If you are running an eCommerce website, a large part of your success is dependent upon the quality of your website. A reliable website gives you a chance to show off your products in the most effective way. A poorly designed website will negatively impact the user experience, compelling your audience to seek alternatives.
Developing a reliable, custom eCommerce website is all about using the right platforms. In this piece, we’ll look at the top 10 technologies or platforms to help you build a custom eCommerce platform that stands out. Before we get into the world of eCommerce technologies, let’s get to know more about custom eCommerce sites.
What Do We Mean By Custom eCommerce Websites?
A custom eCommerce website is designed specifically to address an online store’s unique needs and requirements. Each aspect of the store, including the design, features, and functions, is customized to reflect the brand identity. It makes it easier to differentiate your store from others.
The alternative is to make use of ready-made templates. While it saves time, your website will find it challenging to differentiate itself. The reason is that competitors might use the same template as you. It would impact your ability to improve brand recognition and build a loyal customer feedback base.
Technologies for Building a Custom eCommerce Website
When we talk about technologies, we refer to the platforms users can use to create a custom website. These platforms include:
1. WooCommerce
When we talk about content management systems (CMS), undoubtedly, WordPress is the first name that pops up. It is quite popular among individuals and businesses due to its ease of use, large library of plugins, and other functionality. WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin that enables you to create eCommerce sites.
Once you opt for WooCommerce, you can opt for two options. The first is to use ready-made templates and customise them. However, the level of customisation is limited. The second option is to hire a reliable eCommerce development company and ask them to create a fully custom eCommerce store in WooCommerce.
WooCommerce is ideal if you deal with limited products. On top of it, there are numerous plugins that you can use to enhance the quality of your store. For instance, there are free and paid plugins for search engine optimisation. They make it easier to rank your store on search engines, thereby bringing more organic traffic.
2. Shopify
Indeed, it is the de facto leader in eCommerce platforms. It is entirely cloud-hosted, meaning users don’t have to worry about the infrastructure or any other technical details. All they need to do is select a plan that meets their requirements, add the products, and that’s it.
Shopify handles all other aspects. It is more than perfect for businesses that wish to set up their eCommerce business quickly and benefit from a leading platform. The downside is that as a fully cloud-hosted platform, Shopify has limitations on what you can customise.
Refer to this article to learn more about Shopify in detail.
3. Magento
If you wish to have a fully customised eCommerce store, look no further than Magento. It wouldn’t be wrong to conclude that it is the most powerful eCommerce platform. However, herein also lies its weakness. The platform can be quite complex, forcing businesses to rely upon dedicated experts.
The positive thing is that you have full control over every aspect of your store. You can literally customise everything in the store. We only recommend Magento if you plan to offer many products in your store or manage multiple stores through a single platform.
4. OpenCart
It is another popular open-source eCommerce platform that is becoming highly popular. Today, more than 300,000 eCommerce websites are using OpenCart. It is a significant achievement, especially considering there are numerous other powerful alternatives available.
What makes OpenCart popular is its user-friendly and limitless customisation options. The only problem we find in this platform is that ranking your store on search engines is a bit challenging. It does not mean that it is not SEO-friendly. Here are 5 proven strategies to boost your organic traffic through SEO to help your store. The platform also has multiple currency and language support.
5. PrestaShop
While it is a free, open-source platform, we recommend the paid version due to its customisation options and advanced features. In the paid version, eCommerce store owners are able to fully customise their store to reflect their unique brand identity. Apart from that, managing the store becomes quite easy.
For instance, the paid version includes VAT calculation, shipping, a premium theme, and a free subdomain. Ranking the store on search engines is relatively easier compared to other platforms due to its native SEO-friendly approach. You can also buy paid modules to further enhance your online visibility.
6. Drupal Commerce
As a store owner, your sole focus must be on growing your business. If you frequently need to look into the technical aspects of your online store, then you are using the wrong eCommerce technology. Drupal Commerce lets you focus on growing your business while it handles the rest.
Even today, modern technologies are not fully mobile-responsive. It makes it extremely difficult for eCommerce store owners to fully capture the target market as most users rely upon mobile devices. Drupal Commerce is mobile-ready, making it convenient for users to browse your store on any device.
7. BigCommerce
Most eCommerce information technology blog platforms focus on either B2B or B2C. BigCommerce can handle both without issue. The best thing about this eCommerce technology is that it allows owners to sell online and offline, allowing them to maximise their reach. Interestingly, it has custom solutions for different industries.
For instance, most platforms shy away from CBD products, but BigCommerce has a dedicated category for this industry. The visual page editor is a blessing for users without coding skills. A person can set up a mobile responsive and SEO-friendly page in a matter of a few minutes.
8. Wix
Next, we have Wix. Most of us know it through YouTube ads because the company has invested heavily in online ads to capture user attention. What makes Wix popular among eCommerce store owners is its drag-and-drop builder. This feature allows users to set up intuitive eCommerce stores in a matter of minutes.
You can choose from many templates made by professionals. Although they are customisable, they do have limitations. But the benefit of these templates is that you can set up a store in a few steps. Apart from that, adding and managing products is quite simple, meaning you don’t need a dedicated team for it.
9. Square Online
Square Online is a fast-rising eCommerce platform, primarily due to its ease of use. It has a built-in inventory management system that makes it easier for the store to keep an eye on the inventory. Its advanced reporting features allow the owner to develop customised strategies for each product to maximise profitability.
It is easily integrated with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Given the importance of social media in increasing the reach of your online store, this is truly a much-needed feature. While customisation is possible, it is somewhat limited compared to other platforms. Yet, it still allows you to create unique stores.
10. Zoho Commerce
India is amongst the first names that come up when we talk about technology, particularly IT. The country’s youth are spearheading one innovation after the other. Zoho Commerce is the result of this innovation-focused approach. It contains all the necessary tools to help you not only build but grow a successful eCommerce store.
There is a drag-and-drop functionality that makes setting up a page quite easy. If you are uncomfortable with that, opt for the professional templates. You can customise them to suit your unique brand identity. Connecting with payment gateways is hassle-free, and the platform even allows you to cater to offline payments.
Conclusion
In the end, all we can say is that all 10 platforms allow you to create powerful, custom eCommerce websites. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which platform you wish to use. Remember, all platforms have their pros and cons. It is better to share your requirements with an expert eCommerce development company and let them guide you about which eCommerce technology meets your needs the best.
Lastly, your eCommerce store is only as good as your product quality and customer service. If you have an engaging website but lack product quality and customer service, then you’ll have a challenging time convincing your audience. So, never compromise on product quality or customer service.
