Global retail e-commerce sales are set to top £6 billion by 2024 and £8 billion by 2025. More shoppers are going online, making a solid e-commerce presence vital for success. But picking the best e-commerce platform can be tough.
Finding a trustworthy e-commerce solutions provider is crucial. They should give you what you need to start and grow your online business. A top-notch provider offers the right tools and support for your digital store.
We will cover how to choose the best e-commerce platform, considering your business’s needs, setting a budget for your site, and the steps to launch your store. We’ll also review top e-commerce builders like Shopify, Square, Ecwid by Lightspeed, and others. This will guide your choice.
Whether you’re a small start-up or a big seller, the right e-commerce solutions provider is key to online success. Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways:
- Global retail e-commerce sales are projected to exceed £6 billion in 2024 and over £8 billion by 2025.
- Choosing the right e-commerce platform is essential for businesses to thrive in the digital market.
- An e-commerce solutions provider should offer the necessary tools and support to establish and grow your digital commerce platform.
- Consider factors such as your business needs, budget, and launch timeline when selecting an e-commerce platform.
- Popular e-commerce website builders include Shopify, Square, Ecwid by Lightspeed, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Wix.
Understanding Your Business Needs and Customers
Before you pick an e-commerce solution, know your business needs and customers. Decide if you sell to consumers (B2C), businesses (B2B), or both. This choice is vital for picking the right platform.
B2C shops must offer a smooth online experience. They need features like easy browsing, product tips, and safe payment methods. Also, a site that’s easy to use and works on phones is key.
B2B shops are different. They may need stuff like handling lots of customer accounts, setting prices, and making orders smooth. At BidCommerce, they provide tools just for this, helping with wholesale customer needs.
No matter who you sell to, some things are must-haves for your online store. Make sure your chosen platform is good at managing what you sell, how items are sent, and works with common payment methods. This makes shopping a great experience for everyone.
“Knowing what your business and customers need is crucial for finding the right e-commerce platform. Choosing wisely lets you meet your audience’s needs better and offer a top-notch online shopping journey.”
Evaluating E-commerce Platforms
When you check out different e-commerce platforms, look at these things:
- Scalability: Can the platform grow with your business, handling more customers, items, and sales?
- Customization: Does it let you change your store’s look and features to match your brand?
- Integration: Can it work with other tools you use, like CRM or email?
- Support and Resources: What help and info does the platform provide, like customer support and guides?
Think about these factors and understand your business and customers well to choose a good e-commerce platform. Picking the right one is key for your online store’s success.
Example of E-commerce Platforms and Their Functionality
E-commerce Solutions Provider | B2C Functionality | B2B Functionality | Payment Gateway Integration | Shipping Management |
---|---|---|---|---|
BigCommerce | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Shopify | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
WooCommerce | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Budgeting for Your E-Commerce Site
When picking an e-commerce solutions provider, think about your budget first. This ensures the costs work for you. Knowing what you’ll spend helps find a platform with a good return on investment.
Here’s what to think about when budgeting for your e-commerce site:
Platform Costs
Think about the cost of the e-commerce platform. Each provider’s prices and features differ. Decide if a monthly or transaction-based model suits you better. Find what gives you the most for your money.
Additional Expenses
There are more costs beyond the platform. You might need to pay for:
- Premium design themes or customization fees to show off your brand
- Security licenses or SSL certificates to keep customer data safe and earn trust
- Hosting fees for a place to store your website
- Domain name registration fees to own your brand online
The extra expenses change based on your provider and business needs.
Agency or DIY Development
Decide if you’re hiring an agency or doing the work yourself. Hiring an agency can be expensive but saves time and gives a professional site. If you have the skills, DIY could be cheaper.
Check your team’s skills and if an agency fits in your budget. Think about the benefits of their work.
By looking carefully at your budget and all related costs, you can choose the right e-commerce provider. You’ll know the ownership costs clearly. This prepares you well for starting and growing your online shop.
Platform Costs | Additional Expenses | Agency or DIY Development |
---|---|---|
Monthly fees or transaction-based pricing | Premium design themes or customization fees | Consider agency costs vs. in-house capabilities |
Compare pricing structures of different providers | Security licenses or SSL certificates | Weigh benefits of professional development |
Choose a platform that offers value for budget | Hosting fees for server space | Assess limitations of DIY development |
Domain name registration fees |
Launching Your Online Store
Starting your online store is a big step for your business. But know, the time it takes can change. This depends on how many products you’ll sell and the extras you want on your site.
Usually, it takes a few months to get everything ready and start your store. It’s wise to plan well if you aim to launch before the holiday shopping season or another busy time.
Think early on about tricky things like having more than one store or selling to different groups of customers. This early thinking can help you tackle problems that might pop up later.
When you’re ready to start, you can have your own team do it or find a company that specialises in building online stores. Consider what skills and money you have before choosing to do it in-house or hiring help.
Task | Timeline |
---|---|
Conceptualize and plan your online store | 1-2 weeks |
Design and develop the website | 4-6 weeks |
Integrate e-commerce functionalities (shopping cart, payment gateway, etc.) | 2-3 weeks |
Upload and organize product inventory | 1-2 weeks |
Test and optimize the website | 1-2 weeks |
Launch the online store | Estimated date |
Remember, the timing listed above is a rough guide. It may take more or less time depending on your store’s features. Staying ahead and working closely with your team or partners can help make your store’s launch a real success.
Choosing the Right E-Commerce Website Builder
Choosing the right platform for your e-commerce site is key. Think about your budget, what features you need, and your builder knowledge. Also, check if it works with other apps and the support it offers. Remember, the cost includes more than just monthly fees.
Key Considerations
- Budget: Know your spending limit for the platform. Add up the monthly costs and any extra fees for customising themes or adding tools.
- Features: Decide what your online shop must have. This might be for handling stock, taking payments, arranging shipments, or setting up products differently. Don’t forget about marketing.
- Familiarity: See how well you know and deal with website builders. Some are easy to use without any coding, while others need you to know some code.
- Support: Check how much help the platform gives you. Make sure they offer how-to guides, community forums or direct help when you need it for running your shop.
Choosing the right e-commerce website builder is crucial. Your choice affects your online shop’s success. Take time to think about what you really need and want, like your long-term goals, to choose well.
Do a lot of research and think hard about what you need. This way, you can find an e-commerce platform that meets your goals and helps you stand out online. For new e-commerce businesses or big brands looking to grow online, picking the right platform is the first big step towards a thriving e-store.
Shopify: Getting Up and Running Quickly
Shopify is a top choice for businesses wanting to sell online fast. It’s known for being easy to use and fits any budget. Small to large businesses find Shopify’s tools perfect for making their online shop look professional.
With Shopify, setting up your shop is simple. You don’t have to worry much. You can make your store look good with its tools and design choices. This way, your shop will stand out and show your brand well. Shopify also helps your shop rank well on search engines, so more people can find and buy from you.
One big plus of Shopify is you can sell online and in person. It’s good if you have a shop somewhere or just sell on the internet. You can use many different ways for customers to pay, making it easy for them. Also, you can make your shop better by adding lots of apps that work with Shopify.
Setting up your shop with Shopify is safe and smooth. Shopify makes sure your shop is always up and safe from any online harm. And, if you need help, they are there for you any time of the day.
If you’re starting a new shop online, or moving your current shop to the internet, Shopify is a great choice. It has everything to make a beautiful and functional online store. Your shop can be live and selling in no time.
Key features of Shopify:
- Easy-to-use tools for building an online store
- Customizable themes to create a unique brand identity
- Support for both in-person and online selling
- Integration with various payment processors
- Seamless and secure online store setup
- 24/7 customer support
Shopify Pricing Plans:
Plan | Price | Features |
---|---|---|
Basic Shopify | $29/month | Online store, unlimited products, 24/7 support, fraud analysis |
Shopify | $79/month | All Basic Shopify features, gift cards, professional reports |
Advanced Shopify | $299/month | All Shopify features, advanced report builder, third-party calculated shipping rates |
Square: Selling In-Person and Online
Square helps businesses sell their products in two ways: in-person and on the web. It offers different plans, even a free one with a Square site. This makes it perfect for small businesses wanting to go digital.
Square stands out because it lets businesses sell through many ways. Instead of just online, they can use physical stores or pop-ups too. This creates an easy shopping path for customers wherever they are.
For businesses who want to succeed online, using Square’s omnichannel strategy is key today. Customers want a smooth experience whether they buy online or come to the shop. Square helps businesses meet these expectations for happy and loyal customers.
Aside from omnichannel selling, Square helps with sales taxes and global shipping. This helps businesses sell worldwide, follow tax rules, and handle sales easily.
With Square, businesses can sell anywhere, online or offline. Whether it’s your site, a market, or a shop, Square supports all.
Features of Square | Benefits |
---|---|
Integration with online stores and in-person sales | Reach customers through multiple channels |
Tools for managing sales taxes | Ensure compliance with tax regulations |
International shipping capabilities | Expand your customer base globally |
Why Choose Square?
Choosing Square has big perks for small businesses. Here’s how it helps:
- Omnichannel selling: Square lets you sell online and offline, reaching more customers in different ways.
- Simplified tax management: It has tools for sales taxes, keeping your business following tax laws without stress.
- International expansion: Square supports shipping globally, opening up new customer markets around the world.
- Cost-effective pricing options: There are many plans, including a free one with a Square site, which is great for small budgets.
With Square, businesses can do more, thanks to smart selling strategies and easy operations.
Ecwid by Lightspeed: Starting with a Free Plan
Looking to sell online? Ecwid by Lightspeed helps small businesses sell easily. Its free plan means you can start without big costs. Later, if you need more, you can upgrade without spending loads.
The cool thing about Ecwid is it’s good for selling anything, like crafts or downloads. It lets you use many ways for customers to pay, which is handy.
Ecwid grows with your business. It’s easy to make your online shop bigger. So, as you get more customers, you can keep up without a problem. This flexibility is a huge plus for small businesses.
Thinking of starting online? Try Ecwid by Lightspeed. It’s good for growing your business and starts you off for free. Even if you’re just beginning or want to do more online, Ecwid is the smart choice.
Key Features | Free Plan | Professional Features |
---|---|---|
Support for digital and physical products | ✓ | ✓ |
Integration with various payment gateways | ✓ | ✓ |
Scalable growth | ✓ | ✓ |
Easy-to-use interface | ✓ | ✓ |
BigCommerce: Ideal for Large-Volume Sellers
BigCommerce is perfect for those who sell a lot online. It’s made for businesses that sell a high number of items. This platform has different pricing plans for all budgets. It helps both growing and big brands grow their online shops.
BigCommerce stands out with its B2B features. It focuses on selling to both regular shoppers and other businesses. You can set different prices for these groups. Selling on various marketplaces is easy with it, too. This means you can find new customers and sell more.
BigCommerce doesn’t take a cut from your sales as transaction fees. This is great for your business’s bottom line. You also get to pick your own payment processor. That gives you more control over how you get paid.
BigCommerce Pricing Plans Comparison
Plan | Price | Features |
---|---|---|
Standard | £29.95/month | Unlimited products, no transaction fees, professional reporting |
Plus | £79.95/month | Standard features plus abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation |
Pro | £249.95/month | Plus features plus Google customer reviews, advanced product filtering |
Enterprise | Custom pricing | Pro features plus custom SSL, dedicated SSL support, priority support |
Looking at the table, BigCommerce has plans for all business sizes. The Standard plan works for new shops. The Enterprise plan is for big, complex stores. With BigCommerce, you can manage big sales and keep your customers happy.
WooCommerce: Adding a Shopping Cart to WordPress
Adding e-commerce to your WordPress site? WooCommerce is a top pick. It’s a plugin that seamlessly fits in. For businesses, it’s perfect for putting a shopping cart on the site.
WooCommerce brings tons of flexibility. You can change the look to fit your brand with themes and plugins. It’s great whether you’re selling physical items or digital products.
There are lots of ways to pay through WooCommerce. It lets you use many payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe. This means your customers can pay in ways they like.
And using it is simple, even if you’re not tech-savvy. It’s made to be easy for anyone to use. You can add products, choose how to ship, and see how well you’re doing without stress.
WooCommerce also has a big group of users who help each other out. You can join forums and find tutorials if you’re stuck. There’s always someone ready to share advice.
Here’s a table to show you what WooCommerce has to offer:
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Flexible customization | You can customize the look and feel of your online store to match your brand’s identity. |
Wide range of payment gateways | Support for multiple payment gateways allows you to offer various payment options to your customers. |
User-friendly interface | Intuitive settings and easy-to-use tools make managing your online store a breeze. |
Extensive community support | A large user community provides resources, tutorials, and forums for assistance and guidance. |
WooCommerce can make your site a great place to shop. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to online selling or if you’ve been around. It gives you what you need to succeed in selling online.
Wix: Building a Complete Site
Wix is great for businesses wanting a full website, including an online store. It has many pricing plans with different features for an online presence. The best part is its easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor. You can tweak your website without knowing how to code.
The platform also connects with various apps, making it simple to boost your site’s functionalities. You can easily add a booking system or integrate with marketing tools.
For setting up an online store, Wix has all you need. The interface is user-friendly. You can add products, set up payments, and keep track of stock easily. Plus, you get e-commerce essentials such as abandoned cart recovery and order tracking.
Customizing Your Website with Wix
With Wix, you can design a site that really shows off your brand. There are many templates to choose from. Then, you can tweak everything to fit how you want your brand to look.
From the fonts to colours, and layout to navigation, Wix has all the tools. The aim is to help you make a site that’s both stunning and easy for users to navigate.
“Wix is an excellent choice for businesses looking to build a complete website with an integrated online store. Its drag-and-drop editor, extensive app integrations, and user-friendly interface make it a top choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Malaysia.”
The Benefits of Choosing Wix as Your E-commerce Solutions Provider
Why do businesses in Malaysia choose Wix? Here are some top reasons:
- Easy-to-use: Building your website is straightforward with Wix, even if you’re new to this. No coding is needed.
- Range of pricing plans: There are many plans available to fit your budget and business needs. Wix grows with you.
- Drag-and-drop editor: Make your site exactly as you want with Wix’s editor that lets you move elements around with ease.
- App integrations: Add more functions to your website easily with Wix’s many apps.
- Responsive design: Your site will look and work great on all devices, making it easy for customers to use.
Choosing Wix means creating a site that not only looks good but also offers a smooth shopping experience.
See Wix in Action
Want to see Wix in action? Check out this demo site:
Website Page | Desktop View | Mobile View |
---|---|---|
Homepage | ![]() |
|
Product Page | ||
Shopping Cart |
The demo shows that Wix creates beautiful sites that work well on any device. This ensures a great experience for everyone visiting your site.
Choosing Wix for e-commerce means offering powerful features, easy customisation, and a smooth purchase process.
Conclusion
Choosing the right e-commerce solutions provider is key for your online business’ success in Malaysia. Remember to check what your business needs and your budget first.
Go for a managed e-commerce solutions provider that gives you what you need. Think about things like how easy it is to use, if it can grow with you, and if it works with what you already have. The right choice will help your online business prosper.
No matter if you’re just starting or if you sell a lot, there are e-commerce website builders for you. Do your homework and pick a platform that fits your business and offers what you need to do well.
Choosing the best e-commerce solutions provider and being well-informed will set your business up for success online.