Once a business owner decides to expand his or her business online, one question always looms: What is the best ecommerce system to use? The answer is simple: The one that is a perfect fit for your business. With the many ecommerce platforms available in the market, it is best to talk to an ecommerce expert to see which type fits your business best.
Listed below are the different types of ecommerce platforms, segregated into four categories. All ecommerce platforms utilize the power of Cloud Computing and offer Software as a Service (SaaS), except the third category.
· Best for small and startup companies
· Basic interface
· Appearance and functions have limited customization
· Low cost and quick to setup
· Efficiently distributes products across multiple online channels like marketplaces, paid search, stores and rich media
· Ability to sell to different comparison shopping sites such as eBay, Amazon, NexTag, Shopzilla, and the like
· Centralized product database for inventory
· Suitable for businesses that need a customizable ecommerce store to complement its existing business
· Best for mid to large-size companies
· Appearance, functions, and features are customizable
· Perfect for 3rd party application integration and data mining
IV. All-In-One Ecommerce Solution: NetSuite
Best for companies who want to manage the entire Internet business in one system
· Full-featured system including: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Accounting, Inventory Control, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), etc.
· Provides real time visibility across entire Internet business operation
· Perfect for data mining and data analysis, with scalable and customizable reporting capability