E-commerce is the activity of electronically buying or selling of products on online services or over the Internet. Customers come to the website or online marketplace and purchase products using electronic payments. Upon receiving the money, the merchant ships the goods or provides the service.
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- Faster buying process.
- Store and product listing creation.
- Cost reduction.
- Affordable advertising and marketing.
- Flexibility for customers.
- No reach limitations.
- Product and price comparison.
- Faster response to buyer/market demands.
E-commerce solutions are the products and services that help a company conduct business electronically. The range of available e-commerce solutions is vast, including those that allow traditional businesses to design, create, and operate World Wide Web sites. Some solutions focus on a specific problem.
There are three main types of e-commerce: business-to-business (websites such as Shopify), business-to-consumer (websites such as Amazon), and consumer-to-consumer (websites such as eBay).
Do I need an ecommerce platform to sell online? Yes, you need an ecommerce platform to sell products online. The only alternatives to an ecommerce platform are: Building one from scratch, which is out of the question for most businesses — and only justifiable for multimillion (or multi billion) dollar companies.
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- Understand Your Target Market.
- Know Your Target Customers.
- Features and Customizations.
- Identify Your Key Competitors.
- Determine What Technology They are Using.
- Feature Comparison.
- Document Your Features List.
- Third-party Integrations.
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- Shopify.
- Magento Commerce.
- 3DCart.
- BigCommerce.
- WooCommerce.
- Squarespace.
- Volusion.
- Prestashop.
Disadvantages of e-commerce
One of the most important disadvantages of e-commerce can be a lack of reliability and security because of poor implementation.
The other factor is user resistance as most people are not comfortable in making a purchase without trying or physically touching the product.
Huge abandon Rate. Branding leads to trust, but before you reach a good conversion, you have to spend massively on building a respectable brand, where people will not hesitate to make a purchase.
Your selling price includes shipping – which lowers your profits significantly. Competing with bigger e commerce companies which offer free shipping hence selling becomes a challenge, as your product price is more to the customer.
Need to retain customers – constantly engaging them with new offers, offering discounts by e-mailers to bring them back, creating innovative strategies requires experienced e commerce management team, which costs a lot and adds to operations cost.
To be successful from the very start, it requires deep pockets for advertising budget, celebrity endorsements or a great, one of a kind, unique, innovative, consumer friendly product available nowhere else!
An e-commerce solution refers to a comprehensive set of tools, software, and services designed to enable businesses to sell products or services online. It typically includes features such as website creation, product catalog management, secure payment processing, inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. E-commerce solutions can range from simple platforms for small businesses to complex enterprise-level systems for larger organizations. These solutions help businesses establish an online presence, reach a wider audience, streamline operations, and facilitate seamless transactions, ultimately driving revenue growth in the digital marketplace. Examples of e-commerce solutions include:
Shopify:
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows businesses to set up online stores quickly and easily.
It offers a wide range of customizable templates, secure payment options, and integrated marketing tools.
Website: https://www.shopify.com/
WooCommerce:
WooCommerce is a customizable e-commerce platform built on WordPress.
It offers flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to create online stores of all sizes.
With a wide range of extensions and themes, WooCommerce can be tailored to suit various business needs.
Website: https://woocommerce.com/
Squarespace:
Squarespace is a website builder that also offers e-commerce functionality.
It provides a range of customizable templates, integrated payment options, and marketing tools.
Squarespace is user-friendly and suitable for businesses looking to create a professional online presence.
Website: https://www.squarespace.com/
Wix:
Wix is a popular website builder that includes e-commerce capabilities.
It offers customizable templates, secure payment options, and integrated marketing tools.
Wix is known for its ease of use, making it suitable for beginners and small businesses.
Website: https://www.wix.com/
3dcart:
3dcart is a feature-rich e-commerce platform that caters to businesses of all sizes.
It offers customizable templates, secure payment options, and advanced marketing tools.
With its robust backend system, 3dcart provides scalability and flexibility for growing businesses.
Website: https://www.3dcart.com/
PrestaShop:
PrestaShop is an open-source e-commerce platform known for its flexibility and ease of use.
It offers a range of features, including customizable storefronts, secure payment options, and marketing tools.
PrestaShop is suitable for businesses looking for a customizable solution without the need for extensive technical knowledge.
Website: https://www.prestashop.com/
OpenCart:
OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform known for its simplicity and ease of use.
It offers features such as customizable storefronts, secure payment options, and built-in marketing tools.
OpenCart is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable and easy-to-use e-commerce solution.
Website: https://www.opencart.com/
Ecwid:
Ecwid is a versatile e-commerce platform that allows businesses to add online stores to existing websites and social media profiles.
It offers features such as customizable storefronts, secure payment options, and built-in marketing tools.
Ecwid is suitable for businesses looking for a flexible and easy-to-use e-commerce solution.
Website: https://www.ecwid.com/
Weebly:
Weebly is a website builder that includes e-commerce functionality.
It offers customizable templates, secure payment options, and integrated marketing tools.
Weebly is known for its drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for beginners to create professional-looking websites.
Website: https://www.weebly.com/
Shift4Shop:
Shift4Shop is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features for businesses of all sizes.
It provides customizable storefronts, secure payment options, and built-in marketing tools.
With its robust backend system, Shift4Shop provides scalability and flexibility for growing businesses.
Website: https://www.shift4shop.com/
Big Cartel:
Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform designed for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.
It offers customizable storefronts, secure payment options, and basic marketing tools.
Big Cartel is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it suitable for small businesses with limited technical knowledge.
Website: https://www.bigcartel.com/