What are E-Commerce Platforms?
An e-commerce platform is a software designed for companies to manage all of the operations involved with the online sales of products or services in one place. These platforms centralise product data and customer data to provide companies with a comprehensive digital platform. In this space, businesses can manage product information, customise store content and process payments and online transactions.
Typically, e-commerce platforms are designed for B2C sales allowing companies direct access to their customer base. Through these platforms, businesses can focus on managing the sale of their physical products, inventory and shipping. Yet, more than that, these platforms can offer additional features for digital products especially when integrated with other software.
5 Best E-Commerce Platforms
1. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is one of the leading SAAS commerce platforms. It helps merchants, regardless of the size of their business, to grow their online presence. They are known for their sophisticated tools allowing companies the most state-of-the-art options for customisation and performance, coupled with user-friendliness and simplicity.
Features:
- Checkout Process & Payment Processing
- Secure Platform
- Content Management & Configured Products
- Product Visualisation & Storefront Design Tools
2. Ecwid
Ecwid is already used by thousands of merchants across 175 countries. Known as one of the most user-frindly solutions not he market, Ecwid allows businesses to add an online store to any website or social media profile. It allows you to bring together customer data and manage all clients in one neat platform, regardless of their channel (including physical stores). Their seamless point-of-sale integrations mean that you can manage all stages of the shopping process in real-time from anywhere in the world.
Features:
- Storefront Design Tools
- Checkout Process & Payment Processing
- Order Management & Shipping Options
- Platform Customisation
3. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin especially for e-commerce businesses. This is favoured by many companies, especially those just starting out. The platform is available for free and includes many different shop facilities and features which can be seamlessly integrated into any self-hosted WordPress website. Already, WooCommerce helps over 24% of all online shops, regardless of the product or service.
Features:
- Order Management & Shipping Options
- Secure Platform
- Content Management
- Checkout & Payment Processing
4. Salesforce B2C Commerce
- Content Management
- Checkout Process & Payment Processing
- Platform Customisation
- Shipping Options & Order Management
5. Shopify
- Content Management
- Checkout, Payment and Tax Processing
- Storefront Design Tools & Product Visualisation
- Order Management
How Much Do E-Commerce Platforms Cost?
The price of e-commerce services will depend on the platform. For example, WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin. For those just getting started in the world of e-commerce this could be a low-risk option with more basic features to get their products live.
Typically, the more features available, the higher the price and most e-commerce platforms operate with different subscription plans. Shopify has a price of $29 per month. Standard plans for BigCommerce also begin at around $29 monthly. The most basic plan for Ecwid begins at $15 per month, heading to $99 monthly for the more complex plans.
Many platforms also offer customised plans to suit the specific needs of your business.
Does My Business Need an E-Commerce Platform?
E-commerce platforms have many benefits for companies. They allow them the ability to manage their online stores and all of the relevant aggregated data in one space including product details, inventory, pricing and discounts, customer information (both addresses and payment information). E-commerce platforms can also help to attract new buyers, track online sales and address any potential post-purchase issues.
For anyone looking to sell products online, e-commerce software is a crucial tool that can save a lot of time for the company and maximise sales.
What do E-Commerce Platforms Include?
Depending on the platform, e-commerce solutions typically include the following:
- Manage e-commerce products and services
- Assist companies in helping them run their e-commerce business in one unified platform
- Provide a database of customers with the ability to track and manage them, their order history and online behaviour
- Offer security or encryption of data and information in line with regulations
- Allow payment facilities for companies including multiple payment options and gateways
- Offer features for integration with drop shipping and inventory management software
- Customisable options to create online stores
Who are E-Commerce Platforms For?
E-commerce platforms have many potential users spanning from employees of the e-commerce company in various departments, partners and suppliers, all the way to the end of the supply chain with the final customer or client.
Within a company, the most relevant departments to use this kind of software would be the Product Management Team, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service.
Partners, suppliers and distributors may also use these platforms as a way of selling to a final client through a third-party. This allows them access to information about inventory and potentially customer information as well.
Customers use e-commerce plans to find and buy products and services. This should be taken into consideration when choosing a platform as customer user-friendless and clarity is a way of maximising potential sales.