Ready to get started with your online business? Great! You should know there are many ecommerce solutions and tools that can make a big difference in your daily operations, and at different steps of the process. That’s why they’re such a great investment for saving time and boosting profits!
👀 In this post, we focus on defining what e-commerce solutions are and how they help you in setting up your e-commerce store. We highlight 5 types of solutions that can make a huge difference in growing your business. Let’s get started!
In this post, we explain:
An e-commerce solution refers to any software or platform that enables businesses to conduct business online with customers. It helps you manage your marketing, sales and operations.
Usually, it’s not a single particular solution, but can focus on a range of features like shopping carts, payment processing, shipping and logistics management, or customer service tools.
Types of e-commerce solutions typically include applications such as payment processors, full CRM tools (e.g. Zendesk), 360° e-commerce platforms (e.g. Shopify), suppliers for dropshipping, order and inventory solutions, as well as legal document generators (e.g. Terms and Conditions Generator). They can be divided into B2B categories with invoicing systems, bulk ordering, demos, etc. and B2C with payment processors, customer service, etc.
💡 Learn more about the pros of using ecommerce software solutions here.
One of the first things to consider when selecting an e-commerce platform is your budget. This doesn’t just involve the initial setup cost but also includes monthly or annual subscription fees.
Some platforms, like Shopify, may even charge fees for transactions that don’t go through Shopify Payments, on top of the subscription costs. Additionally, while basic features are usually part of the base subscription, advanced features or add-ons often come at an additional cost.
Make sure you’re clear on what you need and have a comprehensive understanding of pricing of various tools in order to make an informed decision.
Basic functionalities like order processing or payment gateways should be a given. However, as your business grows, you might need more advanced features like multi-language support, or abandoned cart recovery.
Consider that the platform should also be able to accommodate growth, whether it’s a rise in traffic, international expansion, or diversification of product lines.
Security is non-negotiable when you’re dealing with customer data and financial transactions, which will definitely happen in e-commerce. At the minimum, the platform should offer SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
Taking into consideration your own skills, you should try to understand how intuitive the various platforms are. This can directly impact how efficiently you are able to run your online store.
A well-designed user interface that’s easy to navigate can save a lot of time. Customization when it comes to open-source or SaaS software is also paramount. You’ll want to easily modify the store design, add or remove features, and make the platform work for your specific needs without needing technical skills.
Most platforms such as BigCommerce offer web hosting as part of their monthly subscription, which means you don’t need to search for third-party hosting or deal with the challenges of managing it.
The hosting environment and performance of the platform can directly influence customer experience and SEO ranking. A guaranteed uptime of at least 99.9% is generally advisable to minimize service interruptions. Page load speed is another critical factor; even a slight delay can lead to increased cart abandonment.
A platform with 24/7 support via various channels like chat, email, and phone can provide great peace of mind in case of issues when using it. Besides, platforms that have extensive documentation, tutorials, and an active community forum can help you troubleshoot issues and implement new features more efficiently.
Don’t underestimate the value of customer reviews and the general reputation of the platform. Online reviews can give you insights into the user experience, performance, and reliability of the platform.
Finally, some businesses may have unique requirements based on their industry. For instance, if you’re in the healthcare sector, your platform needs to be HIPAA-compliant. If you’re selling food products, you may need features that handle perishable goods. Check carefully because some platforms are more specialized than others for a specific business activity.
We’ve listed below some common basic steps and types of e-commerce solutions that your business could need to get started. However, know that your specific needs can vary depending on the size and type of activity.
An e-commerce platform is the foundation of an online store, and generally it has a large set of features that you need to get started.
It provides the basic tools to create product listings, handle website design and functionality, and manage orders (and more additional features!).
⚙️ Popular e-commerce platforms include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, and PrestaShop.
💡 Ready to set up your Shopify store? Read our checklist to make sure not to miss anything!
This is clearly a crucial component of an online store, since it enables your customers to make payments using their credit/debit cards or other online payment methods.
⚙️ Examples of payment processing solutions are PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, etc. While you can integrate them individually, they’re usually already included within the other web platforms mentioned above.
💡Make sure your payment process allows for safe transactions.
This step is dedicated to e-commerce businesses that sell physical products.
⚙️ For shipping and fulfillment, you take a look at the main carriers in your country such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. Some intermediaries like ShipStation or ShipBob can help to connect you to the right carrier and manage your orders.
⚙️ If you have trouble keeping track of your stock levels, you may need an inventory management solution like SkuVault, Cin7 or Zoho Inventory.
Don’t want to be in charge of inventory or warehousing? Dropshipping is a unique business model that allows you to start an online retail store without the need to keep physical stock. Some popular platforms are Alibaba and AliExpress, but there are many other alternatives!
💡 Not sure how dropshipping work? Find out all that you need to know in this beginner’s guide
A customer relationship management platform is great for managing your interactions with customers, including sales, support, and marketing. Examples of CRM solutions are Salesforce or HubSpot.
For communicating and building long-lasting relationships with customers or potential leads, email marketing services like Mailchimp or Omnisend could be interesting. To promote your brand, you can use advertising tools like Facebook and Instagram Ads.
This is a critical step in setting up your online business.
If you engage in commerce online, there are mandatory legal requirements that apply to you.
Disclosures like withdrawal rights and warranty information are required under consumer law, and these statements are typically included in your Terms and Conditions document.
Terms and Conditions are legal documents meant to protect you from fines and liabilities, so make sure that they’re professional and custom-fitted to your particular business.
Ecommerce solutions like iubenda’s powerful Terms and Conditions Generator can help you to create a professional document in minutes.
👉 See it in action below and try it risk free!
Attorney-level solutions to make your websites and apps compliant with the law across multiple countries and legislations.