Shopify, Wix, Magento. These are names you’ve likely heard thrown about by advertisers, as each attempts to get you to explore their eCommerce platform and try what they’re offering. For the budding business owner, however, you may find yourself confused as to the best approach to starting an eCommerce store.
No matter whether you choose to go down the path of Magento website development, hire a developer to work on a WordPress site, or use the tools offered by Shopify and Wix, let’s explore how an eCommerce platform can supercharge your online sales, as well as how they can help you get your next product business up and online quickly and easily.
What’s Special About an Ecommerce Platform?
An eCommerce platform, simply put, is a highly specialized website, created to address the needs of online shopping websites. You may know one of the earliest eCommerce platforms – the online marketplace formerly known as AuctionWeb, known these days as eBay.
Where the early eCommerce platforms of the 1990s and 2000s typically focussed on customer-to-customer transactions, modern platforms have evolved substantially. There’s a wide range of eCommerce platforms that can handle everything from payment processing, order management, shipping estimation, and even in some cases, marketing.
The modern eCommerce platform can be kitted out as a command center for your online store – streaming your digital operations. Let’s explore some of the eCommerce systems that are available for you to start your new business.
Magento - Backed by Adobe
Used by some of the world’s largest businesses, including Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, and Krispy Kreme, Magento is an eCommerce platform backed by Adobe, a major digital software and systems business. Initially launched in 2008, it’s estimated that the platform supports more than $150 billion in sales worldwide.
Offering many features suitable to enterprise web solutions, Magneto offers an online shopping experience that is second to one, no matter your brand. From the wealth of extensions enhancing payments, marketing, and shipping, to the peer-to-peer network functionality of the Magneto Association, Magneto provides a powerful toolset for developers and eCommerce platform owners alike.
Shopify
Who’d have thought one of the world’s largest eCommerce platforms hails from Canada? Shopify is another popular eCommerce platform, offering integrated product solutions so that anyone from amateur web entrepreneurs to experience developers can create an eCommerce experience to sell their products online.
Shopify has a wide range of product features – including a vast library of free and paid integrations. These vary from physical Point of Sale (POS) solutions, and social media marketing to integrated search engine optimization. As a result, Shopify becomes a powerful eCommerce platform with just a few additional extras. With an end-to-end solution, you can feel assured in knowing that your sales funnel is supported by one of the most well-known eCommerce platforms globally.
Wix
In recent years, a number of fast starters have looked to make waves in the eCommerce sector. One of these has been web upstart Wix – operating as a freemium business model, offering quick setup and creation of your eCommerce site.
While Wix can be speedy, however, the wide range of paid plans and confusing plan structure can be confusing for even the most basic web developer. If you’re looking to sell more than a small number of products, for example, an ongoing plan can get very expensive, very fast. Ultimately, while Wix may meet the needs of small businesses, the relatively pricey cost to manage an eCommerce platform on their systems often renders their product a no-go for the budget-conscious web store.
Squarespace
Founded as a blog hosting service in 2003, one would hardly believe the heights that Squarespace has risen to today. Touting themselves as a web hosting and software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, Squarespace goes beyond the norm, offering an eCommerce solution with significant artistic flair. Supported in the backend with shipping, fulfillment, tax, and payment support, Squarespace is a little-known alternative that may suit your needs.
No matter whether you’re starting an enterprise eCommerce store or something small, there’s a platform out there for everyone from the budding entrepreneur to the seasoned professional. Be prepared to dive into the wonders that specialised eCommerce platforms offer, and just remember – don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional if you need development help. Good luck on your next web journey!
