What website technologies help manufacturers?
We've come a long way since the days where a website was merely a collection of basic pages.
It has evolved into a dynamic and interactive platform, that can not only represent your brand's identity but also foster meaningful connections with your audience.
A truly effective website for manufacturers seamlessly merges visually engaging design, informative content, and advanced functionality to create an immersive user experience that goes beyond mere pages. In this article, we will explore a variety of website technologies that can significantly benefit manufacturers, from content management systems and product finders to customer relationship management tools and e-commerce platforms.
Content Management Systems
Content management systems (CMS) are software programs that make it easy for you to manage the content on your website. They allow you to create, edit, and publish new pages without having to know how to code. There are many CMS options available for manufacturers like:
- SilverStripe – This content management system (CMS) allows users to create, manage, and publish websites with ease. It is an open-source platform that offers a user-friendly interface and a range of powerful features, including a flexible and intuitive content editor, customizable templates, and built-in version control. SilverStripe is highly modular, making it easy to add new functionality and features as needed, and it offers robust security features to keep websites safe and secure. It is a popular choice for creating websites with complex data structures and workflows, and it is well-suited for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
- WordPress - WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and publish websites without extensive knowledge of coding or web design. This is also an open-source platform that offers a wide range of themes, plugins, and customization options to make building and managing a website easier and more efficient. It can be used for a variety of website types, from blogs and e-commerce sites to business websites and portfolios.
Silverstripe CMS dashboard
Product Finders
A product finder tool is an easy search and find tool on your website that allows users to find the right product for their needs. By guiding users through a series of questions, filters, or categories, it narrows down the selection of available products to a tailored list of items that best match their requirements. This user-friendly tool not only enhances the overall browsing experience but also helps businesses showcase their offerings more effectively.
CRMs
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is used to manage interactions and relationships with your customers, prospects and leads. It typically involves tracking customer interactions and gathering data to improve customer engagement and loyalty.
HubSpot, a popular CRM platform, offers an all-in-one solution that allows businesses to track and manage customer interactions across various channels, such as email, phone calls, and social media. Salesforce is another popular CRM platform that enables businesses to streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service processes. Both offering customisable and user-friendly interfaces, they help organisations build stronger customer relationships, manage leads, and drive overall business growth.
E-Commerce Platforms
E-Commerce platforms, such as Shopify, are great for manufacturers who want to enable customers to buy direct from their website. It's easy to set up and use, and it has a wide variety of features that allow you to customise your store. You can also choose from hundreds of third-party apps that will help you improve your store's functionality or add new features like payment processing or inventory management. Shopify isn't the only option out there; there are plenty of other e-commerce platforms available if Shopify doesn't work for you. Alternatively a distributor support portal can allow your customers to order online by logging in.
Boxsite E-commerce website
3D Visualisation and Video
3D visualisations and video can help manufacturers showcase their products online in a more interactive way. A 3D visualization of a product allows the user to interact with it and see it from different angles. This can be used as a training tool for employees who need to know how the product works when the physical product isn’t available, or it can be used by customers who want to see what they're buying before they make their purchase.
Chatbots/Live chat
Chatbots and live chat are popular tools for businesses to interact with their customers. They can be used to answer basic questions, while live chat allows you to talk to your customers in real time.
Chatbots aren’t that new but have recently become more popular because they're easier than ever to create and manage. They are also able to handle much more complex questions without the need for human intervention, thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Analytics
Plugging in analytics software, such as Google Analytics, into a website can help manufacturers gain insights into their website's performance, user behaviour, and marketing efforts. You can use it to track key metrics such as website traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates, helping you to understand how users interact with your website and identify areas for improvement. Analytics can also provide information about where website traffic is coming from, which pages are most popular, and how users navigate through the website. By using this data, manufacturers can make better decisions when optimising their website to improve user experience, increase engagement, and drive more leads and conversions.
GPT/AI Tools
Not only can you use Artificial intelligence (AI) based chatbots to run your online customer service, but AI powered tools can enhance your online presence in a number of ways. From real-time personalisation - where AI can analyse user behaviour and serve targeted content, products, and recommendations based on individual preferences. To easily being able to create an accessible website for the deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired – by offering transcribed videos, closed captioning, and audio readings of your content, all created easily with AI tools.
As you can see, manufacturers can greatly benefit from embracing modern website technologies that enhance their online presence and provide a superior user experience for their audience. From helpful analytics tools that shed light on user behaviour and marketing success, to user experience improvements and smart e-commerce solutions, these technologies enable manufacturers to make their websites shine, attract new customers, and keep current clients happy.
This article was updated on , filed under website development, b2b ecommerce.
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