15 Ecommerce Development Platforms For Startups In 2024

E-commerce is here to stay, whether or not you’re ready for it. 

If you don’t think we’re credible, consider these figures: 

Global e-commerce sales are expected to reach $5 trillion for the first time in 2022, making up more than 5% of all retail sales, according to eMarketer. Furthermore, despite slowing growth, total spending will surpass $7 trillion by 2025.

One of the most important choices you will have to make as a retailer wishing to go online is picking the top e-commerce platform that will guarantee long-term, scalable growth.

A software program known as an ecommerce platform helps internet companies to handle their website, marketing, sales, and operations. Businesses are able to centralize their operations and manage their company according to their own preferences.

It makes sense that selecting the ideal e-commerce platform has a lot of ramifications:

• assisting clients who are interacting with your brand in obtaining the necessities.
• supplying the tools your staff members require to carry out sales and marketing initiatives.
• safeguarding your revenue growth and maintenance and installation costs while maintaining your bottom line.

Let’s get started and examine some common choices for e-commerce platforms as well as things to think about when choosing one:

• What Are My Ecommerce Solution Options?
• 15 Best Ecommerce Platforms to Consider
• What Are the Benefits of Self-Hosted vs. Cloud?
• Important Ecommerce Platform Features
• Considerations for Selecting an E-Commerce Platform

What Are My Ecommerce Solution Options?

Three primary choices exist for e-commerce platforms: 

• Free and Open Source.
• Software as a Service, or SaaS.
• Headless business.
• Open-Source online shopping systems.

Cloud or on-premise hosting is available, but manual implementation of all platform updates and patches is necessary.

Platforms for open-source e-commerce allow you to alter every part of the code.

Organizations that prioritize development and IT and seek to maintain control over their e-commerce environment are fond of this kind of e-commerce platform.

When you, as the brand, use an open-source e-commerce platform, you take responsibility for:

• PCI adherence.
• Web hosting (based on whether your open-source solution is in the cloud or on-premises).
• Open-source cloud commerce solutions are different from on-premise solutions solely in that your hosting environment is provided and managed off-site by your provider.
• You do not have infinite bandwidth in a cloud environment as you would with a SaaS solution. Inquire about specific bandwidth allotments, particularly if Volusion or Magento are being evaluated.
• releases of updates and patches by hand from the platform provider.
• problems with security.
• QA for all other apps, frequently involving ESP, CRM, CMS, and ERP integrations.
• Tools for business intelligence and analytics.
• the development of new online tools for the website, such as discount and promotion engines.
• Tools for marketing and merchandise (such as email marketing and SEO features).
• Create drag-and-drop builder designs.
• Open-source e-commerce platforms are too complicated, costly to maintain, and require too much technical know-how for a lot of brands.

Because of this, the two other categories of e-commerce platforms have a lot of popularity:

• SaaS. Headless shopping.
• In actuality, large ecommerce brands currently only consider 46% of open-source ecommerce platforms hosted via the cloud (i.e., not on-premise).

Why?

Since the software is free to use, the price of open source can frequently be misleading. 

Open-source solutions often leave security, licensing, and maintenance costs up to the user, which can result in a higher cost of ownership than SaaS platforms, which typically include those costs in the monthly subscription rate.

Headless commerce and SaaS can speed up a brand’s time to market.

Furthermore, in today’s fiercely competitive market, a pause in the development of stunning and inventive user experiences, products, or backend optimizations could give your rivals an advantage.

SaaS-based online stores.

Cloud hosting is the environment.

Running an online business becomes much simpler with SaaS ecommerce solutions. You essentially rent the platform rather than creating and developing an open-source solution, which is frequently developed to the point of being considered custom.

When development costs are taken into account, this is a far more affordable option than open-source solutions.

The SaaS provider handles all of the tasks associated with managing your own software, including hosting, PCI compliance, security, product updates, and more.

SaaS ecommerce solutions are frequently embraced internally by marketing and growth teams at ecommerce brands. Using a SaaS solution, you can launch your product swiftly and cheaply.

On the other hand, some worry that a SaaS solution’s closed-off code will limit customization and flexibility. Staging environments for UX build outs, non-proprietary coding, and APIs all help to allay this worry.

Platforms for headless commerce.

Cloud hosting is the environment.

A form of cloud-based e-commerce known as “headless commerce” separates the shopping cart from the content management system.

In these scenarios, brands can use content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal, or they can use design experience platforms (DXP) like Adobe Experience Manager and Bloomreach. A decoupled e-commerce shopping cart solution can then be installed.

Because of their high API flexibility and cheap total cost of ownership, SaaS technologies are also frequently utilized in this situation in place of decoupled carts.

Historically, large brands’ IT and development departments have controlled the business when it came to on-premise hosting, open-source platforms, or proprietary platform builds.

However, SaaS and cloud hosting disrupted the model because of the high cost of monolithic technology stacks and the requirement for speed and innovation from a marketing perspective.

This problem is mitigated by headless commerce, which enables a faster time to market at a much lower total cost of ownership.

On the operational end, brands can continue to use their monolithic, single source of truth systems by utilizing plug-ins, APIs, and occasionally decoupled technology.

Additional decoupled solutions that a headless commerce provider utilizes consist of:

• A content management system (CMS) is used to create pages and maintain blogs.
• data gathering and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
• Provider of Email Services (ESP).
• Product Information Management (PIM) is used to market products via different channels.
• Inventory management is a feature of the Order Management System (OMS).
• Point of Sale (POS) to protect your credit card companies.
• online stores such as eBay or Amazon.

Modern SaaS technology stacks, comprising e-commerce SaaS platforms, ESPs, and even lighter ERPs like Brightpearl, are made possible by SaaS APIs on the presentation layer.

It would be best to compare this to IKEA furniture.

The component parts of the item are the microservices, which come together to form the final project.

Headless commerce is the first step toward this microservice architecture for a lot of e-commerce brands.

Burrow, a DTC furniture brand, uses a unique frontend designed to connect commerce and content. They have been able to design the kind of online shopping experience they want their customers to have by utilizing a headless configuration.

Kabeer Chopra, CPO and co-founder of Burrow, explains:

Recalling our IKEA example, let’s take a look at the traditional IKEA nightstand.

You’ve accomplished headless commerce in a sense if you swap out the nightstand’s top component for one that supports wireless charging. This allows you to update the design while maintaining the same core functionality (drawer = cart/checkout, for example).

15 Best Ecommerce Platforms to Consider

We’ve now discussed the essential components of an e-commerce solution, so let’s compare the most widely used platforms available.

Remember that every platform has advantages and disadvantages, so the best course of action is to select the one that best fits your unique requirements and use cases.

1. BigCommerce.

BigCommerce offers an extensive range of tools ranging from analytics to marketing, superior design choices, and an abundance of assistance from professionals in the field. BigCommerce is regarded as a top open-source SaaS e-commerce platform for enterprises of all sizes, and its features are advantageous to a large number of small businesses.

Whether you want more or less control over your platform, BigCommerce can meet a range of business needs with all the benefits of a SaaS platform and the adaptability of an open-source platform.

Pros.

• innate, integrated features.
• offers 600 app partners, unlimited bandwidth, over 65 payment options, and no transaction fees.
• Professional customer service available around-the-clock.

Cons.

• platform lock-in, plus expenses for exporting and migrating.
• A tiny but expanding app store.
• A system with an extensive inventory and product management capacity may produce an abundance of data.

Costing.

• BigCommerce provides four different price tiers:
• Regular: $39.50 a month.
• Extra: $105 a month.

Advantage: $399 a month.

Enterprise: Varying prices based on the business.

2. Adobe Commerce utilizing Magento.

Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, provides multi-store functionality, SEO features, marketing automation tools, and real-time inventory control.

Your total cost of ownership may be challenging to determine if using Adobe Commerce will require significant reliance on designers, developers, pricey maintenance, and support.

Pros.

• pre-made connections to the Adobe program.
• provides thousands of extensions at prices between $0 and $15,000 in its marketplace.
• Accommodates Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).

Cons.

• does not have automatic version and feature updates.
• has an incredibly complex setup, which may result in expensive builds.
• The platform has a track record of vulnerabilities and security lapses.

Costing.

Adobe Commerce Cloud pricing starts at about $40,000, while Adobe Commerce (on-premise) pricing starts at $22,000.

3. trade instruments.

Commercetools is a SaaS-based, headless e-commerce platform that started out in Germany and has since grown all over the world.

Its platform is based on the robust MACH architecture, which is headless, cloud-native, microservice-based, and prioritizes APIs.

Pros.

• provides B2B, B2C, and D2C services.
• offers a wide range of developer tools for customization.
• simplified feature addition, scaling, and maintenance.

Cons.

• only offers code samples and architecture insights for emails; the merchant is still responsible for developing the email service.
• small-scale partner ecosystem.
• The majority of integrations are not pre-built.

Costing.

The pricing structure of commercetools is built on an individual basis.

4. Shopify.

• With a significant market share in the e-commerce industry, Shopify introduced Shopify Plus in 2014 as a solution for business customers.
• The Shopify platform, being a SaaS solution, provides the advantages of managing PCI compliance and security along with strong uptime metrics. The platform features a customizable checkout, mobile-friendly designs, and ease of use.

Pros.

• a highly experienced market leader that has over a million stores worldwide.
• Over 4,100 integrated apps to assist you in enhancing your online store’s features and functionality.
• There are more than 70 expert, responsive themes available for website design.

Cons.

• designed with a cap of 100 SKUs per product for smaller catalogs.
• Lack of scalability due to the product’s inherent three option limit.
• Restricted ability to customize content and product pages.

Costing.

• Shopify provides three price ranges:
• Shopify’s basic plan costs $39 a month.
• Plan for Shopify: $105 a month.
• $399 a month for the Shopify Advanced Plan.

The monthly cost of Shopify Plus is $2,000, with a variable fee for businesses with higher volume.

5. Demandware: Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly known as Demandware, is a scalable SaaS solution that gives companies the ability to manage sales across digital and physical channels with a single, integrated system.

Although it might require prior programming and web development experience, it offers a suite of related services that can enhance the e-commerce offering.

Pros.

• provides choices for businesses that are B2B, B2C, or B2B2C.
• offers smooth, automatic upgrades without interfering with business operations.
• Advanced AI technology contributes to the provision of comprehensive, informative data.

Cons.

• frequently costly; an implementation may easily set you back more than $250k.
• If merchants opt for a third party over Salesforce’s add-on services, they will encounter more costs and challenges.
• Because of the platform’s complexity, novices may find implementation difficult and time-consuming.

Costing.

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides B2B, B2C, and B2B2C pricing options.
• Business to Business
• Starter: Each order costs $4.
• Price per order increased by $6.
• Plus: each order costs $8.

Business to Consumer

• Commencement: one percent of the gross merchandise value.
• Gross merchandise value increased by 2%.
• 3% of the gross merchandise value is added.

B2B2C Trade

• One percent of the gross merchandise value.

6. Shopee PrestaShop.

PrestaShop is an open-source, free platform with paid plugin and add-on options. PHP is used in the development of PrestaShop, and MySQL is a supported database management system.

Pros.

• Installing and using it is free.
• incredibly adaptable.
• global capacities.

Cons.

• Merchants are responsible for their own patch installation and management, including security.
• Support personnel was not included in the original package; extra money is needed for specialized support.
• steep learning curve; success requires more developer skills.

Costing.

• Open-source and free to use is PrestaShop.

7. Change4Shop.

Shift4Shop, formerly known as 3dcart, is a free e-commerce platform for internet companies. It offers features and customization to its clients, including website templates and SEO tracking.

One of the oldest and most enduring businesses on the market is Shift4Shop.

Pros.

• Open an online store and manage it for free.
• Quick and easy end-to-end payment process.
• Live chat, email, and phone assistance are available around-the-clock.

Cons.

• Only customers in the US can access the store’s free version.
• cannot handle transactions that carry a high risk.
• Certain sales channel integrations, like those with Amazon and eBay, are only accessible through premium plans.

Costing.

• One free e-commerce platform is Shift4Shop.

8. Large Cartel.

Big Cartel was established in 2005 to assist small businesses, makers, and artists in selling their goods. They provide marketing tools, domain name registration, and editable templates.

Pros.

• intended for creatives and artists.
• comparatively cheap in comparison to rivals.
• Simple to use and put into practice, requiring little setup or configuration.

Cons.

• struggles to grow because it was intended for small businesses and catalogs.
• There are just eighteen templates and themes available.
• lacks phone support and live chat available 24/7.

Costing.

• Big Cartel provides three price tiers based on the quantity of goods sold:
• Gold: Receive five free products.
• Platinum: up to 50 products for $9.99 a month.
• Diamond: up to 500 products for $19.99 per month.
• OpenCart.

9. Get the cart open.

There are less than 400,000 active websites on the roster of OpenCart, an open-source online store management system. It integrates with numerous well-known payment gateways and shipping options, and it makes use of an HTML component and MySQL database.

OpenCart is a free platform, but it offers premium plugins, themes, and customer service.

Pros.

• Free and open-source software.
• broad personalization options, letting users create the store they want.
• Over 13,000 modules and themes are available for use on the OpenCart Marketplace.

Cons.

• limited-time offer of free assistance.
• The platform version is updated manually.
• Merchants are required to host their store on a third-party server or on their own server.

Costing.

• It costs nothing to download and set up OpenCart. But, if you want more support features or to host your website, you will have to pay for them.

10. Deception.

Volusion was one of the first SaaS ecommerce platforms in the early 2000s, having been founded in 1999 as a web design agency. The platform provides reasonable pricing along with integrated SEO tools to help you rank higher and draw attention to your page.

Pros.

• There is expedited onboarding along with round-the-clock customer service.
• permits integrations with third-party payment systems.
• A simple, easy-to-use dashboard facilitates quick implementation.

Cons.

• The cost does not include SSL certificates.
• lacks options for product filtering and faceted search.
• The only way to blog is through Element, a third-party API.

Costing.

Volusion provides four price ranges:

• Personal: $35 a month.
• Expert: $79.00 a month.
• Company: $229 a month.

Gross merchandise value (GMV) is the basis for Prime.

11. Square-space.

Many of Squarespace’s templates feature artwork, videos, or music products. Squarespace is a software as a service provider that is mostly used by creatives and entrepreneurs.

SquareSpace Commerce provides more specialized features like expert templates, automated emails, and social media channel integration for users who want to sell tangible or digital goods.

Pros.

• wide range of design options and templates.
• provides live chat, email ticketing, and round-the-clock customer support services.
• The monthly subscription includes the cost of hosting, which is done using Squarespace software.

Cons.

• restricted gateways for payments.
• A tiny app store.
• restricted technical and customer support.

Costing.

Squarespace provides four different price tiers:

• Personal: $14 a month.
• Company: $23 a month.
• $27 a month for basic commerce.
• $49 a month for advanced commerce.

12. Weebly.

The website builder Weebly is based in San Francisco. Weebly’s user-friendly setup process and intuitive interface make it ideal for small business owners with no prior web development experience.

A rival in the e-commerce industry, Square, Inc., acquired Weebly in 2018.

Pros.

• offers hosting for every website created using their platform.
• A drag-and-drop website builder streamlines and simplifies the process.
• provides a wealth of integrated features, opportunities for extensions, and third-party integrations.

Cons.

• For e-commerce functionality, new Weebly accounts must use Square Online.
• The price you pay determines the quality of customer service you get.
• Inadequate system for backup and restoration.

Costing.

Weebly provides four price tiers:

• Free: zero dollars a month.
• Personal: $6 a month.
• Expert: $12 a month.

$26 a month for performance.

WordPress eCommerce.

Merchants can use WooCommerce, an open-source, customizable WordPress plugin, to turn their blogs and websites into online stores. It provides multichannel options, multiple payment gateways, and SEO features.

Pros.

• Free to download and use.
• a fully functional WordPress integration.
• vast and expanding store for extensions and applications.

Cons.

• Owners of stores are in charge of maintaining their own PCI compliance.
• Extra expenses and administration are needed for single-page checkout, coupons, and abandoned cart recovery.
• Because it’s a WordPress plugin, it depends on their framework.

Costing.

• Woocommerce can be set up and used for free. Web hosting, however, comes with a price tag that ranges from $3.95 to $5,000 per month.

14. Wix.

Wix is an e-commerce platform and website builder that is utilized by small business owners and creatives. The platform includes dropshipping capabilities, omnichannel selling features, and abandoned cart recovery.

Pros.

• gives access to a sizable app store with over 300 applications.
• vast, contemporary design templates.
• Because every Wix website is hosted on a separate server, speed and security are increased.

Cons.

• restricted network of support.
• functions primarily as a website builder and then as an e-commerce solution, imposing storage and API call limits on merchants.
• doesn’t encourage retailers who sell goods in large quantities or wholesale.

Costing.

Wix provides three pricing options for customers in the business and e-commerce domains:

• VIP Business: $59 a month.
• Monthly cost for Business Unlimited: $32.
• Basic Business: $27 a month.

15. Square.

A payments platform called Square is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises. It offers a hosted, customized point-of-sale (POS) system to its users.

In addition to SEO tools, Square provides gift cards, coupons, and real-time shipping rates.

Pros.

• includes an integrated version of Square’s larger financial ecosystem.
• Broad and adaptable design roster.
• Stores can operate more quickly when implementation is done quickly.

Cons.

• Features are frequently restricted to lower-priced accounts and plan-dependent.
• restricted possibilities for design and personalization.
• Issues with account stability can occur and, according to reports, result in funds being withheld.

Costing.

Square provides four price ranges:

• Free: zero dollars a month.
• Expert: $12 a month.
• $26 a month for performance.
• Upgrade: $72 a month.

What Are the Benefits of Self-Hosted vs. Cloud?

E-commerce websites can be hosted in one of two methods:

• Self-Hosted.
• cloud.

These two choices don’t function as platforms in and of themselves. They are simply the manner in which the website is hosted, either off-site and managed in a warehouse (think Amazon Web Services, for example) or on-site, literally in a room under the control and management of your IT or development team.

platforms for self-hosted e-commerce.

Owners of e-commerce stores using self-hosted, or on-premise, e-commerce platforms must locate hosting, handle installations, and frequently update the software manually.

Using self-hosted ecommerce software to run an online store requires developers to update and maintain the website, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin, is an example of a self-hosted e-commerce solution. WooCommerce is typically hosted by a third-party hosting company, but with enough technical know-how, it can also be hosted on-premise on your own servers.

This option gives you more control over your online retail platform, improved data security awareness, and increased visibility into your own data.

Although this path makes sense for some very complex businesses, it may lead to lower revenue and higher expenses.

cloud-based platforms for online sales.

Cloud-hosted e-commerce sites provide off-site hosting through services like Amazon Web Services for their clients. This indicates that the brand’s uptime is managed by the cloud platform. 

One benefit of going with a cloud-hosted e-commerce platform is that it will be less expensive because you won’t need to pay for any server maintenance or updates. Additionally, the hosting company will offer you customer support as needed. 

Utilizing cloud hosting has certain drawbacks, such as the requirement to pay a license fee in addition to the hosting charge. Additionally, you can’t customize the servers to fit particular requirements and have less control over them.

Important Ecommerce Platform Features

Every online storefront has different requirements, and the capacity of the platform to address the ongoing issues that arise within your company will determine which e-commerce platform is ideal for you.

Still, there are a few fundamentals you should learn about potential suppliers.

setting for hosting.

A web hosting platform that supports an e-commerce website is referred to as your hosting environment. It has features like SSL, shopping cart software, security measures, and payment processing services. 

Find the best host to meet your needs based on your traffic, site size, budget, web development experience, and the quantity of products you sell. This is especially important if your online store is your main source of revenue.

Infinite numbers of API calls.

The number of available API calls, the effectiveness of those APIs, and the existence of the required APIs are all critical factors in ensuring the platforms and data orchestration work seamlessly when utilizing a SaaS platform. Consequently, companies must be able to handle large or even infinite volumes of API calls. All SaaS platforms, however, handle this differently and provide varying API call volumes. 

Very easy to use website builder.

When a website is ready to be launched for their clients, over 60% of designers estimate that they work on it for 11 to 40 hours. 

It may also seem like a big task to a business owner who has little to no experience with web design and development, which is why it’s crucial to pick a platform that offers a user-friendly e-commerce website builder and a large selection of free themes in non-proprietary languages. 

Safety.

It is your duty to handle sensitive data, including credit card numbers, customer addresses, and other payment information, carefully when operating an online store.

To accept payments, you must adhere to PCI Compliance standards; otherwise, you run the risk of paying fines, losing your ability to take payments, losing the trust of your customers, and suffering other financial repercussions from fraud.

Furthermore, some platforms’ minimal offerings might not be sufficient. Although many platforms include an SSL certificate, adequate protection might require additional in-house infrastructure investment or the use of third-party software.

Optimization of Search Engines (SEO).

It is evident that generating search engine traffic is not always as simple as it seems, as 90% of e-commerce startups fail within the first 120 days, primarily as a result of poor search engine optimization, according to a MarketingSignals study.

While optimizing your site, there are many things to consider, including mobile friendliness, relevant keywords, page load speed, and website structure.

• Fortunately, a lot of e-commerce platforms come with integrated SEO tools to make your life simpler. 
• Unique URLs: To help avoid duplicate content, each unique page has a unique URL.
• Microdata: Integrated into product pages, these “rich snippets” enhance search engine listings.

• There are several other crucial e-commerce features to be aware of in addition to those mentioned above:
• vast application store or marketplace with a ton of pre-built integrations with top-notch service providers.
• With options for mobile apps, the site is mobile-optimized and offers an out-of-the-box, fully functional experience.
• Integrations for marketing automation.
• built-in features for basic e-commerce functionality, such as analytics, catalog management, WYSIWYG editors, discounts and promotions, etc.
• Many payment methods and gateways are available. 
• bandwidth to support a huge or infinite number of products.

Considerations for Selecting an E-Commerce Platform

Even though an exceptionally cheap plan that fits some of your requirements might entice you, it’s crucial to do some research before committing. Although you and your visitors may find site migration to be a hassle, you are free to switch hosts at any time. Think about the following:

Spending plan.

You must determine if e-commerce hosts are truly cost-effective, even though they provide attractive packages.

The best experience isn’t always what you pay more for.

But, going with the least expensive option will frequently force you to hunt for additional features elsewhere. Compiling fees from multiple providers is typically the most costly approach.

Determine how much you can spend on the following features before selecting an e-commerce host.

Should you decide on standalone web hosting, you will need to look into other providers’ prices for these services. However, if you look at all-in-one hosts, you’ll frequently find that you can choose a premium package that fits within your budget and has all of these features.

website design.

Your store’s web design should create a distinctive user experience that reflects your brand and entices customers to return, from the landing page to the checkout. 

There are numerous themes available on popular e-commerce platforms. The platform may include some themes for free, while others might cost between $60 and $200 apiece. 

Furthermore, there will probably be times when an essential feature you require for your e-commerce solution is absent from it. Costs associated with extensions, plugins, and add-ons are relevant here.

Functionality and programming.

When developing an e-commerce website, custom e-commerce functionality, backend programming, and coding are frequently the most expensive. They are, nevertheless, also crucial if you want your company to run smoothly and have an advantage over rival e-commerce platforms.

Backend programming can run you anywhere from $2,000 to $75,000, while third-party integrations can cost anywhere from $500 to $20,000, contingent on the size of your company, according to OuterBox Design.

Safety.

Maintaining the security of your data and that of your clients should always come first. Select a platform that will give you peace of mind regarding the management of data and payment processing; choosing a different option may cost your business and drive away devoted clients.

Hosting every month.

However, the cost can range from $80-$730 per month if you want to self-host your e-commerce store or use a platform like WooCommerce that does not include hosting costs in the subscription rate. However, this cost might vary based on your website’s features, volume of online traffic, and automated services like site backups.

Upkeep.

Creating an e-commerce website is not a one-time expense; ongoing maintenance and support are likely required to keep your site up to date and functional.

For example, unless you can pay for several years in advance, your domain name will be an annual cost. Additionally, unless your e-commerce platform covers hosting as part of the subscription fee, you’ll probably need to pay for it on a regular basis. An additional annual expense to consider is your SSL certificate.

Make sure business software can interface with it.

When it comes to business software, nothing is more inconvenient than having to migrate to a new platform and start over. Make sure the platform you select can be seamlessly and inexpensively integrated with your present systems and solutions.

Personalization.

Particularly when selecting between an open-source and SaaS platform, customization is probably going to be a key consideration. 

Because the user has complete control over the source code of open-source software, they can alter every part of their website, including the themes, product pages, and checkout procedures. But open source might not be in the cards for you unless you have a lot of coding experience and the money to cover the costs of programming.

However, SaaS platform customization may be less flexible. The user’s ability to customize their website is limited compared to an open-source platform because the service provider controls the source code.

Compatibility between sales and advertising channels.

Businesses that have a strong omnichannel strategy—one that integrates multiple online and offline business channels to provide a consistent, interesting customer experience—are among the most successful. And a crucial strategy for doing so is to make use of social commerce.

These days, a lot of social media sites serve as hubs for online shopping in addition to being entertainment venues. Now that users can purchase in-app on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, there are countless opportunities for retailers to sell on all of these platforms. 

Complexity of product inventory.

Perhaps your basic product line has a large number of variants, or perhaps you offer a wide range of both physical and digital products.

Selecting a platform with low SKU limits effectively limits the potential growth of your business if you have a large catalog, require multiple product pages, or intend to expand.

Naturally, each business has unique requirements, and some may need more SKUs than others. For example, a DTC company might only need one product per SKU, whereas an auto parts manufacturer would probably need a higher SKU volume.

the capacity to grow your company using the platform.

It’s critical to think about a platform that will expand with you. 

What level of website traffic are you anticipating? It makes sense that you might not require a host with high-traffic capabilities if you’re just getting started. However, if you’re committed to expanding, your e-commerce company might grow quickly. Can your host meet the demands of traffic both now and in the future? 

What might occur if a campaign or promotion you run goes viral? The flexibility of your hosting infrastructure is essential to manage spikes in traffic without causing your website to crash.

One of the greatest solutions for e-commerce websites is cloud hosting since it can handle high traffic volumes. Your site’s hosting requirements are met by a network of machines, giving you nearly limitless growth potential.

Customer service on the platform.

Every day you are interacting with an e-commerce solution.

And when that moment arrives, it helps to know that you can contact a real person via phone, email, or chat to get help with the issue at hand.

Some platforms outsource their customer service, which makes calling in for assistance when you need it most challenging or nearly impossible.

Conclusion

The top 15 ecommerce development platforms in 2024 offer a wide range of options that give startups the resources they need to succeed online. Select the option most in line with your company’s objectives to ensure a successful digital transformation.

If you’re looking for an e-commerce development company to help you with the creation of a mobile app, Appic Softwares is a great choice. We have a talented development team available to help you with any and all of your requirements.

Why then are you acting so cautiously?

Give us a call right now!