An e-commerce platform plays a vital role in the success of your online business. Thus it is necessary to choose the right e-commerce platform for your business. It should provide out-of-the-box functionalities including inventory and order management, payment processing, and tracking sales and revenue.
What is an e-commerce platform?
An e-commerce platform is a software application that enables businesses to create and run online stores. It is a space where you can sell online and the consumers can discover products, shop around using a cart, and then check out. An eCommerce platform combines a shopfront design, online payment processing, inventory management, catalog products, customer orders, marketing, product information, sales, and operations management into a single platform.
5 Factors to Consider When Choosing an E-commerce Platform
- Business Needs: Consider the type of business you are planning to choose. If you already have a business, analyze whether the platform has capabilities to meet your business needs and requirements. It is necessary to consider the target audience, business industry, and products and services you deal with.
- Themes: Most e-commerce platforms provide a selection of themes. If you want your online business to stand out from your competitors, you must consider choosing a premium theme rather than a free theme. Premium themes will give consumers the best purchasing experience.
- Features: Most e-commerce platforms come with loads of features and are easier to use. They integrate marketing tools like newsletters, abandoned cart emails, reward programs, and daily discounts with other basic e-commerce functionalities.
- Performance: When looking for the best e-commerce platform, you need to consider reliability, scalability, and capabilities of handling high-traffic volumes. Your business site should load quickly and offer an easy checkout for the buyers
- Platform Cost: Different platforms provide different features for various prices. It is necessary to consider the qualities you require before choosing a platform for your business. Consider the features and the cost of the platform before making a final decision.
Top E-commerce Platforms to Launch Your Business Online
Magento
For mid-level and large-scale enterprises, Magento is a reliable platform that offers a great level of customization. Adobe Commerce (the Enterprise, premium version) and Magento (an open-source eCommerce platform) are the two well-liked plans available for the eCommerce platform. Digital stores that are extremely scalable and equipped with sophisticated dashboards for analytics and report generation can consider Magento for an ecommerce platform.
Pros :
- Free and paid plans
- E-commerce features
- High flexibility
- Limitless customization
- A large community of users and contributors
- Mobile-friendliness
- A large number of extensions
Cons :
- High cost of development
- Not suitable for small businesses
- High cost for ongoing maintenance
- Time-consuming projects
Shopify
Shopify is a great choice if you’re looking for an eCommerce platform that is both user-friendly and extensive. This platform is well known for providing an intuitive user interface along with end-to-end eCommerce site functionality. It enables you to begin online sales more rapidly than other alternatives. It is compatible with mid-sized organizations and is regarded by the majority of agencies as the best eCommerce platform for small businesses.
Pros :
- User-friendly interface
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Drag and drop functionality
- Enhanced payment processing
- Enhanced security protocols
- Customizable templates and themes
- Manage high levels of traffic
Cons :
- Difficult customization
- Limited content marketing support
- Lower-tier plans come with high transaction fees
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is one of the most well-known eCommerce solutions. Any company that is just getting started in the eCommerce space can rely on it. They are affordable to create useful digital stores. It is a convenient platform with a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable options.
Pros:
- Easily integrates with WordPress website
- Highly flexible
- Simple to use
- Promote and market all products
- Completely free to use
- SEO- friendly
Cons:
- Too many plugins slow down the page
- Need to be a WordPress user
- Poor updating policies
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is perfect for customizing any enterprise-grade eCommerce store because of its high scalability and seamless marketing tool integration. This eCommerce platform offers a high degree of personalization and an intuitive user interface. It assists you in creating and effectively running mobile-friendly stores.
Pros :
- Self-hosted platform
- Drag and drop editor
- No transaction fees on any pricing plan
- Wide range of built-in features
- Security features
Cons :
- Not easy to set up
- Limited sales per plan
- Free themes are similar to each other