eCommerce Development - Things you need to know about

When you hear the phrase "eCommerce development," what is the first thing that arises in your mind? When discussing eCommerce, most people first consider online shopping—the act of buying and selling things on websites. An excellent eCommerce platform we all are most familiar with is Amazon.com, the largest online marketplace in the United States.

Let's take a closer look at what eCommerce development is and how it's growing, as well as some basic getting-started advice.

What is eCommerce?

Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, is the term used to describe the purchasing and selling of products and services over the internet. This type of commerce is conducted in different market segments and can be done using computers, tablets, smartphones, and other smart devices.

E-commerce has revolutionized the way we purchase goods and services, from books and music to plane tickets and financial services. No longer do we have to rely on brick-and-mortar stores to purchase the items we need.

The eCommerce industry is continuously expanding. Here are some interesting statistics about the expansion of eCommerce businesses:

• Online sales made up more than 18% of total retail sales globally in 2020. It is anticipated that they will continue to increase and will reach 21.8% in 2024.
• Online spending increased by $183 billion in total as a result of the pandemic, and it is expected to reach $1 trillion in 2022.
• According to experts, by the year 2040, eCommerce would account for 95% of all purchases.

In conclusion, the eCommerce industry will inevitably play a significant role in many people's lives.

What is eCommerce development?

E-commerce web development is the process of creating and designing an eCommerce website where customers can buy things online.

Creating an eCommerce website can help you increase conversions and income for your business because eCommerce websites are extremely popular among customers.

In addition, E-commerce website development is the process of creating the technical components of your eCommerce website, including how it works, receives payments, responds to user actions, and looks aesthetically appealing.

The web development services market, expected to be worth $11 billion in 2022, provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to establish user-friendly websites and address their most important eCommerce challenges, such as

• Choosing the appropriate features and functionality for your e-commerce project.
• Identify which framework is useful to you
• Adding eCommerce functionality to an existing website or website template.

Which eCommerce Development Platform is best for Small Businesses

The best eCommerce platform for your small business could give you the boost you need to reach your sales goals. Consider it the first step in your small business eCommerce strategy.

The following is a list of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses. Be sure to pick the one that suits your business best!

Shopify - plug-and-play all-in-one package

The best eCommerce solution for small businesses is generally recognized as Shopify. Our complete site builder includes free tools and features that enable you to sell both online and offline, as well as through social commerce, third-party marketplaces, and dropshippers. You can use one of the more than 100 paid or free themes available for Shopify to build your store without knowing any code.

Unique Features of Shopify eCommerce Platform:

• Offers stunning themes that are responsive and simple to customize.
• Over 1,000,000 businesses trust the Shopify e-commerce platform.
• Provides flexibility and ease of usage
• There is no limit to the number of products you can sell on a Shopify site.
• You can handle orders and collect payments in person by using a POS (Point of Sale).
• Provides a range of platforms for product sales, including an online store, a Facebook shop, and Pinterest.

WooCommerce - eCommerce Solution

WooCommerce has transformed WordPress into a powerful online sales platform. What started as a simple blogging tool has now evolved into a full-fledged website builder, with the option of adding WooCommerce for eCommerce functionality.

WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce platform that can be customized to fit your needs, whether you're a web design pro or just getting started. With over 6,000 third-party integrations to choose from, being a flexible eCommerce platform that offers a wide range of new features and functionality for your store.

Features of WooCommerce eCommerce Platform:

• Complete Customization
• Integrated blogs
• Product Categories that are easy to manage
• Attributes and Tags
• Product evaluation and ratings
• Classification and Filtering of Products
• Currency, Language, and Units of Measurement Customization

BigCommerce eCommerce Platform

BigCommerce is a fully functional and extremely strong eCommerce platform. Small businesses may find it to be daunting as a result. However, if you have plans for expansion or access to technical resources, BigCommerce may be the best platform for you.

Additionally, BigCommerce is best suited for large businesses, corporations, or enterprises that need specific, customizable solutions. Typically, these sized companies have more access to technical resources or the budget to bring on additional resources, which are both necessary when building and customizing an online store through the BigCommerce eCommerce platform.

It includes tools for multichannel selling on social media and outside marketplaces, as well as for foreign trade and SEO. It is also compatible with a variety of payment methods and provides extremely low (sometimes free) payment processing rates.

Squarespace

Because of its simple interface, Squarespace is another excellent eCommerce website builder for small enterprises. You don't need to be a tech expert to create an online store using Squarespace. Its easy-to-use templates, drag-and-drop tools, and reliable functionality make it one of the best eCommerce website builders for small businesses.

Squarespace eCommerce Platform gives you complete control over your website. You can manage your email lists, establish coupon offers, and configure shipping. It is now simple for you to exert total control over your website.

Features of Squarespace eCommerce Platform:

• Allows people to build stunning websites without any coding experience.
• Provides a large selection of templates and designs that may be altered to meet your unique needs.
• Provides recurring billing tools for subscription-based enterprises

Wix

Wix is an easy-to-use website builder with extra e-commerce-specific capabilities. E-commerce features such as order monitoring, online payments, multi-channel selling, and abandoned cart campaigns are available in paid plans. To track your eCommerce key performance indicators (KPIs), you need access to a premium package for analytics tracking.

Features of the Wix eCommerce Platform

• Create your own professional logo in minutes.
• Add creative, handwritten graphics to liven up your website.
• Wix Bookings will help you find novel ways to market your services.
• Make use of the most cutting-edge SEO resources and techniques.
• Track and evaluate the performance of your website like never before.

Weebly

Weebly is powered and run by Square, and as a result, it is tightly integrated with the other Square-owned small company platforms. These include an inventory management system that is fully connected and secure online.

The eCommerce platform for small businesses offered by Weebly includes refined product search, optimized mobile checkout, order management and processing, and customizable shipping choices. Also, Weebly is undoubtedly one of the most straightforward eCommerce platforms in terms of capabilities, but it's easy to use and accessible so any new company can get going with it.

Features of Weebly eCommerce Platform:

• Extremely user-friendly and beginner-friendly
• A large selection of responsive themes
• A large selection of integrated apps is available.
• Team collaboration and membership sections
• Very inexpensive

Square

Square started out with a point-of-sale system for stores, but it has now added other business management capabilities to its product line. Square Online is one of those instruments. Square Online integrates well with other Square products and also supports Afterpay, mobile wallets, and other services.

You may choose from a variety of templates designed for retail, restaurants, non-profits, and more when creating an online storefront with Square. Square Online offers integrated payment processing for 0.9% plus 30 per transaction.

Features of Square eCommerce Platform

• Sell an infinite number of products on your website, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Integrated inventory management
• Free domain with purchased plans
• High-tier schemes with abandoned cart recovery
• Advanced reporting on top-tier plans
• Reduced processing speed for Premium plans

Key Benefits of eCommerce for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs

The next-gen of eCommerce is driven by more and more small business entrepreneur taking their businesses online. eCommerce hosts are helping startup retailers to get a web presence and build their brands. Let's check out some key benefits of eCommerce in the retail industry.

1. Expansion of Online Business

Increased business reach is one of the most important benefits of using an e-commerce platform. When you have an internet presence, you can reach millions of people all over the world, but a physical-and-mortar store can only service a small market. With the availability of multiple shipping methods, it is now quite simple to serve consumers from any location.

2. Enhanced Commercial Revenue

Your customer base will grow as your company's reach expands, which will have a direct impact on the number of sales. As a result, it will increase your revenue. Increased revenue enables you to diversify your product offering or increase marketing expenditures to appeal to a wider audience.

3. Product Tracking Made Simple

Tracking items and inventories are time-consuming in a traditional corporate strategy. E-commerce, however, makes it simple to always be aware of the state of goods. This is a huge benefit for small shops that have historically struggled with stock management.

4. Automation of Product Delivery Services

Customer service with regard to product shipment and delivery is the first thing that comes to mind whenever we consider transferring the business online or starting a new one digitally. Every function is managed with e-commerce. Today, several logistics and shipping facilities exist to send products throughout the globe as needed.

5. Utilization of commercial platforms

E-commerce makes it easier for small enterprises to promote their products to the world. A retailer of any size can use a number of commercial platforms to attract a wider audience and improve its visibility.

Conclusion

In summary, online shopping is the primary definition of eCommerce, despite the fact that it can also refer to other kinds of electronic commerce transactions, as well as the tools and activities that go along with them. Global eCommerce as a sector is expected to remain profitable as a source of obtaining online money. Amazon, Walmart, Alibaba, Wayfair, and eBay are examples of successful online retailers.

Online shops can also sell services, as well as physical and intangible goods. Customers who shop online can use a one-time purchase or subscription method to pay for the goods and services.

Whatever business model you select and whatever goods or services you want to sell, don't forget to pick the best eCommerce platform for your requirements. We sincerely hope that you will find this information helpful as you begin your online business.

Get the most adaptable and user-friendly e-commerce development solutions with Codetrade, which significantly improves client satisfaction and helps you grow your business.