There are several eCommerce platforms that can prove a milestone in your career if you are planning for an online shopping business. There are many reasons to rely on them, which are associated with their ease of use, features, flexibility, scalability, security, and pricing. Let’s have a roundup of some of the top eCommerce platforms and try to understand why they are considered the best:
- Shopify
When it comes to a leading eCommerce platform, Shopify is an obvious name that pops up first in our minds. This platform is easy to use and comes up with a range of features, such as customisable templates, payment processing, and shipping integrations. You can find a range of pricing plans, which make it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
- WooCommerce
Its popularity is no less than Shopify. It’s actually an eCommerce plugin for WordPress. The best thing is that it’s free. It does not short for features and customisation options. Simply put, you find it absolutely easy-going when it comes to integrating with WordPress. This feature makes it a popular choice for businesses that already have a WordPress website.
- Magento
This is indeed impactful, especially for a business that is larger and has complex requirements. There are some must-have advanced features such as multi-language support, multiple storefronts, and a powerful content management system. But, the main concern is to set it up and manage it well, which is more difficult with it than with other platforms. There is another version of this eShopping space, which is Magento 2.
Magento 2 is a popular open-source e-commerce platform, which offers a range of benefits for online merchants. Some of the key benefits of Magento 2 include smooth optimisation for faster page loading speeds and improved web performance. You can leverage it for a better user experience and higher conversion rates. Another positive aspect is that it can handle large amounts of traffic and data, making it a great choice for growing businesses. Besides, it provides mobile responsive designs, which means that it flawlessly works on mobile devices, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers on the go. If you look at it from the perspective of online marketing, its advanced SEO features are built-in. It makes online stores rank higher in search engine results quickly. Robust security is the next feature of Magento 2, which gives you a reason to make it less vulnerable to malicious attacks. So, you can offer a safer platform for online transactions here. Moreover, its admin panel has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for store owners to manage their online store and inventory. From the architecture’s point of view, it’s highly flexible and customisable, which allows businesses to tailor their online store to their unique needs. The best of all features is that it supports multi-stores. In other words, it can support multiple stores, allowing businesses to manage multiple online stores from a single dashboard. You can easily integrate with third-party tools and services. This feature makes it like a walkover to manage inventory, shipping, and payment processing. The best of all benefits of Magento 2 for eCommerce is that it has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its ongoing development. It means that you can utilise a wealth of resources and support for online merchants.
- BigCommerce
This is a cloud-based eCommerce platform that provides a range of features and integrations. Using it like a walkover. Moreover, it comes up with the scope for scalability, which makes it a good choice for businesses that have a dream to expand their online store.
- Volusion
Volusion is a very different online shopping platform. Its unique features and templates help you have a professional-looking online store. It is known for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.
- Squarespace
Squarespace is a website builder that allows you to enjoy eCommerce functionality. It is full of eye-catching templates and a smooth interface, which makes it a good choice for online businesses that want a visually appealing online store.
Why do you need any platform for eCommerce?
eCommerce is a specialised way to interact with online customers. Various platforms can let you have the necessary tools and features to set up and manage your online store. Simply put, it’s an application that provides you with a ready-made e-shopping website. You can create, design, and manage your online store without having to build it from scratch.
Here are some of the reasons why you need a platform for eCommerce:
- Store management
An online shopping platform provides you with tools to manage your products, orders, inventory, and customers in one place. You can easily add or remove products, manage your inventory levels, process orders, and track shipments.
- Payment processing
The ultimate goal of online commerce is to have profit, which comes through payment. This platform provides payment processing integration, which allows you to accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and other payment methods. With this integration, users ensure that the payment process is secure and encrypted.
- Design and customisation
As far as the design is concerned, these platforms come up with a variety of templates and customisation options. You can create a visually appealing online store that aligns with your brand. Additionally, you can tailor the layout, colors, fonts, and images to create a unique store that reflects your business.
- SEO and marketing
SEO or search engine optimisation is a necessity to integrate with an eCommerce platform. It helps you to optimize your store for search engines and strengthen your visibility over the internet. You can also use marketing tools such as email marketing, social media, and Google Ads to promote your products and drive traffic to your store.
- Analytics and reporting
The best thing about these online spaces is that you can have easy access to web data and analytics. Simply put, you can see your store’s performance, including sales, traffic, and customer behavior. This insight can help you make informed decisions about your store’s marketing and product strategies.
An eCommerce platform provides you with the necessary tools to build, manage, and grow your online store. It saves you time and money by providing a pre-built infrastructure that handles the technical details, leaving you to focus on your products and customers.
Summary
It’s noteworthy that the best eCommerce platform for your business will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It’s important to measure each platform based on the features, functionality, and pricing to determine which one is right for your business. Then, you can select the best eCommerce platform.