The internet has revolutionized the way we shop. No longer confined to the four walls and roof of a brick-and-mortar store, your customers can now browse and buy stuff online 24/7. Therefore, it is doubly important for you to maintain an online presence in this day and age, and the best way to do that is by setting up an e-commerce website.
Making a website is one thing but making the user interface and experience (UI/UX) clean, streamlined, and intuitive, all while making it load fast, is quite a formidable task. This is challenging for anyone, especially those who do not have the technical knowledge. But you need not be disheartened. You can hire an e-commerce developer with the right skills and expertise to help build the website of your dreams.
If hiring the right person for such a crucial job is proving to be a pain, this infographic will give you a few tips on finding an e-commerce developer who is a perfect fit for your company.
What is an E-commerce developer?
An E-commerce developer is a member of the web development team who specializes in developing tools and platforms for the e-commerce functionality of a website. Hence, a lot of the skills used for web development, like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, are needed for this role.
Aside from building a working e-commerce website or app, an e-commerce developer’s deliverables may include implementing a responsive design, third-party integrations, organizing payment gateways, and enforcing security and data protection.
6 Qualities to Look for in an E-commerce Developer
Aside from the fundamental technical skills that are a prerequisite to be an e-commerce developer, the following soft skills are must-haves when looking for the best person for the role:
1. Detail-oriented
As all web developers know, getting a single character wrong when coding can bug the whole system. A misplaced design element can ruin the website’s user experience. Having a person with great attention to detail will reduce the occurrence of this.
2. Trustworthiness
Developing an app or a website is hard work, and a development team not meeting time commitments is not an uncommon occurrence. Since they are in such a critical role with strict deadlines, you should choose people who can work efficiently on time and have a good work ethic even while working from home with minimal supervision.
3. Client-ready
Being client-ready means more than just having a clean, working code with all the ‘I’s dotted and the ‘t’s crossed. The e-commerce developer should have the overall idea of the brand they are working for in order to align their strategies with the brand’s goals and objectives. Hence, having good interpersonal and presentation skills is still needed to communicate his or her work accurately to the upper management.
4. Critical thinker/Problem solver
Coding is a complicated task, and several issues may arise before the launch of the website or during its day-to-day operations. Having a developer with good problem-solving skills can reduce the downtime of your website and have it back in operation in a jiff.
It’s also a bonus if the person is a critical thinker as well. If the developer can think things through, they may see potential problems before they arise and act accordingly.
5. Grasp of user’s journey and buying habits
If there’s one critical skill an e-commerce developer should have, it is being able to see what you are working on from the perspective of the user. At the end of the day, what you are working on in the development stage should make sense for the users of your e-commerce website.
Keep in mind that the customer map will allow e-commerce developers to foresee the process and habits of the users which should provide an extra level of accuracy and instinct to a developer’s work.
6. Collaborative
With the rise of the Agile development method, projects are proving to be too complex and fast-paced for one person to handle.
That is why behind every app or e-commerce site is a team of developers, designers, and managers with whom the e-commerce developer has to collaborate. Having a person who can communicate well and is a good team player is a good start when building a web development team.
7 Strategies to Hire an E-commerce Developer
Now that you know what to look for in an ideal e-commerce developer, we will discuss some tips and tricks on how you should look for the perfect fit for your company.
1. Know what you are looking for
You should hash out the project’s scope before you hire an e-commerce developer. Try to create an outline of what your website should look like, its features, and the budget you are willing to spend. Decide which Content Management System (CMS) to use right from the beginning as developers specialize in using different CMSs.
2. Prioritize past experiences
It would be better to hire an experienced e-commerce developer who has done similar projects in the past; bonus points if they are already familiar with your industry. Doing so will allow you to work with someone who can provide better insights into your website and how it fares in your industry.
3. Build tech stacks
A tech stack is a set of recruitment tools which would help you find the right candidate, and really filter the candidates that would fit what you are looking for. This includes candidate assessment, applicant matching, screening and sourcing.
4. Be precise with the required skills
E-commerce developers are not a monolithic group who knows every aspect of the job at hand. They often specialize in specific roles and the tools they use. For example, it would not make sense to hire an e-commerce developer specializing in Magento if your website runs on WordPress. Similarly, do not hire a website developer if you plan to build an app for your e-commerce store.
5. Review portfolios and references
The best way to check your developer’s previous work experience is to examine their portfolio. Website links and pictures are a good start, but to get a good sense of their technical proficiency, dig into their source code and ask them how they came up with the solution. Try to get a sense of their eye for design as well.
6. Ask about their approach as a developer
If you ask ten developers how they approach a project, you may get ten different answers. Each developer may be using a different methodology (or a combination of methods) when developing a product.
Some work with a schematic planned to the letter from the start, while others are more flexible to change and just follow a guideline. Check whether your developer’s approach is in line with your company’s workflow.
7. Establish a consistent communication system
Establishing a clear and open communication system with the e-commerce developer should be one of your priorities, especially if they work remotely. This will help you solve issues as they arise and for easy feedback. Try to look for a medium that you and the developer are comfortable using and meet with them face-to-face occasionally.
Hire the Most Qualified
Creating a website for your store is almost a prerequisite to doing business today. That is why making it as fast and as responsive as you can while being eye-catching is crucial to your business’s success.
One way to make sure that your website is of high quality and in good working order is by hiring a competent e-commerce developer for the job. If you need help with your IT staffing & recruitment, Manila Recruitment offers top-notch service and access to a pool of highly skilled developers who will bring your business to the next level.
