Which Ecommerce Website: Ready-to-Use Site, Embedded App, or Custom Design?
A key challenge for any company that offers and sells its products online is the choice of website. The advancement in website development means that there is a selection of pre-packaged e-commerce applications and solutions ready to implement at “fairly low cost”. Alternatively, a custom solution will be a design that suits your business model and the needs of your customers.
The question is which one should you go to? Cost is a factor. But so is doing it right. Here are some guidelines to check when making your decision.
Key elements
These are the basic features that any eCommerce site needs.
1. Product catalog.
You must display your products by: image; price; description (usually a summary and a detail). Be able to easily update and identify inventory availability
2. Tax calculator
Sales tax or VAT must be integrated so that each product is properly priced. Tax rates by state and/or country of origin are essential.
3. Order and pay
Your site must process orders and be able to pay through a reputable and secure card integrator.
4. User registration
Any user who buys on the site must register their personal data, mainly to Order confirmation Y billing.
5.Edit order
Your order process will need an editing option as customers often make mistakes and need to redo certain items.
6. Shopping cart (or basket)
As products are ordered, the user must see what is there to keep track of their purchases, quantities ordered, and total spend.
7. Delivery
Shipping charges, if applicable, will be standardized at the basic level and should appear in the shopping cart and on the completed order.
8. Payment Integrator
Every eCommerce website must integrate with a payment processor. PayPal, World Pay are the most common. At a basic level, this assumes that you don’t have any credit or debit card details.
9. Recognized Order
When you receive the completed order, you should have an automated response that confirms the order to the user. This is a courtesy. In addition, it is a security control that helps prevent any improper or fraudulent use of a card or identity.
10. Purchase history
A history of purchases made is a very useful feature for users of your site, especially if they can download a report.
11. Internal administration
You, as the business owner, need to be in control of what is happening. Therefore, downloadable reports on orders received and order status are essential to running the business.
12. Secure hosting
You must have a secure environment for any e-commerce activity, especially when you are taking personal data from customers. The level of security varies as indicated by the prices published by the host companies. But if you take card data, you need a high level of security.
Other aspects to consider
These are higher level considerations than a serious electronic retailer you need to be aware of. The type of requirement outlined here would often need a higher level package or custom website to suit your type of business.
1. Up-sell and cross-sell
If you want to get more than one site visitor then you need these capabilities. They are familiar to most site users, especially those that offer clothing or jewelry.
2 multiple orders
If your company offers products for distribution, then your ordering process must be able to deliver to different locations.
3.Choice of payment
People appreciate the choice of cash or card. In addition, you can offer payment on credit terms (payment in 30 days) for larger customers or more frequent buyers.
4. Pay deposits
Your business may require a deposit on larger orders. The value must be calculated and stored so that the final payment made is net of the discount.
5. Promotion certificates
Gift certificates or coupons will need a feature to issue and redeem.
main distinction
When deciding on the right eCommerce vehicle for your business, think carefully about the key areas:
1. How many search queries will you have to accommodate? Think of a site that offers vacation destinations and available options and then combinations of “queries.” Therefore, the database that contains the information must be large and flexible to handle your product catalog and all the data options.
2. E-commerce is about the ability to accept payments. If you need automated interaction between your website (the “front end”) and your inventory/order/delivery system (the “back end”), this is the world of eCommerce.
3. If you want to trade in high volumes, or domestically and internationally, then language, multiple tax rates, currencies and other critical points mentioned above will dictate your choice.