Online shopping is no longer the preserve of a small, tech-savvy section of our society. With the internet everywhere and hot deals being offered exclusively to online shoppers, the rise of web- based retailers is not altogether surprising.
Figures at the end of 2013 showed online shopping numbers to be up by 10% compared with one year previously. With such certainty in the industry, the only thing that retailers are asking is how to win business online. One of the primary concerns of customers is security. Here, we take a look at why security is important, and what businesses can do to satisfy their customers.
With convenience came fraud
In the beginning, e-commerce seemed too good to be true and for many it was. The ease with which customers could log on and purchase items to be delivered to their homes was swiftly capitalised on by fraudsters. It’s hardly surprising that cases of fraud in the UK have risen disproportionately in recent years, by as much as 60%.
As e-commerce has evolved, so has the security which comes with it. Customers today will look for e-commerce sites which they know they can trust.
SSL certificates
E-commerce sites need to be able to communicate to shoppers that they are secure places to shop. The best way for this to happen is for these sites to acquire an SSL certificate which can confirm trust in the site and the encryption which is taking place when a shopper connects.
A server certificate promises the user security. Not only does this create a safe environment in which shoppers can make purchases, but it improves the overall reputation of your online business.
Being smart with data
E-commerce sites often require their shoppers to create an account. This usually allows a company to store a certain amount of data linked to its customers. In the past, companies have been known to sell this data to third parties in an attempt to reach out for a little extra income. It’s important that modern firms recognise the perceived security risk that this poses. Customers will be looking for businesses to be responsible for their data if they are to consider their services to be secure.