If you run a successful eCommerce business, there comes a time when you may want to scale. 

This is very much something to be celebrated because growth brings opportunities to target new markets, sell more products, and even hire new staff. However, for all its potential benefits, scaling your business also creates its fair share of challenges.

With more orders, more staff, and more moving parts to deal with, the operation can quickly drain your time and energy. That is why it is essential to scale in a way that is sustainable, efficient, and profitable over the long term.

In this article, we will explore some of the more practical eCommerce growth strategies you can apply to your commercial enterprise. From automation and outsourcing to implementing new systems and smart money management, you’ll discover how to build a business that grows without burning you out.

Hopefully, it will help you take yours to the next level.

What do you mean by scaling?

Scaling in the commercial world means growing your business in a way that does not overstretch your resources.

While it includes boosting sales numbers, true scaling is also about building systems that can handle more customers, more orders, and more complexity while concurrently keeping your costs down.

When done right, scaling lets you increase your revenue and level of efficiency at the same time. In short, it is about achieving sustainable growth that supports your company’s long-term success. As opposed to short spikes that can lead to burnout or cash flow issues.

Why is it important to scale in a sustainable way?

Scaling is about ensuring your business can handle growth without breaking down. Many founders make the mistake of chasing fast wins, rather than trying to build the right foundation. In doing this, it can lead to staff becoming stressed, customers being dissatisfied, and profit margins falling.

Essentially, sustainable business scaling is about balance. You’ll obviously want to grow your revenue. But you also need to protect cash flow, your brand reputation, and your personal well-being.

A good way to think of it is like building a house. Without a solid framework in place, everything can collapse when the pressure becomes too much.

How can you scale in a sustainable way?

Knowing that you must scale sustainably is one thing. But being able to actually do so is another thing entirely.

Here are some effective tactics you should consider employing.

1. Manage your money smartly

One of the most important steps you should take to achieve sustainable growth is to get your finances right. As you scale, your costs will rise. This is particularly true for your inventory, marketing, shipping, and wages.

For this reason, it is important to keep track of those costs across your different markets. This is where platforms like OFX come in handy.

It can help you save money on international payments and keep a tighter rein on your finances as you expand. Indeed, for many eCommerce brands, the savings on currency exchange and fees can be the difference between achieving profit or loss.

The smarter you manage your money, the more breathing space you will have. This means you can reinvest your profits into better systems, marketing campaigns, or new staff without having to stress about cash flow.

2. Automate

Whenever you scale, time suddenly becomes your most precious resource. In fact, it is not uncommon for many eCommerce owners to find themselves becoming bogged down in repetitive, labour-intensive tasks. This could include answering customer emails, updating inventory, or manually fulfilling orders, which can all eat up your day.

To prevent this from happening, the key is to embrace automation practices. Typically, they can include: 

  • Order tracking updates
  • Customer service chatbots
  • Email marketing campaigns
  • Inventory planning across channels
  • Social media posting

By automating these processes, you will free up your team to focus on creative and strategic tasks that add more value to your business.

3. Build strong systems with SOPs

Every successful business relies on clear systems to work efficiently and effectively. Without them, it is easy for tasks to get missed, staff to work differently, and for the quality of your output to suffer.

This is where implementing good standard operating procedures (SOPs) can be extremely beneficial. SOPs are simple documents that explain how to complete a task step by step. 

Essentially, they act as a guide for your team and make sure everyone is on the same page. For example, you might have an SOP for processing returns, replying to support tickets, or setting up a new product in your online store.

Having SOPs means you can scale your operations in a much more cohesive and successful way. One way it can be beneficial is that it enables new team members to be trained faster. It also helps another person to easily step into the role performed by someone who leaves your organisation.

4. Outsource and delegate

The more your eCommerce business grows, the more impossible it becomes for you to do everything yourself. The more you try to do, the quicker you are likely to burn out. It is for this reason that outsourcing and delegation are something you need to become comfortable with.

Rather than building a big in-house team straight away, some of the specific tasks you can outsource include:

  • Graphic design
  • Social media management
  • Product photography
  • Bookkeeping
  • Customer support

There are thousands of freelancers and several agencies that can help you fill the skill gaps in your organisation without having to commit to the long-term costs of employing full-time staff.

The more effectively you are able to delegate, the more you will be able to focus on building a business that grows while giving you space to breathe.

5. Focus on customer experience

When you are scaling, it is easy to get caught up in number crunching for revenue, order volume, and ad spend. However, you should focus on your customer.

Without them, you won’t have a business, let alone grow one. That is why it is important to deliver a smooth customer experience. This should include fast shipping, clear communication, and helpful service. 

Happy customers leave reviews, recommend your store to others, and buy from you time and time again. The more you can do to make them satisfied, the easier it will be to scale your business.