Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have seemingly countless options when it comes to how and where they sell their products, operate their businesses, store their goods, and deliver their items into the hands of their customers. The Data Catalyst Institute has studied the selling channels small product sellers and e-commerce SMBs use, the choices they make, and the impact digital tools have on their business success for many years. In this short, qualitative study, we wanted to take SMB product sellers’ pulse on the options they are currently using and how they are boosting their businesses. What do they really think of their customer service providers? Do they offer “buy-now-pay-later” services? Why do they choose to DIY or outsource? How well is their shipping & delivery working?

To take their pulse, the Data Catalyst Institute (DCI) conducted a short survey of our exclusive panel of senior decision-makers at U.S. small and medium-sized businesses. This edition of THE PULSE dives into the vendors and services small e-commerce product sellers use for customer service, buy-now-pay-later financing, product storage, shipping and inventory management, and labeling and delivery services to learn more about the reasons behind their vendor and fulfillment decisions.