The Blog /
Ecommerce Office Space: Pros and Cons
There is plenty to consider when moving your ecommerce business from a domestic address to a commercial one, with many advantages and disadvantages to toy over.
An ecommerce business, by its definition, is a business based upon the concept of trading over the Internet. Because of this, ecommerce businesses don’t necessarily require a dedicated commercial space, but can be carried out from the comfort of your home.
Despite this, there are advantages to keeping an office even if you run an ecommerce business.
This blog runs through the pros and cons of an ecommerce office to help you make the right choice for your business.
What is an ecommerce office?
An ecommerce office is a space dedicated to the running of an ecommerce business. This space will feature the typical attributes of an office – desks, computers, and storage space for inventory.
Unlike most traditional offices, ecommerce offices can be located within a domestic home.
This raises the question: do ecommerce businesses need offices?
Advantages of an ecommerce office
There are many advantages to utilising a commercial office as an ecommerce business. Some of the main advantages include:
- A Place To Wow Clients
- A Place To Inspire Employees
- A place to motivate yourself and your workforce
- A Place to store inventory
- Connectivity and Communication
Disadvantages of an ecommerce office
There are also disadvantages of an ecommerce office space, with some of the main disadvantages including:
- Expense Of Renting
- Expectations of a remote working culture
E-Commerce Office Space
Pros of an e-commerce Office
A place to wow clients and shareholders
A professional office space can demonstrate your business to be established and trustworthy for both clients and shareholders, helping you make important connections vital for growth.
A place to inspire employees
The ability to gather employees within a professional and creative environment inspires employees and employers alike.
A place to motivate
In the same vein, an office provides a space for employees to congregate and collaborate, hear directly from their employer, and be monitored closely by employers for a greater sense of motivation and responsibility.
The ability to formulate an atmosphere of your choice
Through interior design, office layout, and the working environment you create, the atmosphere of a flexible workspace helps improve both the morale and productivity of workers.
A place to store inventory
An ecommerce business requires a place to store inventory. Whether improving stock management, delivery, or the insurance and condition of goods, a dedicated space for keeping inventory safe is necessary.
Connectivity and communication
Connectivity and communication between employees, employers and clients, is critical. An ecommerce suite can facilitate face-to-face communication, as opposed to attempting to meet over videotelephony.
Cons of an e-commerce Office
Expense of renting
Ecommerce offices of course come at a price. The expense of renting or leasing a property, especially in the city, can be steep. There is a reduced risk, and cost, for ecommerce businesses in their beginning stages to work from a domestic address.
Expectations of a remote working culture
The increase in those working from home in recent years has created an expectation of what our working lives should look like – less formality, more comfort, and more flexibility – something an office cannot always provide.
Despite this, many people find these conditions to be isolating, demotivating, and unsustainable, leaving us to summarise the modern and flexible office space does have a place in the current working world.
Get in touch