How Crucial Is A Discovery Phase In Ecommerce Web Development?

An eCommerce company's strong presence is critical to its success in a competitive market. According to recent research by Sweor, businesses have to create a good first impression on their target audience within 50 milliseconds. To capture the interest of potential customers, they need an attractive and efficient site.

However, it is not easy to create a robust eCommerce website. The only way to do so is through a web development and design process that begins with the discovery phase. Let’s understand this phase in detail.

An Insight into the Discovery Phase of Website Development

The discovery phase marks the initial eCommerce web design and development step. In this phase, the team members engage in discussions with clients to establish the fundamental aspects of the website before proceeding to the development stage.

During this stage, the team gathers and evaluates vital information necessary for the project. They consider various details such as the client's specific requirements, prospective customers, and the objectives to be accomplished. This information aids the development team in constructing a project roadmap.

By having a project roadmap in place, every web development and design team member will know what they need to do. Furthermore, it facilitates the creation of a timeline for the client and the establishment of significant milestones for the development team.

For a better understanding, envision the process of constructing a house. It requires a solid foundation and a well-thought-out floor plan is crucial. Similarly, during the discovery phase, the development team establishes the foundation and floor plan of the client's "home" (website).

What Does the Web Development Discovery Phase Include?

The discovery process involves conducting research, holding meetings, and organizing workshops to gain a thorough understanding of the client's needs and preferences. Based on this understanding, the development team can propose the necessary steps to achieve the desired outcome.

A discovery phase for building an online store typically includes the following:

Website Evaluation

The discovery process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the existing website. It allows eCommerce web developers to examine various aspects of the website, including its design, user experience, and technical elements such as code and infrastructure. By recognizing areas that require improvement, the team can work towards fulfilling your objectives for the new website.

Research On Potential Customers

Before building a digital store, it is crucial to deeply understand the target audience and their expectations when exploring the site. The eCommerce web design and development team performs extensive user research. It helps them obtain valuable insights into the potential customers' requirements. Using this information, they can design a website that meets the requirements and aligns with your goals.

Review of Website Goals

After the team clearly understands your target audience and their expectations, they review the goals you have set for the new website. During this review, these professionals ensure that the goals are realistic and attainable. By doing so, they aim to meet your expectations for the final product.

Google Analytics Review

Next, they analyze your eCommerce website's current traffic patterns and performance using Google Analytics. This analysis provides valuable insights into how users interact with the site and helps recognize areas that need improvement. Additionally, they identify effective ways to enhance your website.

Conversion Analysis

The analysts also closely examine your website's conversion rates to assess its performance. By identifying areas where improvements can be made, they aim to boost your website's conversions. Prioritizing user experience and optimizing call-to-actions play a vital role in improving conversions.

In summary, a successful discovery phase involves evaluating the current website, researching the target audience, reviewing website goals, analyzing Google Analytics data, and optimizing conversions to create an eCommerce website that meets user needs and your business objectives.

3 Ways How The Discovery Stage Supports eCommerce Web Design and Development

There are numerous reasons why business owners prefer the discovery stage before the start of the development process. Let’s go through these reasons:

Priority on User Experience

A big objective of the discovery phase is to understand the potential customers of a digital store. Ultimately, websites need to impress their visitors. The development and marketing teams collaborate to analyze the target audience and their interaction patterns, aiming to deliver a greater user experience.

A lot of business owners become too preoccupied with their own problems and tend to overlook the end-users. Most users do not recommend poorly designed virtual stores to others. Therefore, prioritizing user experience (UX) is crucial for an eCommerce website to accomplish its goals.

Reduction in Delays and Costs

Building a website can be expensive, demanding dedicated time and resources from business owners. The more delays that occur during website creation, the higher the costs escalate.

A well-defined roadmap established during the discovery phase helps prevent delays and reduces overall business investments. Moreover, listing expected expenses ensures better budget management, minimizing the likelihood of exceeding the allocated budget.

The primary purpose of the discovery phase is to ensure a smooth and planned project execution, effectively preventing costly delays for online stores.

Better Solutions

Creating an effective eCommerce website becomes challenging when the underlying problem is not fully understood. To address this, developers engage in the discovery phase, collaborating with customers to discuss their business requirements and how a website can effectively fulfill these needs.

Similar to any other business investment, a website should provide multiple solutions to a company. However, to achieve this, the eCommerce web development company must thoroughly analyze the information provided by the client.

By skipping the crucial discovery stage, eCommerce businesses often encounter failures in delivering the promised outcomes through their sites. Instead of generating leads and increasing conversions, these eCommerce sites only generate clicks and views. Such problems typically arise when the designers and developers lack a clear understanding of the project's main objective.

Final Thoughts
To conclude, a discovery phase is vital when it comes the development of eCommerce websites. It enables a company to prioritize user experience, offer better solutions, and reduce delays and costs. To avail these benefits, you can work with a professional eCommerce web development company.