When you activate Lightspeed eCom, your catalog automatically syncs between POS and eCom, meaning that all your products are ready for showcasing and selling on your site.
However, moving online requires a few changes to your catalog. You need to provide detailed descriptions and hiqh-quality images for products to enhance customers’ trust and the likelihood of purchase. You can also create online-specific product categories to make it easier for customers to navigate your online store.
To speed up the process, you can utilize eCom user-friendly settings and AI tools to minimize the effort and time needed to adjust your catalog for online presentation.
Create detailed descriptions for products in eCom
Unlike in a physical store, customers cannot try on or feel products online, so they rely heavily on the information you provide. A comprehensive description helps people understand your product’s features and benefits, which increases the likelihood of a purchase. It also enhances your SEO, making it easier for potential customers to find your products while searching online.
The best practice for online stores is writing a detailed description for each product. Using descriptions provided by suppliers is an option too, but keep in mind that it may not match your brand voice and your competitors might use the same copy without any changes.
How to write product descriptions that sell (blog article) →
To speed up creating unique product descriptions, use AI tools. You can either ask an AI-tool to adjust a ready-made copy, or create a description from scratch based on a few keywords such as product name, features, or specifications.
An AI-generated copy is ready in a few seconds, and all you have to do is review it, make edits and update in your POS back office. Once you save changes, the description is updated in your online catalog.
Add high-quality images for products in eCom
High-quality photos are essential when presenting products online since they provide customers with a realistic view of the product, showcasing its features, colors, and textures. A clear understanding of an item helps people to decide on purchase and reduces the chances of returns due to unmet expectations.
Photos of actual products are preferred over stock images since they provide a more accurate representation and build customer trust. To take real photos, you could hire a professional photographer, or entrust this work to the staff.
Tips for taking product photos on your phone (blog post) →
Creating professional looking images is easy with eCom AI tools.
First, you can use the image enhancer that is located on the product editing page in your POS. To use it, simply click the Enhance image when uploading photos.
Second, you can use the eCom mobile app for iOS that has the AI photo enhancing tool that makes regular photos look professional.
To create professional images for your online store with the eCom mobile app for iOS:
- Install the Lightspeed eCom mobile app for iOS on your iPhone or iPad.
- Open the app, tap Products at the bottom and choose a product.
- From the product details screen, tap Add Images at the top of the screen.
- Either upload the photo from your device or take a new one.
- Tap Enhance with AI → Get started.
- Improve the photo by removing background, adjusting shadows or relighting.
- Once you’re satisfied with the result, tap Save.
To better showcase your products, you can add videos to a gallery.
Organizing products in categories for eCom
Categories in your POS are visible to staff only, so you can organize products for internal tasks. In online retail, however, categories help customers navigate your store. Because of this, you may want different category structures in your POS and online store. For example, a women’s fashion boutique might use categories like Dresses, Tops, Accessories, and Denim & Jeans online.
In eCom, you can create online-specific categories and subcategories from your eCom admin, allowing you to organize products into online-specific categories while keeping your POS categories unchanged. Once you create an online-specific category, you can assign products to it.
Learn how to create categories in your online store and assign relevant products to them →