Top 10 eCommerce Solutions

E-commerce has changed the way people sell and buy on the web over the past few decades. Simply put, for busy people who are focused on convenience but still want as many options as possible, shopping on the Internet has become the answer. Instead of driving to the store and looking at a limited selection, shoppers now turn to the web, where there are many more choices and flexible purchasing.

The popularity of shopping online has given rise to many trends, including stores that only exist in the web format, without a physical location. Digital media, including movies and music, allow vendors to deliver content instantly to consumers, without the physical product waste.

With all this attention on e-commerce, there’s been an explosion in the growth of e-commerce companies. While in a similar industry, there are differences between them, so it’s necessary to discover which e-commerce site will allow your web shop to grow and thrive as you begin or continue selling online.

The top tier e-commerce website builders evaluate all of the factors in the e-commerce industry when working on your website. For example, some programs can allow for the sale of downloadable and physical products, as many businesses now offer both to consumers.

Because the global economy is unstable, web businesses are evolving to meet the needs of more budget-conscious consumers, and the best e-commerce site builders are doing the same in response to this trend. The better e-commerce site builders will offer platform choices that reflect the cost-cutting measures online shops use to drive traffic, such as flat-rate shipping, programs rewarding loyalty, deeper discounts and other promotions.

One final, yet incredibly important, issue an e-commerce site builder should address is the potential for scams and fraud in online dealings. Solid website builders will work to stay ahead of the curve by offering payment security and top tier website protection to protect you and your customers.

A program for e-commerce website building allows you to build, design, custom tailor and run your web store. A fully functional e-commerce platform and the top e-commerce sites will have the features you need to guide you throughout the site-building and launching process, including design, hosting, payment and pricing options, and marketing reports and tools.

The first thing you need to consider when looking at e-commerce options is how much you’re planning to sell. With heavy traffic, for instance, you need a solution with a lot of storage space online, bandwidth and inventory capabilities. Having your site go down during a big sale or inventory launch, for example, could cost you customers and harm your reputation, so make sure you have the capability to handle your estimated volume. All the managed eCommerce platforms featured in our Top 10 (in particular Shopify, BigCommerce and Volusion) offer highly scalable and highly available hosting, which is a must and very hard to achieve should you try to host your online store yourself.

After you’ve decided on those features, look at the customization level you need. Some e-commerce site builders have ready-to-use templates with sleek designs, while others offer HTML for experienced designers. Go with whatever type of approach to customization will suit both your needs and your preferences.

Once you’ve chosen your tech specs and customization level, start deciding what else you need and make sure the builders you’re considering can handle it. Two must-have features for any type of e-commerce store, for example, are sales reports and payment security. You’ll also need to offer enough shipping and payment choices for your customers, so look at what the site builder has in those two departments before making your final decision.

Lastly, check out the e-commerce builder’s extra features, what’s included in the base price and what you may have to pay extra for. Extra tools include the capability to create and run a loyalty program, the ability to make and apply discounts, and add-ons such as gift-wrapping options.

Remember that your e-commerce program should be easy for you to use with good customer support. A solid e-commerce builder program will be simple but effective. You simply don’t want to waste time you should be spending on your business trying to decipher your site program.

You have to keep in mind the following three following fundamental aspects when selecting the right eCommerce solution and working toward your store launch:

Bandwidth and Storage

Some site builders have sales caps, so look for one that has the bandwidth and inventory space you need for your business. The best option for you will not place limitations on your online shop.

High Security

Your customers and your business need security protocols in place to ensure safe transactions. Go with a program that has Secure Socket Layer encryption and fraud protection. Be aware that SSL technology is a must-have, as it makes secure online payments possible. Theft and fraud in your online store harms your bottom line, your customers and your professional reputation.

User Interface

An interface that’s easy to use is a must for any e-commerce solution. Tools should work as you expect, be simple to use and take time off your building schedule rather than add to it. The best site builders will make it simple for you to create your web store, and remember that an in-depth FAQ and solid customer support can make a huge difference to your experience.

Don’t forget to consider your customer needs while thinking about your own. Think about shopping in your own online store, and what you’d like to see. Sort options, filters and menus with a good design will help you find a product and buy it faster. Consider your website’s appearance and what it looks like to your guests at each step of the searching and buying processes. Some site builders have well-designed templates that both improve your customers’ experience and provide a pleasant visual.

Remember that, just as in an actual location, a disorganized and messy display will drive customers out, but a clean, pleasant purchasing experience will encourage customers to buy, return and tell their friends and family. Your customer’s first impression of you will be from your online store, so make it count.

Open-source eCommerce platforms such as Magento, Prestashop, OpenCart and WooCommerce are often cited as possible alternatives. While they offer interesting functionalities, upfront costs (design, testing…) can easily run into the thousands of dollars. Moreover, you can be certain that the recurring costs of performant hosting (not even mentioning the maintenance, upgrade and operation expertise required) will always exceed the affordable prices of professional “software as a service” (SaaS) online stores such as Shopify and BigCommerce. We therefore highly recommend taking into account the big picture to make an optimal choice of eCommerce platform. This is true both for small businesses seeking to launch an online store, and for large corporations seeking a well supported enterprise plan.