How to Choose an Enterprise Level eCommerce System

For businesses and organizations that sell products or services online, a top-performing eCommerce system is imperative. Not only is it crucial for the functionality of your business, but it’s also crucial for your brand and the customer experience you provide. Even with the perfect product and outstanding website, an under-performing eCommerce platform could cause your customers to jump ship.

Getting Started

So, how do you choose an enterprise level eCommerce system? Luckily, we’ve done the legwork for you. Whether you are starting with nothing or you are enhancing your current platform, there are a variety of options available depending on your budget, the size of your site, and functionality needs. Establish these first, then move onto your list of must-have features to help narrow down which platform will be the best fit.

You’ll want to spend some time thinking about what features you need most. Here are some questions to get you started:

• Future Growth: Are you hoping to expand with more categories or stores, maybe even under different brands?
• Offerings: Do you have very simple products with only one option or are you selling various sizes, colors, and versions of one product?
• User Experience: How do you want your customers to feel when they visit your site? What’s their experience like?
• Features: How important are plugins and integrations for your business?
• Budget: What does your budget look like?

Comparing Your Options

The top eCommerce systems are Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento. Note that there are many others that you can find in a quick Google search, but these are the four standouts.

1. Shopify

Shopify is a good solution if you have no developers available to help as it’s an out-of-the-box, simple eCommerce system. However, some of the cons include a cost for using it, lack of customization, and a transaction fee or a certain percentage tacked on.

2. WooCommerce

The next option is WooCommerce, an eCommerce plugin for WordPress. If you are already using WordPress for your company’s website, this might be a good fit. While the system itself is free, adding any features or extensions will cost you – and it adds up quickly. This is another solid but simple system that doesn’t allow for much customization.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a great option for bigger retail brands. There is a large collection of templates, which means that you don’t have to know how to code, but if you are tech-savvy you can edit the HTML or CSS. BigCommerce is flexible, scalable, and has strong SEO performance. On the downside, speed can be inconsistent, the abandoned cart option isn’t on the entry-level subscription, and it can get expensive.

4. Magento

If you are a bigger business with more complicated needs, Magento is the solution for you. Magento is a fully-customizable, robust eCommerce system that is also user-friendly. The long list of features, add-ons, and integrations ensures that Magento can do what you need it to. Plus, it seamlessly works alongside your additional web properties and business solutions. Magento also takes care of security compliance, giving you peace of mind. There are two options available within Magento – Community and Enterprise levels. While Magento is complex, it is not complicated, which lends to a rich shopping experience for your customers.

Next Steps

Whether you have a small online store or a large, robust online store, there is an eCommerce platform most suitable to your business needs. If you have a small store and don’t want to deal with the hassles of coding and don’t need much customization, Shopify or WooCommerce might be the best fit. However, if you want to come out of the gates with a highly customizable, top-performing online shop, then consider using Magento or BigCommerce.

When it comes to eCommerce, it may take time to find what’s best for you. Pyxl has years of meaningful experience helping clients with all of their marketing and eCommerce needs. Contact us today to see how we can accelerate your online business.

Updated: Nov 15, 2024