Ecommerce platforms provide online businesses with tools to facilitate the shopping process for their clients. They also help avoid system failures, technical issues, and other obstacles that detract from a customer’s shopping experience.
Choosing the perfect eCommerce platform starts with understanding your digital commerce objectives and anticipating future needs. To that end, we’ve identified five critical criteria to consider as you narrow your options.
Scalability
A fast and scalable eCommerce platform is crucial to a business’s success. In this age of Google’s “Micro-moments,” customers expect a lightning-fast experience when searching for products or services online.
Today’s ecommerce platforms use cloud computing infrastructures to scale data storage capacity, processing power, and networking capabilities quickly and without downtime. This is a big difference from years ago when climbing involved upgrading physical servers, a process that could take weeks or months and cost a fortune.
You may consider scalability important, like how to start an online boutique. A fast and scalable platform can also help ensure your site is up during peak shopping times. No one wants to lose a sale because of a slow or glitchy checkout. So, when choosing an ecommerce platform, look for one with a full, out-of-the-box shopping cart optimized for speed.
Convenience
It’s easy to get swept up in the popularity of an eCommerce platform or the bells and whistles it offers. However, the most critical selection factor is focusing on your business objectives and customer needs.
Online buyers expect personalized experiences when they shop, so look for a platform that helps you keep track of their preferences and sends them recommendations. And, because online customers come from all over the world at different times of day, look for a platform that allows you to have robust and capable customer support.
It’s also a good idea to find out how many marketing features are included in the platform you’re considering. That way, you can learn more about your customers and market to them in the future.
Integrations
Providing customers with an efficient shopping experience means having all the necessary tools. You’ll need many one-click apps and built-in integrations that make your online store easier to manage.
For example, integrating your website with live chat software will help you address customer inquiries and provide them with high-level service at any point in their journey. This is a great way to ensure customer satisfaction, integral to any business’s success.
You’ll also need an ecommerce platform that can synchronize important data across platforms automatically. A good example is a product information management solution (PIM). It lets you enrich product-related content in just a few clicks and distribute it across various sales channels.
Ease of Use
Whether selling on social media, marketplaces, or retail sales sites, your online boutique should integrate seamlessly with these channels. A seamless, multichannel experience makes it easy for customers to buy and pay. This ecommerce platform should also be PCI compliant and have secure data backups.
Lastly, you want a platform to provide accurate feedback on how consumers interact with your business. This will help you make informed decisions about your business’s future.
Picking the perfect ecommerce platform is a challenging feat. However, if you are well-versed in your business’s objectives and goals, it is easier to find the right platform. This will ensure that your online boutique can grow and prosper. Good luck!
Security
Since an online boutique is a digital platform that actively takes financial payments, its security should be one of your top priorities. Proper security protocols will help you build trust with your online customers, which is crucial for converting them into paying clients.
To increase your security, look for a platform that offers multiple payment methods. This will make your business more attractive to customers as they can choose from their preferred payment method. Some platforms provide fully integrated payments, while others require you to set up these methods independently.
Additionally, you should consider if the platform has a secure SSL certificate and protects your data from hackers. These platforms also include a risk assessment tool that helps you identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
