products, according to a Return Customer survey. You have to spend money to offer free delivery, but as the Return Customer study points out, you may utilize more expensive items to make up the difference. Another choice is to calculate the average order amount and then set the free delivery threshold at $20 more than that.

          Want to find information about dropshipping? Learn more here.

          Give periodical discounts 

          In online stores, low-cost products are typically purchased on the spur of the moment, much like in traditional shopping. Therefore, you should provide special discounts to encourage shoppers to buy more per visit on your website. One tactic is to provide exclusive discounts on particular holidays or other occasions. Use a newsletter or social media to promote the unique deal. 

          Ask for upsell by using inexpensive goods

          Obviously, the online checkout process is similar to standing in line at a brick and mortar store. In traditional stores, lower cost items are placed close to the checkout. These retailers have discovered that if the upsell products are cheaper, customers are likely to impulse buy. 

          In your case, you can do it in a similar way by adding a page of upsell to the checkout process. In addition, add a timer to encourage customers to react quickly, rather than think about the upsell. This way of doing benefits both you and your customers. They receive a little extra at a reasonable cost, and you earn a little extra money. 

          Make product suggestions

          Placing impulse-buy items close to more expensive, in-demand goods is one strategy physical stores employ to encourage impulse purchases. This works because even if shoppers could be in a store looking for a specific item, they’re more likely to buy it if it matches their interest. Applying this way, you can suggest customers to buy a companion item they hadn’t intended to purchase by placing comparable products at the bottom of product pages. You can also offer discounts on the product combination to motivate impulse buy.

          Improve design quality of your ecommerce website to encourage impulse buy

          web design encourages impulse buy

          According to a study published in the journal of the Association for Information Systems, the ecommerce website’s design and impulse buying are related. In particular, a buyer is more likely to make an impulse purchase the greater the perceived quality of the design. The study’s key finding is that design can have both good and bad effects on customers. Despite the fact that some degree of individual, subjective perception is involved, it has been proven that excellent design stimulates impulse buy.

          Learn more about top best free themes in Shopify here.

          Conclusion

          In conclusion, it’s crucial for ecommerce businesses to take advantage of impulse buy. The better experience customers have on your website, the more likely they are to make impulse purchases. Make sure you make a detailed plan to create a positive purchase experience for customers and stimulate impulse buy.


          Top online selling platforms in Singapore 2023 and how to sell on

          Posted on by hello@scuti

          Undeniably, Singapore recently has developed into a hotspot for ecommerce business to grow. If you are just a newcomer to the ecommerce area, starting selling your products on the marketplace is an easy way to see the increasing profit. In this article, we will list the top best online selling platforms in Singapore 2023 and guide you how to sell on these. 

          Definition of an online selling platform 

          Basically, a website that connects sellers and consumers and enables online purchasing is defined as an online selling platform (or online marketplace). 

          Top 4 best Singapore online selling platforms 2023

            Top 4 best online selling platforms in Singapore

              • – Shopee (monthly traffic estimated: 14,986.7 million)

              • – Lazada (monthly traffic estimated: 7,183.3 million)

              • – Amazon (monthly traffic estimated: 4,866.7)

              • – Qoo10 (monthly traffic estimated: 2,893.3)

            Benefits of selling on online marketplaces

            There are various pros for businesses to sell their products on the online marketplace: 

                • – Simple setup – this means no technical knowledge is necessary to create your own store. You just simply add products to it, and add images to forms!

                • – Cost: Since you don’t need to spend money on setting up an ecommerce website or payment gateway, it is more affordable to start selling on marketplaces. Simply set up a store and begin taking orders.

                • – Huge number of traffic: online selling platforms make investments to increase website traffic, so you won’t have to spend to have people visit your site.

                • – Accessible to wide marketing tools: there are numerous options you can choose to promote your sale such as LIVE, Flash Deal, Voucher Campaign, etc.

              Drawbacks of selling on online marketplaces

              Some cons to consider when selling your products on selling platforms:

                  • – Fees: Whenever you make a sale on an online marketplace, you will need to charge a commission fee. If the platform unexpectedly increases their fees, your business profit will be negatively influenced. 

                  • – High competition: Your products are likely to be placed next to your competitors. This way of setup may enable customers to compare the price of your products with the other, pushing you to lower the price significantly less than you would want to. 

                *Want to build your own ecommerce website? We are here to help_____

                    • – Hard to promote your brand: On online selling platforms, your store looks similar to others, making it challenging for you to build your brand and reputation. Therefore, if your business objective is to build a unique brand, selling your products on these platforms should not be your priority. 

                  *How to build your brand with your ecommerce website? Link ____________

                  Steps to start selling on online selling platforms in Singapore

                  Steps to sell on online selling platforms in Singapore

                  Shopee – the biggest Singapore selling platform

                  Shopee is the top ecommerce platform in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and it has a rapidly expanding global footprint. Here are 7 steps to sell your items on Shopee

                  1. Sign up on Shopee App / Seller Centre

                  2. Create a Shop Profile

                  3. List your products

                  4. Add your bank account information so you can withdraw money

                  5. Choose your shipping method

                  6. Make shipping arrangements with Shopee Supported Logistics as soon as you receive an order

                  7. Verify and take money out of the seller balance

                  In order to sell your products, you don’t need to pay any register fees, however, Shopee charges you an amount of transaction fee for each of your sale

                  Lazada – one of the top marketplace in Singapore

                  Here are steps to take at the beginning of selling products on Lazada

                  1. Create an account on Lazada Seller Centre

                  2. List your products

                  3. Link your bank account to transfer revenue to your bank account

                  Importantly, you should be aware of the following three sorts of fees if you sell on Lazada in Singapore:

                    • – Commissions: As of the end of 2018, Lazada has stopped charging commission to its vendors. Instead, only brands that have a LazMall are subject to seller fees. Depending on the product category, these charges might be anywhere from 1% and 13% of the purchase price for each item sold.

                    • – Payment fees — To enable transfers from a seller’s Lazada wallet to their online bank account, Lazada has collaborated with Payoneer and World First. As a result, to make such transfers possible, these payment providers charge a 2% fee. This % charge will be added to the product price, plus the shipping cost and any applicable promotional fees.

                    • – Delivery costs – You can choose whether to cover the cost of shipping or charge customers for it. 

                  Amazon – the online selling platform from the West

                  There are 4 steps to start selling on Amazon:

                  1. Register as seller

                  2. List your products

                  3. Fulfill your product order (based on your company’s requirements, select your chosen fulfillment option (merchant fulfillment or fulfillment by Amazon).

                  4. Get paid and keep track of your sale

                  When being a seller in Amazon, in addition to the monthly price of S$29.95 (excl. GST) you have to pay for Amazon, there is a fee for each product sold. Various categories have different prices.

                  Qoo10 – one of the oldest selling platforms in Singapore

                  The selling process in Qoo10 has 7 basic steps:

                  1. Create a profile

                  2. Establish a product listing.

                  3. Sell goods

                  4. Buyers pay for the goods.

                  5. Send the items you purchased

                  6. Verify delivery of the order

                  7. Receive the earnings

                  The service fee for Qoo10 is minimal and is applied once the transaction is finished. The seller fee for a seller in the “normal” grade is 12% for sales under S$200, 10% for sales in the S$200 to S$500 range, and 8% for sales over S$500. The fee for a seller with a “good” grade is 10% for sales below S$200, 8% for sales between S$200 and S$500, and 6% for sales over S$500. The seller fee for a seller in the “power” grade is 9% for sales below S$200, 7% for sales between S$200 and S$500, and 5% for sales over S$500.

                  Moreover, there are no registration or listing costs. 

                  Conclusion

                  Opening a store on a marketplace can be an affordable approach to launching your ecommerce business if you’ve been considering doing so. However, if your goal is to build and scale up your brand, opening an ecommerce website for your business will be an ideal way. Learn more how to build an ecommerce website at __________

                  Hiring the dedicated web developer in Singapore: The complete guide

                  Posted on by hello@scuti

                  Making the right choices when starting your ecommerce business will determine how successful you are. Hiring a dedicated web developer to help build your website is one of the crucial decisions you might have to make. Therefore, in this article, we will list things you should take into consideration when you want to hire a web developer in Singapore.

                  Skills checklist of a dedicated web developer in Singapore

                  1. Technical expertise

                  Obviously, a web developer possesses technical skills that you need can help your website to grow. There are some crucial factors to take into account when hiring a website developer in Singapore to build your online store:

                  • Expertise in MySQL, JavaScript, and PHP

                  • A solid understanding about ecommerce solutions

                  • Website design trends

                  • Good familiarity with platforms to build ecommerce websites such as Shopify, Woocommerce, etc.

                  • Can deal with cross-browser compatibility problems

                  More importantly, the web developer should have skills and be clear about your goals and type of ecommerce website you want to build. This is because even in terms of size, websites might vary. Google and Amazon are websites, however, creating websites with billions of visitors will be very different than creating a personal blog.

                  2. Knowledge about users’ experience

                  Web developer in Singapore should know user experience

                  The ability to comprehend user psychology and how to improve experience on your website is a requirement for ecommerce developers.

                  Especially, an eye for design, programming, and analytics is essential for website developers.

                  The ecommerce developer you hire should be able to create a website that looks great on any platform, including desktop, smartphone, tablet, and any new gadgets they might not even be aware of yet. 

                  Understanding user behavior and what makes a good website are skills that a website developer in Singapore should possess.

                  3. SEO understanding

                  In order to make your website accessible with millions of consumers out there, your web developer needs to have deep knowledge about SEO (search engine optimization). Also, having insight about sitemaps and metadata tags is crucial if you want your developer to understand how search engines crawl and index web pages. 

                  4. Work experience

                  The right candidate to help you with your website should have professional experience in ecommerce applications and development. A skilled and knowledgeable web developer should be familiar with the fundamentals of SEO, how to analyze website traffic using Google Analytics, and how to utilize and handle various CMS platforms like WordPress, OpenCart, Magento, etc. They also need to be familiar with working with PHP custom coding so they can quickly alter the plugins & theme of your ecommerce website.

                  5. Fit with your organization

                  When seeking for the right web developer in Singapore to work with, evaluating their attitude is also a crucial step. This is because you want to make sure that the web developer will fit in the culture of your company. 

                  You should make a list of characteristics requirements. Do you want to hire a good team player? Do you want to hire someone creative coming up with new interesting ideas to help your website? It’s important for the candidate to meet 70-80% of your requirements.

                  Steps to hire the right web developer in Singapore to help you with your online website

                  1. Decide what kind of developer you need

                  Kinds of web developer in Singapore

                  Have a clear objectives of your website so that you can determine the features you require and choose a developer who can build a website that satisfies those criteria. Based on these factors, you can choose what exactly type of web developer in Singapore you want to hire in the following areas:

                  • Front-end: web designers who concentrate on a website’s visual appeal are frequently front-end developers. While the front-end developer applies the style sheet when coding, you may hire someone else to design the website’s components.

                  • Back-end: Back-end developers are programmers who create the functional elements of your website. To build the website, these experts frequently specialize in particular programming languages.

                  • Full-stack: Full-stack developers are able to code both a website’s design and its functionality. If you need to construct a comprehensive ecommerce website, you might choose this type of freelancer because they frequently have experience with programming languages and design coding like HTML.

                  2. Consider your budget when hiring web developer in Singapore

                  Determine the amount of budget you can spend for your ecommerce website. Your website developer must understand what you want to build, how much money you have to spend, and be prepared to give a package that includes everything from the initial design to ongoing regular maintenance fees.

                  Your website developer in Singapore will comprehend that getting the website up and running is the top concern. Small business owners would not benefit if website developers charged a high upfront fee. It ought to be a cooperative relationship where the

                  fees are payable as the website and the company start to turn a profit. 

                  3. Find potential candidate and check their portfolio

                  The databases that experts use to find web developers for their organization are numerous. You might look through these to discover whether applicants have the necessary skill set for the position you need. Ensure that they are familiar with the platforms you intend to use to build your website, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or WordPress. If they have websites in their portfolios that you may explore to see if they can construct anything similar for you. Beside, make sure they can help you with maintenance and support. 

                  4. Hire web developer in Singapore and sign in contracts

                  You can interview candidates and review their project proposal. Once you find the right candidate that meets your requirement, you should write a contract with details of work and your requirement. Specify the work needed, the outcome you want to see, and payment you offer for the web developer so that there would be no confusion. 

                  Conclusion

                  It can be challenging to find a dedicated web developer in Singapore who can help to build and maintain your ecommerce website. If you need help with finding the right candidate, we are here to help.

                  About Scuti

                  Established in 2015, Scuti with 7+ years has developed into a dynamic, flexible, and quick-moving business that specializes in delivering web development for the ecommerce industry. We’ve created a global presence and work with clients in many different industry sectors. We provide web developer hire service and assist our clients in reducing operational complexity and putting innovative ecommerce solutions for businesses of all sizes, from startups, SMEs to large enterprises. Our main areas of specialty include Shopify, Adobe Commerce (also known as Magento), and ecommerce tools. 

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