Module Two

Choosing an eCommerce Platform – The Ultimate Guide To Know

In our previous chapters of this module, we started discussing setting up an online store. First, we learned about an online store and developed a basic understanding of the same. Later, we came to know about the planning stage of our e-commerce business and how to create the right plan.  Now, we are going to discuss finding the right eCommerce platform.

 

So, with this, we are now going to move to the next stage of our learning process and are going to find out about choosing the right eCommerce platform. Yes! When it comes to starting an e-commerce business and turning it profitable, the role of having the right eCommerce platform cannot be underestimated. 

 

So, in this chapter, we are going to talk about how you choose the right eCommerce platform. By the end of this chapter you will come to know about:

 

• Overview of some popular platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and Wix)
• The criteria for selecting the right platform

 

So, let us move one step closer to setting up our online store. We know, you cannot wait any further to start your e-commerce business. Let’s proceed. 

 

Understanding Different E-Commerce Platforms

In this section, we will talk about five major eCommerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, and Adobe Commerce. Let us discuss these platforms in detail, understand their pros and cons, and see the current pricing of each of these platforms. Hence, make the selection process easier for you. 

Shopify

Shopify is one of the leading eCommerce platforms, that as a SaaS, has established itself well and strong in the e-commerce industry. Shopify came into existence in the year 2006 and now it serves more than 1.7 million businesses worldwide. Being a one-stop solution for all kinds of business, it helps you create and manage online stores. 

 

Creating an online store may sound like a lot, but it only takes minutes on Shopify with its amazing drag-and-drop builder and templates. Aiming to be a complete solution for all its customers, the platform acts as a shipping and fulfillment provider, payment gateway, and also an email marketing service, all of it, already being an eCommerce platform. Do you know, there are so many useful features available on this platform? These include abandoned cart recovery, fraud analysis, handling PCI compliance, amazing customer support, and much more. 

 

Pricing

Shopify comes in the following price options that you can choose from depending on your business needs:

• Basic – ₹1,499 INR/month
• Shopify – ₹5,599 INR/month
• Advanced – ₹22,680 INR/month
• Plus – ₹1,75,000 INR/month

Based on discounts and other options available, these prices may differ. 

 

Pros

• User-friendly interface, easy to use. 
• Vast app ecosystem
• Reliable and efficient customer support
• Integrated POS system for physical stores
• Reliability in terms of hosting and security 

 

Cons

• Some additional transaction fees may be charged for third-party payment gateways.
• Higher costs for advanced features.
• Limited customization is available when compared to open-source platforms.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is one of the most flexible, open-source e-commerce plugins available for WordPress that was first launched in the year 2011. With the plugin, users can turn their WordPress sites into completely functional online stores. Globally, it is one of the most popular platforms. 

 

Several useful features are available on this platform such as inventory management, payment processing, hundreds of extensions, and marketing tools. WooCommerce also provides SEO features and different payment processing methods. 

 

Pricing

• Business – ₹249/month
• Cloud Startup – ₹699/month
• Cloud Professional – ₹999/month
• Cloud Enterprise – ₹2,499/month

Based on discounts and other options available, these prices may differ. 

 

Pros

• Free core plugin available
• High customization options
• An extensive library of themes and extensions
• Zero additional transaction fees
• Robust community support

 

Cons

• One needs technical knowledge for setting up and maintaining.
• You are yourself responsible for PCI compliance.
• Needs website to slow down for upscaling

BigCommerce

Talking about BigCommerce, this SaaS-based eCommerce platform is an ideal solution for small and large businesses. The platform was launched in the year 2009 and provides a lot of features that can be useful in maintaining an amazing ecommerce store. 

 

The list of features includes advanced SEO tools, a wide range of payment gateways, multichannel selling capabilities, and more. In addition, BigCommerce also supports headless commerce where you can use the platform to look after your online shop. Here, the content and visuals are taken care of via a content management system.  The platforms allow you to include the most amazing technology in your website. 

 

Pricing

• Standard – ₹2,423/month
• Plus – ₹6,600/month
• Pro – ₹24,983/month
• Enterprise – Custom Pricing

Based on discounts and other options available, these prices may differ. 

 

Pros

• No transaction fees
• Availability of several built-in features 
• Robust SEO capabilities
• Multiple sales channels
• High scalability options with enterprise-grade solutions

 

Cons

• Too complex for small businesses
• Limited free themes available

Wix

When it comes to building an amazing e-commerce store, Wix presents itself as a versatile website builder. Launched in the year 2006, this platform is an ideal choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Do you know that Wix became popular because of its drag-and-drop functionality, with which people could build websites without any coding knowledge? 

 

When it comes to functionality and efficiency, Wix offers a lot of features to its users. These include inventory management, payment processing, and several marketing tools. Moreover, if you are also looking for a platform that provides plans that include hosting and security, Wix can be an ideal candidate for your choice. 

 

Pricing

• Light – ₹1,420/month
• Core – ₹2,423/month
• Business – ₹3,008/month
• Business Elite – ₹13,288/month

Based on discounts and other options available, these prices may differ. 

 

Pros

• Easy and convenient to use with the drag-and-drop interface
• Highly affordable pricing
• Wide range of templates
• Marketing tools available

 

Cons

• Minimal SEO features
• Needs you to build from scratch if you want to switch themes

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce, earlier known as Magento, is an open-source solution and is among the top e-commerce platforms available today. Post its release in the year 2008, medium to large businesses, that had complex business needs, preferred this platform because of its high customizability and scalability. 

 

Having a wide range of features available such as integrations with third-party services, inventory management, marketing tools, SEO, and more, users can modify the platform to meet their specific needs. The platform supports multiple languages, currencies, and stores, presenting it as an ideal platform for global e-commerce operations. 

 

Pricing

There are two different plans available on the platform which are Commerce Pro and Managed Services. In addition, you can request a demo before purchasing the subscription. 

 

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Scalable feature for large businesses
• Robust community and developer support
• Strong SEO capabilities

 

Cons

• You need technical support and expertise
• Expensive to implement and maintain

 

Thus, these are some of the best eCommerce platforms that you can select depending on your business needs. However, we always recommend you look into each of these aspects in detail before you make your decision. Your choice of an eCommerce platform will further decide how seamlessly your business will perform. 

 

Are you not sure what you should consider when looking for the right eCommerce platform? Do you know what all are the aspects that you should look into? Well, we will help you with this in the following section. 

 

Points to Consider when Choosing an E-Commerce Platform

Well, we are here to make your ecommerce journey simpler. Keep the following points in consideration while choosing the right platform:

 

• Are there enough features available on the platform? Today, with so many options available in the market, always go for an option that provides you with enough features, ultimately aiding the operation of your store. For example: inventory management, multiple payment processing, headless commerce, order management, and more. 
• Is the platform scalable? Choose a platform that is easy to scale and grow as your business grows. Scalability matters. If your platform lacks scalability, you might face issues once your business grows. 
• Does the platform have good customer support? You must choose a platform that has customer support to resolve any issue that you might encounter with the operations or other technical issues of the platform. 
• Is the platform secure and easy to use? Having a secure platform is important and cannot be overlooked, especially today when there is so much emphasis on cybersecurity. In addition, you should ensure that operating the platform is simple and easy so that you can manage it well, with minimum or no technical support and expertise.
• Finally, does your budget allow you to invest in a particular platform or not? We all have our financial projections that we plan for our business. So, it is important to consider if you have enough budget or not. 

Thus, these are the aspects that one should consider when looking for the right e-commerce platform. Making an informed decision is far wiser than making a random decision that you might regret later.

 

So, with this chapter, we move a bit closer to the stage of opening our online store. We are ready! Are you?

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Crucial Takeaways from this Chapter

• Selecting the appropriate platform is crucial for the success of your online store.
• Understand the features, pricing, and pros and cons of Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, and Adobe Commerce.
• Ensure the platform offers essential features like inventory management, payment processing, and scalability.
• Opt for a platform with robust customer support and strong security measures.
• Make sure the platform you choose fits within your financial projections and business plan.