When you want to choose an e-commerce solution, there are three main possible methods:
- The development of a tailor-made e-commerce site
- the use of an open source e-commerce solution
- the use of an e-commerce solution in SaaS
But the choice among these three possibilities is not always obvious. So what to do? You need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each system to make the right choice.
Today, we are going to see together the reasons that could make you choose a SaaS e-commerce solution. If you are still unsure about which method to use for your site, here are 10 good reasons to prefer a SaaS e-commerce solution!
Reminder, what is a SaaS solution?
SaaS (Software as a Service) commerce solutions operate on a centrally hosted (cloud) subscription model.
Centrally hosted has pros and cons. This means you pay a monthly fee and your files and data are securely stored on large computer servers that you don't have to manage. Thanks to their flexibility, commercial SaaS solutions can significantly reduce the time required to migrate from one platform to another.
10 reasons to choose a SaaS e-commerce solution
It should be noted that there are many SaaS e-commerce platforms and that not all of them have these advantages. You can consult your preferred e-commerce agency to learn more about the quality of each solution. And if you want to know more about Shopify, you can of course make an appointment with one of the Pikka team members.
A focus on e-commerce
SaaS e-commerce platforms are very generally focused on e-commerce instead of offering all possible services. E-commerce is the main focus of the platform, not an add-on. This makes it possible to be sure that the evolutions are done quickly and that you do not have useless functions which come to weigh down the web interface.
You should know that working in e-commerce means using the same interface for many hours. It is therefore essential to have an interface and functions optimized for your business.
Technical flexibility
Subscription e-commerce solutions are often much more modular and built in bricks. It is therefore possible to test and iterate more quickly.
You can thus more quickly evolve the design and functionalities of your merchant site and grow your business without having to recode everything with each modification or without being too dependent on your development team.
Security
This point is undoubtedly fundamental but yet very misused by many merchants. The security of data and your technical platform is essential when you sell online. However, this requires skills that far exceed those of a "classic" e-commerce manager. In a SaaS e-commerce solution, the latest technology, compliance and security updates are managed for you.
Work from anywhere
As your site is hosted in the cloud, you can work on your merchant site from any device connected to the internet. Well maybe not from your connected fridge but well, almost all devices let's say.
You just need to know your login / password and you are securely connected to your merchant interface to manage your site and your orders.
Obviously, if you change phone, computer or tablet, you recover 100% of your site's information since nothing is stored locally on your machine.
An evolution by your side
An e-commerce solution is like a business, it must evolve, grow and offer new features or meet new needs. For a CMS E-commerce in Saas, it is essential to be able to evolve at the same time as you and to continue to offer you adapted functionalities regardless of the size of your company.
Technology is at your service
With an e-commerce site in SaaS, you can get started and create an e-commerce site with very little technical skills. It won't be the best e-commerce site in the world, but it will be operational to start with. And you will be able to evolve your needs either with applications or with developers according to your needs.
The technique and the developers are therefore at your service and are not there just to keep the platform in working order, which can sometimes be the case with open source solutions.
Each technical investment is therefore focused on gaining commercial performance and development rather than repairing or maintaining the online sales platform.
A more accurate cost forecast
With SaaS e-commerce solutions, it is possible to better plan costs in advance and therefore create an accurate and reliable budget. Indeed, as you pay a monthly subscription, it allows you to forecast your total costs.
This is a guarantee of better controlling your costs and in many cases, even making them variable in relation to your activity. Your turnover is skyrocketing? Your costs will also go up, but if your turnover ever drops, your costs will drop too. With open source, you would have had less responsiveness but above all you would have had constant costs even in the event of a drop in turnover.
Sell everywhere easily
Again, this is especially valid for the best SaaS e-commerce platforms, but the flexibility and modularity make it easier to sell anywhere in the world and on marketplaces and other B2C platforms.
Being modular and knowing how to sell on several channels, whether online, offline, with or without an OMS, is a real plus today for increasing your turnover.
APIs are the keys to automation
A good modern e-commerce solution is a one-platform solution that has an open API (application programming interface) so you can build or connect whatever you want. Whether it's ERP, logisticians, CRM or any other e-commerce automation for your business, you should be able to do as much as possible with a platform that has a good API.
For your information, Shopify, one of the best SaaS e-commerce solutions, has 18 different APIs depending on your needs and therefore represents the best of the best in terms of openness and functionality. It is easy to plug an external tool into Shopify to process data or extract any information.
A platform optimized for SEO
This is often an advantage pointed out by open source solutions but yet, I personally think it's a mistake. Indeed, as much as there are very good SEO agencies in France, many merchants have much less experience in natural referencing.
Concentrating the right SEO implementations within a platform optimized by an ultra-competent team is a good thing to avoid errors. It is therefore necessary to choose a SaaS platform which has obviously prioritized SEO!
Summary of the advantages of SaaS
Here are a few points that will allow you to better understand, I hope, the different advantages of choosing a SaaS solution. Attention, as I indicated in my interview on the Sylvius solution, the important thing is above all to choose a solution adapted to your needs.
For that, no miracle, you have to define your needs, with the help of an e-commerce consultant why not if you need support.
