The rise of digital technologies has opened numerous career opportunities in the field of e-commerce in the hospitality industry. It’s not just youngsters but also senior and mid-level management who are turning to e-commerce for their career growth. The main reason for its appeal is that, besides being on track with the digital revolution, e-commerce in the hospitality industry in India offers hefty salary packages. And this provides a viable stepping stone for those looking for a full-fledged career in the digital space.
One of the most lucrative roles in the space is that of an E-Commerce Director. E-Commerce Directors or managers are people who oversee the marketing policies, objectives, and strategies of the e-commerce department in an organization. This is typically a senior-level position that necessitates the need for excellent communication skills and aptitude.
Roles and responsibilities
The E-Commerce Director is the primary point of contact for partners, investors, and other stakeholders in the e-commerce arm of the organization. He/she is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and managing all e-commerce initiatives within the organization. Their roles include,
- Collaborating with cross-functional units to manage the e-commerce business of the organization including online marketing, website development, analytics, statistics, content management, etc.
- Collaborating with other business units to implement business goals that would benefit the e-commerce strategy.
- Managing the e-commerce website(s) and ensuring navigation, content, promotional campaigns, etc. are relevant and user-friendly.
- Developing content of websites across the e-commerce business unit to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and up-to-date information of the brand/organization.
- Building an effective team to execute solutions developed for the growth of the organization’s e-commerce wing.
- Acting as a consultant on critical business strategies that will affect sales and profits of the organization online.
- Identifying new avenues for business growth.
Skills required
As you can see, the Director of E-Commerce has a crucial role to play in the growth of the organization’s visibility and relevance online. Hence, they should be equipped with exceptional skills and abilities to handle their tasks effectively. E-Commerce Directors are expected to,
- Be knowledgeable on the latest tools and technologies in the e-commerce space
- Possess strong business acumen to be able to strategize and plan e-commerce initiatives
- Have critical decision-making skills
- Possess excellent communication skills to deal with vendors, partners, and team members
- Be a natural leader and assume responsibilities with conviction and confidence
- Have a proven track record of handling sizable B2B/B2C e-commerce projects
- Be proficient in analytics, supply chain, SEO, statistics, etc. to interpret business data and draw conclusions accurately
These aren’t the only skills that an E-Commerce Director should possess, but they are the most imperative that lay the foundation for becoming successful in the field.
Educational qualifications
An E-Commerce Director should be a highly-qualified individual with copious experience in the sector. The minimum qualification expected is a Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, technical, or a related field. The position opens at a mid-management level. Hence, it is necessary to have ample experience in e-commerce. One of the best ways to start off in the field is a Master’s degree such as an MBA . It not only gives you the requisite training for the job but also equips you with practical skills necessary to expand your horizons sufficiently.
Salary
A study by the Times of India reports that mid-level executives at e-commerce companies such as Flipkart and Snapdeal are earning as much as senior executives at IT bigwigs like Infosys and TCS. The salary of an E-Commerce Director depends upon the type of role and the responsibilities involved. Operations managers in e-commerce organizations can earn, on an average, about INR 9,00,000. This is for those who have some mid-level experience. The more experience they have, the better their salary package will be. Directors, therefore, can expect to earn significantly much more than this.
It is important to note that an E-Commerce Director is not an entry-level position and, thus, requires a substantial amount of hard work, skill, and smarts to reach the milestone.
