Over the years, there has been a steady growth in online ecommerce platforms. Ecommerce prediction by smart insights suggested that after a turbulent 2020, retail sales will increase in the near future as the economy reopens and people are ready to spend. Pent-up consumer demand will boost both brick-and-mortar and online sales, with in-store growth of 6.3% and ecommerce growth of 17.9%. With that increase, there will a growing demand for an effective ecommerce platform.
Choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial for the success of your company. You are not only deciding on the features, but you’re also determining the problems your company may encounter as your business grows. It is therefore important that the platform you choose is versatile, flexible and cost-efficient.
It’s a good idea to have sorted out your strategies before you compare UK ecommerce platforms. Some platforms, for example, are better suited to SEO-oriented individuals. You would rather not build your e-commerce site just to discover afterwards that it isn’t optimized for your goal. While some platforms may feel restricted to individuals with coding skills, those without such skills may benefit significantly from a simple platform.
This article will enlighten you with some of the best UK ecommerce platforms for your business in 2022.
1) WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress e-commerce plugin. It’s made for small to medium-sized online businesses that use WordPress. WooCommerce allows its users to build an ecommerce platform from scratch while giving the accessibility of additional features and functionality. There are a variety of templates to choose from. You can even add the shopping cart feature, choose multiple payment options and add unlimited products.
WooCommerce ruled the market for a long time. As a direct WordPress plug-in, it actually has a lot to offer, especially for businesses who already have a website but are branching out into e-commerce. WooCommerce has a lot of flexibility and analytics built in. Like nearly other UK ecommerce platforms, the platform is supported by customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Although the plug-in is free, you must first have a website and pay for certain associated costs. If you require a comprehensive plan, competitors such as Squarespace may be a better fit. However, if you want a cost-effective solution with complete control over your online business, then WooCommerce is the finest platform for you.
2) Shopify
Shopify is a full-featured e-commerce platform that allows you to build, grow, and manage a company. Anyone may set up an online store and sell their products using the subscription-based software. Shopify platform has grown over 86% over the years, with around $135+ billion sales from around the world.
Shopify ecommerce websites are a well-known platform. It’s the e-commerce platform of choice for individuals who sell through social media or outsource their work. The platform is straightforward, adaptable, and expandable for small and medium-sized businesses. You also don’t need to be familiar with a coding language in order to use it. Instead, the platform has a drag and drop interface that permits you to construct your site.
Shopify focuses on sales and includes numerous customer experience management (CEM) and up-sell features. However, it has difficulty handling the largest stores. Shopify Plus can help you grow your business, but if you’re already a large retailer, it might not be the best option for you.
3) Big Commerce
BigCommerce is a paid ecommerce solution that runs on its own server. It allows businesses to sell its products online. Big Commerce provides numerous services like online store creation, search engine optimization, marketing and hosting. Big Commerce is an ideal choice for retailers who have orders in large quantities. The software is well-suited for any niche with its variety of tools and features.
BigCommerce is good at handling large stores, with a much better SEO performance than other ecommerce platforms like Shopify. It has a one-page checkout system that helps with traffic and conversion rates. However, it may lack on providing additional services and upgrades on a single click.
If you want complete control over your design, BigCommerce is the way to go. It offers customisable templates, allowing you to personalise your online store without needing to know how to code. However, many features that other platforms include in their basic plans will come at a higher cost on this platform. BigCommerce’s suitability is determined by the strategy required by your business.
4) OpenCart
OpenCart is a wonderful option for you if your business is struggling and you have a limited budget. It is an open-source platform that is free to use so you can manage your business wisely. However, you may have to pay for additional features at cost-friendly rates.
OpenCart allows its users to have full access to the website’s dashboard so the users can track their online orders, customers, sales and other analytics. It also provides multiple features like availability of discount and coupons so you can have a better performing website. You can add unlimited products to your ecommerce store along with all the relevant payment procedures, without having to pay an additional fee.
OpenCart is a highly customizable platform, therefore it requires a lot of coding knowledge. However, since it lacks in providing good customer support, you may need to experiment with the website yourself if something goes wrong.
5) Magento
Mangento is an open source ecommerce platform suitable for creating ecommerce websites. The users have accessibility on hundreds of readily available features. You are easily able to set up a store, sell products and connect with your customers.
Magento is a good choice for users who have only basic level of knowledge while developing an ecommerce website. It is a highly flexible open-source ecommerce platform, designed to allow users to easily construct and grow their online business. On the other hand, WordPress is a multi-purpose content management system that appeals to users with varying levels of technical knowledge.
Magento is also good at community management. They have a large number of web developers at your service, ready to build your online store. You can also have access to a marketplace where you can easily buy extensions and themes to improve your website’s functionality.
Conclusion
Finally, the best UK eCommerce platform for your company will be one that matches your coding skills and development expectations, both in terms of volume and the number of items available.
The right e-commerce store should also allow you to implement the marketing and customer service strategies that you need to succeed.
Whatever option you select, don’t rush your judgment to select the best e-commerce platform because it is a complex decision that will have a huge impact on your business.
You can also take help from a professional e-commerce web developer so you get a high-performing website from an expert, just according to your business needs.
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