What is the Best Type of Shopping Cart for Ecommerce Websites?
Kate Peterson,
Copywriter
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What is the Best Type of Shopping Cart for Ecommerce Websites?
Imagine this… It’s March 2020. Your state just issued a mandatory stay-at-home order. Your company is deemed essential, but all tradeshows have been canceled, and in-person interactions with customers are frowned upon. How will you sell products? Generate revenue? Well, lucky for you, it’s the 21st century, and in the 21st century, products can be bought and sold using magical software known as Ecommerce.
It’s no secret that Ecommerce plays a lucrative role in modern business. If you’ve worked in B2B for more than 30 years, you may recall a time when the ability to buy products directly from a company’s website was not considered essential or even common. However, times have changed—and fast. In fact, B2B Ecommerce transactions are estimated to bring in more than $1.2 trillion by the end of 2021, which is nearly double what it was in 2017.
In a world that has learned to adjust to life behind a screen, it might be in the best interest of your company to follow suit. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for businesses to streamline digital operations and cater to the evolving needs of their customers. Luckily, there are a plethora of ways to do just that.
A common go-to option for companies that have never previously hosted Ecommerce on their site is to integrate it through Enterprise Resource Planning software, or an ERP. ERPs, such as The Business Edge or NetSuite, are software programs designed to consolidate all of your business operations into one centralized system. This creates a hub between your website, online inventory, and other business functions, giving you access to useful insights and eliminating the need to enter the same information in multiple places.
On the other hand, some companies may prefer to hire a developer who can build and customize an Ecommerce platform to suit individual business needs. Through this method, the developer can alter your website’s existing code to make it function however you want it to. Similar to ERP’s, custom-built carts fully integrate all necessary business functions while also including unique or one-of-a-kind features designed to your company’s exact specifications.
Both ERPs and custom-built carts give your business the ability to begin generating revenue with the click of a button. However, the right kind of ecommerce software for your company will depend on several factors. The following information can help you decide which option is best for you.
Additionally, many ERPs are designed with features that work for the majority of people using them, which can be a helpful guideline for companies with no prior experience hosting Ecommerce on their site. Not only can you manage inventory online, but ERPs make it easy to integrate this information across all departments. In this way, you can consolidate all aspects of your company’s billing, purchasing, and customer support into one location while also improving data accuracy.
While ERPs provide a quick and easy way to get your ecommerce site up and running, they also come with their fair share of drawbacks. For one, ERP software is designed to work for a variety of businesses, which means they are not tailored to any one industry. This may be an issue for a metal distributor, for example, who might benefit from unique or industry-specific features like a weight calculator, or code built into their cart that allows users to compare products.
While they may not be necessary for every website, features like this can have a significant impact on user experience and can also give your website an edge over competitors. Although some ERPs give you the option to add features that are not included in their standard package, the process can be expensive and time-consuming.
While ERPs have the standard features necessary to sell products online, custom carts can be designed to meet out-of-the-box requirements, which can have a significant impact on your site’s overall user experience. In fact, research shows that users who have a negative experience on a mobile shopping cart are 62% less likely to purchase from that business in the future. For companies with large inventories or complex workflows, trying to make it work with a standard ecommerce software may end up hurting your business in the long run. Custom Ecommerce gives you the creative freedom to design a solution that can keep up with ever-changing industry trends, and ensures you successfully generate new leads while also retaining valuable ones.
While custom-built carts have several benefits, they may not be ideal for every company. For one, they will require you to hire a third party that can build and update the software as necessary. From SEO marketing to payments and fulfillment, custom carts need constant attention to remain competitive. In addition, Ecommerce built from scratch is not the go-to option if you’re looking for quick implementation. As opposed to ERPs, custom ecommerce takes time to develop—often requiring a qualified team of technical writers, analysts, and developers to ensure its success.
Get a Quote for an Ecommerce Website Solution Today
It’s no secret that Ecommerce plays a lucrative role in modern business. If you’ve worked in B2B for more than 30 years, you may recall a time when the ability to buy products directly from a company’s website was not considered essential or even common. However, times have changed—and fast. In fact, B2B Ecommerce transactions are estimated to bring in more than $1.2 trillion by the end of 2021, which is nearly double what it was in 2017.
In a world that has learned to adjust to life behind a screen, it might be in the best interest of your company to follow suit. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for businesses to streamline digital operations and cater to the evolving needs of their customers. Luckily, there are a plethora of ways to do just that.
Reviewing Your Ecommerce Website Options
From off-the-shelf software to custom-built carts, there is more than one way to allow your customers to buy products directly from your website.A common go-to option for companies that have never previously hosted Ecommerce on their site is to integrate it through Enterprise Resource Planning software, or an ERP. ERPs, such as The Business Edge or NetSuite, are software programs designed to consolidate all of your business operations into one centralized system. This creates a hub between your website, online inventory, and other business functions, giving you access to useful insights and eliminating the need to enter the same information in multiple places.
On the other hand, some companies may prefer to hire a developer who can build and customize an Ecommerce platform to suit individual business needs. Through this method, the developer can alter your website’s existing code to make it function however you want it to. Similar to ERP’s, custom-built carts fully integrate all necessary business functions while also including unique or one-of-a-kind features designed to your company’s exact specifications.
Both ERPs and custom-built carts give your business the ability to begin generating revenue with the click of a button. However, the right kind of ecommerce software for your company will depend on several factors. The following information can help you decide which option is best for you.
Benefits & Drawbacks of an ERP Cart Website
ERPs are a convenient option because it’s software that has already been developed and tested, so all you need to do is install it. This can save you significant amounts of time and money that might otherwise be necessary when building a cart from scratch.Additionally, many ERPs are designed with features that work for the majority of people using them, which can be a helpful guideline for companies with no prior experience hosting Ecommerce on their site. Not only can you manage inventory online, but ERPs make it easy to integrate this information across all departments. In this way, you can consolidate all aspects of your company’s billing, purchasing, and customer support into one location while also improving data accuracy.
While ERPs provide a quick and easy way to get your ecommerce site up and running, they also come with their fair share of drawbacks. For one, ERP software is designed to work for a variety of businesses, which means they are not tailored to any one industry. This may be an issue for a metal distributor, for example, who might benefit from unique or industry-specific features like a weight calculator, or code built into their cart that allows users to compare products.
While they may not be necessary for every website, features like this can have a significant impact on user experience and can also give your website an edge over competitors. Although some ERPs give you the option to add features that are not included in their standard package, the process can be expensive and time-consuming.
Benefits & Drawbacks of a Custom-Built Cart Website
Custom-built ecommerce also can allow you to integrate important business functions into one system, while also allowing your company to tailor your website’s features to best serve the unique needs of your consumers.While ERPs have the standard features necessary to sell products online, custom carts can be designed to meet out-of-the-box requirements, which can have a significant impact on your site’s overall user experience. In fact, research shows that users who have a negative experience on a mobile shopping cart are 62% less likely to purchase from that business in the future. For companies with large inventories or complex workflows, trying to make it work with a standard ecommerce software may end up hurting your business in the long run. Custom Ecommerce gives you the creative freedom to design a solution that can keep up with ever-changing industry trends, and ensures you successfully generate new leads while also retaining valuable ones.
While custom-built carts have several benefits, they may not be ideal for every company. For one, they will require you to hire a third party that can build and update the software as necessary. From SEO marketing to payments and fulfillment, custom carts need constant attention to remain competitive. In addition, Ecommerce built from scratch is not the go-to option if you’re looking for quick implementation. As opposed to ERPs, custom ecommerce takes time to develop—often requiring a qualified team of technical writers, analysts, and developers to ensure its success.
Find the Best Ecommerce Website Solution for Your Business
Ecommerce is a fundamental component for many companies’ revenue streams, but it can be difficult to know which type of software will work best for your business needs. Luckily, Ecreative is full of knowledgeable experts who can help you with all things Ecommerce. We have experience working with various ERPs as well as a team of practiced developers who can build a custom cart tailored to your exact requirements.Get a Quote for an Ecommerce Website Solution Today