E-commerce right of withdrawal: master your obligations and optimize your returns
Did you know that nearly 60% of online shoppers consult the returns policy before validating their basket? In e-commerce, managing returns and respecting the right of withdrawal are not just legal constraints: they are real issues in terms of consumer protection, customer loyalty and logistics performance. As an e-tailer, managing consumer rights properly not only enables you to avoid consumer disputes. It’s also an opportunity to reassure your customers, improve their shopping experience and turn your returns policy into a real competitive advantage.
The basics of the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal is the possibility for a buyer to retract and cancel a purchase made at a distance without having to provide a reason. For example, a customer who orders a jacket online can return it simply because it doesn’t fit, even if there are no defects.
This right is governed by Article L221-18 of the French Consumer Code, and is based on Directive 2011/83/EU. These texts require all professional sellers, located in France or in the European Union, to respect a legal withdrawal period.
Withdrawal period: what the law says
Customers do not need to justify their decision to cancel an order. They can use a withdrawal form or simply inform you in writing of their decision to cancel the order, along with their proof of purchase.
Key points to remember :
- The customer has a 14-day cooling-off period from receipt of the product.
- If you did not mention this right at the time of sale, this period is extended by 12 months.
- The customer must declare his or her intention to withdraw. A simple return without prior notification is not sufficient.
Please note: the right of withdrawal is distinct from the legal guarantee of conformity or hidden defects, which may apply after the 14-day period if the product has a defect.
Products concerned and exceptions
The e-commerce right of withdrawal covers the vast majority of products. However, some products are excluded, in particular
- Personalized or custom-made products.
- Perishable products.
- Unsealed audio/video recordings or software.
- Hygiene articles unsealed by the consumer after delivery (e.g. cosmetics, underwear).
- Goods that cannot be separated from other items (e.g. remote control included with a television set).

Right of withdrawal: what are your legal obligations as a seller and how do you manage your returns?
Respecting your obligations as a seller means complying with the law, avoiding consumer disputes and successfully building a relationship of trust. To improve your sales rate, you need to set up a clear, consistent and reassuring returns procedure.
Before the sale: inform and anticipate on the right of withdrawal
As an e-tailer, you have an obligation to inform your customers about :
- The existence of the right of withdrawal.
- The legal withdrawal period.
- Return conditions, including who pays the return costs.
- The refund period.
- The existence of any specific withdrawal conditions (or return policy clauses).
This information must be included in :
- Your legal notices.
- Your product sheet.
- Your seller page when selling on a marketplace.
- A clear and visible returns policy.
Further recommendations:
- Provide a simple withdrawal form, consistent with your store’s branding.
- Provide an easily accessible returns policy on all your pages.
- Explicitly state whether the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.
It’s all these little details that strengthen consumer protection… and the trust they place in your online store!
After the sale: managing withdrawals and refunds
Once you’ve received your withdrawal request, you must :
- Send an acknowledgement of receipt.
- Refund the customer within a maximum of 14 days.
Here are the rules to follow:
- The refund must cover the item, as well as standard shipping costs.
- You may withhold the refund until you have received the product or proof of shipment.
- Refunds must be made using the same payment method, unless otherwise agreed.
Please note: the right of withdrawal does not replace possible remedies for defective or non-conforming products, which are covered by other legal protection
Penalties for late refund
Penalties apply after 14 days:
- Up to 10 days: current legal interest rate
- 10 to 20 days: 5% interest
- 20 to 30 days: 10% interest
- 30 to 60 days: 20% interest
- 60 to 90 days: 50% interest
- 5 points per month thereafter (until price is doubled, then increased by the legal interest rate)
Product condition: your rights and their limits
Before granting a refund, you can assess the condition of the returned product. However, there are certain rules governing this control.
- Unwrapped product: the customer may return the product even if it has already been opened, except in the case of unsealed and hygiene-related products. The original packaging is not mandatory, but the return must be secure.
- Depreciated product: you are obliged to accept the return, but a discount may be applied if the item has been used excessively. Example: shoes worn every day for 14 days.
Return costs: a strategic point
Return costs must be an integral part of your cancellation policy. As an online retailer, you have a number of options, but there are also a number of obligations that must be met.
- By default, these costs are borne by the customer.
- If you haven’t specified this before the purchase, you must assume the cost.
- If you offer return shipping costs, this becomes a strong marketing argument to reassure customers.
Beyond obligation: turn returns management into a growth lever
Good e-commerce returns management also helps improve your customer loyalty strategy. This is where returns management comes in. Also known as “reverse logistics”, this involves organizing the return of items for inspection, restocking or recycling.
There are a few best practices for professionalizing your returns:
- Set up a simple, accessible returns procedure.
- Offer a pre-filled returns label.
- Create an automated online returns portal.
- Train your after-sales service to handle complaints, exchanges and non-conforming products, and to adopt empathetic communication.
- Outsource logistics to a specialized logistics provider.
One of the solutions on the market is Rakuten Fulfillment Network’s turnkey e-commerce logistics service. RFN supports you throughout the entire returns chain, from receipt to reintegration into stock. It’s the ideal solution for keeping your teams lean, streamlining the customer experience and focusing on your core business
The e-commerce right of withdrawal, an opportunity to be seized
Much more than a legal constraint, the e-commerce right of withdrawal is a driver of trust, transparency and differentiation. By mastering your buyer’s rights and your seller’s obligations, you can protect your business while strengthening customer loyalty. By going beyond legal minimums with a responsive after-sales service, a clear policy and well-defined return conditions, you demonstrate your seriousness. And by entrusting your returns to a solution like Rakuten Fulfillment Network, you simplify returns management, secure your flows and improve your image. At the end of the day, the right of withdrawal is not an inevitability, but a strategic opportunity
Online seller: leverage one-click purchasing
A study by the Baymard Institute shows that over 70% of shopping baskets are abandoned in e-commerce. Behind this figure lies a simple reality: customers expect a fast, accessible and frictionless shopping experience. When an ordering tunnel is too long or too complex, the majority of visitors leave the page without validating their purchase. One-click purchasing is designed to counter this phenomenon. It accelerates conversion, improves site usability and simplifies the entire customer journey.
What is one-click purchasing?
One-click purchasing, also known as one-click payment, is a process that enables your customers to order without having to re-enter their bank details or address each time they make a purchase. All information is stored once, in a digital wallet or marketplace, and then reused automatically.
Here’s how it works:
- Customers enter their address and payment card details the first time they make a purchase.
- For future orders, a single click is all it takes to validate the purchase.
One-click payment is ideal for physical products, digital services, mobile purchases or subscriptions. Today, many marketplaces and payment solutions integrate this click-to-pay functionality, because it’s the assurance of an enhanced customer experience.
The benefits of one-click shopping
One-click shopping benefits both your customers and yourself as an e-retailer. It makes everyday life easier for your users, while boosting your sales and conversion rates. Let’s take a look at its many benefits.
Offer a frictionless customer experience
With one-click payment, you can considerably improve the user-friendliness of your site and the quality of the customer experience. This solution optimizes every step of the purchasing process, ensuring a smooth experience.
- Fluidity and simplicity: your visitors won’t waste any more time. The user interface is simplified and free of unnecessary steps, creating a smoother customer journey.
- Speed and convenience: time savings are immediate, especially when you’re on the move. This is ideal for mobile purchasing, particularly via applications or browsers.
- Transaction security: no need to enter sensitive data for each order. This makes automatic payment perceived as more secure by many buyers.
Guarantee payment security
To function, one-click purchasing relies on a strict security framework and proven technologies:
- Regulatory compliance: payment solutions comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) standards; a set of security rules imposed on systems processing bank card data. Sensitive data is encrypted or tokenized to prevent any risk of leakage.
- Shared responsibility: transaction security is the responsibility of your payment service provider or marketplace, freeing you from technical constraints.
- Strong authentication (SCA/DSP2): reinforced validation is required for the first purchase. Then, if the level of risk is low, subsequent purchases can be made more quickly.
Improve conversions and boost sales
In e-commerce, every click counts. With one-click payment, you shorten the path to purchase and increase your chances of converting an intention into a real order, thanks to real ease of use. The effects are visible in three areas:
- Fewer cart abandonments: thanks to quick conversion, you eliminate time-consuming steps. The shopping cart abandonment rate drops considerably.
- Impulse sales, add-ons and cross-selling: by making it easy to add items to the shopping cart, you encourage cross-selling. For example, offering an accessory immediately after a main purchase is more effective with instant payment.
- Loyalty and repeat business: your customers are more likely to come back if they know they can order at the click of a button. This creates a habit and improves your customer loyalty rate.
Stand out from your competitors and improve customer loyalty
In a competitive environment, speed and simplicity make all the difference. By integratingquick purchase, you strengthen your brand image, improve the customer experience and build a more lasting relationship with your buyers.
- Here’s how express ordering strengthens your positioning:
Optimizing the customer journey: a smooth process enhances the customer experience. Satisfied users are more likely to leave positive feedback. - Easier data collection: one-click purchase data enables you to better target your recommendations and anticipate behavior.
- Competitive advantage: given the same product and price, customers will choose the fastest option. By offering a fast checkout process, you stand out from the crowd.
How to set up one-click payment?
You have two options for integrating one-click purchasing into your website or store:
You can go through a modern PSP (payment service provider): most providers offer this functionality via an API. Choose your solution according to :
- Cost ;
- Ease of integration
- Security guarantees;
- Compatibility with international payments;
The simplest option is to sell directly on a marketplace like Rakuten. In this case, you automatically benefit from one-click payment, with no technical configuration required. Accessibility and security are assured, interfaces are ready, and your customers benefit from an optimized experience right from their first purchase
One-click purchasing: points to watch and best practices
One-click shopping also brings its share of challenges. To get the most out of it, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Initial trust: some customers may be reluctant to register their data. You need to reassure them with clear security messages and give them the option of modifying or deleting their information.
- Impulse purchases that lead to regret: some users may regret a purchase made too quickly. This can lead to returns or complaints.
- Dispute management: even with one-click payment, refund or cancellation procedures remain the same. The PSP or marketplace handles these requests as for any conventional order.
To prevent this, there are several best practices to adopt:
- Be transparent about how the process works.
- Make it easy for your customers to manage their data.
- Communicate clearly about confidentiality and security.
One-click purchasing transforms the online shopping experience. Faster, simpler and more efficient, it’s the perfect way to meet buyers’ expectations. Thanks to one-click shopping, you can improve your conversion rate, offer unrivalled shopping comfort and stand out from the crowd. By choosing a high-performance payment solution or a marketplace like Rakuten, you benefit from a secure, ready-to-use environment capable of supporting the growth of your business
Which payment methods should you offer in e-commerce?
In e-commerce, the choice of payment methods directly conditions your success. It’s not just about processing a transaction, it’s about building the trust that underpins your sales and your image.
The payments landscape is constantly changing. Between the rise of fintechs, the weight of new regulations and increasingly demanding customer expectations, it’s no longer enough to add two or three standard options to your online store. Each payment solution must be considered as a key component of your strategy.
These choices have an immediate impact on your performance, in terms of customer flow, conversion rates, buyer satisfaction and loyalty. A clear and secure payment system is reassuring, whereas a confusing payment tunnel can break trust and slow down sales.
Which online payment methods should you adopt to meet consumer expectations while maximizing your revenues? We’ll help you find out!
Overview of online payment methods in 2025
In 2024, payment behavior was particularly varied. While credit cards remained the preferred method of payment for 89% of customers, 46% of shoppers also used an electronic payment solution, 37% a gift card or voucher, and 22% a bank transfer or direct debit¹. These key figures testify to the diversity of uses and the need to offer your customers several options.
In all, no fewer than seven different payment methods are used by the French today for their online purchases. It’s on these major solutions that we’re going to focus our analysis.
💡 Good to know 💡
If you sell B2B, your customers don’t have the same uses. Companies prefer solutions such as bank transfers or invoice settlements with deadlines, which facilitate cash management while establishing a more secure and lasting business relationship.

The credit card, the pillar of online payment
The credit card remains the number-one payment method in e-commerce. In 2024, 89% of online purchases in France were paid for by card. This figure illustrates the trust that consumers place in bankcards: they are familiar, easy to use and perceived as secure.
Whether credit, debit or prepaid, the card covers all buyer profiles. Major networks such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express reinforce this dominant position thanks to their reputation and the guarantees they provide.
European regulations have also consolidated this position.
The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) makes strong authentication mandatory for the majority of transactions. The 3D Secure protocol (Visa Secure, Mastercard Identity Check) is the most visible application of this: it reduces fraud by confirming the buyer’s identity.
For e-commerce sites, two best practices are essential to secure card payments:
- Strong authentication: implementation of 3D Secure, now essential
- Data encryption: compliance with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) standards for the processing, storage and transmission of banking information. Data encryption is not just a technical detail: it guarantees the protection of sensitive information and consolidates your customers’ trust.
💡 Good to know 💡
Selling on a marketplace like Rakuten means benefiting from the expertise of teams dedicated to payment security. All payment management is handled and secured upstream, allowing you to focus on your sales
Strong growth in electronic payment solutions
In 2024, 46% of online shoppers used an electronic payment solution, up 9 points in one year. This growth is explained by a simple expectation: pay quickly, especially on mobile, without having to re-enter your card.
E-wallets are the perfect answer to this need. An e-wallet stores your customers’ payment data and speeds up the checkout process. PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Lydia are among the most widely used services:
- Accelerate purchasing: one-click purchase validation, with data already recorded
- Simplify mobile payment: quick entry via Face ID/Touch ID
- Reinforce trust: no bank data entry on the merchant’s site
For e-commerce sellers, the benefits are just as clear. The main advantages are :
- Rapid conversion: fewer abandonments (biometric validation, no redirections)
- Smoother purchasing: improved experience (auto-fill, in-app payment)
- Additional sales: more impulse purchases and cross-selling
Payment facilities: an excellent conversion lever
Payment facilities allow your customers to spread out or defer their payments. A powerful argument when it comes to closing a major sale.
Still according to Fevad, in 2024, 42% of buyers opted for payment in instalments and 28% for deferred payment. These figures confirm that flexibility has become a real criterion of choice. The main payment facilities are :
- Payment in instalments (fractional payment): allows the buyer to spread the amount over monthly instalments.
– Advantage: makes expensive purchases accessible, increases the average shopping basket.
– Example: 3× free of charge on a €240 basket (3 × €80). - Deferred payment (Buy Now, Pay Later): purchase validated today, payment later.
– Advantage: gives the customer time to wait for payment.
– Example: pay within 30 days. - Direct debit: ideal for subscriptions and recurring services.
– Advantage: regular payments, with no action required on the customer’s side.
– Example: monthly renewal of a SaaS subscription. - Cash on delivery (COD): pay on delivery.
– Advantage: reassures reluctant buyers, zero down-payment.
– Example: hand delivery (cash/check), common in C2C (e.g. Leboncoin).

Fevad, key figures for e-commerce 2025
How do I select the right payment methods?
Payment methods are complementary: offering more will satisfy the maximum number of buyers.
- Your target: payment habits change according to generation and geographic zone. Ignoring these preferences risks losing some of your customers.
– For example, in France, bank cards are still the norm, while in the Netherlands, the majority of buyers prefer iDeal. - Your offer: the nature of the product and the size of the basket influence the choice. The higher the price, the greater the flexibility.
– For example, for a €1,200 computer, offering a split or deferred payment option will generate more sales. - Technical and security aspects: the payment API must integrate easily with your store and ensure a secure payment experience. Without it, you’ll increase friction and abandonment.
– Example: seamless integration with Shopify enables automatic transaction management and a more reliable user experience. - Costs: collection fees, PSP (Payment Service Provider) commissions and integration costs all have an impact on your margins. But removing an overpriced option can also slow down conversion.
– Example: accept a surcharge if the payment method actually increases your sales. - Internationalization: selling abroad means adopting local solutions and managing currency conversion. Neglecting this aspect will limit your opportunities. – Example: integrate Alipay to attract Chinese customers, with automatic conversion into euros.
Did you know that?
Rakuten relies on several payment partners specialized in e-commerce to facilitate multi-currency payments at competitive conditions, to support your international sales.
Optimize the payment experience to maximize conversions
A suitable payment method is an asset, but it’s the whole experience that makes the purchase a success. Here are the best practices to adopt:
- Smooth checkout. Reduce the number of steps and limit the number of fields. Offer a clear, legible interface, with help messages. On mobile devices, pay particular attention to ergonomics: adapted keyboard, auto-fill, large, visible buttons.
- Transparency and trust. Display available payment methods right from the start. Reassure customers with security logos and SCA/DSP2 notices.
- Efficient management. Provide access to payment history and send clear summary e-mails. Process refunds and cancellations without delay, with status visible at every stage.
- Personalization and choice. Offer relevant options according to buyer profile and country. Authorize data memorization (with consent) to activate one-click payment and facilitate customer loyalty.
- Dispute management. Define simple procedures for chargebacks and refunds. Set response times, centralize proof (tracking, proof of delivery) and inform the customer at each stage to anticipate disputes.
- Fraud prevention. Train your teams to recognize risk signals. Rely on a PSP equipped with an anti-fraud engine (real-time detection, adaptive 3D Secure, scoring, speed checks, device fingerprinting) and monitor your dispute KPIs.
Future payment trends
Four trends are already shaping the future of payments:
- Cryptocurrencies: their adoption is still limited, but already present in certain technophile sectors.
- Biometric payments: facial recognition and fingerprinting to enhance payment security.
- Embedded payments (IoT): connected cars or smart objects directly integrating the purchase option.
- Artificial intelligence: optimizing fraud detection and personalizing payment paths.
The final word
The choice of your payment methods is not an incidental question: it conditions the fluidity of your payment paths, the confidence of your customers and, ultimately, the growth of your sales.
Whether in France or abroad, your buyers expect options that are adapted to their usage, habits and purchasing power. If you ignore this reality, you run the risk of increasing cart abandonment and slowing down your expansion.
Opening up to foreign markets is also crucial. In particular, multi-currency payment enables you to expand your customer base while maintaining clear, competitive pricing. It’s a strategic lever to support your ambitions and gain in competitiveness.
Source :
¹Fevad, Chiffres clés du e-commerce 2025
Retail media: A key asset for your e-commerce strategy
By 2028, the global Retail Media market is expected to reach more than $175 billion¹. This unavoidable trend is transforming the world of digital advertising. Visibility gains and sales boosts are in store for e-retailers. With accurate data and targeted distribution, retail media are guaranteed to reach the right customers at the right time. Rakuten, a pioneer in e-commerce and a committed player in retail media, already supports thousands of brands and sellers in this approach, thanks in particular to its innovative, incentive-based loyalty program. Want to find out more about this sales tool? Follow the guide
What is Retail Media?
Retail media refers to all the advertising space offered by retailers, whether online or in-store, to brands wishing to promote their products.
There are two main forms of retail media:
- Physical retail media, via point-of-sale (POS) advertising such as shelf displays, interactive screens or displays.
- Digital retail media, or e-retail media, which uses e-commerce sites, marketplaces and other digital channels to deliver targeted advertising.
Let’s take an example: you sell natural cosmetics on a marketplace. Thanks to retail media, you can place sponsored ads directly on beauty search pages. You can also advertise to buyers who have recently viewed similar products. The result: your products are more visible where your customers make their decisions.
It’s an effective method that has a direct impact on engagement and customer satisfaction, by offering content that’s better adapted to their expectations.
What are the 5 benefits of a retail media strategy for your online store?
As an e-commerce professional, you can’t help but notice the intense competitive pressure in the sector, which constantly forces you to stand out from the crowd. Retail media is a strategic lever for achieving this, thanks in particular to these 5 advantages.
Enhanced user experience (UX) and customer loyalty
A good retail media strategy enhances the shopping experience and promotes customer loyalty. To achieve this, it leverages :
- Non-intrusive advertising, seamlessly integrated into the shopping journey, without disruption or annoyance.
- Contextual relevance, with ads that are displayed according to the searches or pages consulted by the user.
- Natural integration of products that appear in native locations, as a logical and useful recommendation.
Precise targeting of an ideal audience
Retail media makes it possible to go beyond simple advertising to reach the right customers, at the right time, with the right message, thanks to :
- Transactional data, using purchase histories to send the right messages to the right profiles.
- Behavioral targeting with campaign personalization based on online behavior.
- Ad personalization, with more engaging and effective tailored messages.
- Maximized relevance as products are shown to users most likely to be interested.
Good to know:Rakuten’s Retail Media offer is based on a unique technology that combines onsite (on the marketplace) and offsite (elsewhere on the web) delivery. As a result, your ads follow potential buyers wherever they go

Maximizing your return on investment
In addition, retail media is a cost-effective solution because it offers you :
- Precise, real-time measurement of results (impressions, clicks, conversions).
- Continuous performance-based optimization to maximize effectiveness.
- CPA control to keep your budget under control.
- Increased sales thanks to greater visibility with a targeted audience.
Protect your brand image and build trust
Controlling where and how your products are promoted is essential to preserving your image. Retail media offers you a coherent, reassuring advertising framework in line with your values. It ensures :
- Choice of locations in environments consistent with your brand universe.
- Control over content, with visuals and advertising messages validated by you.
- A controlled environment to avoid juxtaposition with competing or irrelevant advertising.
Prepare your marketing strategy for a world without cookies
Third-party cookies are files that track Internet users on different sites to offer them targeted advertising. They are currently in their last years. Browsers are gradually phasing them out to better protect users’ privacy. As a professional, this means you’ll have to rethink your strategy. Retail media, the solution of the future, is already adapting to this new framework, notably with :
- First-party data collected and used directly from your customers.
- Regulatory compliance, so you can comply with data protection laws.
- A real competitive edge, so you can maintain high-performance, respectful targeting.
How to set up a successful retail media strategy: key steps
There’s no doubt that a successful retail media strategy depends on careful planning and the right choices for your business. Here are a few tips on how to implement them.
Define SMART objectives
The first step is to formulate clear objectives using the SMART method (Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic – Time-bound). A SMART objective helps you stay on track and measure the impact of your advertising actions in concrete terms. For example: “Increase sales of a product range by 20% within 3 months thanks to a retail media campaign.”
Know your target audience inside out
You need to identify the profiles of your most loyal or high-potential customers, their buying habits and their expectations, in order to create messages that are adapted, punchy and therefore more effective. Tools like Google Analytics or Rakuten dashboards, for example, enable you to visualize transactional and behavioral data to better segment your audience.
Choosing the right advertising formats
Native banners, sponsored products at the top of the list, recommended inserts… It’s essential to adapt the format to your objectives and the distribution channel. Each format has its own advantages, so it’s up to you to choose according to your priorities. For example, a mobile banner can be effective in generating quick clicks. On the other hand, a sponsored product on a results page is better suited to direct conversion.
Optimize your product sheets
Clear, well-illustrated and well-referenced product sheets are the key to boosting campaign performance. The ad attracts, but it’s the product sheet that converts! A well-written product sheet includes attractive visuals, as well as customer reviews to reassure visitors
Tracking and analyzing campaign results
Thanks to integrated reporting tools, such as the Rakuten Ads dashboard, you can track your KPIs in real time: click-through rate, conversion rate, return on advertising spend… to fine-tune your actions. Precise management is the key to continuous performance improvement.
Test and refine your retail media strategy
Don’t hesitate to test different messages, formats, segments… to analyze what works best and adjust your campaigns for maximum effectiveness. For example, you could test a retail media campaign with a classic headline, then a version that plays more on emotions, and finally compare the results to find out which has the greatest impact.
Rakuten, an ally in your retail media strategy
Rakuten’s retail media offer is based on a powerful, intuitive platform designed to maximize your impact. With it, you benefit from exceptional visibility for :
- Reach 1/3 of French e-buyers every month.
- Access an audience of 15 million unique visitors.
- Engage a loyal community of 13 million Club R members.
But also state-of-the-art technology with :
- A solution powered by Mirakl Ads, the market leader in retail media.
- Targeting strengthened by an AI-based semantic approach, for even more precise, high-performance ads.
Last but not least, you also benefit from remarkable ease of activation, including:
- An easy-to-use, self-service platform.
- 5 simple steps to launch your first campaign.
- Clear, real-time reporting, with exportable data to measure every euro invested.
Today, retail media is much more than just an advertising lever: it’s a growth gas pedal! By choosing Rakuten as your partner, you’ll benefit from a powerful ecosystem that will ensure your brand’s lasting place in the daily lives of connected shoppers. Take advantage!
Sources :
¹Minted, Why the partnership between Mirakl Ads and Rakuten reflects the rise of retail media
How to drive your business with an e-commerce dashboard?
Do you run an e-commerce site, sell on several marketplaces or use logistics services, but find it hard to centralize your data? You’re not alone. Did you know that the average e-merchant spends over 10 hours a week manually extracting, cross-referencing and analyzing results? Precious time that could be devoted to growing sales. Without a sales reporting tool like a good e-commerce dashboard, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of indicators, and your decision-making can become less precise. There’s a solution: the e-commerce dashboard. Its role is to centralize your e-commerce KPIs, enable you to choose the right indicators and give you a clear, strategic view of your business.
What is an e-commerce dashboard?
An e-commerce dashboard is a centralized management tool that brings together and presents a certain number of key performance indicators (KPIs). It gives you an instant overview of your online sales activity.
Here are the main benefits of an effective e-commerce dashboard:
- A 360° view: sales data, traffic, logistics, returns, etc., consolidated in a single dashboard tool.
- Informed decision-making: you can anticipate trends (up or down) by observing metrics in real time.
- Quickly identify problems and opportunities, such as late deliveries, critical stock or falling conversions.
- Time-saving analysis: you no longer waste hours collating manual reports.
- Better prioritization of actions: marketing, product optimization, performance-based price adjustments.
- Easier communication: between colleagues, with your partners or with your logistics provider.
- Strategic vision and continuous optimization: adjust according to results to improve overall performance.
Which solution should you choose for your e-commerce dashboard?
There are several options to consider, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look.
Excel dashboard
The Excel dashboard can be created by hand or by downloading an existing template. It’s simple, accessible and highly customizable.
- Advantages: you don’t need an external tool, and it’s easy to set up according to your KPIs.
- Disadvantages: manual updating, risk of errors, not suitable if you have many data sources.
Good to know: alternatives such as Google Sheets, Smartsheet or LibreOffice Calc also offer all the functionality you need to set up a high-performance dashboard.
Dashboard in your CRM
Some CRMs, such as Salesforce or HubSpot, include their own sales reporting dashboard that tracks customer relationship metrics.
- Advantages: overview of the sales cycle, automated follow-ups, tracking of repeat sales or prospects.
- Disadvantages: doesn’t always cover logistics data or web/site traffic, and configuration can be complex.
Dashboard integrated into your marketplace
Another option is to use a merchant dashboard integrated directly into your marketplace. This is the case, for example, with Rakuten’s Merchant Dashboard. This comprehensive e-commerce tool is designed for marketplace sellers. In just a few clicks, it provides an overview of your business: sales, ad management, returns and logistics.
It also integrates shipping data via Rakuten Fulfillment Network, our turnkey solution that centralizes storage, order preparation and delivery.
- Advantages: easy to use, 100% integrated with the marketplace, with reliable, up-to-date data.
- Disadvantages: covers only Rakuten-related activity (to be completed if you sell on other platforms).
Dedicated Business Intelligence (BI) tools
Business Intelligence tools enable you to group and consolidate your data from multiple sources (e-commerce site, marketplaces, CRM, logistics platform…) into a single, customized dashboard.
- The benefits: high analytical accuracy, extensive customization, clear visualization and reports updated almost in real time. These tools make it easier to identify trends, correlations or anomalies that simpler solutions fail to detect.
- Disadvantages: they generally require technical skills or the intervention of a specialized service provider, and can represent a significant cost depending on the complexity of the requirements.
Examples: Google Data Studio, Power BI, Tableau. Related tools such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or PSP (Payment Service Provider) can also integrate sales reporting modules or logistics indicators, thus broadening the scope of possible analysis.
Which KPIs should you include in your e-commerce dashboard?
Not all e-commerce KPIs are relevant to your online sales operations. Here are the KPIs to add to your e-commerce dashboard, how to calculate them and the type of concrete action they enable you to initiate.
Sales KPIs
The key performance indicators linked to sales are as follows:
- Number of sales: total volume of orders. It enables you to monitor the growth or sluggishness of your business.
→ If this figure is stagnating, launch a promotional operation or improve the prominence of your products on the marketplace. - Average Order Value (AOV) = Total sales ÷ Number of orders. This shows the value generated per order.
→ To increase it, you can offer cross-selling or encourage the purchase of complementary products (upselling). - Repeat purchases = customers with ≥ 2 purchases ÷ total number of customers. It reflects your ability to build loyalty.
→ To improve this rate, set up a loyalty program or exclusive post-purchase offers, for example. - Basket abandonment rate = (number of abandoned baskets ÷ total number of baskets created) × 100. It highlights friction points in the purchasing journey.
→ To reduce it, simplify the order funnel, offer several payment methods and automate reminders. - Sales: total amount of sales. It enables you to measure the overall efficiency of your business.
→ In the event of a drop, analyze your underperforming categories and adjust your marketing priorities. - Gross / net margin: gross margin = (sales – cost of goods sold) ÷ sales × 100. Net margin: net profit ÷ sales × 100. This allows you to monitor profitability by product or category.
→ If margins are falling, renegotiate your purchasing costs, adjust your prices or reduce certain operating expenses.
KPIs related to web traffic
The KPIs that tell you about your web traffic performance are:
- Number of unique visitors: indicates site attractiveness.
Action: invest in SEO or advertising. - Pages viewed per visit, time spent: measures engagement.
Action: improve content and optimize navigation. - Source of traffic (SEO, social networks, advertising, email): find out where your prospects are coming from.
Action: adjust budget according to channels. - Visitor-to-Buyer conversion rate: visitors who go on to purchase. This is a key indicator for making your ads, product sheets and order funnel more reliable.
Cost-related KPIs
Costs are essential KPIs for monitoring the profitability of your business. Here are the ones to keep a close eye on:
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC): total spent on marketing ÷ number of new customers.
→ If this cost is too high, you need to optimize your marketing campaigns, adjust your targeting or work on converting existing visitors. - Logistics costs: storage, order preparation and shipping.
→ To reduce these, consider optimizing your storage management, renegotiating your contracts with your carriers or outsourcing this part of your business via a solution like Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN). - Marketing/advertising costs: track spend for each channel, ROAS.
→ In the event of insufficient return, adjust your investments according to the most profitable channels. - Fixed vs. variable costs: fixed costs include rent, subscriptions or salaries. Variable costs depend directly on your business (packaging, shipping costs, commissions, etc.).
→ Analyzing this breakdown helps you better understand your break-even point and identify the items you can act on to optimize your margins.
Logistics KPIs
And finally, the performance indicators that concern logistics are as follows:
- Average delivery time: this is the time elapsed between the order and receipt by the customer.
➝ This KPI is essential, as it directly influences customer satisfaction and the likelihood of a new purchase. - Product returns rate: this corresponds to the proportion of returned products in relation to the number of sales made
➝ A high rate may indicate problems with product description, quality or correspondence with customer expectations. - Out-of-stock rate: this is the length of time your products are not available for sale.
➝ To limit this phenomenon, you can improve your forecasts, set up automatic alerts and strengthen your stock management. - Order Fulfillment time: this is the time between receiving an order and dispatching it.
➝ This time can be reduced by optimizing picking, improving packaging and integrating automated logistics solutions.
Best practices for using your e-commerce dashboard
A powerful dashboard is only useful if it’s used properly. To get the most out of your indicators, you need to adopt certain habits right from the start.
- Define precise objectives: each of the selected e-commerce KPIs must correspond to a measurable goal.
- Update the KPI dashboard at an appropriate frequency: daily for sales, weekly or monthly for costs and loyalty metrics.
- Interpret the data: you can’t just look at the figures. Identify trends or anomalies.
- Act on insights: use your data to learn, understand and implement actionable strategies (optimizations, new campaigns and adjustments).
- Share results with your teams for greater visibility and to empower everyone involved.
- Ensure scalability: add KPIs or sources as your business grows or new tools are added.
To conclude:
Without a good logistics dashboard, you risk losing time, opportunities and clarity. A well-designed KPI dashboard allows you to focus your efforts on what really matters: selling, improving and building loyalty. With the right indicators, the right solution (Excel, marketplace dashboard, CRM, BI tool), and discipline in tracking, you take control of your business. Start building your sales reporting dashboard today
E-commerce: How to boost your end-of-year sales?
The end-of-year sales period, or Shopping Season, marks the major commercial events that punctuate your calendar: back-to-school, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, end-of-year festivities.
But in a context where inflation is weighing on purchasing power, your customers are adapting their buying behavior, and are above all looking for bargains.
In 2024, Black Friday generated 808 million euros in online sales in France¹, up 4.7% from 2023. These figures prove that, even in a tense economic environment, demand remains strong.
Find out how to improve your end-of-year sales with method and ambition, to make this period a decisive highlight for boosting your profitability
Good preparation, the key to successful end-of-year sales
Meticulous preparation is essential to the success of your end-of-year sales: it turns every highlight into a sales and loyalty-building opportunity.
Define your objectives and strategy
- Draw up a precise timetable: The success of your end-of-year sales depends first and foremost on a clear timetable. Include highlights such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, but also your own operations: discounts, coupons or cashback offers.
- Think beyond the highlights: Don’t just wait for the big dates: plan teasing phases to generate interest beforehand, and then targeted follow-ups after each event to extend your promotions and strengthen customer loyalty.
- Set varied objectives: Don’t limit yourself to figures (sales, average basket, repeat purchases). Take advantage of Shopping Season to build brand awareness and acquire new customers.
- Target your segments: Tailor your offers to your audiences, reserving specific benefits for loyal customers and dedicated promotions for new prospects.
- Rely on the expertise of your Rakuten E-Commerce Consultant: he or she will support you in your strategic choices and adapt your actions to your product category.
Prepare your promotions
The success of your end-of-year sales depends on attractive offers that are always profitable. Each promotion must preserve your contribution margin: seducing your customers doesn’t mean sacrificing your bottom line.
Here are the main options to activate:
- Direct discounts via time-limited coupons
- Bundles and flash sales to clear your stock quickly
- Cashback, to stimulate purchases
- Free express delivery, ideal for last-minute purchases
- Double points or gifts to boost customer loyalty
- Enhanced loyalty programs (early access to certain promotions)
- Personalized offers based on purchase history
Don’t hesitate to highlight your end-of-year promotions with dedicated banners, smart pop-ups or publish ephemeral stories on your social networks.
With Rakuten, your most attractive promotions gain in impact: they are highlighted on the home page and in search results, strategic locations that boost your visibility and transform the Shopping Season into a real sales gas pedal.
Don’t forget to distribute your offers via email and SMS marketing for last-minute reminders, but also to relay them through partnerships with influencers and on online price comparison sites like Google Shopping, to ensure maximum coverage.
Anticipate traffic growth
Black Friday 2024 generated an 11% increase in online transactions in France², confirming the scale of end-of-year sales and the challenges they entail. To absorb this surge, every link in your business needs to be ready:
- E-commerce site: monitor server status, correct 404 pages and prepare redirects. Carry out load tests in advance to avoid any blockages
- Loading speed: every extra second increases cart abandonment.
- Optimize your pages to secure your conversions
- Deliveries: more orders means more parcels to process. Plan for longer delivery times and communicate them clearly: transparency = trust
- Customer service: activate auto-reply to acknowledge receipt, prioritize emergencies (payments, blocked orders) and maintain a dynamic, regularly-updated FAQ to quickly answer your customers’ most frequently asked questions
Stocks and deliveries: an essential pillar of your year-end sales
Inventory and logistics management are key to the success of your year-end sales. Rely on past data to establish your forecasts and maintain sufficient levels to avoid stock-outs, the nightmare of every Shopping Season.
Prepare for the increase in orders: optimize packaging and shipping, and reinforce your teams if necessary. Always communicate in advance about your delivery times, even if they are extended: this transparency builds trust and facilitates customer loyalty.
Plan a clear and visible returns policy. A simplified process, such as direct printing of labels, reassures your buyers and smoothes the conversion funnel.
Have you ever considered outsourcing your logistics to better manage your end-of-year sales? Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN) takes care of all your operations, giving you the benefit of :
- Centralized management of your orders, including those outside Rakuten
- Competitive rates
- Save time so you can concentrate on your e-commerce sales and customer service
During end-of-year sales, RFN allows you to delegate logistical complexity and concentrate on your sales and seasonal marketing. Dreame, a Chinese household appliance brand, testifies:
“Before RFN, shipping took 7 to 10 days. Today, orders shipped before 2pm are delivered in less than 48 hours, which has considerably improved customer satisfaction.”
Optimize your customer journey
Several steps are essential to ensure a smooth customer journey for your end-of-year sales:
- During end-of-year sales, your buyers don’t tolerate detours. The more unnecessary steps you impose on them, the more likely you are to lose them along the way. By simplifying your conversion funnel (streamlined forms, rapid validation, one-click payment), you offer them a fast, fluid experience that limits abandonment and speeds up the purchasing decision. This efficiency helps build a relationship of trust that lasts well beyond the first order.
- Indicate the price, delivery times and return conditions on the product data sheet: this clarity dispels any doubts and secures the purchase. What’s more, offering several secure payment solutions reassures your customers at the decisive moment. Finally, an optimized mobile experience is essential, since most orders, especially during Black Friday, are now placed from a smartphone.
- On the support side, train or reinforce your teams to effectively manage the increase in demand. At the same time, set up a dedicated FAQ and chatbots to handle recurring questions, allowing your advisors to focus on emergencies. Responsiveness remains paramount. Responding to reviews, even negative ones, shows that you take your customers seriously. This attention turns criticism into an opportunity for dialogue, eases frustrations and reinforces trust in your brand.
By optimizing the customer journey during your end-of-year sales, you’re not just simplifying the act of buying. You’re laying the foundations for long-term success, strengthening customer loyalty while ensuring regular income.
As your needs evolve and your customers’ expectations continue to grow, our E-Commerce Consultants are here to support you!
How to choose your e-commerce logistics platform?
Did you know that nearly 67% of consumers have already abandoned a shopping cart? One of the main reasons: long delivery times. Today, Internet users expect delivery in less than 48 hours. As an online retailer, it can be difficult to meet these deadlines: handling, inventory management, parcel preparation, labeling, shipping, returns… each step can lengthen your delivery times. In the face of these challenges, e-commerce logistics platforms are the ideal solution. They enable you to centralize, speed up and make your supply chain more reliable, so you can better serve your customers and concentrate on selling.
What is an e-commerce logistics platform?
Unlike a traditional warehouse, where goods are stored for long periods, an e-commerce logistics platform is a transit and sorting facility, where goods are usually only held for a few hours.
Among its advantages:
- Smoother flows: optimized reception, sorting and dispatch to speed up deliveries.
- Adapted to last mile delivery (transporting parcels from the logistics center to the customer’s door): their proximity to final delivery zones saves real time.
- Management of seasonal peaks: ability to absorb large volumes (Black Friday, sales, Christmas).
- Reduced operating costs: pooled resources and optimized routes.
- Improved customer experience: shorter lead times and greater reliability.
Imagine a parcel that arrives, is scanned, sorted and immediately routed to the right loading dock for the final carrier. That’s the kind of speedy operation you can expect from a high-performance logistics center.
Essential criteria for choosing a logistics platform
Choosing the right e-commerce logistics platform is a strategic choice that has a direct impact on delivery times and delivery costs, profitability and customer satisfaction. Let’s take a look at the performance criteria you need to focus on.
Logistics platform cost
As an e-merchant, the cost of a logistics platform is often the number-one criterion. But it depends on several factors:
- Volume of orders processed.
- Duration and type of storage (short-term vs. long-term).
- Complexity of preparation (specific packaging, personalization, assembly).
- Additional services: returns management, kitting (grouping several items in a single parcel), logistics-related customer service.
Did you know?
With Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN), you benefit from competitive rates thanks to the pooling of carriers. By grouping your orders with those of other partner sellers, RFN organizes optimized rounds by destination: no truck leaves with a single parcel. This collective logistics approach avoids detours, limits empty runs and enables us to offer more advantageous delivery charges
Geographical location
The location of a logistics warehouse has a direct impact on delivery times and costs:
- Proximity to roads, railways, ports or airports. By choosing a well-positioned logistics hub, you benefit from faster distribution throughout the country.
- To sell abroad: a hub close to the target country or a warehouse located in the EU facilitates customs clearance and speeds up cross-border deliveries.
- Proximity to end-consumer markets (densely populated urban areas) reduces the “last mile” and carbon footprint.
Last mile” refers to the final delivery stage, between the warehouse and the customer’s address. This is generally the most complex and costly part of the logistics chain, involving numerous stops over short distances. Reducing this journey limits CO₂ emissions, transport costs and delivery times.
Storage capacity and scalability
The logistics platform you choose must also be able to grow with your business:
- Make sure it has sufficient storage space.
- Plan for scalability during periods of high demand (sales, holidays).
- Examine the flexibility of contracts to adapt surface areas or volumes according to the season.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that fast, reliable order picking is a key differentiator in the customer experience.
Integrated technologies and automation
A modern logistics platform relies on advanced technologies to streamline operations and ensure fast, reliable and cost-effective fulfillment.
- WMS (Warehouse Management System): this warehouse management system enables real-time control of stocks, locations, product movements and order preparation.
- Warehouse automation: the use of conveyors, autonomous mobile robots (AGVs – Automated Guided Vehicles) or robotic arms facilitates handling, goods movement and sorting, while reducing processing times.
- Enhanced traceability: thanks to barcode scanners, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and computer vision systems, every parcel is accurately tracked at every stage, reinforcing quality control and limiting errors.
- Predictive analysis and artificial intelligence: dedicated algorithms optimize picking, forecast peaks in activity, detect anomalies and manage logistics flows with a high degree of responsiveness.
Did you know? Thanks to Rakuten Fulfillment Network, you have access to a dashboard that enables you to monitor your stocks, orders and returns in real time
Infrastructure type and compliance
Not all products can be stored under the same conditions. An efficient logistics platform must be able to adapt to the specificities of each merchandise:
- Whether fragile, oversized, dangerous or fresh, certain goods require adapted infrastructures: temperature control, anti-shock devices or dedicated storage areas.
- To guarantee compliance, platforms must comply with recognized certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or other sector-specific standards (food, cosmetics, health, etc.).
- High-value or sensitive products also require enhanced security features: video surveillance, access control, alarm systems and real-time tracking.
Note: logistics platforms operated by a 4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics) provider, such as Rakuten Fulfillment Network, also integrate strategic management of the entire supply chain, with an infrastructure designed to pilot different types of product flow, even complex ones.
Quality customer relations
The logistics platform must offer you a reliable partnership that integrates :
- Responsive teams and a logistics customer service that communicates.
- Contingency management (delays, damaged products, out-of-stock situations).
- Real-time tracking and reporting tools to help you manage your business effectively.
- High added-value services: kitting, personalization, returns management, parcel tracking, etc.
What are the steps involved in integrating a logistics platform?
Save time by targeting the right logistics platform and integrating it in 5 simple steps.
- Analyze your needs: order volume, product size, destinations, desired lead times and budget.
- Research and audit logistics service providers: technical capacity, references, certifications, geographical area.
- Contract negotiation: rates, SLA (Service Level Agreement), storage conditions, liability and returns.
- Technical integration: connection of systems, stock flow, WMS, compatibility with your store or marketplace.
- Progressive start-up: testing, monitoring of key indicators (costs, lead times, error rates), adjustments.
Have you considered Rakuten Fulfillment Network?
Entrusting your logistics to Rakuten Fulfillment Network frees up your time to concentrate on what really matters: developing your sales and promoting your brand. With its turnkey solution, RFN takes care of all operations: warehouse management, picking, packaging, shipping, returns and logistics transport. You benefit from competitive rates, advanced automation, real-time tracking via an intuitive dashboard, and enhanced visibility for your products on the Rakuten marketplace.
Choosing the right e-commerce logistics platform lays the foundations for sustainable growth. With Rakuten Fulfillment Network, you gain in reliability, performance… and peace of mind. Take back control of your business, and let RFN simplify everything else.
How to create top-performing marketplace listings to dominate the competition?
Did you know that over 50% of online purchases begin on a marketplace? In this ultra-competitive world, your ad is your shop window. It’s what attracts, reassures and convinces… or drives away. If you’re an e-merchant, you can no longer publish an online ad without a solid strategy. Creating effective marketplace listings is like training your sales staff to be irreproachable in the store. You need an engaging posture, a punchy sales pitch and the ability to respond to customer doubts in a matter of seconds.
Would you like some useful tips for optimizing your marketplace product sheets, boosting your online visibility and maximizing your sales? We’ve got you covered!
Why are high-performance marketplace listings essential?
On a marketplace, you don’t sell alone. You share the space with thousands of other sellers. But you can’t afford to get lost in the crowd. The key to your success: an optimized marketplace ad and maximum visibility. A well-constructed ad seduces the algorithm as much as the user. Better still, it moves up the results, attracts more clicks, converts better… and enters a virtuous loop that boosts your performance.
Remember: on a marketplace, everything happens in a micro-second. The customer scans, not reads. If they hesitate, they click elsewhere. That’s why it’s so important to grab their attention in the first few seconds. A well-constructed marketplace ad is a bulwark against buyer volatility. It reduces doubts, anticipates objections and transforms intention into purchase.
8 tips to improve your marketplace listings
To capture attention, convince and sell, every detail of your product listing counts. Here are 7 tips for creating truly effective marketplace listings.
Look after your visuals
Visuals are your first impression. They must be convincing even before the customer reads a line.
- Product photos: high definition, professional lighting, multiple angles, zoom. Also show details (materials, finishes, dimensions).
- Lifestyle photos: show the product in a real-life situation to help customers project themselves.
- Infographics: summarize key benefits (service life, compatibility, warranties).
- Product videos: a real lever for product promotion. Demonstrations, unboxing, testimonials… it’s an asset for triggering purchases.
Note: opt for a good weight/quality ratio for your visuals. Files that are too heavy slow down loading… and therefore sales.

Listing of a Dreame H12 Pro vacuum cleaner on Rakuten
Work on your product storytelling
A product isn’t just a data sheet. It’s a story you need to tell to reach your audience.
- Who are you? A committed brand, a family of craftsmen, a design enthusiast? Tell your story.
- Why this product? What problem does it solve?
- What impact does it have? Local, ethical, well-being… let us know.
Product storytelling creates an emotional connection, sets you apart from the competition and builds a strong brand, all the more so on a marketplace.
Offer a unique value proposition
Why choose your ad over another? That’s the question every buyer asks when comparing products. Your unique value proposition (UVP) must answer this question clearly. In a few words, you need to convey what makes your product or service different: an exclusive feature, a great price, express delivery, free shipping, associated ultra-reactive customer service, local manufacturing.
Our advice: analyze your competitors, find out what they don’t do and highlight your difference in the title and first few lines of the description. This is what will make the customer switch to your side
Optimize your listings for SEO marketplace
Product SEO is the key to success on marketplaces. Before you can convince anyone, you have to be found. And to do that, you need to optimize each marketplace ad with the right keywords: the ones that web users use.
To optimize your listings, use the search suggestions on the platform itself to identify the most frequently entered terms. You can also use tools such as Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to complete your analysis. In practice, integrate these keywords naturally into titles, subtitles, descriptions and image tags. Also consider synonyms and related keywords. The result of a good SEO marketplace strategy: you move up the rankings, you benefit from greater visibility and your sales increase.
Adapt to your target
A good product that’s poorly presented remains invisible. The tone, vocabulary and level of detail must be adapted to your target audience. Let’s take an example: a tech buyer doesn’t expect the same thing as a decorator or a parent with young children. Similarly, depending on the platform, expectations change. On Leboncoin, the expectation is simplicity and honesty. On Rakuten, on the other hand, customers expect complete listings, visible guarantees and fast delivery. By knowing your audience, you can address them with the right codes
Be transparent and exhaustive to build trust
The faster buyers find information, the more reassured they are. To leave no stone unturned, you need to clearly display the following information on your marketplace ad:
– Price.
– Any discounts.
– Delivery times.
– Shipping costs.
Mention all technical specifications, dimensions, compatibility and legal requirements. For example, for household electrical appliances, the energy label is essential: it provides information on consumption and can have a significant impact on the decision to buy.
It’s simple: the more precise your ad is, the less the customer will need to look elsewhere. You make it easier for them to make their decision, and at the same time reduce the risk of product returns.
Respond to customer objections
All buyers hesitate. That’s why your marketplace ad needs to anticipate any questions they might have, and respond to customer objections to remove any obstacles to a sale. Easy to assemble? Washable? Durable? Made in France? Include the right information in the description and, if possible, add a FAQ. You’ll show that you understand the customer’s needs and help them make up their mind.
And don’t forget the impact of social proof: customer reviews, ratings, testimonials… On Rakuten, for example, these elements directly influence product referencing and the visibility of your listings. The more you reassure, the more you sell.
Actively manage your inventory and prices
A product marked as “unavailable” is also a lost sale. An ad with zero stock is automatically delisted on many marketplaces. Our advice: keep your stocks up to date and adjust your prices according to the market. Keep an eye on the competition, and if necessary, use repricing tools to stay competitive without cutting into your margins.
Tip: don’t hesitate to activate special offers. Temporary promotions, instant coupons, free delivery… these online sales techniques catch the eye and trigger purchases.
As you can see, a good marketplace ad is a conversion lever, a strategic tool and a powerful sales pitch. It speaks for you, captures attention, convinces and reassures. By applying these 7 tips, you’ll build a strong presence and stand out from the competition. The result: every visit to your store becomes a sales opportunity.
Need more? At Rakuten, we’ll help you optimize your marketplace product sheets and provide you with tools to boost your online visibility. Take advantage of these services today to put your listings on the map
Rakuten France announces European marketplace expansion: Spain as the first step in a strategic rollout
Paris, September 15, 2025 – Rakuten France, a leading player in French e-commerce and a pioneer in the circular economy, today announces its international marketplace expansion, with Spain as the first strategic market. This new marketplace will offer Spanish consumers and merchants an e-commerce experience that combines accessibility, high-quality service, and responsible consumption, powered by Rakuten France’s technological expertise, particularly in artificial intelligence. This marks the beginning of an ambitious, phased development plan for Rakuten France’s marketplace operations across Europe.
Driving international growth with an optimistic vision for e-commerce
Rakuten France is reaching a pivotal milestone in its journey by embarking on international expansion. This strategic decision to enter the Spanish market aligns with its optimistic vision for e-commerce, supported by a successful model already proven in France. As a digital, inclusive shopping mall, Rakuten France enables safe interactions between buyers, sellers, and brands. Its unique partnership approach ensures that the Rakuten France marketplace platform never competes with its merchant “clients.”
This expansion is built upon three strategic pillars that drive Rakuten's success in French e-commerce:
- Supporting merchants in their digital transformation and logistics with innovative, tailored solutions such as Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN), an international network of logistics experts handling complete order management – from storage to shipping, tracking, and returns. 99.8% of orders placed before 2 p.m. and handled by the Rakuten Fulfillment Network are delivered to their destination within 24 hours.
- Boosting purchasing power, embodied by the Club R cashback program, the most generous loyalty program in French e-commerce, which has already redistributed over €200 million to shoppers.
- Championing responsible consumption with a diverse selection of second-hand products, including pre-owned and refurbished items.
Rakuten France’s expansion into Spain represents a tangible first step in scaling this unique and virtuous model across Europe.

Spain: a key market and the starting point for a bold strategy
With over 30 million online consumers and an e-commerce market that exceeded 95 billion euros in 2024, up 13.1% year on year (CNMC), Spain offers tremendous potential for Rakuten France’s next phase of growth.
The rollout follows a staged approach. From today, Rakuten France offers an optimized version of its marketplace in Spain, with two clear goals: to provide Spanish consumers with attractive prices and deliver an outstanding shopping experience.
The initial offering focuses on key consumer product categories, such as tech and home appliances. To ensure fast and reliable service for both sellers and buyers, Rakuten France will leverage its robust Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN) and strengthen its offering through enhanced affiliate partnerships, boosting the platform’s visibility and competitiveness.
This initiative draws on Rakuten France’s proven artificial intelligence expertise. AI plays a pivotal role in:
- Automatic, context-aware translation of thousands of product listings
- Continuous optimisation of the search function, exploring semantic search.
- Adaptation of navigation interfaces to meet Spanish consumer preferences.
Product offerings will be expanded gradually, integrating the features that have driven the success of Rakuten France. Spanish consumers will gain access to the Club R cashback program, allowing them to earn money back on their purchases. Rakuten’s second-hand marketplace will also grow, featuring refurbished and pre-owned items across a variety of categories (culture, tech, appliances, gaming, and more) to meet growing demands for sustainable consumption and align with environmental challenges.
Cédric Dufour, CEO of Rakuten France and Rakuten TV, stated, “This expansion marks a major turning point for Rakuten France. It also reflects our vision of e-commerce as a source of value for all and a driver of positive impact. We are entering the Spanish market with a clear strategy, building on our expertise, particularly in supporting sellers. The integration of AI into our approach, designed and implemented by our in-house teams, reflects our agility and ability to innovate. We have an ambitious roadmap, with the resources, vision, and team to make it a reality. We are particularly keen to forge strong partnerships with Spanish retailers to grow together in this dynamic market.”
Rakuten France is committed to providing Spanish buyers with a high level of security and comprehensive after-sales support. As a trusted third party, the digital shopping mall maintains stringent standards for secure payments and the prevention of fraud and counterfeiting.
Which E-Commerce CMS should you choose?
To create a functional online store, you need to make a decisive choice: the e-commerce CMS (Content Management System) you’re going to use. This software enables you to create, manage and organize an e-commerce site without having to code everything yourself. Unlike a general-purpose CMS such as WordPress or Drupal, an e-commerce CMS is specifically designed to sell products online. Choosing the right platform means laying the right foundations for developing a solid, sustainable online business. So, which solution should you choose? Here’s an overview of the main options on the market to help you make the right choice.
Why is the choice of your e-commerce CMS so important?
The e-commerce CMS is the technical foundation of your online store. It directly influences:
– Its day-to-day management: adding products or tracking orders, for example.
– User experience (UX): smooth navigation to improve conversion rates.
– Search engine optimization (SEO): to optimize product pages for Google and attract traffic.
– Scalability: a fast-growing company needs a CMS capable of absorbing more traffic and more orders.
– Associated costs: some CMS are free to install (open source), but often require development or the addition of paid modules. Others, like Shopify, operate on a monthly subscription basis that includes hosting and maintenance, which reduces technical requirements.
The main e-commerce CMS on the market
There are many e-commerce CMS on the market, and it can be difficult to find your way around. That’s why we’ve selected the most popular ones. Discover their strengths and limitations, and find out which types of e-businesses they are best suited to
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most accessible e-commerce platforms on the market. It’s ideal for getting started quickly without technical skills.
– Advantages: easy to learn, rich catalog of applications, excellent customer service.
– Limitations: monthly subscription, limited customization.
– Who’s it for? Beginning merchants or SMEs looking for a quick start

WooCommerce (WordPress extension)
WooCommerce is a powerful, modular solution for those who want to customize every detail of their online store.
– Advantages: highly customizable, good SEO management, large community.
– Limitations: requires a WordPress site, some technical skills.
– Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who are comfortable with the web, or who are accompanied by a developer

Adobe Commerce (Magento)
Magento was designed for ambitious e-commerce projects, with complex requirements and a large volume of products to manage.
– Advantages: very powerful, ultra-customizable, perfect for managing large catalogs.
– Limitations: complex solution requiring technical resources and a substantial budget.
– Who’s it for? Large companies, e-tailers with advanced needs and dedicated teams

PrestaShop
PrestaShop is an open source solution that enjoys great popularity in France. Its strength lies in the balance it strikes between customization, autonomy and cost control.
– Advantages: open source, free, good customization, active French-speaking community.
– Limitations: fewer ready-to-use applications, requiring some configuration.
– Who’s it for? SMEs with a minimum of web knowledge, or a technical service provider

BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a feature-rich e-commerce CMS. It’s ideal for businesses looking for large-scale performance and flexibility.
– Advantages: good balance between simplicity and power, numerous integrated features (SEO, promotions, international payment).
– Limitations: slightly longer learning curve than Shopify.
– Who’s it for? Growing businesses with high sales volumes

How to choose the right e-commerce CMS?
When it comes to e-commerce CMS, there’s clearly no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on your project, your budget, your technical skills and your ambitions.
Let’s take the example of two shoe sellers: the first sells locally with around 20 references, while the second wants to sell abroad with 1,000 products and multi-warehouse stocks. While the former may opt for Shopify or PrestaShop, the latter will be better off with a software solution such as BigCommerce or Magento. And it’s precisely in order to make the right choice that you need to ask yourself the right questions
What are your needs and objectives?
Before choosing your e-commerce CMS, start by clearly defining what you sell, to whom and in what proportions. Your needs will directly influence the most appropriate solution.
For example: for a few personalized products, Shopify will suffice. But for a large catalog with advanced filters, Magento is more appropriate.
What’s your budget?
The budget is a determining factor: beyond the subscription or license price, you need to think above all about hidden costs such as hosting, extensions or technical maintenance.
Good to know: WooCommerce, for example, is free to install, but often requires the addition of paid plugins to extend its functionality. What’s more, you’ll need to subscribe to a hosting service, the cost of which varies according to your needs¹:
– Shared hosting: between €5 and €20 per month.
– VPS (virtual private server) hosting: between €20 and €90 per month.
– Dedicated hosting: from €70 per month, rising to over €1,000 depending on performance requirements.
What are your technical skills?
Do you have technical skills or are you supported by a service provider? Mastering WordPress, managing updates or intervening in the code requires a minimum of web savvy. If this isn’t your case, a turnkey e-commerce CMS like Shopify will be more secure. On the other hand, if you have the technical resources, WooCommerce or Magento will give you greater freedom and customization options.
What are your customization requirements?
Do you want a 100% customized design? Do you need specific functionalities? Depending on your answers, Magento and WooCommerce offer advanced customization options. Shopify, on the other hand, is more accessible and offers pre-designed themes that are considered easier to use.
What are your SEO requirements?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for attracting traffic without relying solely on advertising. If you want to optimize each page in detail, WooCommerce and PrestaShop give you a great deal of freedom. Shopify, on the other hand, offers effective but more standardized SEO tools.
What are your scalability requirements?
Will your business grow rapidly? What’s certain is that your e-commerce CMS must be able to keep pace with your growth without slowing down. Magento and BigCommerce are designed to handle high volumes of traffic and orders. Shopify can also grow with you, but with certain technical limitations to be anticipated, such as managing very large catalogs or integrating complex third-party systems, for example.
Tips for a successful migration to a new e-commerce CMS
Migrating to a new e-commerce CMS can seem daunting, especially if your current site is already generating traffic or sales. However, a well-prepared migration is an opportunity to improve the customer experience, integrate new functionalities and boost your online visibility https://global.fr.shopping.rakuten.com/actualites/visibilite-et-marketplace/. Here are the steps to follow to ensure a smooth transition, without loss of data or impact on your business.
Migration planning in detail
A successful migration depends above all on good organization. Define in advance:
– Your objectives: do you want to improve ergonomics, performance or product management?
– A realistic timetable, with room for unforeseen events.
– The human and technical resources available (in-house team, service providers, etc.).
Data backup
Before any manipulation, it is imperative to secure all your data:
– Products: names, descriptions, prices, references, images..
– Orders: history, payments, status..
– Customers: contact details, accounts, preferences..
Our advice: create a complete backup of your site, via your host or a dedicated plugin, so that you can restore everything in the event of a problem.
Choose the right hosting
If you’re migrating to an open source e-commerce CMS like WooCommerce or PrestaShop, hosting is a critical point. Check:
– Performance (speed, traffic capacity)
– Technical compatibility with your new CMS (PHP versions, database…)
– Customer support and security options (SSL certificate, automatic backups…)
Good to know: good hosting contributes directly to the speed of your site… and to your conversion rate.
Test your new CMS before going live
Before you go live with the new version of your site, you should test each and every element of your CMS to avoid any missteps:
– The complete shopping path (search, shopping cart, payment).
– Product sheets, filters and forms.
– Mobile and tablet display.
– Payment and delivery modules.
Our advice: create a “test” version of your site to validate functionalities without impacting your current visitors.
Redirect old URLs
There are several tricks you can use to maintain your organic search ranking (SEO), but also to avoid 404 errors:
– List all important old URLs.
– Set up 301 redirects to new pages.
– Use tools like Google Search Console to check that everything is taken into account.
Good to know: migration without redirection can lead to a sharp drop in organic traffic.
Train your team to use the new e-commerce CMS
A well-trained team is a major asset to the success of your e-commerce business. Even the best e-commerce CMS in the world will only be useful if your team knows how to use it. To optimize this process, we recommend:
– Organize training sessions.
– Create internal guides for key tasks.
– Encourage your staff to ask questions and take ownership of the tool.
What about a marketplace?
Creating your own website is a fine step, but it’s not the only one. To gain visibility, it’s often wise to multiply sales channels, and a marketplace is a highly effective complementary solution. On Rakuten, you benefit from a turnkey environment, qualified traffic and personalized support to help you succeed online, even without an e-commerce CMS. Seize the opportunity!
Sources:
¹Shopify
How can you improve your e-commerce marketing?
As an online retailer, you’re operating in an exploding market. In 2024, worldwide e-commerce sales reached $4,320 billion, representing over 17% of total retail¹. E-commerce presents many opportunities, but also faces increased competition between sellers.
In this context, effective e-commerce marketing is a necessity and an indispensable lever for capturing attention, convincing customers and selling online.
That’s why you need to develop a solid strategy capable of attracting new customers, increasing your average shopping basket and building customer loyalty.
So how do you implement an effective e-commerce marketing strategy? Which levers should you focus on to strengthen your digital presence, optimize your conversion rates and capitalize on every interaction? Here’s how!
The pillars of successful e-commerce marketing
E-commerce marketing refers to all actions designed to promote and sell your products on the Internet. It relies on digital channels that enable direct interaction with your customers, precise personalization and real-time tracking of your campaigns, conversions and purchasing behavior.
Where conventional marketing generally delivers a uniform message to a wide audience, e-commerce marketing exploits customer, behavioral and transactional data to adapt the messaging, analyze purchasing behavior and instantly adjust campaigns.
E-commerce marketing rests on three essential pillars: customer experience personalization, omnichannel consistency and continuous performance analysis.
Together, they form an essential foundation for attracting new customers, reinforcing your brand image and steering your actions on the basis of concrete data.
Personalization at the heart of the customer experience
In a world saturated with sellers and offers, addressing your customers as an interchangeable crowd is a mistake. Your customers expect a unique experience, tailored to their individual needs. Personalization is therefore a decisive lever in e-commerce marketing.
An Epsilon² study shows that 80% of consumers buy more when they have a personalized experience.
This personalization can be reflected in your marketing strategy in a number of ways:
- Adapt the navigation interface: different colors, banners or dynamic highlights according to preferences.
- Leverage customer data to target and insert their first name or relevant recommendations in your emails.
- Implement relevant product recommendations based on purchase history, or suggest upselling.
- Deploy personalized promotions, such as a birthday voucher or a targeted offer based on average basket size.
Let’s take a concrete example of marketing personalization on Rakuten:
- A user browses the marketplace. The banners that appear in the margin of their screen reflect their recent preferences.
- After adding headphones to their basket, an intelligent recommendation suggests a compatible carrying case.
- If they abandon their purchase, a push notification is sent to them with their first name.
- Finally, on their birthday, Club R awards them an exclusive coupon.
This journey illustrates the power of personalization, which strengthens engagement and increases conversions
The omnichannel experience: a seamless customer journey
Today’s consumers juggle multiple channels before making a purchase:
- E-commerce sites
- Marketplaces
- Social networking sites
- Search engines
Today, prospects no longer navigate online in a linear fashion. On average, 73% of consumers use several channels (website, social networks, advertising, emailing, etc.) before making a purchase³.
To implement a successful omnichannel marketing strategy, you need to :
- Guarantee brand consistency across all media: logo, typography, tone, colors.
- Simplify the purchasing path as much as possible: integrate one-click payment, reduce the number of steps, direct referrals from your posts on social networks (such as Instagram or Facebook) to your online store.
- Implement cross-channel communications. For example, an addition to the shopping cart on the desktop triggers a push notification on mobile and a follow-up email.
This cross-channel approach strengthens your relationship marketing and improves your conversion rates. The more seamless the experience, the more your prospects become loyal customers.
Good to know: marketing automation tools can help you automate certain tasks and be more responsive.
Performance analysis and ROI optimization: measure for better action
To improve your e-commerce marketing, you need to analyze and measure your results and adjust your actions. This involves rigorous monitoring of e-commerce marketing KPIs. Three segments need to be analyzed:
- Your target customers: identify your marketing personas based on your demographic and behavioral data. Good targeting enables you to adapt your messages and offers.
- The customer journey: analyze the ergonomics of your website, the speed of the purchasing funnel and the efficiency of your CRM. Each step must be optimized to reduce friction.
- The impact of your digital marketing campaigns: whether it’s Google Ads, email marketing or influencer marketing, every action needs to be evaluated and linked to concrete results (add to cart, sale…).
KPIs to track include cost per click (CPC), conversion rate, average order value (AOV) or ROI.
Good to know: By regularly analyzing these indicators, you can optimize your budgets and maximize the impact of your advertising investments on marketplaces
The best e-commerce marketing levers to boost your sales
In such a competitive environment as e-commerce, limiting yourself to a single marketing channel or lever is not enough. A holistic strategy or integrated approach combines several complementary marketing levers. Each addresses a distinct objective: acquisition, loyalty, brand awareness or conversion. Here are some of the most effective:
- Email marketing remains one of the pillars of online marketing. Inexpensive and effective, it enables you to follow up with your customers, distribute personalized promotions and maintain contact. The key KPI: open and click rates. To maximize your results, segment your lists and personalize your subject lines.
- Social media marketing is essential for building brand awareness and engaging your community. Measure your performance through engagement (likes, shares, comments). A good practice is to use short videos to capture attention and generate qualified traffic.
- E-commerce SEO ensures lasting visibility, and above all, at lower cost. By optimizing your product sheets, tags and internal linking, you’ll gain constant organic traffic. The key indicator: your positions on Google and the volume of visits resulting from natural organic search.
- User-generated content (UGC) builds trust. Reviews, photos and customer testimonials serve as social proof. The more UGC you collect, the greater your credibility. Track the volume of published reviews and their influence on your conversions.
- Influencer marketing allows you to associate your brand with recognized creators. Effectiveness is measured in traffic generated and sales linked to these campaigns. Working with targeted micro-influencers ensures greater authenticity.
- Finally, video marketing increases engagement and recall. Tutorials, demonstrations and interviews give your communication a boost. Monitor your viewing rates and adapt the duration of your content to maintain attention.
Choose the right platform to simplify and optimize your e-commerce marketing
Implementing all these e-marketing levers requires time, resources and fine-tuned coordination. So, to gain efficiency and centralize the heart of your marketing strategy on a single platform, why not join a marketplace like Rakuten?
First of all, you benefit from an existing, qualified audience: millions of active buyers search for products on Rakuten every day. So you don’t have to build your traffic from scratch. You also benefit from the credibility and trust of a recognized brand, a decisive factor in the purchasing process.
Rakuten also simplifies your logistics management with its Rakuten Fulfillment Network service. You can delegate preparation and delivery, while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. Each seller is accompanied by an E-Commerce Consultant who is an expert in their sector, able to advise you on your marketing campaigns, personalized promotions or strategic choices.
Finally, joining Rakuten means access to powerful promotional operations: the monthly Mega Peak, Black Friday and back-to-school campaigns. These massive events, supported by advertising and display, enable you to compete with the big names, without incurring the costs of an individual campaign.
E-commerce marketing is based on a clear equation: personalization, omnichannel and continuous KPI analysis. By combining complementary levers such as direct mail, SEO, social networks and video, you build an integrated approach capable of attracting, converting and retaining customers.
Joining Rakuten means benefiting from a complete ecosystem, where your digital marketing actions are simplified, your costs optimized and your performance reinforced
Sources
¹ Statista, Worldwide Retail E-Commerce Sales
²Epsilon
³ Bloomreach
What's the best online e-commerce payment solution?
Did you know that 58% of online shoppers abandon their shopping baskets at checkout? Among them: 22.8% because the payment failed, 17.7% for lack of a suitable solution and 16.9% because the process was too complex. If you’re an online retailer, your e-commerce payment solution is more than just a technical module: it’s a strategic lever that directly impacts your conversion rate, customer satisfaction and the credibility of your store.
Today’s buyers expect flexibility. Being able to pay with the card of their choice, an e-wallet, or by instalments has become the norm.
It’s up to you to meet these demands by offering a fast, smooth and secure payment process. A high-performance payment solution, well integrated into your site, will remove disincentives to purchase, inspire confidence… and encourage your customers to complete their order. Let’s find out together how to choose the right solution

The importance of choosing your e-commerce payment solution
An e-commerce payment solution is a technical tool that enables your customers to pay for their purchases on your site smoothly and securely. This all-too-often underestimated step influences conversion, loyalty and your brand’s image.
There are three main types of solution:
- Payment gateways (e.g. Stripe, Adyen): they connect your site directly to banking networks and process transactions in real time.
- Payment Service Providers (PSPs) (e.g. PayPal, Mollie, PayPlug, Worldline): these offer turnkey solutions, including flow management, regulatory compliance and tracking tools.
- Direct banking solutions (e.g. Paybox, traditional bank offerings): these are often perceived as reassuring, but are not always adapted to the specificities of e-commerce.
Making the right choice will enable you to offer your customers the payment methods they prefer, limit cart abandonment and guarantee secure payments, without unnecessary redirections.
Let’s take two concrete examples:
- A buyer encounters slowness, can’t find his usual payment method, suffers confusing redirections… he gives up. In their eyes, your site is unreliable.
- Another scenario: the buyer accesses a fast, clear interface offering his preferred options: bank card, e-wallet or virtual payment solution, such as a prepaid card or an online account not linked to a traditional bank. They pay quickly and receive immediate confirmation. They’re reassured, satisfied… and ready to come back.
What are the criteria for choosing an online payment solution?
Choosing an online payment solution is a strategic decision. It’s not just a question of adding a module to your site, but of analyzing technical, commercial and operational criteria to identify the solution best suited to your business. Here’s how to narrow down your choice:
Solution price
The cost of an online payment solution depends on many parameters. Some are obvious: installation costs, transaction fees (fixed or percentage-based), monthly subscriptions, chargebacks or even exchange rates for foreign sales. These factors vary greatly from one provider to another, and have a direct impact on your profit margin.
But other, more discreet costs can also be added:
- Transfer fees to your bank account
- Refund fees in the event of cancellation
- Dispute or chargeback fees in the event of dispute
- Fees for refused transactions
These hidden charges can add considerably to the final bill.
Good to know: To avoid unpleasant surprises, read the terms and conditions carefully and compare offers line by line before choosing your payment provider
Payment options
Your online payment solution needs to be aligned with buyers’ habits: they want to be able to choose their payment method according to the amount, the type of product purchased and their purchasing path.
Options to consider :
- Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- E-wallets: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Instant transfers
- Direct debits (ideal for subscriptions)
- Prepaid cards
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) is becoming increasingly popular. With Klarna, Alma or Oney, your customers can spread their payment over time, free of charge. This payment method reduces cart abandonment and increases conversion, especially for larger amounts.
Habits are changing: 46% of online shoppers use electronic payment solutions, and 22% opt for direct debit or credit transfers¹.
Offering a limited choice can slow down the purchase process right from the checkout page.
Easy integration into your e-commerce site
Three integration approaches are available, with varying requirements in terms of budget, time and technical skills:
- CMS plugins: modules compatible with major e-commerce CMS such as Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop or Magento. Quick installation from the administration interface
- API: advanced integration via code. Perfectly aligns the payment module with the user experience. Requires specific technical skills and budget
- Hosted solutions: redirect to an external secure payment page. Easy to activate, no development required. On the other hand, you lose control over the design and payment experience.
Trust and payment security
Security remains the decisive criterion when choosing an e-commerce payment solution. Your customers expect secure, reliable transactions. Check that your provider complies with the following standards:
- PCI DSS certification: guarantees compliant processing of banking data
- 3D Secure: adds an authentication step to reinforce validation
- Strong authentication (SCA): required by DSP2, it secures every payment
- Anti-fraud protection systems: automatically detect suspicious behavior
Another important point: some online payment solutions display your store’s name on the bank statement, reinforcing transparency and inspiring confidence at the moment of payment.
International payment management
When selling abroad, opt for an e-commerce payment solution that supports local currencies. It automatically converts your customers’ currencies, without manipulation, and ensures a seamless experience that reinforces your store’s credibility.
Our partner WorldFirst has established itself as a key player for sellers active on marketplaces such as Rakuten. This service provider enables you to :
- Manage your cash receipts with multi-currency accounts
- Benefit from more advantageous exchange rates than those charged by traditional banks, with total transparency on conversion fees
- Easily integrate its solution into your site
WorldFirst helps you deploy international payments without compromising your margins or the fluidity of the customer experience
Comparison of the best e-commerce payment solutions
Faced with such a wide range of offers, choosing the best e-commerce payment solution depends entirely on your needs: sales volume, structure of your store, target clientele, available technical resources… This comparison helps you see clearly so you can deploy an online payment solution perfectly aligned with your objectives.
Stripe
- Solution type: PSP web payment gateway
- Key points
– Pricing: 1.5% + €0.25 per transaction (euro zone)
– Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, BNPL via Klarna
– Integration: Plugins for WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Shopify; full API
– Security: PCI DSS, 3D Secure, Radar anti-fraud system - Strengths: Technical power and customization for developers
- Weakness: Limited support for non-technical users
Payoneer
- Solution type: PSP for marketplaces
- Key points
– Pricing: conversion and withdrawal fees (variable according to country)
– Accepted means: multi-currency, international transfers
– Integration: compatible with Amazon, Rakuten, Fiverr..
– Security: Standard certifications, advanced encryption - Strength: Simplified international payment for freelancers and third-party sellers
- Weakness: Less suitable for classic e-commerce
PayPal
- Solution type: Online payment service provider (PSP)
- Key points:
– Pricing: from 2.9% + €0.35 per transaction (variable according to volume)
– Accepted methods: PayPal, cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, deferred payments
– Integration: CMS modules, payment button, API available
– Security: PCI DSS, 3D Secure, dispute resolution tool - Strength: Notoriety and trust among buyers
- Weaknesses: High commissions, especially internationally
WorldFirst
- Solution type : International payments specialist
- Key points:
– Pricing: competitive exchange rates, no hidden fees
– Accepted methods: multi-currency payments, transfers, marketplaces
– Integration: compatible with Rakuten, Amazon, eBay..
– Security: FCA-regulated, bank-secured - Strength: International payment management, multi-currency accounts
- Weakness: Not designed for direct payments on e-commerce sites
Klarna
- Solution type: PSP specialized in Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
- Key points:
– Pricing: commission to be defined according to volume
-Accepted payment methods: 3x/4x, deferred payment, card
– Integration: CMS main API
– Security: PCI DSS, 3D Secure - Strengths: Conversion booster thanks to split payments
- Weakness: Requires specific customer follow-up management
Floa
- Solution type: Specialized PSP BNPL
- Key points
– Pricing: on request, modulated according to average basket
– Accepted payment methods: 3x/4x, credit card
– Integration: CMS modules, omnichannel solution
– Security: PCI DSS, internal anti-fraud system - Strength: French BNPL solution, easy to integrate
- Weakness: Offer still being extended outside France
Complementary solutions to consider
Depending on your activity, certain solutions can reinforce your main payment module:
– PayPlug: French PSP for very small businesses
– Mollie: easy-to-integrate European alternative
– Alma: French BNPL with dedicated support
– Oney: fractional payment specialist, partner of major retailers
Beforeintegrating an online payment solution, analyze its fees, accepted methods, security and compatibility with your site.
Going one step further, integrating a BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) service improves your conversions by facilitating high-value or seasonal purchases. Here are the most popular solutions to link to your main module:
– Klarna: fluid interface, optimized web integration
– Floa: French solution, quick to install, ideal for small e-tailers
– Alma and Oney: turnkey fractional payment solutions, renowned for their reliability and personalized support
Sources :
¹Fevad, Chiffres clés e-commerce 2025
Cashback: What it is, How it works and Why it matters
To the question "How can we fight inflation?", one of the solutions can be summed up in one word: cashback. At a time when shoppers are constantly on the lookout for good deals to compensate for their loss of purchasing power, cashback offers are an ideal lever. And that's not all!
Cashback is a win-win strategy. Like consumers, sellers benefit from the many positive spin-offs this model can bring. But do you (really) know what cashback is? How does it work? And how can you effortlessly set up a cashback offer for your customers?
This guide has you covered!
Definition: what is cashback?
Cashback is a form of reward that forms part of a loyalty program strategy, offering customers the chance to earn loyalty points with every purchase they make. These rewards can be credits, points or directly in cash. Buyers can then use them for future purchases on the platform. 48% of French consumers report using at least one cashback program¹.
Most often, this partial reimbursement model is between 0.5% and 20% of the amount spent. A great reward for shoppers. With INSEE forecasting a 2.2% rise in consumer prices in one year (June 2024), cashback offers a way for consumers to mitigate the effects of inflation.
While cashback programs exist in physical stores, they are primarily prevalent online. Cashback is common on e-commerce sites, marketplaces, and specialized platforms affiliated with partner sites. With every purchase, online shoppers save money. Not to be confused with promotions!
What's the difference between cashback and promotions?
In online shopping, cashback is often confused with promotions. However, the two strategies differ significantly:
- Promotions are fixed before a purchase. Discounts are set by merchants during sales, Black Friday, or at other times of the year. The price of the product is therefore altered, for example by using coupons or promo codes.
- Cashback is a refund offered after the purchase. It doesn't change the product price; the customer pays the listed price but receives a reward later.
In essence, cashback is a delayed reward, while promotional codes offer instant savings.
However, you don't have to choose between these two forms of reward. They are complementary. For example, on our Rakuten marketplace, shoppers who are part of our loyalty program (Club R) can earn both:
- An immediate discount in the form of a promotional code, on their first order.
- Cashback credited to their customer account, up to 20% refunded on every purchase.
A great way to save money.
How does cashback work?
71% of French consumers report understanding how online cashback works². Are you one of them?
Cashback functions similarly to a promotional offer: the seller sets a percentage to be rewarded on each purchase of their products. Companies can implement the system themselves or partner with a cashback network.
For consumers, it's just as simple:
- The customer is a member of the company's loyalty program.
- They make a purchase, typically online (though some physical stores also offer cashback). On Rakuten, cashback works on new or second-hand purchases.
- After the purchase, the customer recovers a percentage of the total amount spent.
- This amount is added to the customer's kitty, or in the form of points (which can sometimes be accumulated).
- Customers can then use their cashback to finance future purchases!
Example: Here are a few examples of possible cashback on Rakuten partner sites:

Cashback: what are the benefits for customers?
This form of reward offers many exclusive advantages to buyers. Here are just a few of them:
- Saving money : by recovering part of the amount spent, customers reduce the actual cost of their orders. For regular or high spenders, this is an excellent way to benefit from savings.
- Flexible use of rewards: depending on the site, cashback is paid in the form of credits, loyalty points or euros. Internet users are free to choose how they receive cashback on their purchases.
- Flexibility in obtaining rewards: conversely (and upstream), on some sites like Rakuten, it's possible to accumulate cashback from over 2,000 partner sites! The cashback can then be spent on Rakuten.
- Easy to use: a cashback offer can be activated in just a few clicks. It couldn't be simpler. Forget the days of collectable coupons and hard-to-remember promotional codes! Browser extensions like Rakuten's Club R can also automate cashback from partner sites.
- More thoughtful spending : with cashback, users can compare offers between different merchants before finalizing their purchases. Consumers take their time to think things through, and avoid compulsive shopping.
- Discovery of new sites: 63% of customers are happy to discover new E-Commerce sites thanks to cashback (source: Syndicat National du Marketing à la Performance (SNMP) study)
- Increased confidence: with a cashback offer, buyers gain confidence in the website they are visiting. For 75% of those surveyed, cashback is a sign of confidence when shopping online! (source: study by the Syndicat National du Marketing à la Performance (SNMP))

Source: extract from theSNMP infographic
Cashback: what are the benefits for retailers?
Cashback is also a virtuous circle for merchants. The benefits are as follows:
- Attracting new customers: as we've just seen, 63% of consumers discover new sellers thanks to cashback. What's more, 42% of French people consider cashback to be a decisive factor in choosing an e-retailer (Ipsos 2024 study). By offering cashback, you can win new customers who are sensitive to bargains. It's easier to capture consumers' attention and encourage them to make a purchase.
- Retain existing customers: 71% of e-tailers consider cashback to be an effective tool for acquiring and retaining customers. Rewards keep customers coming back for future orders. Bingo, it's an excellent lever for customer loyalty and retention!
- Improved brand awareness: by relaying cashback offers on platforms or via marketing campaigns, the company attracts attention... And increases its brand awareness and visibility. Perfect for reinforcing brand image in the face of other market players.
- Competitive advantage: when it comes to market players, kitty marketing is an effective strategy for standing out from the crowd. Competitors who don't offer this type of reward are instantly less attractive!
- Increase in average shopping basket and frequency of purchase: e-retailers who have implemented cashback report a 10-20% increase in their average shopping basket, and a 2-fold increase in frequency of purchase (source: study by the Syndicat National du Marketing à la Performance (SNMP)).
- Increased conversion rate: this increase is around 5% with cashback. A significant lever for growth! (source: study by Syndicat National du Marketing à la Performance (SNMP))
For relevant advice on how to improve your strategy, read our article Marketplace: A practical guide to boosting your E-Commerce.

Source: extract from theSNMP infographic
Example of a cashback program: Rakuten's Club R
At Rakuten, we've made cashback one of our top priorities. To enable consumers to save, and sellers to acquire and build loyalty.
Our cashback program is called "Club R":
- 13 million members
- 900 € purchasing power on average
- 40% higher average shopping basket than non-members
Through this free, no-obligation loyalty program, members receive up to 20% cashback on every purchase... whether on products bought from the Rakuten marketplace or from the network of 2,000 affiliated partners (including Booking.com, Nike, Lego, Apple...)
The kitty is financed by Rakuten, and takes the form of Rakuten Points. According to Fevad (2021), we are the most generous E-Commerce program in France!
So, are you convinced by this win-win system for both your brand and your customers? Now all you have to do is implement it.
How to deploy a cashback strategy easily with Rakuten?
Would you like to invest in cashback, but don't know where to start? Follow the guide:
1. Join the Rakuten marketplace
Start by creating your Rakuten account by filling out this form.
After registering, simply complete these 4 steps to start selling on our platform:
- Activate and configure your Rakuten E-Shop using the code sent to you in your confirmation e-mail.
- Import your products onto the platform.
- Customize your shipping costs.
- Activate payment for your sales.
Your ads will then be eligible for the 5% cashback financed by Rakuten. The only exception? Products covered by the Lang law of August 10, 1981, which imposes a single price on new books in order to protect the industry.
2. Create additional cashback campaigns
By becoming a Rakuten seller, you can manage your own development strategies. You can offer up to 20% extra cashback in the form of Rakuten Points, available only on your offers. So what are you waiting for to boost your sales?
By activating additional cashback campaigns, you can offer your customers additional discounts without changing the face price of your products. Ads with additional cashback in Rakuten Points are automatically promoted on the most attractive sites on our platform. Here's an example of the high-traffic Rakuten Deals page.

This additional cashback service works on a performance basis. You only spend what you generate. An economical choice for you, and one that your customers appreciate. In fact, shoppers are more likely to opt for offers that multiply the points they earn in their kitty.
Imagine: you offer a 10% discount in points on a day when Rakuten is offering 20%. Your customers (Club R members) benefit from a double advantage and 30% cashback ! The results? They take action without hesitation.
3. Calculate your budget
Before rushing into thecashback exercise, don't forget to calculate your budget.
Let's go back to the previous example. On a Rakuten Day, when Rakuten finances 20% of the platform, you offer an additional 10% commission in points.
A Club R member selecting a €200 product in your store will receive :
- 10% x 200 = €20 thanks to your Rakuten Points campaign
- 20% x 200 = €40 thanks to Rakuten Points financed by Rakuten
Your customer will receive a total discount of €60!
To define your budget, you need to calculate a percentage of business volume that will be generated over a set period. For example, if you set up a 10% points campaign on a selection of products, you need to calculate the volume you'll generate and apply 10% to it.
It's up to you to define this discount percentage, according to your budget. You can also adjust it at any time. And if in doubt, ask your E-Commerce Consultant for advice: he'll help you define the best budget and strategy to boost your growth.
4. Analyze the performance of cashback campaigns
A cashback strategy doesn't stop when it's deployed. Keep track of the results over time!
In fact, your ads benefiting from additional Rakuten Points are automatically highlighted on the most attractive sites on the Rakuten platform, including the Rakuten Deals page. These ads are also promoted on product sheets, on your e-shop and on our various acquisition levers.
Your mission (if you accept it) is to monitor the performance of these campaigns, on the different sites. Analysis can be done in real time. From your Rakuten seller space, you have everything you need to manage your budgets, identify the most effective exclusive offers and optimize your ads.
On your marks, get set... Launch cashback, analyze, optimize, then do it again.
To win new customers with cashback, build loyalty with existing ones and increase your average shopping baskets, discover Rakuten cashback! Our 13 million Club R members are waiting for you. And what about you? What are you waiting for to take advantage of Rakuten's special offers and exclusive cashback operations?
Sources:
¹ Ipsos x Rakuten, Cashback study 2024
² Webloyalty and Kantar
³
Why is online customer experience more important than ever?
Online customer experience determines the success of your business. If you’re an e-tailer, you know that a single mistake can be enough to drive a buyer away. In fact, almost 85% of consumers stop buying after a bad online shopping experience. If you haven’t already done so, it’s high time to optimize your digital customer journey, especially in a post-Covid context where buying habits have changed for good. Before the health crisis, online shoppers focused on price and speed of delivery. Today, 61% of consumers¹ rank the quality of customer service as the most important factor in their purchasing decisions. What does this prove? That the customer experience is now a powerful sales lever. If you don’t optimize it, you run the risk of missing out on sales and just as many customers. So, what are the new codes of online customer experience? And above all, how can you integrate them into your e-commerce business? Let’s find out
Online vs. in-store customer experience: what are the differences?
Customer experience (CX) is the overall perception a buyer has of your brand throughout their interaction with your store. In a physical outlet, this experience is based on tangible elements: welcome, human contact, advice, ambience or product testing. On the web, however, it’s all done through digital interfaces and virtual interactions, which profoundly changes the game. Online, this physical contact doesn’t exist, which can make the shopping experience impersonal, and this is all the more the case on marketplaces due to the uniformity of stores. As an e-tailer, your challenge is to compensate for this lack of direct contact with a fluid, reassuring and engaging user experience. Today’s buyers expect :
- Clear information.
- Fast exchanges.
- Personalized options.
- A fluid user interface, from landing page to checkout.
Please note: each channel has its strengths and limitations. A physical store offers direct contact, while an e-commerce platform offers greater freedom and immediacy. A store is also limited by its opening hours, logistical constraints and queues, whereas an online presence guarantees 24/7 access.
Why is it essential to optimize your online customer experience?
E-commerce customer experience, or marketplace customer experience, is not just about satisfying a one-off need: it has a tangible impact on your long-term sales performance. In fact, 86% of shoppers are willing to pay more for an excellent online customer experience². What’s more, a satisfied customer is a loyal customer, and that makes a real difference to your sales performance. A study by Harvard Business Review³ proves it: a 5% increase in the loyalty rate can generate up to 95% additional profits.
When there’s no physical contact, the website or marketplace becomes the only point of interaction with the buyer. So everything must inspire confidence. This means careful visuals, authentic customer reviews, smooth navigation, clear delivery times and accessible customer service. If you can do this, here’s what you’ll achieve:
- Better conversion and fewer shopping cart abandonments.
- Improved customer loyalty and higher average shopping basket.
- Positive word-of-mouth, with more reviews, recommendations and ratings on the platform.
- Enhanced visibility, especially if you’re present on a marketplace like Rakuten, where your Merchant Quality Score influences the placement of your products on the BuyBox.
Note: customer demands have evolved. They now want responsiveness, clarity and control at every stage of the buying journey
What are the trends in online customer experience?
In e-commerce,customer experience doesn’t follow a single model. To stay competitive, you need to know your customers inside out. Remember that expectations can vary according to :
- The type of customer (persona): a young urbanite in a hurry, a housewife, a retiree or a high-tech equipment enthusiast do not have the same expectations.
- Type of product: a ready-to-wear purchase does not require the same level of reassurance as the purchase of a luxury item.
- Time of purchase: during certain periods, such as sales, customers may accept longer delivery times.
- Your brand image: the more upscale your brand is perceived to be, the more demanding the requirements.
Faced with this diversity of behaviors, you need to know your customer base inside and out, so you can continuously adjust your purchasing path. In 2025, you can rely on several innovations to upgrade your customer experience and stay competitive:
- Advanced personalization options: product, content or offer recommendations tailored to the customer’s profile and buying behavior.
- Omnichannel journey: offer a consistent experience across all channels (website, app, social networks, point of sale).
- Self-service customer service: with easy access to dynamic FAQs or help centers to resolve problems without human contact.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): intelligent search engines, 24/7 chatbots and predictive analytics to anticipate needs.
While practical, these developments reflect a strong expectation on the part of consumers: greater simplicity, more autonomy and more responsive customer service, whatever the channel used.
Fragmentation of the purchasing path
The digital customer journey is now segmented into several stages. Indeed, a buyer may discover a product via an advert on Instagram, read reviews on a forum, compare prices on a marketplace, buy on another platform… then pick up their order at a pickup point or in-store. Your role in following this path is therefore to propose a navigation that is all the more fluid and intuitive, including:
- A clear user interface with visible CTAs.
- A high-performance search engine to find the right product quickly.
- Intelligent recommendations based on visitor behavior.
- A frictionless checkout: a sales tunnel with as few steps as possible.
Mobile at the heart of the online customer experience
Today, the mobile is the main point of entry in the customer journey. In fact, 74% of e-commerce purchases worldwide are made via smartphone⁴. And this figure continues to grow, particularly among buyers aged 18-35. To remain successful, your store must therefore offer an impeccable experience on mobile with :
- A responsive site or Progressive Web App (PWA).
- Fast loading, even with 4G.
- Navigation adapted to small screens.
- A simplified purchasing tunnel, with no unnecessary distractions.
Please note: With a poorly optimized site for mobile, you’ll miss out on many sales. With a few simple steps (content optimization, right image dimensions), you can already improve your mobile customer experience.
The importance of personalization in the online customer experience
What your buyers are looking for in 2025 is a tailor-made customer experience. That’s why personalizing your buying journey is essential today. Consumers want targeted messages, relevant suggestions and personalized shopping paths. They expect an experience that recognizes their preferences and rewards their loyalty. And unsurprisingly, it all starts with the very first navigation, with:
- Recommendations based on purchase history.
- Dynamic banners based on preferences.
- Email and push communications containing the customer’s first name, favorite items and tailored reminders.
- Personalized attention for loyal customers (birthday coupons, loyalty program rewards, exclusive offers on favorite categories, etc.).

Note: you can easily implement these actions by exploiting your customer data (cookies, purchase history, browsing, abandoned baskets…). But there are limits to what you can do. Only collect useful data, systematically ask for your customers’ consent before soliciting them (GDPR requirement) and always leave the user in control of what they receive.
A well-thought-out and properly implemented strategy is capable of significantly improving customer satisfaction and generating more repeat purchases.
How does AI affect the customer experience?
In 2025, artificial intelligence will add a new dimension to theonline customer experience. Its role: to intervene at every stage of the customer journey, with, for example:
- Intelligent search engines that suggest the right items even with approximate queries.
- Predictive AI that anticipates a customer’s needs and suggests the right offers at the right time.
- Automated data cleansing and segmentation by AI directly in your CRM, for more targeted and effective campaigns.
On the customer service side, AI complements the human and takes over many tasks. An intelligent chatbot can handle simple questions 24/7, freeing up your teams for more complex cases. In practice, an AI-assisted agent receives a summary of the customer file before even taking over, saving precious time

The benefits for your store are many: constant availability, faster service and large-scale customization. But be aware of AI’s limits:
- Risk of dehumanization if AI completely replaces human contact.
- Importance of transparency: always inform your customers that they are interacting with a bot.
- Management of sensitive data: the data collected and used by your AI assistants must remain GDPR-compliant.
Rakuten France’s conviction is that AI is indeed a strategic asset, but this tool must always remain at the service of humans, and work in tandem with real e-commerce experts.
As you can see, today, the online customer experience is a strategic lever that constitutes much more than a simple marketing asset. Whether you’re a seller on the Rakuten marketplace or an independent e-tailer, you have the means to act on every step of the journey to transform the purchase into a relationship. Make the most of it!
Sources:
¹Qualtrics, Top consumer experience trends for 2024
²Alma, Expérience client e-commerce
³Harvard Business Review, E-loyalty: your secret weapon on the web
⁴ Fevad, Les chiffres sur le mobile commerce
Rakuten France launches "Grand déballage", an immersive videocast that takes a different approach to e-commerce
Paris, April 10 - Why do we buy what we buy? How do our objects tell us about our relationship with consumption and society? Rakuten France is launching "Grand Déballage", an original videocast in which experts and researchers analyze major e-commerce trends through theunboxing of emblematic objects. The first episode on the home and its role in our lives is available now, and features two guests: anthropologist Dominique Desjeux and home psychology consultant Audrey Cassilda.

Unboxing: when objects tell the e-commerce story
"Grand Déballage" is based on a universal e-commerce ritual:unboxing. The moment when a parcel is opened, that box synonymous with excitement and discovery, is here hijacked to become a pretext for analysis and exchange. Behind each carefully chosen object lies a story, a social phenomenon, a consumer trend.
The idea? Each new episode tackles a major e-commerce trend: purchasing power, inclusive digitalization, the circular economy, the impact of technology, brand perception... To explore it, renowned guests, experts in various disciplines (sociology, anthropology, design, economics, etc.), lend themselves to the game: guessing and analyzing live a selection of objects that illustrate and fuel the discussion. A folding smartphone, a vintage handbag or a 3D printer... all bear witness to the evolution of commerce and our consumption patterns.
At the helm, Romain Roy, Sales Director at Rakuten France, moderates the exchanges and questions points of view, while sharing his expert insight into the evolutions and consumer trends observed by Rakuten France. Designed as a lively, interactive immersion, the videocast leaves room for anecdotes, surprises and on-the-spot reactions from the guests.
With "Grand Déballage", Rakuten France offers a different way of deciphering e-commerce. The aim is to make the major transformations in commerce and consumption accessible, by anchoring them in concrete objects that speak to everyone.
Episode 1: The home, a reflection of ourselves?
As the first living space, a refuge, a place of work or expression, the home is a strong marker of our relationship with consumption and identity. How has it evolved over the centuries? How has the home become a hybrid space, somewhere between comfort and work? How do our purchases shape our daily lives?

In this first episode, Dominique Desjeux, an anthropologist specializing in lifestyles and habitat, and Audrey Cassilda, a consultant in habitat psychology and founder of the École de la Déco Consciente®, combine their views to explore the central place of the home in our lives. While Dominique Desjeux provides an anthropological reading of the evolution of the home, Audrey Cassilda discusses the furnishing trends observed among her customers, and the symbolic role of objects in the construction of an interior in one's own image.
Together, they discuss :
- The history of living spaces and their evolution, from prehistoric shelters to ultra-connected interiors;
- The role of objects in the construction of our identity: memories, decoration, technological innovations;
- Major e-commerce trends related to the home: furnishings, connected objects, teleworking and sustainability.
Episode 1 is available today, Thursday April 10, on platforms including Youtube, Spotify, Deezer and Apple Podcasts.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2o_UuOxH8TKSRtOpVF9QAmR18FC0hJ99&si=VisEhEktsU_sV7_G
Energy label: your new asset for selling more on marketplaces
Have you prepared your energy labels for June 20, 2025? From this date, a new European regulation will make it compulsory for smartphones and tablets to display energy labels, espacially on marketplaces. But beyond the legal obligation, this information is also a key purchasing driver for consumers, who are increasingly sensitive to their environmental impact and to controlling their energy consumption.
In this article, we will examine :
- What is the Energy Label?
- Why it’s becoming essential to your business
- How to make the most of it and optimize your product sheets?
- How to attract eco-responsible customers
What is the energy label and how does it work?
The energy label is provides information to consumers about a product’s energy performance on a scale generally ranging from A (very energy-efficient) to G (energy-intensive). The products concerned by this new obligation are smartphones, tablets and, in some cases, other electronic equipment, depending on the evolution of European regulations.
The label also considers several product attributes. For example, an A-rated smartphone will have better autonomy and lower consumption than an E-rated smartphone. Similarly, a B-rated tablet will be more shock-resistant and easier to repair than an F-rated model.
What’s more, each label displays a number of criteria that go beyond energy consumption:
- Battery life.
- Drop resistance.
- Ease of repair.
- Service life.
- Protection against water and dust.

Why is the energy label essential on marketplaces?
According to a recent survey, 70% of French online shoppers prefer environmentally friendly products ². What’s more, the steady rise in electricity prices (50% on average in Europe over the last 5 years) is also increasing the attention paid to the energy consumption of appliances. Thanks to the energy label, consumers can make better choices, enabling them to:
- Save money;
- Reduce their environmental impact;
- Encourage the purchase of repairable and more durable products.
Good to know: professionals who fail to display this information by June 20, 2025, run the risk of sanctions, as compliance with the new standards will be monitored by marketplaces and the authorities. What’s more, over and above the obligation, the energy label is also a marketing asset to be exploited: in fact, a brand that promotes transparency and eco-responsibility increases customer loyalty.
Do you see this development as a challenge? Rakuten is committed to working alongside e-tailers to help you make this transition with complete peace of mind. In fact, our platform is actively working for more sustainable and responsible e-commerce. Here are just a few of the many advantages that Rakuten offers to support your sustainable development:
- A team dedicated to verifying the conformity of products on the marketplace.
- The signature of a commitment charter to reduce the environmental impact of e-commerce ³.
- Active promotion of second-hand goods, with over 50 million second-hand items available.
How can you highlight the energy label of your products on your marketplace?
To grow your business in the world of e-commerce, you need to succeed in capturing the attention and inspiring the confidence of buyers. To do this, you need to optimize your product sheets and take care with the presentation of the energy label. Here are a few practical tips to help you do just that:
- Include the energy label in the photo gallery of your product sheets.
- Detail key information in the description:
- Energy class (e.g. B)
- Battery life (e.g. 30 hours in standard use)
- Shock resistance (e.g. certified for 50 drops)
- Repairability (e.g. easy-to-replace battery)
- Protection against dust and water (e.g. IP68)
Check your compliance by ensuring that all data corresponds to the criteria required by the new regulations.
There’s no doubt about it: with a well-presented product and clear, accurate information, you’ll increase buyer confidence and improve your conversion rate.
How can you attract more eco-responsible customers to your online store?
Given the pressure of competition, it’s no longer enough to have a good product to attract an increasingly committed clientele. What you need to do is take a stand and make your values clear. If that’s what you’re aiming for, here are a few effective avenues to explore alongside the energy label:
- Highlight your commitment to the environment, for example, by mentioning your initiatives to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Offer sustainable products by favoring repairable, reconditioned or recycled materials.
- Rely on true transparency by clearly indicating warranty periods, repairability and your quality commitments.
- Use engaging marketing messages with taglines like :
- “Do your bit for the planet with this energy-efficient product.”
- “Opt for a sustainable and responsible appliance.”
Ultimately, displaying a compliant energy label is also an excellent way of reassuring and convincing environmentally conscious buyers. Don’t hesitate any longer, and get a head start on the market!



























