Choosing the right eCommerce software is key to ensuring your online store’s success, but it can often be difficult to make the right decision.
You want your eCommerce platform to be a raging success. And as it grows and changes, so will your customers’ needs and expectations, that’s why you will need a platform that can keep up with the demands of your business.
A lot more goes into developing a successful e-Commerce business than you might expect.
If you are looking for eCommerce software for your business, there are some things you have to consider:
- The budget you have
- The type of products you are selling
- The features you need for your online website
Should your business develop or buy its eCommerce website?
Choosing a customized eCommerce platform or an off-the-shelf one can be a hard decision for any business owner. Honestly, there is no correct answer.
For some eCommerce platforms, off-the-shelf software is the best solution, while for others the best option is a completely customized software that fits the specific needs of the company.
Below are some of each’s advantages and disadvantages that will help make your decision more conscious, and therefore easier.
Off-the-shelf eCommerce
An off-the-shelf eCommerce platform can be purchased and installed right away. The software has already been build, tested and is probably already being successfully, effectively used by a variety of other businesses.
Advantages and disadvantages
A standard eCommerce software will typically include basic features that are very helpful to the majority of businesses. Because several businesses already use the software, many of the bugs and problems have been sorted out. Customer service lines, as well as online forums, are typically devoted to answering questions about the platform and assisting clients with any issues.
Off-the-shelf comfort does come with certain drawbacks. Often, the interface ends up having to be tailor-made to work with your company, costing you lots of time and money if the custom functions you need are feasible.
Generally, the configuration would have to include plugins, which can be difficult because if you add too many plugins, it could trigger the website to run slowly or even crash. Also, the platform may not work well with your other business software or applications.
Custom eCommerce
A custom eCommerce software is designed to fit your business requirements. A developer, a software company or an outsourcing company will take and adapt the current code to make it fit your specific needs. Custom software ensures that the code on your website will be tailored to your company and consumer needs. Plus, you will still be able to make improvements to it, this way increasing the satisfaction, happiness, and engagement of your customers.
Advantages and disadvantages
Although it sounds like a custom eCommerce platform would be the solution to all of your concerns, it can have its disadvantages. It can be pricey and time-consuming depending on how well the selected eCommerce platform is structured to be personalized, and also depending on the team you are working with. For a successful business, it’s very important to choose a reliable company to work with.
How well it will perform and how amazing the features will be, will also be highly dependent on the experience of the developers and how much energy they put into your project.
Nonetheless, the advantages of custom eCommerce software can be fantastic, especially if you collaborate with an experienced team. This way, you will have only the features your business needs, and more than that, they will work smoothly.
The software can be designed to your specific requirements. When required, it will be easy to add on and scale and can be combined with all your other business applications. In certain instances, the only way of running your online business would be to go for a custom solution as you want it to.
Choose wisely!
Bear in mind that your eCommerce platform is a real investment, and the fact that you put the time, effort and money in upfront to make sure that you have a great system in place that helps the growth of your business, is more likely to have a great return on investment, than going with a basic, cheaper option that inhibits growth and does not meet the expectations of your customers.
It’s up to you to choose the best solution, but keep in mind that in terms of time and money, custom eCommerce software represents the best solution in the long run.
We, at WebChain, understand the importance of great software for your business. Over time, our team of expert developers managed to help various businesses to customize their off-the-shelf software, as well as create custom eCommerce software from scratch! Let us help you find the best solution for your business!
[Cover image: Freepik.com]