What was the last eCommerce website you visited? Did you find any missing or obsolete features? Do you think the search filters could be improved? Was the checkout process smooth and intuitive? All these and other user-oriented experiences stem from the eCommerce platform that is in use in an eCommerce website. It has a direct bearing on customer experience and shopping journeys. But businesses need to see more than that. Here are four important reasons, or also considerations, for choosing the right platform for an eCommerce website.
Suits the Business Situation
The broadest and yet most important consideration in the selection of an eCommerce platform is whether it will suit the business and its constraints and requirements. There are three types of eCommerce platforms – SaaS, PaaS, and On-Premises platforms.
A SaaS platform is an ideal solution for startups or new businesses. It saves them time and effort otherwise required to go into developing or customising a detailed solution.
PaaS platforms are suitable for growing businesses that require software customizability. While SaaS platforms often come in standardised forms, PaaS grants the opportunity for software adaptation to meet dynamic business requirements.
In the third type i.e. On-Premises platforms, businesses develop and maintain their eCommerce platform on their own. This type is preferred by large companies. The requirements of big retail and eCommerce brands call for high levels of customisations that ideally are challenging to fit into standard solutions available in the market.
Flexibility, Adaptability, Scalability
ECommerce websites are subject to frequent changes. These changes are necessary for staying relevant in terms of technology, UX, CX, competitiveness, proactive changes, and a host of other factors. For instance, if a direct competitor brings in new features, incorporating the same or similar features becomes necessary. Or if some new features have to be added to a website, the platform must allow for it. While one platform product may not give everything, it is critical to examine the degrees of adaptability or customizability or scalability offered by different products. So, instead of looking for the best eCommerce platforms, one should emphasise the offered features.
Costing
The subscription prices for most entry-level products with basic features are not significantly high. But as the business requirements get more complicated, additional features and services become necessary. Also, different types of eCommerce platforms lie in different price brackets. In general, PaaS is a more expensive solution than SaaS. And for any large company, setting up the on-premise platform infrastructure is the most expensive of all. The problem is not so grave for entry-level or small businesses whose requirements are generally capable of being fulfilled by SaaS products. As business requirements become more complicated, the required platform features and solutions also respond correspondingly with higher price tags.
Integrations
Integrations are necessary for an eCommerce platform to meet cross-functional business process and decision-making requirements. It allows businesses to operate in an enterprise-wide synchronised manner. The requirements of integrations vary from business to business. For example, some platforms allow automated email marketing based on customer activities on an eCommerce website. Both the marketing and IT processes need to stand integrated to give effect to such email marketing or retargeting.
The format or delivery of any eCommerce platform product falls into one of these three types – SaaS, PaaS, and On-Premises. Each type has its own merits and demerits that must match the unique requirements of every eCommerce business. And, on a reiterating note, businesses should not go by the standard of which are the most popular eCommerce platforms; the focus should rather be on what suits the business requirements, now as well as going into the future.
About the author Nikhil Agarwal is the COO of Your Retail Coach. He specialises in process and SOP solutions. He has completed his MBA in International Business & Finance from the United Kingdom. With more than 10 years of experience in spearheading SOP implementation projects for clients, Nikhil has worked with 500+ business enterprises in 25+ verticals.