Commercial relationships became a constituent part of our development, having laid the foundation of modern society. In our day and age, the commercial sphere has moved into the digital dimension, starting another revolutionary trend – eCommerce, which gives a chance for every small business to reach exposure to a global audience.
One of the first decisions for every business to make is choosing an eCommerce solution, as it is the platform that will provide its online presence and appearance. There are numerous eCommerce solutions, each presenting a distinctive ecosystem dedicated to a specific type of business, offering various sets of tools and business management control.
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How to Choose the eCommerce Solution?
One of the trickiest things when implementing eCommerce software solutions is their visual simplicity based on complex technicalities, which will require decent skills and extensive knowledge. The selection of a proper platform will make the basis of your success. Among the most essential features to consider are:
- Platform security
- Themes and user experiences
- Product management system
- Integration with ERPs
- Speed of performance
- Multiple payment options
- Relevance to business, etc.
There are many more characteristics to discover, yet, they are barely comprehensible for people who are not into programming. Therefore, it is highly recommended to contact certified professionals, like Emerline, who can share their expertise about the choice. One of the facts about Emerline that we appreciated most is their ability to customize conventional platforms according to a client’s unique vision. The proficiency of the developer is the future success of the business.
Top eCommerce Solutions
1. Shopify
Shopify is a well-known platform, even for those not in business. It is a cloud-based solution that can be used for practically every type of business. It supports the management of various sales channels, social media, and retail outlets. Shopify holds 11% of the market share and is used by over a million users worldwide.
One of the significant benefits of Shopify implementation is full access to the HTML and CSS files, which gives you control over how your store looks if one of the thousands of themes doesn’t match your expectations.
Shopify, like other e-commerce platforms, offers various pricing options. Shopify Basic costs $39 per month, while Advanced Shopify costs $399 per month.
Brands: Heinz, Allbirds, Penguin Books, GymShark, etc.
2. Big Commerce
Big Commerce is popular in the fashion, health, food, and beauty industries. This platform features WordPress integration, verification customization, integrations of deals, discounts, e-wallets, etc. It also has an SEO section to help promote the shop and improve its ranking in the search list. BigCommerce offers multilingual interfaces, which makes it more adjustable globally.
The pricing standard starts from $29 a month, the Plus plan costs $79 every month, and the Pro plan goes for $299 per month. Every small business can start with the basic set of tools that help to manage all the basic operations, yet, more sophisticated functions, like basket recovery tool or client segmentation, will require a more extended packet of tools, which starts from a ‘plus’ plan.
Brands: Sony, Ubisoft Store, Bulk Apothecary, Skullcandy, etc.
3. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is designed for merchants using WordPress, regardless of size; it is an open-source eCommerce plugin. Its primary feature is its simplicity of installation and customization according to the client’s needs.
WooCommerce has a lot of integrations and add-ons, which help to optimize business performance and improve the client’s experience.
Most third-party service providers choose WooCommerce, as it is easy to integrate with their stores.
The pricing policies have no monthly payments. The store needs to pay 2.9% + $0.30 for each transaction made with US credit and debit cards; the cards issued outside the USA have an additional fee of $1.
4. Magento
Magento is a highly-functional eCommerce platform that is the choice for those planning long-term development and growth. Magento has a complex structure that helps design the best eCommerce store and provides its seamless functioning. Its implementation will require a whole team of developers and testers and, thus, an investment of time and knowledge. However, the result is worth the effort, so it is chosen by megacorporations like Nike, Jaguar, AsusTek, etc.
Magento Open Source is free to download. However, web development, hosting, integrations, and maintenance will require additional costs.
5. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
A Salesforce commerce is an easy-to-scale cloud solution for B2C and B2B operations. It is a multi-tenant platform that creates a unified experience for every client across multiple touchpoints. Salesforce is the one to choose when a business must buy significant amounts of products or make wholesale purchases. Salesforce enables transparent pricing, AI-powered orders, product recommendations, intelligent search, etc. Brands like Adidas, Puma, and Lacoste use it.
The choice of the eCommerce platform is the foundation of the business performance. Aiming to create the best shopping experience for the clients, choosing the platform that will meet your objectives and requirements is essential. Considering the importance of choice, contact the professionals and plan the success of your venture together.
