In the past few years, e-commerce has established itself as one of the most successful business models that have come through the internet. As a highly efficient way to sell goods to a wide variety of customers while breaking the barrier of distance, it has changed the concept of shopping for the better.
That is why you shouldn’t be surprised to see yourself in this profitable market. But to carve a space for yourself in this competitive industry, it is highly important that you have the right tools in your arsenal.
And an e-commerce platform is the very basis of that toolkit.
Regardless of the industry you operate in, choosing the right e-commerce platform is crucial to your success. Here is a list of the best e-commerce platforms of 2019, which would help you embark on your e-commerce journey in a very beneficial way.
WooCommerce
You may already know that WordPress is the world’s most widely used content management system. Used by one-third of all the websites on the internet, it is undoubtedly the reigning champion of the world wide web. Keeping that in mind, it is not shocking to see its e-commerce solution to be making this list.
As a plugin that transforms basic WordPress into an e-commerce platform, WooCommerce has become the primary solution for those who want ultimate customization out of their commercial web property.
It sports the same open-source capabilities, great community support, and a massive ecosystem of plugins as WordPress. The ease of use and design features also stay the same, making it one of the most adaptable e-commerce platform available at the moment. If you want the utmost control over your e-commerce platform, then WooCommerce would prove to be a great fit for you.
Pros: Open-source. Customization. Ease of use.
Cons: Unpredictability with costs. Building out a customized solution takes time. Setup requires some technical proficiency.
Shopify
If going with an open-source solution and working with unpredictable costs is a difficult concept, then you can go with Shopify as your e-commerce platform.
Shopify offers a packaged product that comes with a limited yet impressive amount of customization features. Payment processing and merchant services are included right within its monthly payment plan.
The platform’s ease of use after initial setup makes it a very prominent solution for many. It also provides great customer service, and comes with some modern design templates that could be modified to quite a significant extent.
Pros: Transparent payment plan. All solutions available under one roof. Easy to use.
Cons: Restriction of customization features. Shopify as a company controls the platform. Design templates are quite limited.
Magento
Magento is an e-commerce platform that comes with a massive number of features. As a product that operates with a focus on functionality, it is definitely a platform that should be on your list of considerations.
The platform is available in a few variations, with Magento open-source being a stripped down version of Magento’s paid solutions that are offered by Adobe, its new parent company.
While it requires quite a bit of technical proficiency to set up, Magento’s customer service team could be of help with set up. With that being said, it is certainly one of those platforms that could only be set up with the help of a proficient web development expert.
Pros: Greater functionalities. Good customer service. Immense level of customization.
Cons: Difficult to set up. Expensive. Needs a web development expert at all times for proper maintenance.
Assessing Your Requirements is Important for Finding a Suitable Solution
Finding the right fit in e-commerce platforms could be a time-consuming process for many. The key is to identify your requirements, your budgetary constraints and your overall plans to scale. That helps you select an e-commerce platform that is the perfect match for you.
Seeking professional advice in this regard is also prudent since it helps you see the options from the perspective of an expert.
For more information on e-commerce platforms and how we can help, call us today or visit our services page.