Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses

When you start your small eCommerce business, you want to reach a wide range of audiences that can make your business a success. To do this, you need to invest in your platform and make sure that you are using the best but reliable avenue to sell your product or run your business.

Decades ago, you would need to invest a considerable run of money for your brick and mortar store as it requires a distinct property and building to come to life. In this digital era, the take where to place your business has shifted dramatically.

Technology continues to evolve, which creates much impact on many industries and can make your business grow.

What is the eCommerce Platform?

The age of the internet has dawned upon businesses of all sizes. Many are now moving to the internet to sell their products, offer their services, and build a business empire.

Ecommerce

Ecommerce is a type of business model that has emerged from the evolution of the digital age that allows individuals and enterprises to buy and sell over the internet.

It has helped many businesses reach a broader market but through a cheaper and more efficient option than the traditional brick-and-store.

E-commerce platforms provide you with a lot of benefits like an open store for 24 hours a day and seven days a week, making your online business readily available for any person who wishes to check your company any time of the day.

With the influx of eCommerce platforms these days, deciding which platform to use is the trickiest part when moving or starting your online business.

Depending on your needs like the type of product you have or services you offer, the number of your products, your budget, and the control you want over your e-commerce business, you need to choose the best platform that will help your business grow.

In this article, you’ll find some of the best e-commerce platforms today for small businesses.

Ecommerce Platforms You Use For Your Small Business

1. Shopify

Many business experts and thought leaders in the eCommerce industry regard Shopify as one of the best eCommerce website builders for small businesses.

It is also one of the biggest and most widely-known platforms for online businesses of all sizes. Shopify is straightforward to use and has a user interface that does not require you to stock knowledge with IT or coding skills to build your online store.

Shopify

Shopify is among the top choices for small businesses as well as large and established enterprises. One of the reasons is that Shopify allows you to build customizable online stores even if you have zero knowledge in coding and design.

Should your business grow more prominent, you do not have to think about switching to other platforms. Instead, you can upgrade for plants that can cater to your growing business.

Because of the growing competition online, building a business over the internet is not easy. Aside from your product or services being available online, your store should also be pleasing aesthetically.

Shopify made it easy for you, as you can choose a hundred themes that fit your business. It even has a responsive design that allows your online store to adapt to whatever device your customer uses.

2. BigCommerce

Another one of the most popular eCommerce platforms these days is BigCommerce. True to its name, BigCommerce is also the biggest in the industry as it caters to small and large businesses to build an eCommerce website.

It offers an extensive set of tools that would help you work your way around your online business.

BigCommerce allows you to create storefronts on other popular sites like eBay and Amazon. This move can be a great way to grow your business and expand your reach without creating multiple accounts.

Selling your products through other mediums can be an easy way to branch out while creating a consistent branding for your business.

BigCommerceYour social media can also become part of your eCommerce store as BigCommerce allows you to integrate your social media into your online store. You can also sell your products through these avenues, thus growing your reach.

3. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that you can use to turn your WordPress website into an eCommerce site for your small business.

WordPress is usually used to power up a blogging website, but with WooCommerce, it can function as your online store.

WooCommerceUtilizing WooCommerce will allow you to bring in eCommerce functionalities to your website. It is an open-source eCommerce plugin that can fully customize your site, depending on your eCommerce needs. It is also a user-friendly plugin.

That is why it is very popular with small business owners around the planet.

WooCommerce can make it easy for people to view your product and even purchase them. By getting this plugin for your WordPress website, you can quickly turn your existing website that leverages WordPress to an online platform that can help your business grow.

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is another great option, especially for those who are keen on keeping track of inventories. As an eCommerce store, it is essential to keep track of the product’s quantity, so you will know which of the items are running low.

Leveraging on Squarespace, you will have the chance to use their inventory management system.

Squarespace

This website builder is suitable for small businesses that want a sophisticated and straightforward option for their eCommerce store.

It also has a wide range of store themes that you can choose. When using Squarespace, you will get to control some aspect of your like managing your email list, shipping configuration, and coupon offers.

5. Wix eCommerce

Not all online businesses offer a wide array of products. Some have even less than 50 items to sell online. If your eCommerce store has only an offering of 50 or less than products, you can opt for Wix eCommerce.

Wix eCommerce is an easy and straightforward way to create a reliable website for your online store. It is even set up with a drag and drag them where you can add and remove features based on your business needs.

This feature makes it easier for you to create a storefront that suits your business’s needs and your desired audience preferences.

WixeCommerce

Like Shopify, you do not need any adequate knowledge of coding and design to build a great website. It even offers many eye-catching themes that can make your eCommerce business stand out among the competition.

6. Andolasoft

A one-stop-shop for all your business needs, Andolasoft, is another top choice you can consider to help your small business.

Andolasoft can take your business to the next level with its renowned mobile-friendly eCommerce solutions.

Being mobile-friendly means your eCommerce website should be able to adapt to any screen size your customers are using.

Andolasoft

Andolasoft’s development services work and integrate with all the significant and popular eCommerce platforms in the market like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and more.

It can make your website stand out with its key features such as Advanced Search, Wishlist, multiple themes, and dedicated blog on your eCommerce site.

Aside from an eCommerce solution, Andolasoft offers other services like mobile app development, open-source development, cloud management, support, and maintenance, making it easier for you to fulfill your small business’ needs.

With over 200 plus dedicated professionals, the company already has 11 years’ worth of experience in the eCommerce market. Andolasoft has a wide array of clients in about 35 countries worldwide, making them one of the top choices for any technological development requirement.

Final Thoughts

People are now online, not only to browse for any information but also to purchase any product or service they need.

Getting your eCommerce website is a must to make sure you take advantage of technology and the internet. However, just owning and building one is not enough. Aside from its aesthetics and beautiful design, your eCommerce site should be functional and user-friendly.

It should also be responsive and adaptive to any screen size your customer is using. To help you achieve this, take note of the eCommerce platforms mentioned in this article that you can consider in building your small business’ store online.

Top Things You Need to Know About Cloud Services

 

Cloud service is a rapidly developing technology which is still in its infant stage. With such a recently developed technology it becomes tough for the industries to be in sync with its advancements.

So for successful cloud solutions, the company must construct a business strategy to be in parallel with the latest development in cloud computing technology, such as from the storage and extension to disaster recovery. Cloud technology therefore has brought new challenges for the IT as well as retail industries.

In order to meet these challenges, the companies should revise their skills to retain a competitive edge. They should also bring fewer in-house IT technicians.

This can be made simpler with the help of major cloud management service providers like Amazon, Rackspace etc.There are numerous cloud platforms available, but the industries should opt for an option that meets the specific needs of their business. SaaS (Software as a service) cloud service can be a viable alternative for both IT and retail industries.

Understanding Cloud Services

At its core, a cloud service refers to any computing resource or capability that is delivered over the internet. 

Instead of relying on local infrastructure, organizations can access and utilize these resources remotely. 

Cloud services encompass a wide range of offerings, each catering to specific business needs and technical requirements.

Cloud Service Models:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): 

IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. This includes virtual machines, storage, and networking components.

Users have the flexibility to manage and control the operating systems and applications running on these virtualized resources.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): 

PaaS delivers a platform that enables developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without the complexities of managing the underlying infrastructure.

It offers a streamlined environment for coding, testing, and deploying applications.

Software as a Service (SaaS): 

SaaS delivers fully functional applications over the internet on a subscription basis. Users can access SaaS software applications without the need for installation, as everything is hosted in the cloud.

Examples include email services, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and productivity suites.

Benefits of Cloud Services:

  • Scalability:
    Cloud services allow businesses to scale resources up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance without overprovisioning.
  • Cost Efficiency:
    Organizations can avoid upfront infrastructure costs by paying only for the resources they consume. This cost-effective approach is particularly beneficial for startups and small businesses.
  • Accessibility:
    Cloud services enable remote access to resources, facilitating collaboration among teams spread across different locations.
  • Security and Compliance:
    Reputable cloud service providers offer
    robust security measures and compliance certifications, often surpassing what individual businesses can achieve.
  • Backup and Disaster Recovery:
    Cloud services offer automated backup and disaster recovery solutions, minimizing data loss and downtime.

Practical Applications of Cloud Services

Cloud services have revolutionized various industries, offering innovative solutions to age-old challenges. Here are some practical applications:

  • E-Commerce:
    Cloud services provide the scalability and reliability needed to handle fluctuating online shopping demands.
  • Healthcare:
    Cloud services facilitate secure storage and sharing of patient data, enabling seamless collaboration among healthcare professionals.
  • Education:
    Cloud-based learning management systems (LMS) enhance remote education by providing a centralized platform for course materials, assignments, and communication.
  • FinTech:
    Cloud services offer the computational power required for complex financial analytics and algorithmic trading.
  • Entertainment:
    Streaming services rely on cloud infrastructure to deliver content to millions of users simultaneously.

Challenges and Considerations

While cloud services offer numerous benefits, it’s essential to be aware of potential challenges:

  • Security Concerns:
    Storing sensitive data on remote servers raises security and privacy concerns. Encryption and proper access controls are crucial.
  • Vendor Lock-In:
    Migrating between different cloud service providers can be complex and costly, potentially leading to vendor lock-in.
  • Downtime:
    Relying on external infrastructure means being vulnerable to outages and downtime caused by the cloud provider.
  • Data Transfer Costs:
    Transmitting large amounts of data to and from the cloud can result in unexpected expenses.

Choosing the Right Cloud Service Provider

When selecting a cloud service provider, consider factors such as reliability, security measures, compliance certifications, pricing structure, and customer support. Popular options include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and IBM Cloud.

At Andolasoft, we provide cloud management and support service with our highly experienced infrastructure experts. We provide proactive maintenance, monitoring, server support, backup and recovery services. We have executed numerous tasks based on our customer’s business requirements successfully.

Planning anything on Cloud? Andolasoft provides Best-in-Class Cloud Management Services for Businesses of all kinds. Let’s have a quick discussion.

CloudLinux’s Recent Integration of PHP 5.5 Alpha 2 Version

Shared hosting operating system provider CloudLinux has expanded their PHP offerings by declaring the availability of PHP 5.5 Alpha2 version to its PHP selector tool.

With the ability to select PHP versions, PHP selector allows the users to get the latest feature updates

and preferred PHP version like PHP 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and now, 5.5 Alpha2 from their web hosting control panel. CloudLinux places each individual website in a virtual private server.

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Each account is then assigned a specific amount of hardware resources and a desirable PHP version, by using the PHP selector tool.

PHP 5.5 Alpha2 version includes new features like the most awaited password hashing API and providing users the ability to use bcrypt along with loop-controlling generators.

Igor Seletskiy the CEO of CloudLinux has expressed that the availability of PHP selector has made it easier to get access to PHP features. He quoted “PHP is possibly the most widely used aspect of any shared web hosting plan.”

Igor Seletskiy also added “Like the rest of the web hosting community, we are excited to start exploring the new features of PHP version 5.5.

However, many hosting companies and their customers would not usually deploy an Alpha version on a large-scale, server-wide basis.

CloudLinux and PHP Selector make it possible for hosting providers to assign individual accounts their own PHP version without affecting other sites on the same hardware.” Integrating such features in CloudLinux has helped PHP development to become easier and more productive

Cloud Services’ Popularity among Small Businesses.The Major Factors

Cloud ServicesRecently it’s been found that around 80% of private businesses who are involved in foreign trade are small in size and startups.

Many of these are growing or looking to expand their company by choosing innovative solutions to provide better services to their customers.

Cloud computing can be a viable option for startup companies that can boost their business productivity.

The foremost reason to choose a cloud management service is to get the benefits of big business infrastructure.  In the recent past, servers were configured in the office, which was troublesome and required a lot of resources like expensive.

Hardware, faster processors, dedicated server administrators, and 365×24×7 internet connection. To avoid such headaches, it is beneficial to opt for cloud-based computing power for more productivity at a lower budget.

As the servers are accessed remotely, it offers better flexibility than traditional IT infrastructures. The administrators can access remote servers from anywhere by using various mobile devices.

This flexibility in accessing the servers saves time, money, and also helps to fix issues immediately when required.

Cloud server monitoring also facilitates better collaboration with clients. It enables the company to share specific client-related issues with other departments, in order to solve the problem. Taking notes, sharing client files, and working together to solve the problem has become easier than before.

Data security is one of the most important reasons to use cloud management services.

The remote infrastructures provided by cloud service consider clients ‘data security’ as their top priority. Many people wrongly assume that cloud monitoring is less secure than native servers.

Due to this reason cloud server monitoring is managed by IT professionals who stress themselves to keep their data safe and out of the reach of hackers. But choosing cloud services can reduce these threats and the business can acquire various legal requirements regarding the security of data.

Planning anything on Cloud? Andolasoft provides Best-in-Class Cloud Management Services for Businesses of all kinds. Let’s have a quick discussion.