How to choose your ecommerce platform?

The ecommerce platform is the software that runs an ecommerce site. Apart from that, platforms differ in terms of functionality and features. The operational difference, which describes details like its infrastructure and the procedures to set it up, is something that makes ecommerce platforms stand apart. Now, what makes your ecommerce sites stand apart or how can you streamline strategies so that you get more profit. Here are the platforms that you can choose from.

• SaaS
• Open source
• Licensed
• Proprietary
• PaaS

SaaS

SaaS applications are also referred to as Web-based software, on-demand software, or hosted software.

Software as a Service or SaaS is a facility for employing services over the Internet. Specifically, offering facilitated applications. Supplier server takes care of all the requirements. SaaS platforms enable you to swift through installation and maintenance of high level software, and let you forget about security and threats to your ecommerce site.

There is a spectrum of SaaS platforms that satisfy unique business needs. SaaS is a word that is tossed around a great deal recently .Ordinarily, SaaS applications are authorized on a membership premise. Clients pay monthly according to the service they opt for.

SaaS ecommerce platforms coordinate a group that acts differently as per business needs. ecommerce owners do not need to worry about hosting, server maintenance; moreover, SaaS platforms are attached to cloud based servers as a result of which server issues are scarce. The only practical requirement of an ecommerce owner is adequate power supply, computers with active internet connection, and they do all their online store activities just by logging in.

Open source

Open source software provides the public access to its source code. Owing to this, any developer can create many plug-ins or add on features that could be integrated into the software later. Plethora of open ecommerce platforms are available today as a result of its numerous advantages that it can offer. The most highlighted one among these is that open source is free.

Many features that open source has give rise to disadvantages. Generally, the support system is patchy, and you’ll have to resort to the open source community for possible lags. Any additional support will be charged by the individual that provides the assistance.

Any plugins you want to use will also need to be checked for compatibility with both the software that you are handling. This can be incredibly time-consuming and will often require in depth knowledge to get everything working; in addition, software plugins updates to be done on a timely basis to avoid glitches. Security issues are visible to hackers who may try to topple the software as open source is easily accessible.

The free and open nature of the source code means anything. This means you can’t afford to let any updates fall by the wayside; doing so makes your online store vulnerable to security breaches.

Licensed

Licensed software is a custom solution that suits your business. You are purchasing the license to buy it for an indefinite period or for a specific period.

One major disadvantage of licensing is pricing; prices are usually high for licensed products. Apart from that, the license needs to be updated intermittently. Product support is also limited as in many cases it comes as a separate package.

Proprietary

Proprietary ecommerce software is developed by a business by itself. Some businesses own their servers whereas others purchase domains and develop their software.

While proprietary software meets all the exact needs that a business needs to fulfill, it’s more time consuming and expensive; moreover, the onus of security rests with the business as its fundamental to running an ecommerce platform. So If you want to create a proprietary software for running the ecommerce store, the choice should be made after weighing all the risks.

PaaS

PaaS means Platform as a Service.. In PaaS software, you can build your own ecommerce site, and connect with other systems. PaaS is highly advanced in its approach to giving unending support it provides. But it’s largely preferred by large level B2B businesses that have adequate resources to stack on top of PaaS .