In business the only thing constant is change. In a perfect world, you would have the same great employees running your e-commerce business indefinitely. The reality is that employees come and go. Transitioning from one E-commerce Manager to another can be smooth if done well, but can also be a disaster if not planned appropriately. All too often companies replace E-commerce Managers without having a plan.

The most important step in ensuring a smooth transition is proper training. Make sure the replacement has at least two weeks to work with the existing e-commerce manager. The replacement needs to know how to process orders, add /modify products, and how to run various promotions. There should be processes in place to make sure that orders do not slip through the cracks and the new manager needs to quickly become an expert in those.

The new E-commerce Manager should also be properly introduced to all relevant vendors including suppliers and technology vendors. Make sure the new person has contact information for anyone that he or she might possibly need to contact including fulfillment carriers, merchant account providers, e-commerce software vendors and product suppliers.

Take time to brief the new E-commerce Manager on the history of the e-commerce operation. What has been tried? What has worked well and what has failed? Learning a lesson once costs significantly less than learning it multiple times. Conversely if a very successful promotion was run last holiday season, the new E-Commerce Manager needs to know.

Before the existing employee leaves, make sure the new E-commerce Manager is setup on the e-commerce software with proper permissions. If the new employer can’t access the system, they can not do their job and that is a problem. Once the ex-employee leaves, be sure to inactivate his or her account. If he or she is no longer an employee, they should not be entering your Order Management System under any circumstance. Security is of paramount importance to an e-commerce operation and managing Order Management System access cannot be emphasized enough.

If the transition is handled poorly, sales and customer service are going to suffer. Companies serious about online sales can not afford to drop the ball. Not only can a poor transition damage sales volume but also the brand. Please be sure to give the transition process the attention it deserves if and when it is required. Your business will thank you.

It looks like gas prices will be significantly higher this holiday season than last. What does that mean in the retail world? Many consumers are going to shop online rather than hoping in a car and driving to the nearest mall.

"I have a rigid budget for my holiday shopping," says consumer Brian Andrew. "I would rather spend the bulk of that budget on the products themselves rather than on gasoline. The retail shops in my town are sprawled out all over the place." Over the last few holiday seasons, many sites have offered discounted or even free shipping. If that trend continues, buying products online really becomes a no-brainer. Not only will consumers save money, but they save time. "Besides," adds Mr. Andrew, "you just can’t beat the selection offered on the internet."

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