As the world continues to evolve digitally, more businesses see the long-term effects of shifting to eCommerce. Experts forecast global eCommerce sales to reach $6.3 trillion in 2023, which entails significant opportunities for companies wanting to explore online retail.
You'll need a reliable eCommerce platform to provide a pleasant browsing experience for your website’s visitors. From a global market reach to substantial potential sales, various opportunities prove why entering this space greatly benefits business owners. Apart from exploring different eCommerce strategies, you must consider how you deliver your services to your clients.
Let’s look into what is an eCommerce platform and how it can help you, then see the different eCommerce platforms in the Philippines you can consider integrating.
What is an eCommerce Platform?
An eCommerce platform is a complete piece of software that allows online businesses to run their operations. These platforms come with various services, including customer service infrastructure, accounting and inventory management systems, and website builders.
eCommerce systems have all the tools required to run and expand your online business without adding extra complexities. These platforms make it easier for customers to make purchases, stop system breakdowns and other technical problems, and assist you in troubleshooting them whenever they arise.
An eCommerce platform has functions like a database to hold transaction details, inventory management to keep track of the inventory, customer assistance, and order management to enhance the customer experience.
It might also have integrations for expanding into new channels and security measures. Other features of an eCommerce platform include the following:
- Interface
- Store management system
- Creative options
- Payment processing
- Business promotion opportunities
There are three types of eCommerce platforms that businesses can use:
- PaaS (platform-as-a-service) platforms
- SaaS (software-as-a-service) platforms
- On-premises platforms
Both SaaS and PaaS systems use the internet to supply eCommerce solutions. SaaS platforms entail software. However, these become PaaS platforms whenever they have a hardware component. On the other hand, businesses can locally host and manage on-premises platforms rather than by someone else through the cloud.
With an eCommerce platform, you can focus on streamlining your sales process and increasing your revenue rather than spending as much time assisting your customers with their purchases. Before selecting an eCommerce platform, you should consider which characteristics would help you achieve your goals since the features vary.
The 7 Best eCommerce Platforms in the Philippines
No business wants to be in the shadow of another. The best way for your business to stand out is by curating an eCommerce strategy and using a platform that sets your business apart from the rest. Check out the different eCommerce platforms in the Philippines and their unique features and benefits.
- Shopify
Shopify is one of the most well-known eCommerce platforms in the country for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor for website creation. It offers powerful complementing tools and multi-channel selling features that allow businesses to sell products directly through the website, in-person, third-party marketplaces, and social media like Instagram, Snapchat with additional features, Twitter, etc.
As one of the leading eCommerce platforms in the world, it’s only fitting that Shopify supports a variety of currencies. Moreover, it also supports payments made through Google Pay, Apple Pay, Mastercard, and American Express, posing an excellent opportunity for Philippine businesses as they strive to expand globally.
Having various payment options available greatly help Filipino entrepreneurs’ case and makes it easier for international customers to try their products and services.
- Wix
Like Shopify, Wix is a well-known platform for building websites and landing pages with eCommerce functionality. This platform also has a drag-and-drop editor with various configurable design templates for businesses.
Apart from handling SEO for your online business, Wix also tackles in-depth site performance data, social and email marketing tools, and many integration choices. For Filipino business owners, this is crucial because as they strive to enter a more global audience, they’ll need invaluable data insights to help steer their following marketing strategies.
Wix provides various payment options, such as credit and debit cards, PayPal, and an in-platform option called Wix Payments. The system automatically decides which payment solution is best for a customer’s area, making checkout a breeze.
When you use Wix, you also get to sell on various platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The site offers 24/7 phone and chat-based support and on-site assistance during setup. These features make marketing and support easier for new business owners.
- Squarespace
Simplicity is Squarespace’s most significant appeal. The platform uses drag-and-drop technology, which doesn’t require any technical knowledge. The Squarespace interface is simple enough for a beginner Filipino entrepreneur to design a beautiful website.
It’s important to remember that Squarespace is essentially a website builder, not an online selling platform, so adding eCommerce capabilities involves some customization.
After configuring the eCommerce feature, Squarespace includes functional inventory management capabilities. Higher-tiered subscriptions also allow you to offer subscription-based goods or gift cards.
- BigCommerce
BigCommerce is one of the most adaptable and scalable solutions among all eCommerce systems. The platform also offers the same features and functionality as other well-known platforms, but it enables greater scalability as your business expands. However, it takes a decent amount of website construction knowledge, making it reasonably challenging for beginners to navigate through the interface.
This eCommerce platform provides site hosting and many customization possibilities, just like Shopify and Wix. However, you’ll need to buy and register your domain name elsewhere before porting it over, as it doesn’t allow domain name registration.
- WooCommerce
Unlike other eCommerce platforms, WooCommerce requires you to be tech smart and knowledgeable about WordPress as it powers the service.
The service offers many extensions, allowing Filipino entrepreneurs to customize their websites and meet precise business requirements. However, this eCommerce platform isn’t scalable; thus, the website’s response time will inevitably become slower as the volume of orders and customers increases.
WooCommerce’s numerous add-ons allow web stores built with this software to take a wide range of payment methods like cash, credit cards, cheques, and bank transfers. Moreover, WooCommerce also accepts 140 region-specific payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon Pay.
- Magento
Many think Magento is the best choice for large companies that require a feature-rich and highly adaptable eCommerce site. However, because this platform offers businesses a fully customized platform, it may not be intended for tiny firms or those with limited experience in web development. You need highly developed coding and development skills to create and maintain the complete infrastructure. - Rush
No other company caters to Filipinos better than a Filipino solution. Rush PH offers a comprehensive eCommerce platform that provides end-to-end solutions for businesses.
Rush PH’s software enables businesses to quickly build their own reward applications without paying hefty setup costs. Through thorough research and analysis, Rush ensures that each solution aligns with your goals, with the knowledge from real-time analytics. This tailored approach means you reward your consumers and expand your business quickly and seamlessly.
Rush PH offers an all-in-one eCommerce builder that allows you to bring your products and services online from your own website, a custom-branded mobile app, or from a marketplace.
Start Your eCommerce Venture
Every business wants to succeed, but waiting for your time may not be the best idea, especially with the fast-paced changes and growth in the eCommerce industry. One of the best ways to ensure distinguishability is by granting your clients a pleasant experience with your brand. To ensure smooth and seamless transactions, you must use a proven eCommerce platform.
Remember that there’s no perfect website builder or eCommerce platform. You must choose the one that best satisfies your demands by balancing the many factors you find essential for your business’ success. You’ll have a simpler time selecting an eCommerce platform that meets your needs if you know what to look for at the outset.
Reach out to professionals who can help you thrive in a growing eCommerce industry. Rush PH is an eCommerce platform in the Philippines that gives businesses a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for all their needs. Get in touch with the Rush PH team for any questions, or directly book a demo to see how you can improve your online business!
