E98: Talking Startup to Scale & Building a SaaS eCommerce Platform from Scratch w/ Ryan Murtagh, Neto
INSIGHTS FROM THE TRENCHES: A CHAT WITH DIGITAL AND ECOMMERCE VETERANS JASON GREENWOOD AND RYAN MURTAGH
In this latest episode Jason Greenwood delves into the world of digital and eCommerce with Ryan Murtagh, founder and CEO of Neto, now part of Maropost. Their conversation sheds light on the evolution of eCommerce platforms, the importance of back-office operations and the future of omnichannel commerce.
THE GENESES OF A COMMERCE PIONEER
Ryan Murtagh started his journey in the world of online retail as a teenager and hasn't looked back since. His early venture, bigshop.com, became the stepping stone to founding Neto, an omnichannel eCommerce platform that has significantly influenced retail in Australia and New Zealand. Ryan vividly shares his experiences of building and scaling Neto, from acquiring the bigshop.com domain to facing the challenges of existing software solutions that hindered business growth.
DEEP DIVE INTO DIGITAL COMMERCE EVOLUTION
Both Ryan and Jason have been in the industry long enough to witness and contribute to the significant shifts in digital commerce. Their discussion covers the early days of handling backend operations that were cumbersome due to the limitations of the technology available during that era. They also touch on the evolutionary milestones of eCommerce and omnichannel setups, highlighting the transformation from simple online selling to sophisticated, multi-channel and multi-tenant SaaS platforms.
SPECIALIZING IN THE BACKEND: A STRATEGIC FOCUS
One of Neto's critical differentiation points, as Ryan points out, is its strong focus on optimizing back-office operations rather than just enhancing the storefront. This approach has set Neto apart from other commerce platforms like Shopify or Magento, whose primary focus tends to be on front-end user experience. Ryan emphasizes the importance of seamless integration between sales channels and backend operations, which remains a cornerstone of Neto's value proposition to its users.
TRANSITIONING TO MAROPOST: A NEW CHAPTER
The conversation also covers Ryan's decision to sell Neto to Maropost, a strategic move aimed at integrating Neto into Maropost's broader omnichannel stack. This acquisition marks a significant shift in the landscape of eCommerce solutions, promising to bring advanced capabilities to Maropost's already robust marketing automation suite. For Ryan, ensuring that the acquisition benefitted both Neto's staff and customers was paramount, and he discusses the nuances of navigating such transitions.
LOOKING AHEAD: THE FUTURE OF eCommerce PLATFORMS
Reflecting on the broader industry trends, Ryan and Jason discuss the potential future directions of eCommerce platforms. They delve into the need for platforms that can offer more than just transactional capabilities, highlighting the growing importance of integrated solutions that manage everything from inventory to customer relationships across multiple channels. Ryan shares his insights on where he sees opportunities for innovation, particularly in back-office automation and supply chain enhancements.
CONCLUSION
This episode of At the Coalface with Jason Greenwood and Ryan Murtagh offers invaluable insights into the past, present, and future of eCommerce and digital platforms. As the industry continues to evolve, the experiences and perspectives shared by these veterans underline the importance of adaptability, customer-centricity, and strategic foresight in navigating the digital commerce landscape. For anyone involved in eCommerce, whether directly or indirectly, this discussion serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the industry and the continuous opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Make sure to tune into THE ECOMMERCE EDGE Podcast for more deep dives into the digital and eCommerce world, featuring insights from industry leaders and pioneers.