Benefits of Customizable eCommerce Solutions

The arrival of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the offline retail industry in the United States. With widespread lockdown measures in place, consumer activities such as dining out, visiting establishments, and shopping came to a halt. This resulted in a substantial decline in sales from February to April 2020, with a staggering 20% decrease. Clothing and accessory stores were hit particularly hard, experiencing an alarming 89% plunge, with department stores accounting for 45% of this decline. As a result, the significance of establishing an online presence for retail businesses became paramount, marking the beginning of a new era in eCommerce.

When entrepreneurs decide to venture into the world of online retail, they often turn to ready-to-use eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Bigcommerce. These platforms offer the advantage of not requiring technical expertise, allowing for a swift setup of the business. Additionally, they are typically more cost-effective than customizable solutions. However, the question remains: are these platforms truly superior? In this article, we will address this query and elucidate why opting for a customizable solution can greatly benefit your business.

Exploring custom eCommerce solutions

With the multitude of pre-built eCommerce platforms available for your business, you might question the necessity of creating a new one. However, the truth is that the standard features provided by most off-the-shelf platforms may not always suffice for specific businesses. To illustrate this point, let’s delve into one of our case studies.

One of our clients operated a multi-brand online store on Shopify but found that their business was rapidly outgrowing the platform. As customer demand increased, they faced the need to expand their operations globally. It became evident that off-the-shelf solutions and platforms were inadequate for their requirements. Shopify struggled to handle the surge in traffic, and the necessary features could not be implemented. Consequently, the client turned to us for assistance.

Why customizable eCommerce?

Choosing a customizable eCommerce solution may initially demand more time and effort, but it offers significant long-term benefits for several reasons:

• Tailored User Experience. Customizable solutions allow you to craft a personalized user experience that aligns with your brand’s identity. By customizing the design, layout, and functionality of your online store, you can create an engaging, intuitive, and memorable interface for your customers.
• Scalability and Flexibility. As your business evolves, customizable eCommerce solutions adapt to your changing needs. Whether it involves expanding your product catalog, entering new markets, or integrating additional features, custom solutions can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.
• Integration Capabilities. Customizable eCommerce solutions seamlessly integrate with other essential business systems like inventory management, CRM, or ERP. This integration streamlines operations, enhances efficiency, and improves overall workflow.
• Competitive Advantage. Custom solutions enable you to differentiate your business from competitors by implementing unique features and functionalities that cater to your industry or target market, giving you a distinct edge.
• Enhanced Security. Customizable eCommerce solutions provide robust security measures. Given the growing concerns around data breaches and online fraud, having control over security protocols allows you to implement necessary safeguards, protecting customer data and building trust with your audience.
• Long-term Cost Efficiency. While customizable eCommerce solutions may require a higher upfront investment compared to off-the-shelf options, they offer long-term cost efficiency. Custom solutions eliminate ongoing subscription fees or additional expenses associated with plugins or extensions often required by out-of-the-box platforms like Shopify.
• Ownership and Control. Customizable eCommerce solutions grant you full ownership and control over your online store. Unlike hosted platforms that impose limitations or restrictions, custom solutions empower you to make changes, updates, and optimizations without relying on third-party approvals or constraints.

How to choose the right solution?

When faced with the daunting task of choosing the right eCommerce platform, considering multiple factors can make the decision-making process challenging. To assist you in making an informed choice, we have compiled a list of steps to follow:

• Define your business objectives. Begin by envisioning where you want your business to be in the next five years. Determine the necessary resources for growth and establish the goals you aim to achieve by implementing a customizable eCommerce solution. Clarifying these objectives will provide you with a clear vision.
• Understand your customers’ buying patterns and demographics. Gain insights into your target audience. Identify who your customers are and analyze their purchasing behavior. Consider what features could enhance their user experience and address any obstacles that may hinder them from making purchases. By understanding your customers’ needs, you can foster customer loyalty.
• Research available solutions and customization features. Explore the market to discover various eCommerce platforms and their customization options. Read reviews and evaluate the reputation of different providers. Assess whether the platforms offer the flexibility required to meet your business needs.
• Pay attention to integration capabilities. Examine the integration features of potential platforms. Determine if they support the integration of your existing ERP or CRM systems. Assess whether they provide analytics tools for insights into your business performance. Additionally, consider the availability of a reliable payment gateway.

At JetRuby, we specialize in helping clients analyze such data to establish tailored customizable eCommerce solutions or facilitate the migration of existing store data. Follow our digest to receive valuable information about eCommerce and marketplaces.