What it takes to create a one-stop-shop to support online service businesses

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

When you think of , the descriptor that probably comes to mind is "one-stop shop". Customers can get just about anything they need on the platform as per the vision. The idea of ​​meeting most, if not all, of a consumer's needs, however, is not exclusive to the industry. As vendors follow online retailers over the next decade, software developers can create analogue digital marketplaces that meet the day-to-day operational needs of service organizations.

Businesses succeed when they design their software to work for business, rather than for business to work in the software. Each component should be designed to solve the real problems faced by its users, such as complicated billing processes, contactless check-ins and reservations. Most importantly, companies should listen to their customers and let them determine what the product should look like.

Related: How to Maintain a Relationship with Your Customers by Learning What They Need

Experiencing customer pain points

When developing the software behind your platform, talk to people in the industry about what functions it should have. These interactions and efforts will show you what your potential customers want and need.

Of course, there are limits to how you can help your customers. You can't provide their rent or pay for their electricity, but you can offer whatever they need to help them do it on their own. If you never give up on this goal and keep soliciting feedback to add additional features to your software in response to changing market demands and technologies, your customers will stick with you for the long haul.

Related: 3 Ways to Connect with Your Customers and Improve Their Experience

Small inconveniences can mean big problems for everyone

No matter what service a client provides, it is almost inevitable that they will encounter small inconveniences in their work that create friction and slowdowns. Many customers learn to put up with these problems because they don't have good solutions to eliminate them. But that often means they end up working harder and spending more than necessary, and ultimately what initially seemed like a minor issue can create massive systemic consequences or additional roadblocks.

This should be in mind when building your rig. Help your customers stop putting up with difficulties and give them a way to iron out all the annoying little issues they face. But we understand that pain points have their own unique imprint. What one has to deal with may not be at all what another business is going through. Spend time with lots of customers trying to understand not only the broad support your technologies need to offer, but also the ways you can try to cater to individual installations through customization and a la carte packages.

When developing your own one-stop-shop, the idea that every industry has its own issues and every business has its own distinct needs should stay at the forefront. Ask yourself, "What do my customers run into on a regular basis?" and "What is their day like in general?" You can also look at it in terms of "What tasks can we take off the customer's plate with technology to help them realize their potential?" Through these direct interactions, you will understand how to bring the different functions together. Nothing replaces this type of direct search.

Convenient customer service is at the heart of your best product

Don't be afraid to take a very practical approach. If you need to, act as your own customer service department, personally handling user complaints. This work can help you become even more personally engaged in problem solving. Refuse to walk away from the serious stuff, because you can't serve your customers if you don't really know how they feel on a daily basis.

When considering new options and designs, always look through the eyes of the customer and analyze how to make a good solution a reality. The more you...