You’ve decided to start your own online store, but besides a business plan and choosing products or services, there’s one key element without which everything else wouldn’t work – the e-commerce platform. Choosing the best e-commerce platform for online stores is crucial, as the right solution can streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and boost sales. Keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every business. The choice depends on the size of your store, the number of products, and the features you want to have. So it’s important to find the option that best fits your needs.
Many people think an e-commerce platform is just a tool used to display your products and allow purchases by customers. In reality, it’s much more than that. An e-commerce platform is a software solution that allows companies to manage their virtual products, marketing activities, sales, and other operations. At the same time, it enables entrepreneurs to establish direct communication with their target audience, making it easier to convey their message.
Simply put, an e-commerce platform is a virtual store, but it offers many more advantages that help you increase sales, expand your customer base, and gather all your data in one place to create the most effective strategies.
It’s important to know from the start that there’s no perfect platform for every type of store, and different e-commerce platforms offer different features and options. That’s why before choosing the right platform, focus on the following key factors:
Price is undoubtedly an important factor to consider, but it shouldn’t be the only criterion when choosing a platform. To make an informed decision, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research, comparing different platform features and pricing. Some platforms may offer more capabilities at competitive prices, while others charge extra for the same functions.
Before making a final decision, clearly define your online store’s needs and choose the platform that offers the best value for money.
When opening your own online store, one key element is the payment method. In recent years, online payment methods have developed rapidly, and many e-commerce platforms offer integration with various digital options. Some of the most popular include PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
These options, also known as digital wallets, are among the fastest and most convenient ways to pay for goods purchased online. It’s important to review the payment options each platform offers and choose the most suitable for your store. For example, if you sell internationally, Amazon Pay or Apple Pay are essential options to include in your payment system.
A new entrepreneur who has just launched their online store will need 24/7 technical support. Unexpected issues can arise at any time, and it’s important to have a team of specialists ready to help when problems occur.
Some e-commerce platforms provide support only during business hours. But what if your platform crashes on the weekend, when traffic is highest? This could lead to serious losses in both user traffic and sales, negatively affecting your business.
Having accessible and effective technical support when you really need it should be one of the main factors to consider when choosing an e-commerce platform.
As mentioned, every platform offers different functions. As a business owner, besides core elements like products and payment methods, you should also consider marketing and promotional features.
Some platforms have built-in marketing tools such as automated abandoned cart emails, newsletters, loyalty programs, or daily deals. The more options a platform provides, the easier it is to diversify strategies and increase your online store’s long-term success.
An online store holds a large database of personal information, which comes with a responsibility to protect it. Make sure your chosen platform offers strong protection against hackers and data theft. A secure platform provides features such as PCI compliance, SSL certificates, data backups, and fraud prevention alerts.
Since we’re talking about an online store selling physical products, delivery plays a key role in your business’s success. Without a reliable partner ensuring timely and secure delivery, customer satisfaction and long-term profitability can suffer.
When selecting an e-commerce platform, check if it allows integration with the courier services you plan to use. For example, Sameday services can be easily integrated through APIs, plugins, or third-party integrations, providing seamless and efficient logistics for your online store.
It’s no secret that more businesses are moving online and using various e-commerce platforms. This growth has led to a significant increase in the number of platforms, both Bulgarian and international. Beyond the platform itself and its capabilities, another key element to consider when building your online store is the type of platform on which it will be built.
Depending on the type of platform that best suits your business model, you can make the best final choice.
These platforms feature open-source code freely available to users, allowing customization and adaptation according to the programmer’s needs. This makes them highly flexible and easily adaptable.
However, this freedom comes with responsibilities, including manual updates, site security, and PCI compliance. Some open-source platforms are cloud-hosted, while others require your own server. Management requires technical skills, so it’s recommended to rely on an experienced programmer. Examples include Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, WooCommerce, and Shopware.
SaaS platforms are among the most popular e-commerce solutions. They are developed and maintained by specialized companies and used via monthly subscription. This model provides all resources to create an online store from scratch, making it a quick and easy solution for startups and growing businesses.
SaaS platforms suit new or small to medium businesses in creative industries, food, and handmade products. The software is web-based and offers ready-made templates. Security, updates, and technical support are handled by the service provider. Popular SaaS platforms include Shopify, Wix, BigCommerce, and Shopmania.
If you want flexibility of open-source platforms with SaaS convenience, PaaS is an option. It’s great for businesses wanting more control over their online store without handling maintenance, security, or manual updates. Popular PaaS platforms include Oracle CX Commerce.
WooCommerce is one of the most popular open-source e-commerce solutions, built on WordPress. It’s ideal for small to medium online stores with a limited product range that don’t want to spend heavily on a website.
This free platform holds a 29% global market share due to its ease of installation and use. WooCommerce offers essential features like order tracking, customer engagement, delivery updates, inventory management, and more. It also enables the creation of a sustainable online store that is highly SEO-friendly.
Pros:
Full control over your store
Highly customizable
Extensive extensions and tools
Supports physical, digital, and subscription products
Advanced security options
CRM integration
SEO-friendly
Cons:
Requires WordPress site
Some add-ons are paid
Too many plugins can slow site
OpenCart is a free, open-source platform designed for online commerce. Its flexibility comes from full access to the source code, allowing businesses to customize it to their needs. Running on PHP and MySQL servers, all updates and downloads are free, making it a suitable choice for small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets.
Pros:
Low resource usage
Fast loading
Easy installation
Multi-language support
Detailed reporting
Payment compatibility
Multiple store management
Cons:
SEO can be challenging
Some modules may conflict
Large inventory may slow site
Checkout process slower for high volume
Shopify is one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms and ranks second among SaaS solutions for online stores. As a subscription-based platform, it gives users access to customizable templates and powerful tools for marketing, sales, and enhancing the customer experience from day one. Many entrepreneurs choose Shopify because it allows selling through their own website, social media, and online marketplaces, expanding their business reach.
Pros:
Wide theme selection
User-friendly interface
1,200+ apps for store optimization
24/7 support
Strong security
Fast checkout
Cons:
Higher costs for premium features
Limited SEO customization
Limited site personalization
Difficult migration
Adobe Commerce is a modern e-commerce platform built on the foundation of Magento. It enables businesses to create and manage online stores that can scale alongside their growth. Thanks to its connection with the Adobe ecosystem, the platform offers additional tools for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the customer experience.
Pros:
Suitable for small and large businesses
Customization options
Integration with Adobe tools
Scalability
Cons:
Higher cost
Complex setup
Requires technical resources
CloudCart is a Bulgarian e-commerce platform that works as a SaaS solution. With it, you can easily build and manage an online store without having technical skills. The platform offers ready-made templates, automations, and integrations with couriers, payment systems, and marketing tools – everything you need to quickly launch and grow your online business.
Many entrepreneurs choose it because it is designed specifically for the Bulgarian market, but at the same time, it also allows expansion into international markets.
Pros:
Localized for Bulgaria
Integrates with couriers and payment systems
Marketing and order automation
SEO-friendly
Supports local and international sales
Local support
Cons:
Fewer external apps compared to global platforms
Limited code customization
Smaller community
After reviewing key criteria and the most popular solutions, you are one step closer to creating a successful online store. Choosing the right platform helps you build the store, generate sales, optimize marketing processes, and grow your business – from a small startup to an established brand.
Since every online store needs a trusted partner for reliable deliveries, the Sameday team is here for you.
Sign up today and start delivering with Sameday as soon as your online store is ready. With our extensive network of easybox and Sameday point locations, you can offer customers convenience and freedom to receive their orders in the most suitable way.
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