How eCommerce platforms are helping online sellers thrive
From small start-ups to large multinational corporations, for the majority of businesses out there, moving onto online selling is quickly becoming the best way to grow and develop your business. And whether you're online already or thinking about making the transition from brick and mortar to the digital world, eCommerce platforms are the most common method used to set up your new online presence.
2020 saw an impressive US$27,248 million in revenue made in Australia from eCommerce businesses alone. That's a 22.1% increase from the previous year. So, with the eCommerce industry growing rapidly and a huge potential sales increase available, is it time to make the most of an eCommerce platform to move your business online? Read on to find out how eCommerce platforms are helping online sellers thrive…
What is an eCommerce platform?
An eCommerce platform is a starting point for selling any products and services online. Previously, to set up an online retail store, you would have to purchase standalone eCommerce software that you would then need to develop extensively and manage with your in-house IT team, which put many off making the move to the digital world.
That's where eCommerce platforms come in. They make life much easier for businesses wanting to branch out online by providing a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to host and set up your online store. Rather than managing your online shop internally, the eCommerce platform is hosted externally so the upkeep and maintenance of the website isn't your responsibility.
How can eCommerce platforms benefit your business?
From a time and money investment standpoint, it seems logical to opt for an eCommerce platform for your online website. But, how else can they benefit your business?
Keep up with trends
Most eCommerce platforms are run by digital experts, who keep up with the latest trends to make sure your website is as up to date as it can be. And you can rest assured that the sales on your eCommerce sites are bound to increase with time. In fact, Forbes predicts that online sales will increase between 1% and 1.5% in the 2020 Christmas period in the US.
Amongst good company
When signing up to a lot of eCommerce platforms, you're amongst good company. Some of the largest companies in the world host and manage their website through eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, WordPress - WooCommerce. TikTok, one of the largest social media platforms, has recently moved into social eCommerce with a deal with Shopify.
Easily adapted
One of the biggest benefits of an eCommerce platform is the ability to easily enhance and develop your website quickly. From a woocommerce order management plugin to a Magento augmented reality extension, you can make your website do so much more for your business.
If you're looking to make the move into online retail and simply want to develop your site further, an eCommerce platform is one of the easiest and most effective ways to build and host your new website.
