5 Ecommerce Platforms to Consider Building your Store on.
In today's digital age, having an online presence is a necessity for any business. With the rise of ecommerce, it's crucial for merchants to have a reliable platform that can handle their online sales. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of five ecommerce platforms that every retailer should take a look at when considering building. store or re-platforming: (Aerocommerce, Shopify, Magento, SugarCoat and WooCommerce)
Aerocommerce is a modern ecommerce platform that offers a powerful suite of features, including a customisable design, advanced product management, and a range of integrated payment and shipping options. It's a great option for retailers with bespoke propositions that require a more tailored solution, as it offers greater customisation with dynamic pricing, advanced stock management, amongst other features.
Pros:
Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Built-in marketing automation tools
Very fast page speed load time
Highly customisable checkout flows
Excellent customer support
Cons:
Higher price point than some of the other platforms
Fewer integrations with third-party apps than some of the other platforms
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market. It offers an easy-to-use interface, a variety of templates, and a vast app store with many integrations. It's a great option for retailers who want to get up and running quickly with an out-of-the-box solution.
Pros:
Easy to set up and use
Extensive app store with many integrations
Low monthly platform fee
Good for businesses of all sizes
Cons:
Limited customisation options
Transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways
Can become very expensive with additional app costs
Magento is an open-source ecommerce platform that offers a wide range of features and customisation options. It's a great option for larger retailers with complex product catalogs and high-volume sales.
Pros:
Highly customisable with a large range of options
Good for businesses with complex products and large product catalogs
Highly scalable for growing businesses
Cons:
Steep learning curve and requires technical expertise
Any small changes may require developer assistance
Costly to develop and maintain a custom storefront
Requires a dedicated server for optimal performance
WooCommerce is a popular ecommerce plugin for WordPress, making it a great option for businesses with an existing WordPress site. It offers many customisation options and is relatively easy to set up.
Pros:
Easy to use with WordPress sites
Fairly low cost and good for small businesses
Large library of plugins and extensions
Customisable with many themes available
Cons:
Limited scalability compared to the other platforms
May require technical expertise for advanced customisation
Sugarcoat is a relatively new platform that proves to be a great choice for small to mid sized businesses who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use ecommerce platform with good features and customisability.
Pros:
Simple and modern design that is easy to navigate
Customisable theme builder
Marketing and SEO tools
Multiple payment solutions available
Cons:
Less features compared to some of the other platforms
Fewer integrations to third party apps compared to the other platforms
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for ecommerce platforms. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to understand your business's unique needs and choose the platform that best aligns with those requirements. Aerocommerce is an excellent option for businesses looking for a modern, customisable solution, while Shopify is a great out-of-the-box option for businesses of all sizes. Magento is best suited for large enterprise businesses with complex product catalogs, while WooCommerce is a low-cost solution that is great for small businesses with existing WordPress sites and finally Sugarcoat is a solid option for SME's looking for a clean yet efficient way to run an online store.