Selling your products through an ecommerce platform doesn’t require much skills to set everything up and provide a quick start. Small businesses are especially the beneficent here, as they try to go beyond traditional brick and mortar stores and open up for online audiences. With the help of ecommerce platforms they don’t need to open their own online store. In today’s article we are going to focus on what an eCommerce platform really is and what are some of the best ecommerce software solutions in 2023, for pursuing a successful online store management.
All you should know about an eCommerce platform
Electronic commerce, or eCommerce in short, can be described at its core as an activity of purchasing goods and services online. In today’s digital era online sales have become a major source of shopping for people, revolutionizing the way companies connect with customers. Countless businesses view eCommerce solutions as a way to create personalized shopping experiences and compete with others.
We can determine multiple types of ecommerce, depending on the desired customers:
Business to Business (B2B)
Here, the customer of an online store is another business that either uses services or places larger transactions. They usually provide wide customization of products, ex. companies doing personalized corporate merchandise. Amazon remains one of the biggest platforms to do B2B online business having multiple ecommerce functionalities and support.
Business to Consumer (B2C)
The most common ecommerce solution out there, where single customers purchase goods and services. These are online stores, eCommerce marketplaces or websites of brick and mortar stores. According to the business strategy you choose, there are several models to go for: retail, dropshipping or even wholesale.
Consumer to Consumer (C2C)
If you sold anything through Vinted or Ebay, then you already know what a C2C commerce platform is. A large marketplace that gathers users that no longer need their items or on the contrary, search for something rare and vintage.
Business online can be done either through a personal website of a company, or through an ecommerce software solution that offers a wide range of online activities. Some of the key features of them are shopping cart software, payment processing, or advanced search engine optimization to improve the online selling process. Let’s review some of the most popular e commerce platforms that are on the market.
Best software solutions in 2023
1. WooComerce
Designed for all sized merchants, WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress users. It allows them to transform their websites into online stores and widely customize it. Popular for its simplicity and easiness, it quickly became one of the fastest growing e-commerce platforms allowing users to manage inventory, process payments and design the layout. Currently, about 3,9 million stores are hosted through WooCommerce.
2. Shopware
Shopware is a German based e-commerce platform that offers both on-premises and cloud software. It provides a complex set of ecommerce operations tools needed to run a successful business: order management, marketing tools, third-party integration and a CRM software. Especially known for its scalability and cooperation with enterprises of all sizes.
3. Amazon
Without doubt, one of the most recognizable names in the business world. A platform having books, electronics and.. ecommerce services! Being one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, Amazon caters to regular customers, small businesses as well as major players on the market. For those who wish to sell there, a platform offers a wide range of functionalities such as customer satisfaction management, internal seo tools and “Fulfillment by Amazon”, which is a logistics service designed for smaller firms.
4. Shopify
One of the best ecommerce solutions out there. Founded in 2006, Shopify is a leading cloud-based ecommerce platform designed to create personalized shopping experiences. Clients can create and manage their ecommerce site without being particularly tech-savvy. Design layout, payments, CRM: you name it! They offer a free trial to try out their advanced features too.
5. Wix
Another leading ecommerce solution and the last one in this article is Wix. A popular website builder created to help businesses sell online. Especially helpful for those who just started their ecommerce journey. Apart from basic ecommerce features like pre-designed templates or drag-and-drop tools, they offer more advanced solutions too for those who demand more.
So, which eCommerce software solution is for you?
To become a successful online store, especially in 2023, you need to get visibility. Front page on the search engines. And that is done by advanced marketing tools which often are offered within the hosted ecommerce software. So no matter if you’re just in the beginning of your online journey or you already did some business in this sector, ecommerce software solutions can be promising in leveraging your business into the next level.
These platforms frequently come with built in features that help with both inventory management and even web hosting services. Even if you already sell your products elsewhere, they’re great platforms for advertising and gaining additional reach: consider that there are many people that prefer buying from Amazon or other ecommerce online stores for their cheap shipping cost and other features.
So which one should you choose for your business? As always, it all depends ;). If you are a beginner and are just getting into the world of ecommerce solutions, go for Shopify. If your business is based on WordPress, the easiest way would be starting with WooCommerce. Wix, on the other hand, works best for individuals and smaller online stores. And if you ever need any advice regarding ecommerce software, we’re here for you. Good luck!
