Recently, the world of ecommerce has seen incredible growth and shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to advancements in technology, brick-and-mortar stores have been able to gain access to clients all over the world while customers can shop from any business regardless of location. This is a tremendous benefit as it increases accessibility and opportunities for everyone involved.
With the ever-growing popularity of ecommerce businesses, many entrepreneurs have been presented with amazing opportunities to advance their online operations. Unfortunately, this bounty of choice can be overwhelming when it comes to selecting an optimal platform for your business needs; however, by taking into account your targeted goals and budget restrictions you will find that choosing a reliable ecommerce platform isn’t as daunting as one might imagine.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore what are the best ecommerce platforms for business in Australia along with its definition, types, key elements to start your own, factors to make it successful, and many more.
What Is An Ecommerce Platform?
For businesses looking to expand online ecommerce sales and reach customers around the globe, an ecommerce platform is the key. This software application allows them to create their very own online store and provide shoppers with a convenient way of purchasing products or services from anywhere in the world.
An ecommerce platform not only equips businesses with essential marketing tools needed to manage an online store but also helps payment processing to be quick and efficient while fulfilling orders on time – making it easy for Australian ecommerce companies to increase their profits without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
Why Use An Ecommerce Platform?
The answer is simple – convenience. An ecommerce platform makes it easier for businesses to manage their online operations and reach a wider audience.
It eliminates the need for entrepreneurs to have extensive knowledge of coding or web design, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the business such as marketing, customer service, and product development.
Additionally, some platforms offer features that can help entrepreneurs save time and effort, such as automatic order fulfilment and product management.
Types Of Ecommerce
Nowadays, ecommerce has become pervasive. From small businesses to huge multinational companies, digital shopping is the new norm – allowing customers around the world the convenience of easily making purchases with just a few clicks!
Ecommerce opens up endless opportunities for sellers and shoppers alike, providing an interactive platform where both parties can enjoy satisfying customer-vendor relationships.
As such, there are various types of ecommerce platforms available that cater to different business needs and goals. Ecommerce can be classified into six different categories:
Business-to-Business (B2B)
Business-to-Business (B2B) ecommerce involves transactions between two companies, typically manufacturer and wholesalers to sell online goods to retailers. This type of electronic commerce helps make purchasing supplies for businesses much simpler than traditional methods.
Example: Microsoft
Consumer-to-Business (C2B)
Consumers can capitalize on the ecommerce world by selling their goods and services to businesses via Consumer-to-Business (C2B). This type of transaction is an inspiring way for individuals to make money plus, you don’t need any special experience or expertise; all that’s required is a great product or service.
Example: Airbnb
Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
Business-to-Consumer (B2C) ecommerce is the trendiest type of digital commerce, occurring when a business sells products or services directly to individual shoppers. This popular form of trade has made it easier for businesses to communicate with their customers and provide them with quality goods and services.
Example: Amazon
Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
If you’re looking to buy or sell products with other customers, Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) ecommerce is the perfect platform for you! C2C transactions are usually completed between two individuals who want to exchange used or unwanted items. This type of ecommerce provides a convenient and efficient way for consumers like yourself to purchase goods from others at an affordable price.
Example: eBay Australia
Business-to-Administration (B2A)
Business-to-Administration (B2A) ecommerce is a powerful tool for businesses to buy and sell products or services with government entities. This lucrative form of online commerce has enabled companies that provide goods or services to public sector institutions to develop successful relationships with their customers.
Example: AusTender
Consumer-to-Administration (C2A)
The process of Consumer-to-Administration (C2A) ecommerce makes it possible for customers to purchase goods and services directly from government entities. This type of commerce is incredibly beneficial, allowing consumers a convenient way to access the products they need with ease.
Example: myGov
Key Elements To Start Your Online Business
If the thought of launching an ecommerce business feels intimidating, don’t fret – you can simplify the process with a few key tools and resources. Here are all that you need to get your venture up and running.
Web hosting
Kicking off an ecommerce store begins with selecting the perfect web hosting provider. This partner, in essence, serves as your website’s virtual home base that ensures customers are able to access it from anywhere on Earth.
Domain Name
The next step in creating your online presence is selecting a domain name – this will be the place customers come to find you. It should be memorable and effortless to spell so that people can quickly access your site.
Technical Support
When you’re just beginning a new ecommerce business, technical support is key. With the right level of assistance, any technical issues that arise can be quickly resolved and your site will remain in perfect running condition.
Website Builder
A website builder helps you create and design your online retail space without needing to write complex coding scripts. No matter what type of business you run or how customizations you need, there’s sure to be an ideal web-building tool just right for you.
Online Payment System
Having a reliable and secure online payment system is paramount as this allows customers the ease of making purchases directly from your website as well as guaranteeing you receive payments for any products or services being offered.
The Best Ecommerce Platforms Australia
Operating a successful ecommerce business can be an arduous task, yet with the ideal platform it doesn’t have to be so daunting.
Choosing the right ecommerce platform for your business can help you get off to a great start and give you the tools needed to meet your goals.
There are many options available and factors to consider. But here are some of the best ecommerce platforms available in Australia.
WooCommerce (WordPress)
WooCommerce was founded by three developers: Magnus Jepson, Mark Forrester, and Adii Pienaar. They launched the plugin in 2011, and it quickly became popular due to its ease of use, customization options, and integration with WordPress.
In 2015, Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, acquired WooCommerce and it has continued to grow in popularity as a leading e-commerce platform.
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress.
It enables individuals and businesses to create and operate online stores, sell physical and digital products, manage inventory and shipping, and process payments.
It is a popular and flexible solution for small to large online retailers.
Shopify
Founded by Tobias Lütke in 2006, Shopify has become a premier ecommerce platform with over one million businesses taking advantage of its services. Interestingly, it was originally called Snowdevil when it first debuted as an online store back in 2004.
Shopify is one of the most sought-after solutions for online entrepreneurs, as it provides customizable themes and an easy way to manage multiple stores from a single account. Payment security is ensured with Shopify Payments and various helpful apps can be easily added to your store.
Wix
For over 14 years, the renowned Wix platform has been revolutionizing website creation with their convenient and user-friendly drag-and-drop options. Founded in 2006 by entrepreneurs Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan, this cloud-based development hub now serves an impressive 150 million users from 190 countries worldwide!
Wix is the perfect choice for creating an outstanding website. With over 200 applications available in its App Market, it provides you with beautiful and customizable templates, a simple-to-use website builder, secure hosting services to ensure your data safety while online, advanced SEO tools to help boost your visibility and reach more customers, as well as powerful ecommerce capabilities that make launching an online store so easy.
Squarespace
In 2003, Squarespace was founded by Anthony Casalena that started as just a simple website-building system and has now become one of the world’s leading ecommerce solutions. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and easy customization with no coding required, allowing you to create a stunning online presence in just minutes.
Squarespace takes care of all your hosting needs and provides secure hosting services, integrated payment gateways, and a powerful search engine optimization services and toolset. Plus, it offers you access to 24/7 customer support for any technical issues that arise during your journey. It offers an array of tools to help you create beautiful websites, online stores, blogs, and portfolios with ease.
BigCommerce
Founded in 2009 by Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper, BigCommerce is a full-featured ecommerce platform that makes it easy for entrepreneurs to create and manage their stores. It provides an array of features such as custom design tools, coupon management, pre-built store templates, and automated shipping rates that make your business run smoother.
BigCommerce also offers strong security features like SSL encryption and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, allowing your customers to make secure transactions on your website. It also provides a powerful analytics dashboard, giving you the insights you need to improve your store’s performance.
Magento
Magento is a popular open-source ecommerce platform that was founded in 2008 by Roy Rubin and Yoav Kutner. It has since become the world’s most popular ecommerce solution and is used by the world’s top online brands. This powerful software allows you to create online stores with an extensive range of features such as open-source shopping cart software, customizable themes, powerful marketing and promotional tools, mobile-friendly sites, and product management capabilities.
Magento also offers advanced functionality and superior security features such as international support, secure payment methods, quick setup times, intuitive user experience (UX), multilingual abilities, and integration with third-party services. Additionally, its scalability makes it a great choice for larger businesses with multiple stores and high demand.
WooCommerce
Originally WooThemes, WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform founded in 2011 by developers Mike Jolley and Jay Koster. It has since become one of the most popular solutions for online stores, powering over 30% of all ecommerce sites on the web.
At its core, WooCommerce provides a comprehensive set of features to build on top of the WordPress platform. It provides businesses with all the tools and resources needed to create and manage an online store. WooCommerce is known for its ease of use and its ability to integrate with other systems, making it a great choice for businesses of all sizes.
Factors for Ecommerce Business Success
The success of any ecommerce business depends on many factors, ranging from the quality of products and services offered to Australian e commerce market.
With the changing landscape of digital commerce, it is important for ecommerce businesses to stay ahead of the curve in order to ensure their success.
There are many factors that contribute to the success of an ecommerce business. Here are some of the most important factors:
Understand Target Audience
To thrive and excel in today’s digital landscape, it is essential to have a firm grasp of your target customer base. Knowing who they are, and what their wants and needs are, will enable you to craft an online presence with them every time.
When choosing the features and functionality for your ecommerce business, make sure they are relevant to your target customer base. In order to succeed in the ecommerce world, it is essential for your website to have basic and various features and functionalities.
Security
When it comes to ecommerce, security should be a top priority. Customers will not trust your site unless they feel secure in their transactions and other personal information. Make sure you have the necessary measures in place to protect customer data and offer them an encrypted checkout process.
Organization
Organization is key when it comes to ecommerce businesses. Customers expect a seamless and easy experience while shopping online, so make sure your website offers them with the tools to easily browse through your products and services. Make use of categories and filtering options, navigation menus, and other organization tools to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
Update
Staying in touch with your customers is another crucial aspect of the success of any ecommerce business. Email updates allow you to keep customers informed of new products, discounts, and other news related to your business. Make sure to send out regular emails so that they stay up-to-date on your offerings and always have something to look forward to when shopping with you.
Have Great Website Design
A well-designed website is essential for an ecommerce business. It should be easy to navigate, visually appealing, and provide a positive user experience. Choosing a platform that allows you to customize your site can help in creating a website that reflects your brand and meets your customers’ needs.
Designing Tools
In order to create an engaging and user-friendly ecommerce website, it is important to have the right designing tools in place. Designing tools allow you to customize the look and feel of your ecommerce site, giving it a unique, personalized, and interactive experience that customers will appreciate.
Easy Navigation
Having a website that is easy to navigate is an important factor for the success of your ecommerce business. Make sure you have clearly labeled menus, categories, and filters so customers can find what they are looking for quickly and easily.
Incorporate SEO
To ensure your ecommerce business is successful, search engine optimization (SEO) must not be overlooked. An optimized website will easily appear higher up in search results and gain more visibility to potential customers. Here are a few fundamental components that should be taken into account when optimizing:
Well-optimized pages
Use of proper keywords properly
Being visible on SERP
Invest in Social Media Marketing
Utilizing social media is a clever way to connect with your desired customers and expand the reach of your ecommerce business. Engaging with potential buyers, creating visibility for your brand, and ultimately driving traffic to your website can be achieved through using this platform.
Have 24/7 Technical Support
For any ecommerce business, 24/7 technical support is an absolute must. Technical glitches can happen at a moment’s notice and having access to qualified assistance ensures that you are able to quickly address any issues before they snowball into larger problems.
Takeaways
Choosing the best ecommerce platform for your business in Australia will depend on your specific needs and requirements. When selecting an ecommerce platform, consider factors and some of the best ecommerce platforms available in Australia.
By selecting the optimal ecommerce platform for your business in Australia, you can be sure that your online store is safe, visually appealing, and giving customers an enjoyable user experience. With a well-suited ecommerce platform, you are able to expand and make progress toward achieving your objectives.
