How to pick the right shopping cart platform

Have you ever wondered how to go about shopping for a shopping cart platform? Like everything else we shop for, whether it be on line or in a retail store, there are hundreds of platforms out there to choose from. Which is a good thing because you should be able to find a shopping cart platform that works for you.

An efficient search starts with knowing what your business needs are and what your direct competitors are up to. In this article, we will look at four basic guidelines to get you what you need.

• What are your needs? Pull together your list of features needed, then conduct a competitive shop of other sites to see if there is something you missed. Do you need to enable the shopping cart with the ability to apply volume discounts or coupons? Do you have frequently purchased basic sku’s that you want to auto populate a shopping cart? Be sure to pick a shopping cart platform that won’t limit your business.
• How about your budget and time frame? The best way to do this is to think about a phased approach. If you are just getting started, you might not want to spend the money on custom design and development. Start with what’s in the box and as your volume grows, add more features along the way. Not to mention that once you start, you should set aside a budget and plan to add enhancements which will add newness and a reason for customers to come back to your site for more.
• Site design and themes – Some shopping cart platforms have as few as 12 shopping cart platform templates to choose from. That may force you to pay extra for a customized template. You will also want to ask if the platform is mobile and tablet friendly as nearly half of all ecommerce purchases are made using a smartphone device.
• Integration to the back end – Integrations will allow you to connect your shopping cart platform to other software such as Stripe for credit cards, Avalara for tax calculations. As you look for a provider, ask them if they have features such as integrations to the back end. Not many have this ability so it’s important to know that up front. Having these integrations to the back end will enable you to control multiple parts of your business (i.e. – pricing, inventory management, etc.) from the same admin dashboard.

If you follow these simple guidelines we have listed here, you will make an informed decision and increase the chances of selecting the best shopping cart for your ecommerce needs. Start today and make your list of needs and establish your deadline to go live. And, of course, you can contact us for help at any time.