The E-commerce boom began way back in 1994 with the debut of Amazon. Since then selling online has become an established practice for businesses of every size and scale. The software has changed substantially in that time though with current online stores looking and functioning far differently than 90s and even 00s websites.
One of the biggest reasons for these differences is there are now a huge array of software solutions to choose from to create an e-commerce website. As a result businesses can choose the perfect one for them, whether they are looking to create a small store selling specialist products or a larger shop with thousands.
Currently there are three major names in e-commerce; WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento. Here we will look at each of them and discuss what they have to offer.
WooCommerce website design is a very popular option that our team at Web Consultancy have a lot of experience with. The popularity comes from the fact that it can integrate seamlessly with WordPress websites. It is easy to add the functionality to the site with a simple plug-in.
Additionally WooCommerce has a very loyal following, giving users access to a dynamic, forward thinking community of developers. The software is open source so it is constantly being developed and improved. In addition there are always new additions in terms of themes and applications.
In its basic form WooCommerce is a free plug-in. Costs can be incurred for choosing customised themes and processing facilities though. The idea here is that your investment can help to boost the user experience and security. It is well worth it and will generally still be more cost effective than other options.
Shopify is a paid e-commerce platform but offers a wide array of options to suit different budgets and requirements. It is popular because it can provide all manner of useful features, especially if you choose one of the advanced packages. With them you can get all kinds of reports, offer gift cards, and even have an abandoned cart facility. These features could offer a great deal of value but you need to weigh up the costs carefully.
Magento is one of the most complex e-commerce options and also amongst the most costly. The platform offers fantastic reporting tools and features a whole host of extensions. As a result people can create the exact shop they want. This is particularly why so many large brands use it. The downside is that sites built in Magento can take a great deal of upkeep due to their complexity. You need to be prepared for this.
At Web Consultancy we understand the value of e-commerce and want to help clients get the very best websites for their needs. We excel at WooCommerce website design in particular; it is a great extension to the services we offer with WordPress. The flexibility it offers and value for money make it a really great option.
If you have any questions about e-commerce or WooCommerce website design, please contact us. We can provide advice, recommendations, and even some useful tips.