Which eCommerce platform should we use?

The online retail business, as well as the eCommerce platforms that support it, is a fiercely competitive market. According to G2, businesses can choose from over eCommerce systems.

A single person will not be able to sift through hundreds of possibilities in order to discover the best solution. So, I went over the top5 most popular eCommerce platforms and compared them side by side so you can make an informed decision based on your own requirements.

What are the different types of eCommerce platforms?

When it comes to selecting an eCommerce platform, you have5 different types to choose from, as shown below.

1.      Build your own eCommerce platform

2.      Traditional eCommerce platform

3.      Open-source eCommerce platform

4.      Cloud eCommerce platform

5.      SaaS eCommerce platform

1. Build your own platforms

While this is more of a method than a type of eCommerce platform, it requires you to contract someone either internally or externally to develop it. As mentioned earlier, this is less common nowadays. But if your business is very niche and has a specific set of needs and requirements that none of the commercial eCommerce platform can offer, then this might be your only option.

2. Traditional platforms

With this type of platform, you purchase a licence fee upfront, which you renew annually. Your IT team and team of developers will then build and customize on top of the platform and then install it either on-premise or into the cloud. Examples of traditional platforms include Kentico, Hybris, Oracle Commerce and IBM Digital Commerce.

3. Open source platforms

Similar to traditional platforms where you follow the same development procedure, the main difference is that you don’t incur an upfront cost in purchasing a license. However, you do have to pay for initial development, implementation, ongoing development, upgrades and migration. An example of an open source eCommerce platform is Magento.

4. Cloud platforms

Cloud platforms are a little murky. Some traditional and open source platforms have bolted onto a hosting system and now call themselves cloud platforms. Examples include Magento Enterprise Cloud, Demandware, Salesforce Commerce and Volusion.

5. SaaS platforms

eCommerce platforms that are provided as SaaS are generally built on a single codebase. Everyone who utilizes an eCommerce SaaS platform experience the same technology for a fixed monthly fee that covers server use, maintenance, security and upgrades.

Best Ecommerce Platforms: The Top Picks

1.      Shopify (and Shopify Plus)

2.      Wix

3.      Magento

4.      BigCommerce

5.      Woocommerce

Pick any of them for your ecommerce app development or You can contact WebClues Infotech, a top eCommerce app development firm, to develop your eCommerce app.