eCommerce is an ever-growing industry with more and more shoppers choosing to shop online and through their phones. As an online retailer, choosing the right eCommerce platform is crucial to the success of your business. Doing a simple Google search will bring up endless results of platform options, so how do you know you’re choosing the best platform for your business? We’ve captured the most critical five features that every company should consider when looking for their eCommerce platform.

    1. Integrations
      When considering an eCommerce platform one of the first factors to consider is available integrations and plug-ins. Think of tools you’ll need, or even already use, and select a platform that integrates with those systems and will blend in with how you run your business. Some of the most popular plugins to look for include:

      • Shopping Cart – Makes the checkout process simple and easy to use
      • Shipping – Get your customers their products quicker and cheaper
      • Email Marketing – Allows you to keep in contact with your customers
      • Accounting – Helps with sales, taxes, revenues, and profits
    2. Mobile Support
      As shoppers increasingly turn to mobile it is important to ensure they can access and make purchases from you from their phones. Be sure to choose a platform that not only has a variety of beautifully designed templates but is also responsive to any screen size. This way, your customers can easily find and buy exactly what they are looking for regardless of where they are physically located.
    3. Security
      Website security is a growing concern for online shoppers. It is important for your customers and you that your store, and the sensitive data it collects, remains safe and secure at all times. Whatever eCommerce platform you choose be sure it is PCI (Payment Card Industry) and SSL compliant. This will ensure that processing or transmitting credit card information is maintained in a secure environment giving you and your customers peace of mind.
    4. Scalability
      As an online retailer you will of course want a platform that meets all of your current needs, but also that can meet all your future needs as you continue to grow. Be sure your platform can continue to grow with your business and help to meet the challenges you’ll face without charging you outrageous fees.
    5. Customer Service
      No matter what stage you are in, building your business sooner or later you’ll need help. Software outages and server downtimes are often out of your control and will prevent your customers from accessing your site. This can affect both sales and brand image. Look into the support features of the eCommerce platform you are considering. You should be able to contact them through a number of different avenues and at any time. Consider the different levels of support available and what they would cost.

    With so many options to choose from selecting the right eCommerce platform can be daunting. Figuring out what tools you need now and what you will need in the future as you grow may be challenging but it is well worth the time and effort up front. Knowing what to look for ahead of time will make choosing an eCommerce platform an easier process and put you one step closer to ensuring success.