Experts warn against common mistakes in switching to new ecommerce platform

In the rush to adopt ecommerce payment solutions, many companies overlook the risks and pitfalls of improperly implementing the technology into their website, according to a new report.

Released by an ecommerce platform software provider, a new whitepaper identifies some of the biggest mistakes companies make while re-platforming their ecommerce site. According to David Chiu, an ecommerce industry strategist, these mistakes are far more common than most companies think, and should be avoided if an ecommerce plan is going to be a success.

"The traditional view of how customers interact with an enterprise is currently undergoing a fundamental shift," Chiu said. "By avoiding these 10 common mistakes, businesses at the planning stage of an ecommerce re-platforming project will ensure that they do not overlook critical activities that contribute significantly to the ultimate success of these initiatives."

Some of the most common mistakes include misunderstanding the current ecommerce market, shifting focus to a new channel without considering core goals and underestimating the impact of changing ecommerce platforms, the report said.

This advice may prove invaluable as more companies look to target the growing ecommerce market. According to market research firm Econsultancy, retailers are expected to spend £700m on ecommerce in 2011.