🇮🇳 Client Onboarding
Ecommerce Website Onboarding
What to expect when we build your online store, step by step. Everything you'll need to prepare, in the order you'll need it.
1. Discovery & scope #
We start by understanding your business so we recommend the right approach - not the most expensive one.
- Your business goals and what success looks like (sales, leads, brand)
- Roughly how many products you'll sell (10, 100, 10,000?)
- Target customers and regions (India-only, or India + export)
- Rough timeline and budget band so we can scope realistically
- Any existing store, domain, or brand assets you already have
2. Choose your platform #
The foundation. Each option is a valid choice - the right one depends on your catalogue, budget and how custom your store needs to be.
Shopify
Fastest to launchHosted, subscription-based store. Huge app ecosystem, reliable checkout, minimal maintenance. Best when you want to sell quickly and care less about deep custom logic. Monthly fee + transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
WooCommerce
Most flexible on WordPressA plugin on top of WordPress. Cheap hosting, thousands of plugins, full ownership of data. Great if you already use WordPress or want content + commerce together. You (or we) manage hosting, updates and security.
Custom build
Maximum controlA bespoke storefront - typically Next.js/React on Vercel with a headless commerce backend (Medusa, Saleor) or a custom API. Best for unique flows, large catalogues, or when the store is core to your business. Highest upfront cost, best long-term flexibility and performance.
ℹ Note - We build on all three. For custom stores our default stack is Next.js + Vercel with Supabase/PostgreSQL for data, and a headless CMS (Sanity or Strapi) when you need to edit content yourself. We'll recommend the right fit for your catalogue size, budget and roadmap - you don't need to decide this alone.
3. Accounts & credentials to prepare #
A few accounts must be in your name (the business owner's), so you always retain ownership. We'll guide you through each.
Domain registrar
Where your domain (yourbrand.in / .com) is registered - e.g. GoDaddy, BigRock, Namecheap. We'll need access to point DNS.
Business email
Google Workspace or Zoho Mail on your domain (e.g. hello@yourbrand.in). Zoho has a free tier popular in India.
Hosting (if not us/Shopify)
For WooCommerce/custom we usually host on Vercel or a managed host. If you have existing hosting, share access.
GitHub (custom builds)
For custom stores, code lives in a GitHub repo that deploys to Vercel. We can host it under Uxory or your own org.
4. Branding, content & imagery #
Your store only looks as good as the assets behind it. Here's what we'll need from you (or can produce for you through our partner agencies):
- Logo - send us your existing logo files (SVG/PNG preferred). No logo yet? Let us know and our design team will create one.
- Brand colours & fonts - share your palette and fonts, or ask us to define a brand system.
- Product photography - decide between: (a) you supply images, (b) licensed stock imagery, or (c) a professional photo/video shoot with our partner agencies. Good product photos are the single biggest driver of conversion.
- Product descriptions & copy - you provide raw details; we can polish or write the copy.
5. Login, accounts & OTP verification #
How customers sign in and how you verify phone numbers. India has specific regulatory steps for SMS.
Email / password
Simplest. Works everywhere, no extra accounts needed.
Google / Apple sign-in
One-tap social login. Apple is required if you also ship an iOS app.
Phone SMS OTP
Very common in India. Requires DLT registration + an SMS provider (see below).
WhatsApp verification
Popular and high-trust in India. Uses the WhatsApp Business API via Meta (needs business verification).
⚠ Important - India-specific - SMS OTP requires DLT registration. By TRAI rules, every business sending SMS must register as a Principal Entity on a DLT platform (Jio, Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, etc.), register your Sender ID (Header), and pre-register message templates. This involves KYC and can take several days to a couple of weeks - start early. WhatsApp Business API also requires Meta business verification.
MSG91
India-focused SMS/OTP provider, generally cheaper for Indian traffic and helps with DLT template registration.
Twilio
Global provider with excellent docs; slightly pricier for Indian SMS but great if you also target other countries.
6. Payments #
You'll create the payment account (it holds your money and KYC); we integrate it. Everything here supports UPI, cards and netbanking.
Razorpay
The most common choice in India. Supports UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets, EMI. Needs business KYC: PAN, bank account, and GST if registered.
Cashfree / PhonePe / Paytm
Strong alternatives, competitive pricing, also UPI-first.
Stripe (India)
Powerful but availability is limited/invite-based in India - best if you also sell internationally.
ℹ Note - UPI comes built-in with Razorpay/PhonePe/Paytm - no separate integration needed. Note settlement cycles (T+2 is typical) and that accepting international cards may need extra approval. You create the gateway account and complete KYC; then share API keys with us.
7. Shipping & operations #
How orders reach customers. We integrate your chosen logistics provider so labels, tracking and (optionally) COD are automated.
Shiprocket
Popular India aggregator - multiple couriers, one dashboard, COD support, easy returns.
Delhivery / Blue Dart / DTDC
Direct courier integrations if you prefer a single carrier or have volume rates.
ℹ Note - Decide upfront whether you'll offer Cash on Delivery (COD) - it's expected by many Indian shoppers but adds RTO (return-to-origin) risk. We'll set COD rules accordingly.
8. Legal & compliance pages #
Required before launch. We build the pages; you (with your CA/lawyer) confirm the specifics for your business.
- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Return / Refund / Cancellation policy
- Shipping policy
⚠ Important - India specifics: the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 require a named Grievance Officer and country-of-origin on products. GST-compliant tax invoices are needed if you're GST-registered. The DPDP Act (data protection) sets expectations for handling customer data. We'll wire these in - please provide your GSTIN and grievance contact.
9. Marketing & analytics setup #
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4) - traffic and conversion tracking
- Google Search Console - SEO health and indexing
- Meta Pixel - Facebook/Instagram ad tracking & retargeting
- Google Merchant Center - free & paid product listings on Google
- Email marketing (Mailchimp / Klaviyo) - newsletters, abandoned-cart flows
- WhatsApp Business - order updates and support (widely expected in India)
10. Testing, launch & handover #
Before go-live we run a structured round of testing and feedback. This is where the Uxory client portal makes life easy - you point at any page, mark the exact section, and request changes with screenshots. No messy email threads.
- User acceptance testing (you try real orders end-to-end)
- Structured feedback rounds via the Uxory client portal
- Go-live checklist: payments live, SSL, redirects, analytics firing
- Credentials handover - every account stays in your name
- Training session + a support/maintenance plan
11. What we need from you, when #
A quick map so nothing blocks the build. Typical durations - yours may vary with scope.
| Phase | You provide | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Goals, catalogue size, references | 2–4 days |
| Platform & design | Logo, brand, product photos/copy | 1–2 weeks |
| Accounts | Domain, email, payment KYC, DLT (start early!) | Parallel - start day 1 |
| Build | Timely feedback via the portal | 3–8 weeks (scope-based) |
| Launch | Final approval, go-live sign-off | 2–5 days |
ℹ Note - The two things that most often delay Indian ecommerce launches are DLT registration (for SMS OTP) and payment-gateway KYC - both are on your side and both take time. Start them on day one and the rest of the build won't wait on them.
Ready to start?
Book a call and we'll walk you through this for your specific store - no obligation.
Talk to Uxory