How To Choose The Right Ecommerce Platform

Ecommerce today is wildly competitive, and it will only get worse. Shoppers are journeying across multiple channels and devices to complete a purchase. They shop in brick-and-mortar stores, online, and on mobile devices.

Do you have the right systems to meet customers' demands, help keep your operations efficient, and stay on top of ever-changing technology? To thrive today, you need an ecommerce platform that allows you to cater to real-time consumers and provide the tools you need to do ecommerce right. This means selling products, providing unique shopping experiences, and efficiently shipping orders. If your current commerce platform isn't meeting these needs, now is the time to find one that can.

Why Choosing The Right Platform Is Critical To Business Success

Whether starting from scratch or an established ecommerce business, finding the right platform is a critical component of your business success. You can provide exceptional products, sell on multiple marketplaces, and have a great marketing strategy, but without the right ecommerce platform, you'll hit a growth ceiling and plateau your profits. So before you evaluate platforms, ask yourself these basic questions first:

• How quickly is your business able to grow?
• What is your budget for purchasing a platform and the ongoing development and maintenance?
• How do you want customers to interact with your business?
• What are your objectives for the platform? Then, consider how it will enable you to deliver the service you want to achieve.

Many ecommerce vendors focus on issues like design, UX/UI, branding, and content. But the real problems are business processes, customer engagement, and lead generation. These issues help determine whether you're getting the best ROI on your platform.

What Is The Best Platform?

There really is no true answer to this question. The better question is, "What platform is best for my business?" Every ecommerce platform in the market has specific tools and customizations for specific business models and needs. With that said, let's look at how to find the right platform for your business model.

Vendor Experience

Evaluate the vendor and determine their level of expertise and technical skill sets that meet the needs and complexity of your requirements. Research case studies, customer reviews, and forums to get a clear picture of the vendor's experience and expertise to offer a platform that works for you.

Support

Look for vendors that provide 24-hour emergency support and their SLAs for non-emergent support. See if they have multiple channels to contact them – web chat, phone, email, or a ticketing system.

Scalability

As your business grows, your ecommerce platform should grow with you. Look for platforms that can integrate into new systems and updated technology to scale your business.

SEO-friendly

Platforms with comprehensive SEO features enable your site to rank highly in search engine results.

Mobile-friendly

Mobile-friendly platforms are essential to meeting customers where they are and offering the buying journey people expect.

Security

Digital platforms actively take financial payments, review them, and ensure the platform has the necessary security protocols in place.

Find The Right Partner

Kensium provides consultation to help you find the right platform for your needs. When you're ready to take the leap to a new ecommerce platform, our solutions experts have deep knowledge of the ecommerce industry, numerous verticals, and the best of the best solutions available in the market today. So contact us today and let us help you choose the right ecommerce platform.