Features of a Good eCommerce Platform for Small Businesses

So you’ve finally decided to set up an eCommerce platform for your business. At this point, you’re probably feeling excited yet kind of confused and frantic as well. Starting a new and unfamiliar journey can be both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Making huge decisions such as choosing the best eCommerce platform for small businesses, designing your website, choosing the types of features to include and so much more are just a few things you will need to think about. 

Given the myriad of eCommerce platforms available in the market and the list of features and functionalities they offer, deciding which options are best for your business can be pretty overwhelming. The choices you will make for your digital storefront will be crucial for the success of your business. 

In this article, we’ll look at some of the most essential features you need to look for in an eCommerce platform for small businesses. This list aims to help entrepreneurs like you decide whether or not the options you’re considering can help grow your business. 

Why Use an eCommerce Platform for Small Businesses

Setting up an online store involves many critical processes. For starters, you need to build a website, choose payment options, manage inventory, answer queries and many more. Fortunately, an excellent eCommerce platform for small businesses allows you to manage all of these processes in the easiest way possible. 

Most eCommerce platforms in the market offer essential functionalities that you will need to make your digital storefront up and running. It offers a cheaper, less complicated way of handling day-to-day business operations compared to creating an entire software from scratch. 

A reliable eCommerce platform for small businesses not only automates the buying process, it also helps prevent technical issues and allows you to troubleshoot them as soon as they occur. This gives you more time to assist your customers and offer them a satisfying shopping experience. 

Features of a Good eCommerce Platform for Small Businesses

Singaporeans are huge fans of online shopping. In fact, research shows that nearly 3 out of 4 Singaporean internet users aged 16 and above have experienced shopping online. For businesses to succeed in this new and competitive market, this means adapting to these digital transformations. For starters, choosing an eCommerce platform that offers the best features is your best defense. 

To help you pick the best eCommerce solution for your business, here’s a list of the must-have features you need to look for:

• Easy navigation

One of the most essential features of an excellent eCommerce platform for small businesses is user-friendly navigation. One way to do this is to ensure that products on your website are logically categorised. You can either choose to categorised your products by popularity, by brand or by price. This will help customers find the product quickly giving them a worthwhile experience.  

• Design options

Find an eCommerce platform for small businesses that offers both design freedom and a myriad of pre-made templates that are free to use. Ready-to-use designs and themes can help you create your store’s appearance quickly while allowing you to save time and effort.

• Payment options

Before you can sell products online, you need to make sure that you are able to collect payments from your customers. When choosing your payment options, you have to consider various factors such as the currencies you’re planning to operate with, the payment methods most of your customers prefer to use and more. 

The common issue that can possibly occur in terms of payment processing may involve the payment gateway that the eCommerce platform uses. This refers to the processor that securely moves payments from your customer’s bank to your account. 

• Security

Data breaches are the most common causes of business failure. As such, it is best to choose an eCommerce platform for small businesses that offer robust security. To keep all data and transactions protected, choose a solution that meets the PCI security standard – a 1-piece set of 2 security standards applicable to all websites that work payment information.  Another factor to consider is the SSL certificate. These are small data files that allow a browser to securely process transactions such as online purchases. 

Setup Your Very First eCommerce Website with SMMILE

Start creating unforgettable shopping experiences for your customers, build an eCommerce website with SMMILE. Contact us at (65) 8687 8143 or send us a message at hello@smmile.com.