There are basically three types of e-commerce platforms on the market, from which you, the entrepreneur planning to create an online store soon, will have to choose one. See below the differences between each of them before making your decision:
1. Low-end e-commerce platform:
– Rent with monthly payment
– Fast implementation
– Rent is sold in plans or packages
– The price of each package varies according to the movement of the virtual store
– Low implementation cost
– Low customization power
– Platform developer supports
– Low dependence on Information Technology (IT) staff
– Administration and interventions can be done by the store owner
– Hosting is established by the platform developer
Poor scalability
2. “High-end” e-commerce platform:
– High customization power with free CMS code
– High implementation cost
– High maintenance cost
– Performance makes up for the cost
– Slow implementation
– Requires professional staff for interventions
– High scalability power
Omni -channel
– High power of extension integration
– Integration with CRM, ERP, WMS and other platforms
– Extensions produced by partner developers
3. “Open Source” e-commerce platform:
– Open source code, which allows deep adaptations
– free code
– Requires downloading, installing and adapting code
– IT staff for deployment and support can be very expensive
– High customization power
– High power of extension integration
– High availability of extensions created by partner vendors
– Integration with CRM, ERP, WMS and other platforms via API
– Slow implementation
– Requires advanced IT support
– The user establishes the hosting wherever he wants
– Requires a professional team to carry out interventions
– Scalability and security require extra care
The trend among most entrepreneurs who have opened virtual stores is to opt for a low-end platform, whose implementation cost is the most economical.
In addition to being cheaper at the beginning, low-end platforms are easy to use. The entrepreneur or administrator of the virtual store can make interventions in the layout without difficulties.
However, as the virtual store gains strength and space in the market, problems such as scalability begin to arise, which requires the installation of more advanced and customized extensions and applications, which a low-end platform will not be able to meet. . This will make you see your competitors easily overtake you and get the biggest and best share of the market within your business niche.
When it comes to scalability, a high-end platform is a better option than a low-end and Open Source, as it allows for free upgrades and customizations, with less complications and greater agility.
Therefore, before choosing your e-commerce platform, try to think about the results you want to achieve in the long term, that is, you will have to decide if you want an average virtual store in the future or if you want to be a leader within your market niche. .
