Top 12 Things to Consider When Choosing an eCommerce Package

July 31, 2007 | Filed Under E-Commerce

Shopping Cart KeyDigital Web Magazine brings us an outstanding article by Shannon Watters on how to choose an eCommerce package. The number of eCommerce packages available on the market can be quite intimidating. With so many options and choices, it is best to create a plan of attack when searching for an ideal solution for your business.

From the article:

Whether you’re a freelance designer looking for a solution for your latest client, or a new company preparing your first online store, choosing an eCommerce package can be a daunting decision. The industry’s rapid growth over the last few years makes it difficult to immediately determine whether a specific package suits both your present and future needs, but there are a few things you can keep in mind to help you through the process. Below, I’ve outlined the top eleven things to consider when choosing an eCommerce package, considering everything from your company’s growth, your store’s integration and checkout needs—right down to the kind of eCommerce firm you want to work with. By considering the following key areas, you can have a stronger understanding of what your company—or client—needs in an eCommerce package.

Shannon goes on to describe in detail eleven factors to consider before starting your search:

  1. Scalability
  2. Integration
  3. Content Management
  4. Analytics
  5. Promotions and Discounts
  6. Customer Service
  7. Technical Support
  8. Intuitive Checkout
  9. Security
  10. Examining the Open-Source Option
  11. Company and Community

I would like to add one more factor to this list: Taxes. Make sure that the package you choose has a robust system for handling tax rules and codes. Depending on the product you sell online, you may need to charge taxes in different ways. Many times this will even vary based on your location and the location of your customers. A quality eCommerce package will allow you to define all of these rules in a simple way that makes it easy to maintain.

I suggest that you have your web developer create a list of the eCommerce packages he or she recommends. Then analyze each option on that list against these 12 factors. Choose the package that best meets your needs in all of these areas.

Head over to Digital Web Magazine for the full article.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Top 12 Things to Consider When Choosing an eCommerce Package”

  1. Jesse on July 11th, 2008 12:31 pm

    Thanks for the interesting read about ecommerce. I also agree with the 11 factors Shannon mentioned.

  2. Andrew on October 1st, 2008 2:32 am

    The devil is always in the detail regarding website development and e-commerce. To add to that list:-

    12. Accessibility
    13. Search engine friendliness
    14. Payment provider support (e.g. does it support PayPal, Google Checkout, WorldPay, Protx etc)
    15. Hosting support – are there good (dedicated) hosts for the e-commerce package?
    16. Upgrade path – is it easy to update the codebase?

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