Chris Murphy, Digital Innovation Specialist at GC Business Growth Hub, has put together a manual on the five predominant ecommerce platforms to be had, detailing their key capabilities and what you want to recall while selecting the platform in your commercial enterprise.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly extended the pace of digital transformation. With restrictions imposed the world over, customers and agencies had to speedy circulate to the online space to shop for, sell and engage with each other.
For some businesses, this intended developing an internet save to serve present clients. For others who labored exclusively with trade clients, this changed into a possibility to transport into a new marketplace and promote immediately to the purchaser. Whichever the case, it has become obtrusive that during the last year, many groups have prioritized ecommerce, positioning it at the middle in their enterprise models, and rightly so. According to Gartner’s studies, virtual trade has become a boom accelerator for most firms, and people with digital commerce will see a better increase than those without.
Setting up an ecommerce website can be a critical investment for many businesses, although you ought to make certain the proper digital technique is taken. You don’t need to pay over the odds; however, less expensive isn’t usually higher, and a platform that supports the desires of your business today might not always assist your commercial enterprise of the destiny.
Comparing one-of-a-kind structures, weighing up the potential benefits of one platform over some other, and organizing that is the first-class platform for your business may be difficult. Some of the essential elements to keep in mind consist of charge, technical support, payment options, ease of use, capabilities, topics, scalability, functionality, search engine marketing optimization, cellular friendliness, and safety.
In addition, you’ll want to plan to make sure which you choose a platform that may aid future boom. In this manual, we will explore a number of the most famous ecommerce systems for SMEs that could swiftly transform your business. Five Ecommerce Platforms for SMEs
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is ideal for setting up SMEs trying to grow. The platform is to be had in 4 distinct versions, and every one offers a bunch of built-in functions.
Setup may be a bit trickier than a number of the above, and the platform offers best a restrained variety of unfastened templates. Security is of the best popular and that they offer 24/7 support.
There are plenty of price options for customers, and there are no transaction prices. The interface is easy to apply, proper for multi-channel selling, and search engine optimization performs nicely. The platform makes scaling up easy. However, this will quickly come to be high-priced for larger shops. Pros: Security, Support, search engine optimization Cons: Limited unfastened templates, Tricky set-up
Shopify
Shopify is a scalable ecommerce platform that allows you to create your own online keep, which is ideal for groups seeking to grow swiftly. Shopify gives 24/7 help with smooth setup and navigation for novices.
The platform is available in several exceptional variations, from Lite to Advanced, and fees can affect growth, therefore. A month-to-month fee applies to applying the platform’s offerings, and there are transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify payments.
Setup is straightforward, and the platform affords easy-to-recognize instructions on how to personalize your website, upload merchandise, and control business operations thru a simple critical dashboard.
The platform is Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant and works with over 2,500 apps. All websites have search engine optimization constructed in, and you can manage all your enterprise out of your telephone. Customers also can get admission to your online save and make purchases through their mobiles. There are many price options for customers, ranging from PayPal and Apple Pay to Amazon Pay and even Cryptocurrency. Pros: Easy to use, first-rate support, more than one payment option, smart cellphone well-matched Cons: Cost, transaction fees
Squarespace
Squarespace is a superb preference for SMEs that need a creative appearance and feel to their ecommerce platform, presenting expansion scalability and customization alternatives.
Setup is as easy as selecting a template and making the desired modifications to fit your commercial enterprise wishes, and free trials are presented to test usability. Templates are fully adaptive and flexible with a easy-reduce interface, making it a user-friendly enjoy for both the enterprise and the patron, appearing perfectly nicely on mobiles.
You can reveal your companies overall performance with analytics which gives a common view. There are constructed-in protection functions, and help is available 24/7.
Transaction costs are applied and charged at 3%, which is better than other platforms. Search engine optimization doesn’t perform in addition to WordPress, but plug-ins have to be enhanced. Pros: Beautiful designs, free trial, easy to use Cons: search engine marketing performance, high transaction charges
Wix
Wix is ideal for small-scale SMEs trying to launch an ecommerce internet site fast because it provides a platform wherein you could construct your shop and get it equipped to move the usage of the loose plan, with prices charged when you cross-stay.
It is simple to install and use, with drag and drops functionality. The value is low, together with a lifetime loose plan; however, there are handiest a restrained number of templates, speed can now and then be an issue, and it doesn’t carry out as well on search engine marketing as other platforms.
- Pros: Low cost, smooth to use, free installation
- Cons: Limited templates, SEO performance, pace
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a unfastened, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. It is designed for small to huge online traders using WordPress. It is an absolutely customizable and flexible platform; WooCommerce offers you total control over your online store. Setup is easy, with some special topics to pick from and a wizard to take you via the manner.
Customers will find the website smooth to navigate, and there are plugins and further functionality to be had at a fee.
It is cell pleasant, which means that you can make adjustments and get admission to your products and services from your telephone.
The platform collaborates with Google Analytics to offer up-to-date records and facts on all your business happenings thru an easy to recognize dashboard.
Although use is free and there aren’t any transaction expenses, tech help may be missing, and masses of plugins come at a fee that could upload up. And since it calls for website hosting, security is down to the business proprietor. Pros: Free, no transaction charges, excellent search engine optimization Cons: Security now not included, the value of plugins, tech help
In summary…
Choosing an ecommerce platform is dependent on the commercial enterprise and its wishes. To summarise your key issues while selecting a platform are:
• Budget
• Time
• Scalability of your business
• Number of merchandise you’ve got
• Integrations required
• Setup
• Security
