eCommerce Software: eCommerce Buyer’s Guide

Finding the right business software for your business is tough. It requires a lot of effort and some help. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve created this buyer’s guide to help you find an eCommerce solution that meets your unique needs. The guide will answer the following questions about eCommerce software solutions:

What is eCommerce software?
Why consider eCommerce software?
When should you implement eCommerce sofware?
How do you choose the right eCommerce software?
What should you expect to pay for an eCommerce solution?
What are typical features of an eCommerce solution?

There is lots of practical information to help you find the right software.

What is eCommerce Software?

eCommerce software is designed to support online businesses in every aspect of day-to-day sales, marketing, and operations. This type of software enables web-based companies of all sizes to streamline tasks and conduct business more efficiently and productively. eCommerce software may include:

Online ordering: product catalog, shopping cart
Payment processing: credit card/PayPal transactions, echeck processing, online security protocols
Inventory management: real-time inventory lists, stock, and ordering from suppliers
Sending payments: employee payroll, supplier payments
Accounting: payroll bookkeeping, taxes

There are many types of eCommerce software, each of which fulfills some or all of these functions. Some premium software suites may also include other kinds of functions, such as:

Payment gateways: payment processing application that enables businesses to receive credit and debit card payments online.
Order entry: allows customers to create and submit online orders.
Order management: enables a company to monitor the status of an order while it is being manufactured or assembled.
Website templates or site-building software: platforms that allow users to build professional-looking websites without coding or website experience.

Why Consider eCommerce Software?

There are good and bad reasons that companies invest in eCommerce software. Before you make a purchase, make sure your reasons can be justified and meet your true business needs.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from eCommerce software, especially those that:

Sell products or services through an online ordering form on your website
Need a more reliable record-keeping system to prevent stocking issues and inventory errors
Are spending more time on payroll, stock, and inventory than on revenue-building initiatives
Dread tax time because your books are disorganized and confusing

eCommerce software can also help you:

Simplify your ordering process
Manage customer orders more quickly
Spend less time on inventory, payroll, and other management tasks
Centralize your administration and bookkeeping
Increase conversions with a more efficient online ordering system
Improve customer satisfaction
Gain access to reporting tools that show which marketing approaches and landing pages are working, and which are not

eCommerce software can be a great investment and help your business if purchased for the right reasons. Remember, it is a tool that can streamline the background work of running your business, but it can't replace strategic planning, powerful marketing, and the good old-fashioned hard work it takes to make your business successful.

When Should You Implement eCommerce Software?

Even if you are considering eCommerce software for all the right reasons, the timing may not be right. It may be time if you…

Are about to start a new online business
Have at least 20 products or are planning on expanding your catalog
Would like to start accepting online credit card payments
Are finding that payroll, inventory, order management, and stocking are taking up more than 50% of your time
Would like to grow your business but are struggling to keep up with the orders you have now
Are experiencing significant business growth

How Do You Choose the Right eCommerce Software?

Committing to and following a proven process is the first step to choosing the right solution. Below are a few resources that will help you with the process:

Capterra’s Software Selection Guide steps you through the process of selecting the right software for your needs. It helps you define your requirements, create a short-list of product alternatives, and ultimately select the right solution.

Capterra’s eCommerce Software Directory contains over 350 solutions and several tools that will help you limit and evaluate your options, including:

Product Filtering is a quick and easy way to find solutions that match your requirements
Product Comparisons enable you to see features side-by-side; up to four products can be compared at a time
Expert Advice Library contains additional resources to help you through the selection process

FREE Expert Consultation: Email us or call us at 855.GO.SOFTWARE for personalized help!

Common Pitfalls When Buying eCommerce Software

Overbuying: Don't rush into an eCommerce software purchase without a plan, or you could end up buying more than you need or making your system more complicated than what your business requires.
Underbuying: By the same token, it's a mistake to purchase an overly simple eCommerce package that may require extensive, expensive, and confusing add-ons later.
Overlooking payment options: If you know the types of payments you want to accept, make sure to choose a software package that will accommodate them. Even if an application has everything else you want, your payment section will close the deal on customer purchases, so make it as effortless and natural as possible.
Forgetting about taxes: Every eCommerce software package handles tax differently. Make sure to select a system that can easily adapt to your state’s taxation requirements.

What Should You Expect to Pay for an eCommerce Solution?

The “price” of the product that you select is only one piece of the puzzle. You need to consider several factors to determine the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Start with a price range for a solution and continue adding the pieces until you have a realistic estimate of what you should expect to pay for your solution.

Software vendors listed in our eCommerce directory have supplied data that show solutions to be in the following ranges:

Monthly fee: less than $50 to potentially tens of thousands of dollars
One-time license fee: less than $500 to potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars

The ranges highlight the wide variety of options that are available, which means there is a product out there that fits your budget. Begin with a range and answer the questions below to further calculate TCO.

Do you want to pay a monthly fee or a one-time license amount?
Do you want to pay per user with the option of adding more in the future?
Do you want a hosted solution or do you need it to be installed on-site?
What additional hardware, software, and/or services (implementation, education, etc…) will be needed?
Will you need to hire additional people to help support/use the system?

Calculating the TCO is beneficial for several reasons: it enables you to compare products on an apple-to-apples basis, and it gives you a realistic estimate of how much you will need to invest.

Reminder: Use your budget and/or product price to limit your options and create your short-list. Don’t use price as the sole determining factor for your selection.

What Are the Typical Features of an eCommerce Solution?

You can spend countless hours wading through thousands of “features” in good eCommerce software, but it’s most efficient to focus on the top 10 or 15 of your organization’s needs. Below are some of the most important offerings you'll find in most eCommerce platforms:

Electronic product catalog
Custom interface
SEO tools
Shopping cart tools
Credit card processing
Order processing
Online auction management
Customer accounts
Data import and export
Inventory management
Reporting tools

When you check out a few of our eCommerce offerings, you'll find these features and many more. The key is prioritizing the ones that will best serve you, your employees, and your customers.

Now what?

Although we've tried to fill this guide with everything you need to know about eCommerce software, there's a lot of information out there and hundreds of options to consider.

If you have questions or need help, call us at 855.GO.SOFTWARE (855-467-6389) for a FREE expert consultation.

eCommerce Software Tools

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MaxEXP

MaxEXP is an enterprise class multi-channel eCommerce system designed for manufacturers, distributors and retailers and suitable for small and midsize companies to global brands. The MaxEXP eCommerce platform includes advanced professional merchandising and marketing tools - all designed to maximize clients' competitive edge, reduce costs, drive traffic, convert sales and build loyalty. If you are looking to re-platform. MaxEXP is the best choice. [Learn more]

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