With the emerging need of having everything at their fingertips, the tech-savvy and social media fanatics crave for efficiency. Having an e-commerce platform that responds to their needs is the next logical step for any store’s sustainability. Moreover, one of the many benefits of having an e-commerce is the fact that you don’t need a large budget to launch it. So, it’s a win win!
The first step for you to achieve your goal and successfully manage your e-commerce would be to choose the right open source software. An open source software or platform also known as an OSS means that the code behind it is free and can be easily modified. In other words, you would be able to manage your content and modify your templates however you see fit.
According to Dinarys, there are many types of open source e-commerce software for every kind of business, but their main benefits are almost similar:
- Most of them are free
- Platforms give the business a customizability opportunity
- You can scale your online shop anytime
- Most platforms with open source have developed community support.
Consequently, choosing the right open source platform is a crucial step for any aspiring retailer since it will have a direct impact on the success of your e-commerce.
Below, you can find an overview of 3 leading open source platforms:
WordPress.org
WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) on the web. According to Thomas Fanelli “As of Oct 2019, it is currently empowering over 33% of the web. […] It holds 60% market share.”
This platform allows you to build a website that fits your specific needs. It is true that it is a decade old but it is still the returning champion for managing sites with a ton of content. If you want to work on your SEO or content marketing strategy, then WordPress is the best choice.
Self-hosted WordPress or wordpress.org is a software that you can download and install on your own web server for free. It is an extremely flexible tool which can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of any web design project.
Style Factory mentions that there are 75-90 million self-hosted WordPress sites in existence.
WordPress is good for e-commerce for multiple reasons. It is simple to install and manage and is SEO friendly by nature. It also offers a large variety of themes for online stores. Therefore, a relevant post of product information it helps store owners attract large volumes and earn major traffic.
Shopify.com
Shopify is one of the biggest e-commerce platforms. It is a Software as a Service (SaaS) specifically designed to allow people to build and launch their own online stores. According to Shopify, the site powers over 1 million stores. Since its launch, it has brought about 100 billion dollars.
Shopify is the best platform for selling. If you plan to rely on Facebook ads or Instagram marketing, then Shopify is your go-to platform. Moreoever, if you are looking into deep customization, Shopify simplifies your decision by giving you access to any kind of e-commerce feature you can think of. Keep in mind that the advanced features might require you to get the help of a group of developers and marketers.
Though it is weak in terms of SEO, Shopify has some amazing pros:
- Easy to set up
- Several certified partners are at your service
- 1-Click selling feature
- Availability of multiple channels and social selling
- Varied designs and themes.
Shopify’s goal is very simple: provide the opportunity to sell products. Is it good for e-commerce? YES! This hosted platform is the best in e-commerce business. It has everything you need to start building an online store: from web templates, database, plugins and features neccessary to create an online retail presence. It is incredibly popular because it serves as a solution that requires no coding and no real technical skills at all. All you need is some business or sales knowledge along with a wide range of products.
Magento.com
This Adobe-owned open-source e-commerce platform is one of the most recommended free platforms for your e-commerce. It has a big number of customers which rose up to 300,000 users and many active communities around the world. According to Dinarys, Magento is an industry leader “because it currently holds about 26% of the e-commerce software market.”
Magento has two versions. The open source version you would need is :Magento Community Edition. It is perfect for small or medium companies and online retailers who can enjoy features for free. One of these noteworthy features is the ability to use different currencies. The other version is Magento Enterprise Edition which is for large businesses and requires a payment of 16,000 USD.
In terms of structure, Magento is flexible and powerful. This platform supports multi-store management as well as multiple languages and it is optimized for SEO.
In terms of pricing, Magento Community Edition is free of charge. But, if you want some custom features or a beautiful design/theme; You can browse through them on Magento Marketplace. The former offers 13 free themes along with a large number of paid themes starting from 1$. As for Magento Enterprise Edition, the pricing varies depending on your own needs as well as on your client’s needs.
Brands like Samsung, Nike, Ford and million others use Magento for e-commerce. From multitasking to flexibility; Magento ticks all the boxes and it could easily be the most appreciated e-commerce platform you have ever wished for.
To Sum it up
Companies have different processes, needs and target audiences. Based on those needs, choosing the right OSS, whether it is WordPress, Shopify or Magento, might affect your company’s exponential growth in terms of sales and brand image. Take your time and choose wisely! We at BrainSpace have an in-depth expertise in building customized websites. We are able to create a unique design in order to attract your visitor. Contact us now and get your personalized website!
