Digital commerce is an essential pathway for businesses aiming to expand their client base and enhance their product and service offerings. With the rise of online platforms, businesses can now build websites that double as online stores, boosting product visibility and brand awareness. These platforms leverage advanced mobile and social outreach capabilities, making it easier for businesses to reach their target audience through evolving technology and communication channels.
Selecting the right e-commerce platform is crucial to match your business model’s needs and optimise your digital marketing activities and sales. With numerous options available, finding the ideal solution can be overwhelming.
“In the beginning, e-commerce was really about getting commodity products online as cheaply as possible. Now, we’re moving into the more exciting phase of e-commerce, where it’s about emotional products – the things people really cherish.” – Jason Goldber.
This guide highlights the five best e-commerce platforms that can help you achieve your business goals. Every platform provides distinct features and advantages, tailored to meet the needs of businesses of various sizes and specifications.
1. Shopify:
Shopify is arguably the most popular and comprehensive e-commerce platform available, trusted by millions of merchants across 170 countries. It accounts for a significant portion of U.S. e-commerce, generating $444 billion in global economic activity. Shopify offers a wide range of tools to support your online store, making it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes.
Key Features:
- Sell physical and digital goods and services.
- Sync with social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and online stores like Amazon.
- Use over 100 payment gateways, including Shopify Payments and Google Pay.
- Recover abandoned carts with built-in features.
- Offer discount codes and SEO support.
- Utilise Shopify’s online invoice generator and payment tracking.
Shopify’s customisable features, such as logos, brand colours, and fonts for checkout, make it easy and enjoyable to run an online store. With pricing plans starting at INR 1,994/month, Shopify is an accessible option for businesses and digital marketing executives looking to venture into e-commerce.
2. Wix:
Originally a website builder, Wix has evolved into a reliable platform for creating online stores. While it may not offer the same level of flexibility as Shopify, Wix’s drag-and-drop setup allows users to visualise their storefront during the editing process, ensuring a mobile-friendly and user-friendly experience.
Key Features:
- Phone, email, and social media support, along with a comprehensive knowledge base.
- On-page support for store creation, ideal for small businesses and self-starters.
- Customisable features, including product videos and lead capture forms.
- Secure website with SSL certificates.
- Integration with apps like Wix Stores and Ecwid for additional functionality.
With an e-commerce plan priced at around $75 per month, Wix offers excellent value for money, providing small businesses with the tools to create and manage their online stores effectively.
3. BigCommerce:
BigCommerce is a robust platform designed for large and fast-growing businesses. It functions as both a full SaaS solution and a shopping cart for various website types, offering extensive store management capabilities and flexible shipping options.
Key Features:
- Strong store management tools, including promotions, returns handling, and discount options.
- Flexible shipping options with live quotes and rate calculators.
- Trusted by big-name clients like Clarks and Ben & Jerry’s.
- Built-in email marketing, search filters, and customer review features.
- Analytics reports for tracking store performance.
BigCommerce’s plans start at $39, offering comprehensive features for businesses specializing in technology or business. However, its lack of a mobile app and complex user interface may require some adjustments.
4. Weebly:
Weebly stands out for its value for money, offering four price plans tailored to e-commerce. Depending on your business needs, you can choose from various features, including Google Ads credits and email marketing.
Key Features:
- Sell digital, physical, and service-based goods with bulk upload tools.
- Mobile app for on-the-go store management and shipping label printing.
- Blog and portfolio integration for customer engagement.
- Drag-and-drop setup for easy store creation.
- Limited checkout options with PayPal, Square, and Stripe.
Weebly’s creative control and SEO-friendly features make it suitable for small businesses. However, its limited inventory management tools and payment gateways may not cater to larger companies.
5. Volusion:
Volusion is a cloud-based, hosted e-commerce platform that emphasizes customer accounts and safe data storage. Its drag-and-drop website builder and in-page editing offer comprehensive site search and product management tools.
Key Features:
- Integration with payment providers like PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay.
- Multi-channel integration with Facebook stores, Amazon, and eBay.
- Detailed analytics and insight reports for stock tracking.
- 24/7 support via live chat and phone, along with a comprehensive knowledge base.
Volusion is ideal for starter stores or small to medium-sized businesses. Although it requires additional costs for an SSL certificate and has set bandwidth limits, its features make it a viable option for businesses willing to invest in these areas.
In conclusion, choosing the right e-commerce platform is vital for developing an effective e-commerce strategy that keeps your customer in mind throughout the development and research process. The platforms discussed above offer various features to help you grow your conversion rates, maintain active customer reviews, and enhance product visibility and brand awareness. By establishing a clear business plan and wisely selecting the products you want to sell, you can easily find the perfect e-commerce platform for your business. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, these platforms provide the tools and support needed to succeed in the competitive world of e-commerce.
