How to choose an ecommerce platform?
One of the questions that every retailer always asks is what the best way is when it comes to choosing an ecommerce platform. All of this will depend on a series of factors, and through this article, we will unfold all the things you should consider when choosing your ecommerce platform.
What product will you be selling?
When it comes to products, we enter a point where the platform matters a lot. If you are going to sell complex products with many attributes (product characteristics), it is essential to ensure that the ecommerce platform has a product grid, which is the feature that allows you to have price variations for products regardless of whether they are similar products with only differentiating elements like color and size. This way, you can facilitate user interaction with the product and maximize your sales.
What size will you have?
We always have to think about scale when planning to open an ecommerce. Think about whether you want to be a small local store or a national site, whether you will invest heavily in online media or just invest a little at the beginning, as all of this will affect the hosting structure needed for your ecommerce platform. Remember that cheap cloud stores do not offer robust hosting; if you need this, you should opt for larger platforms like VTEX or Magento hosted on an individual account on Amazon.
Are you an Ecommerce or a Marketplace?
To choose your ecommerce platform, understand the difference between simple e-commerce and marketplace. The Marketplace has many other functionalities that allow you to have suppliers who deliver the product directly and pay you a commission for your sale. This format encompasses the drop shipping logistics model, which eliminates the need for the retailer's inventory. If you choose this platform model, ask your supplier about these features.
Do you want to open a B2B or B2C?
Another fundamental question to ask when choosing your ecommerce platform is whether your sales are for end customers or for businesses. Besides all the tax issues to be raised, the buying process is entirely different. In B2B, buyers are companies and need to have customized price lists as well as different payment methods, such as the post-invoicing model. Often, there is an interaction between seller and buyer in the order and approval model. Ask your supplier if the platform supports B2B transactions and how these features work within it.