Digital Shopping is a catchphrase since more and more users are shifting to an E-commerce platform for their shopping. Marketplaces like Flipkart and Amazon are attracting entrepreneurs to start a Multi-vendor E-commerce platform. If you are one of them, here is everything "how to build a multi-vendor E-commerce platform?" Before heading into the core of the article, you might want to understand the single vendor E-commerce platform.
Multi-vendor vs. Single vendor E-commerce
A single-vendor E-commerce platform is a platform where a single vendor sells their products. For example, take the example of Apple, where buyers will only find one vendor who is selling their desired niche in products. Whereas in a Multi-Vendor E-commerce platform, buyers have the option to buy a wide range of products from multiple vendors.
Today Amazon's valuation has surpassed $1.6 Trillion, and a Multi-Vendor E-commerce platform idea has great potential.
Working of a multi-vendor marketplace
Multi-vendor marketplace works like any other E-commerce platform offering multiple advantages to the customers and vendors to power up E-commerce apps.
For customers, multi-vendor platforms have the feature to register or log in. The sign-up process is a permit to purchase products. On the website, the search bar is another major working system where customers search for products or sellers. Finally, the option to pay using different cards lets you check out the selected products from buyers.
For vendors, the platform works nearly similarly. They, too, must register to sell on the platform. They do have a dashboard where they can manage their orders, invoices, and money.
Building the multi-vendor E-commerce platform
Building the app requires multiple steps. Here are the major steps you must perform while multivendor e-commerce platform development
Polishing your idea
An idea always strikes in a raw format, and unless you do not polish it, you cannot push it toward a real product. Perform research on your idea and take references from existing competitors.
Study your users
Prior to building your product, it is a great idea to study your users. This phase is also known as the Product discovery phase, where you study your users, take their feedback, ask problems them, and align how your product can deliver optimum solutions to them.
Building a prototype
Now that you are firm about your idea, you must prepare a list of your essential app features. Generally, your multi-vendor E-commerce app will have ratings & reviews, payment options, social integrations, push notifications, a wish list, and related features. Make sure that you list down all the features in detail.
Build a design prototype
Here you must design mock-ups for your app. Either you can sketch it on paper or take help from E-commerce app development companies. Once you build your prototype, you can also opt to distribute it to the users and take feedback on your idea.
Developing the product
Product design, back-end, and front-end development are the three major steps in the process. You do have to hire an Android app development company or iOS app development company, or a hybrid app development company according to your requirements because the development process is not a one-person work.
Hire marketing team
Next, once you publish your app, you must invest in marketing. The digital marketing team will help you to create a search engine and social media presence. They will also help you in bringing your website results to the top of the google search engine.
Wrapping up
Building a Multi-Vendor E-commerce platform is a great idea to start in a world where customers love to shop through an E-commerce platform. With the right Mobile app development company, you can bring your idea to a great product. Ensure that you plan unique features that are missing in your competitors' E-commerce platforms.
