E-commerce software or an ecommerce website builder is a convenient tool that lets you create an online store with ease. The choices are many when it comes to picking an ecommerce website builder, with each provider promising to help build an online store with a diverse set of features and functions.
Sorting out the technical, software related details and choosing the best online store builder based on your requirement can be daunting. However, the success of an online web store could mean a significant addition to your existing revenue stream, and an increase in customer base. The goal is lofty, but doable – and the results are well worth the effort!
Before you get started, keep yourself well- informed about the available software solutions and the features that they have to offer.
Trends in e-commerce are constantly changing and the same holds true for e-commerce software solutions. Developers are shifting their pricing schemes, adding new functions and features, and thinking of new ways to help you sell products in the ecommerce space easily. So keep an eye out about what the different providers are up to – you might just find a software solution that fits your requirements like a glove!
There are two ways by which you can build an ecommerce store—hosted ecommerce software and self-hosted open source ecommerce software.
The choice between the two depends on the degree of customization you’re looking for and the volume of products you’re aiming to sell. Hosted ecommerce software is the most popular choice and here, we deal with the various ecommerce store builders that fall under it.
Hosted Ecommerce Software
You don’t need any technical know-how to run your store if you choose hosted ecommerce software. This is an ideal choice for business owners who just want to focus on their businesses and do not have the time, or the patience to become technically sound regarding the details, while running an online store.
Hosted ecommerce software are more user-friendly and the perfect choice for you if:
- You don’t want to host your site or deal with its security and other technical issues
- You’re looking for built-in tools and features like payment gateways and product management, with minimal configuration from your end
- You can easily to build your ecommerce website with drag and drop options and no coding
Benefits
The benefits of opting for a hosted ecommerce software solution are many and some of them include:
- Building a highly functional ecommerce website becomes very easy and your store becomes ready in a couple of days
- Coding skills are not required to handle the store and its functions
- You don’t need to invest in hiring a software development team
- Dedicated support teams are always at your service and look after all the technical requirements of your site
In short, this is the easiest and fastest way of taking your retail store online. The choices are many when it comes to online store builders and it isn’t easy to make a decision. There are many factors you need to consider while choosing one and some of them are given below.
Factors To Choose While Choosing An Ecommerce Store Builder
You’ll encounter difficulties while choosing an online store builder, especially if this is your first time. Here are the factors that you need to keep in mind:
Stock Size
Stock size is one of the first things that you need to consider. Not all platforms can handle large stock sizes. If your company is a big one and you intend to sell thousands of products, you can use Shopify, BigCommerce, or Magento.
Digital Or Physical Products
What are you selling? If you’re selling physical goods, you need to choose a platform that can look after shipping needs.
Payment Method
There are a number of payment methods used by ecommerce stores in India. Make sure that the platform you choose, offers you popular payment gateways.
Price
Budget is one of the most important things that you need to consider and it should be something that suits your budget. It’s best to look for options where you can make monthly payments instead giving a small percentage of your sale to the hosting platform.
Depending upon your requirements, you need to make a choice among the most popular ecommerce software. Ease of use, flexibility and customisation options, and availability of apps to increase the functionality of your store, are other important factors to keep in mind while choosing the right e-commerce software for your business.
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