7 Latest E-commerce Platforms

When evaluating e-commerce softwares , it is difficult to ascertain how seemingly minor variations in features and performance can significantly influence your bottom line. Each vendor claims to be faster,  more optimized and PCI-compliant and better than its competitors. However, what is reality?

 

We choose to compare the top e-commerce platforms' features, performance, ease of use, design & themes, and integrations using real-world site data. 

 

You'll discover which platform best matches your needs, performs optimally, and provides you with the value necessary to conquer your niche.

 

E-Commerce

 

Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, is purchasing and selling goods, products, or services over the internet. These services are delivered via the internet. E-commerce also includes the exchange of money, funds, and data.

 

E-commerce, by definition, is a business transaction that occurs via the internet. E-commerce websites include Amazon, Flipkart, Shopify, Myntra, eBay, Quikr, and Olx.

 

Global retail e-commerce might exceed $26.7 trillion by 2020. 

 

(Related Blog: M-Commerce: Applications, Advantages and Disadvantages)

 

Let us learn more about e-commerce platforms. 

 

Watch this video to understand the meaning of E-commerce.

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Consider the following factors while choosing an e-commerce platform for business needs: 

 

 

• Operate on a solitary platform: An e-commerce platform should integrate e-commerce, bookkeeping, point-of-sale, inventory and order management, client service, marketing, financial, and marketing functions on a cloud-based platform.

 

• Deliver a consistent customer experience: A good e-commerce platform should deliver dependable experiences, native advertising , and exceptional customer service.

 

• Intelligent Order Management: Provide the most advantageous path for clients to purchase, be satisfied, and return things. Concentrate on order management to increase production.

 

(Related Blog: The rise of e-commerce amid the lockdown)

 

• Constant development: Fully support various action plans, brands, channels, places, monetary standards, and dialects, all at comparable stages.

 

• Site security: If you're another merchant, terms like "PCI compliance" or "SSL certificates" may send your thoughts into overdrive.

 

Choose a platform that supports SSL authentication and PCI compliance to ensure the security of your business and the customer information. Numerous stages provide additional security features. Consider these packs based on your requests, your store's future requirements, and your budget.

 

So, let's start the list :

 

1) Shopify

 

Shopify is considered one of the most popular e-commerce platforms globally. It operates as a web application that enables users to quickly and easily create an online store using predesigned templates. Users can customize these templates to meet their specific requirements.

 

Shopify accepts a wide variety of credit and mastercard, so you never have to worry about payment issues in your store. Similarly, you can be assured that your client's and store's information is secure since Shopify adheres to PCI level 1 compliance and utilizes 256-bit SSL encryption.

 

Pros:

 

• It has an incredibly fast load time

• Extremely simple to assemble

• Numerous accredited partners to assist 

• One-click purchasing

• Enables cross-channel and social selling

• Excellent themes with a variety of designs

 

Cons:

 

• Inability to tailor the checkout process

• Apps can quickly accumulate in price and become prohibitively expensive.

• Requires a developer to implement advanced features

 

You can watch this video for a crisp explanation of building business with Shopify.

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2) WooCommerce

 

WooCommerce is the single most significant platform for running both an e-commerce and affiliate website. However, existing e-commerce platforms such as BigCommerce and Shopify perform slightly better in terms of sales. It integrates with WordPress to transform any website into e-commerce.

 Extensions for payment gateways, social media marketing , email marketing, one-click selling, and shipping are available.

 

(Related Blog: A Guide to B2C Marketing)

 

The primary issue can get accomplished via YouTube videos. The problem is scalability. The majority of users have stated that it has slowed down as they add products and consumers.

 

It is entirely free. Few add-ons come with a price tag, yet some WordPress themes are pretty pricey. However, you may not require those extensions, and there are some excellent free themes available. If you're already familiar with the WordPress platform, WooCommerce will be a breeze. You only need to install it, customize it with your products, and adjust your settings.

 

Pros:

 

• WordPress is the optimal platform for search engine optimization.

• A one-click selling application is offered.

• Numerous WordPress professionals on hand

• Extremely adaptable

• Numerous marketing opportunities and a variety of other integrations

 

Cons:

 

• High-quality hosting might be costly.

• Must contend with the blame game when troubleshooting.

• Virtually no assistance

• You require extensions for simple tasks. 

 

(Must Check: Woo Commerce vs Shopify: Which one should you go for? )

 

 

3) BigCommerce

 

 

BigCommerce is the best e-commerce platform in general. Due to the robustness of its product search engine, it is suited for major retail brands. Additionally, it is an excellent alternative for individuals looking to start an e-commerce store. The various tools provided by this platform enable achievement in any niche or business.

 

The interface enables you to build your online store without knowing how to code by utilizing one of the customizable templates to design, sell, and market your products. It's geared towards folks without extensive web development experience. However, it also allows more technically aware users to edit the HTML and CSS.

 

Pros:

 

• Scalable and adaptable

• Outperforms competitors when it comes to multi-channel selling

• Exceptional SEO performance

• Exceptional Theme Designs

• Extensive abandoned cart functionality

 

Cons:

 

• Inconsistency in speeds across multiple research

• It becomes prohibitively expensive for high-volume retailers

• Cart abandonment is not included in the entry plan.

• There are no one-click sales/upsells.

 

 

4) Wix 

 

Wix e-commerce has advanced significantly over the last few years. Wix is becoming a key player in the e-commerce industry, offering incredible value to solopreneurs and small e-commerce enterprises. Wix's tools have expanded significantly over the last few years; they now support multi-channel integration, abandoned cart recovery, dropshipping, and print on demand.

 

It is suitable for beginners. Among the top website builders Wix ranked highest in on-page customer help during the store's creation. You may drag and drop pieces to add fascinating videos and functionality to your website and customize it to your liking. 

 

Pros:

 

• Hundreds of fantastic free themes.

• Extremely easy to use and set up

 

Cons:

 

• Numerous locations remained unprotected.

• It has missing features for upselling and complex automation

• The template is challenging to customize fully

 

 

5) Shift4Shop

 

Since its public launch in 2001, 3dcart has served more than 22,000 internet businesses, including PCMag. They offer several convenient features, like unlimited storage and no transaction costs. Additionally, you can use their point-of-sale system, which supports multi-channel selling. The company changed its name to Shift4Shop in 2021.

 

One of their strengths is shipping; they give advanced shipping solutions without the need for an API.

 

Pros:

 

• Superior blog functionality compared to other SaaS e-commerce solutions

• Compatibility with all necessary integrations

• Excellent tools for managing business users (email, QuickBooks, inventory)

 

Cons:

 

• Templates adhere to current trends but are never cutting-edge

• Negative criticism regarding customer service

• Upgrade difficulties that may arise

 

(Related Blog: 11 Top E-Commerce Startups )

 

 

6) Weebly

   

Weebly was established in 2006, with about 40 million consumers. It is an excellent alternative for anyone searching for a simple store with built-in marketing automation.  It has a monthly plan that costs  $38.

 

Until recently, there was little emphasis on ecommerce, and as a result, some of the expertise found on other top platforms was missing. However, it is a good solution for businesses on a strict budget and those who do not wish to hire a developer.

 

Weebly is a user-friendly platform. They provide the essential tools for running a functional store without adding unnecessary extra features. You may bulk upload products, and the interface is also easy.

 

Another prominent aspect is the mobile app for managing your business and printing shipping labels.

 

Pros:

 

• Outstanding value

• The platform provides the most affordable ecommerce marketing automation solution.

• It offers free and low-cost designs.

• Effective email techniques.

• A simple interface that is easy to operate.

 

Cons:

 

• The platform charges a transaction fee in addition to the existing transaction fee.

• Amazon, on the other hand, does not appear to be on their radar.

• Inventory management is still quite elementary.

 

(Related Reading: How does Amazon Use Warehouse Technologies?)

 

7) Squarespace

 

Squarespace is another drag-and-drop platform. They were founded in 2003 and offer elegant templates and design possibilities.

 

If you don't require a large number of features, test them out. Additionally, it is ideal for print-on-demand ecommerce businesses. The prices are pretty reasonable. To begin selling, you must be on the business website plan. It costs $18 per month when invoiced annually.

 

The premium plan enables you to automatically retrieve abandoned carts, sell subscriptions and gift cards, and offer adjustable discounts.

 

The bundle includes all of the standard functionality you'd expect from an ecommerce platform, conveniently organized in a side menu.

 

However, the website design portion is not as simple. The drag-and-drop editor is inferior to that of Weebly. You may need to practice a few times before you get the feel of it. 

 

Once the website design phase is complete, you'll have access to telemarketing inventory management, social selling and business analytics services.

 

Squarespace incorporates ShipStation and provides an app section where you can install Printul and ShipBob. Additionally, real-time shipping costs from providers (UPS, FedEx, and USPS) are available.

 

Pros:

 

• Simple To Install.

• Excellent For Small Stores.

• Amazing Designs

• It is compatible with ShipStation and ShipBob.

 

Cons:

 

• There is no dropshipping.

• There is no integration with marketing automation.

• There is no Amazon integration.

• It could be faster in exchange for the cost.

• There is no app store to add more features and functionalities.

 

Conclusion

 

Numerous e-commerce platforms offer a variety of functionality and price models. There is no such thing as a perfect e-commerce platform, every e-commerce platform carries certain advantages and disadvantages. 

 

Choosing the finest e-commerce site builder is entirely subjective. As a result, ensure that you select a platform that is both affordable and capable of providing the most significant benefits.