Editor's note: This post was updated November 2023.
You’ve done it. You have a product your customers love and your ecommerce business is taking off.
At this point, you have a lot of moving parts to manage. From various marketing initiatives to shipping logistics to customer support tickets, you may find yourself spread thin.
Now it’s time to invest in the tools you need to take your business to the next level.
If you’re using a platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, there are tons of apps that can make doing business easier.
Just remember: More plugins and apps mean more things you’ll have to manage. Be thoughtful about what you need most and what apps will help you address those areas.
Chances are, you’ll need help with:
We’ve gone through dozens of ecommerce apps of all types and narrowed them down to a list of the ten best.
SMS and email lifecycle marketing are integral to any ecommerce business, and Klaviyo is one of the best tools available.
The right message at the right time can close a sale. With Klaviyo, you can create automated emails, mobile device push notifications, and SMS campaigns based on customer behavior. This — and other types of segmentation to target specific customers — makes sure you’re delivering relevant content to the right audiences. Tailored offers, abandoned checkout emails, and customized discounts can all increase conversions and drive sales.
Klaviyo’s reporting tools provide valuable insights into campaign performance so you can quickly optimize for the best results. Klaviyo is a powerful tool, so there may be a slight learning curve to using the platform. But its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface make it the perfect tool to boost your SMS and email marketing efforts.
If you’re looking for a help desk integration, Gorgias is leading the way for ecommerce websites.
Gorgias helps streamline the ecommerce customer support process. It’s a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to deliver a great customer experience. Features like custom ticket templates make your responses faster and more efficient.
You can also track key metrics like response times, resolution rates, CSAT scores, and total sales from support. This data allows you to refine your service strategy over time — and shows a very real ROI of customer support.
Gorgias also integrates with messaging channels such as Slack, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. These integrations mean you can communicate directly with your customers, no matter where they are. Together, this makes Gorgias the ideal customer service app for businesses looking for a comprehensive solution.
Looking for ways to scale customer support without sacrificing quality? Check out Chatdesk.
Chatdesk isn’t a traditional customer support outsourcer, a chatbot, or a customer support platform.
Rather, Chatdesk uses AI and US-based customer support experts to act as an on-demand extension of your team.
Chatdesk integrates with your existing customer support tools and social media channels, connecting your business with experienced customer service agents who provide 24/7 support on behalf of your brand.
Popular ecommerce companies like Olaplex, Andie Swim, and Thinx use Chatdesk to support customers across social media, email, SMS, and chat. From Instagram DMs to TikTok comments, you can make sure that you’re meeting your customers' needs where they are.
You can scale your support efforts up or down as well. If you anticipate a holiday surge of customer support tickets, temporarily scale up and pay per ticket. And once the holiday craze is over, you can easily scale back down to pay for only what you need.
If you need help answering customer support inquiries across channels, book a free Chatdesk demo now!
Word of mouth is one of the best forms of marketing ecommerce leaders can ask for. It can be a challenging marketing channel to grow, but there are ways you can make it easier.
If influencer marketing is a key part of your growth strategy, an affiliate program is important. With Refersion, users can quickly create and manage a comprehensive affiliate program that will help you grow your business. Track affiliates, referrals, and commissions using the built-in CRM so you can easily monitor performance levels over time.
You can also offer rewards like discounts or free shipping to motivate affiliates to promote your products more effectively.
If you’re a fast-growing ecommerce brand, you know how complicated shipping can get. Shippo can help you eliminate a lot of headaches, including managing different SKUs, returns and exchanges, and international shipping.
Shippo easily connects with USPS, FedEx, and DHL so you can provide your customers with the best possible shipping options. Plus, Shippo’s user-friendly dashboard allows you to compare rates to find the most cost-effective solution for each shipment.
Shippo also offers features like automated tracking emails, ensuring that customers always have visibility into where their package is. Together, all of this makes Shippo an ideal way to streamline your shipping workflows.
Rebuy makes it easy to improve customer experience while growing average order value. This app allows customers to repurchase products with just a few clicks. Rebuy saves customers time and energy, while also making it easier for businesses to upsell additional items.
Rebuy also provides businesses with valuable insights into buying trends with a suite of powerful analytics tools. This knowledge can help a business better understand their target market, and tailor product offerings accordingly. And Rebuy’s detailed reports allow managers to monitor performance and ensure optimal customer satisfaction each time someone makes a purchase.
With Justuno, users create personalized pop-ups and banners that adapt to visitor behavior. This personalized experience means each potential customer receives the most relevant message possible, boosting conversion rates.
Justuno's advanced analytics tools also allow businesses to track performance levels across different campaigns and make necessary adjustments. And if that wasn't enough, Justuno also offers built-in A/B testing. Experiment with designs and copy until you find what converts best.
If you’re looking to grow in-store purchases and create a personalized experience for each website visitor, check out Justuno.
Returns and exchanges can be a major hurdle for ecommerce business owners. Many, if not most, of your customer support tickets might be return and refund related.
Loop helps you streamline returns and exchanges, removing the hassle for your customers. A smoother return process saves them (and you) time and energy — and increases customer satisfaction with the shopping experience. It can even help turn a return into an exchange, meaning you don’t lose business.
Plus, Loop integrates with the tools you already use, from your helpdesk to your marketing stack to logistics and shipping tools. It’s a great way to make sure your customers have the best possible shopping experience.
Loox is all about social proof — reviews, photos, videos, and referrals from people who have tried and loved your products.
People can be hesitant to purchase online if they’ve never heard of your brand. Providing some sort of social proof can be the deciding factor in someone wanting to buy from you. Product reviews are a powerful way for ecommerce businesses to improve conversions.
Loox uses AI to curate the best user reviews while filtering out negative or irrelevant feedback. This ensures that potential buyers only see relevant information that is helpful when choosing between different products. And Loox also offers detailed analytics so managers can track performance levels across all products and services.
Mailchimp is a widely used email marketing platform designed to help launch more efficient ecommerce marketing campaigns.
A great newsletter or promotional email builds rapport between your business and your customer. Mailchimp helps send emails quickly and easily — allowing you to build relationships at scale.
Mailchimp also integrates directly into existing payment solutions like PayPal or Stripe. You can collect payments from customers in real time, ensuring a smooth user experience with each online purchase.
If you don’t need something as comprehensive as Klayvio, Mailchimp might be a great option. It’s a cost-effective solution for smaller businesses to kickstart email marketing.
As you can see, there are tons of apps that help you expand the functionality of your ecommerce site. With the right apps, you can get more out of each customer interaction. You can even use the data you gain to supercharge your sales channels and optimize your customer experience.
Which of these ecommerce apps do you consider mission-critical for your business? Are there others you recommend?
