In this guest post, Mariia Volovyk of Koroka Solutions shares insights on how you can manage your online store with Commerce Cloud B2C platform.

If you already have a business selling goods or you plan to start it, then you will be faced with the issue: ‘How to bring the store online with the most profit and efficiency?’ An ultimate solution will be choosing the right eCommerce platform.

In this article, I am going to give advice on choosing the right platform, explain the differences to help you decide, tell more about what Commerce Cloud is, and why it is worth using it. 

How to choose the right platform

Perhaps one of the most crucial steps in choosing the right platform is research. Read reviews, articles, forums, and connect with users in your industry!

Photo by UX Indonesia on Unsplash

Note that there is no perfect platform for any category of the store. You should define your current needs and plan for the future. 

Do you plan to scale? Maybe operate in different countries? Constantly update the assortment? Or perhaps create a unique design with specific functionality? Only you know your commercial potential. 

Many platforms prioritize only a few aspects. They can be relatively inexpensive but limited in functionality, remain open to customization but work slower than others, or be expensive in comparison to others but offer great functionality and customization.

eCommerce platforms to choose from

Shopify

Shopify is a web application that is pretty easy to use and does not require any special knowledge in programming or coding. It does fit for beginners.

In addition to a user-friendly interface, you’ll find plenty of guides and lists that step-by-step show you how to apply the platform’s tools. Of course, if you plan more advanced customization, it is better to go to a group of specialists. 

One of the advantages of the platform is that you get a trial period during which you can add the products and create pivotal pages for your store. It is enough time to make primary decisions regarding payment and shipping.

The price is relatively low, starting at $29 per month for a minimal usage package and going straight up for the Shopify Plus plan. Shopify Plus is created for more complicated and advanced users with growing stores that plan to expand even more.

Among the drawbacks, it is worth mentioning customization plugins that can slow down the site. Some custom functionality is only provided by installing third-party paid-for apps.

Also, adding or customizing some areas can only be provided on the more expensive packages, which leads to the expansion of the spent budget.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud B2C

Commerce Cloud B2C (formal Demandware) is a SaaS platform for eCommerce only. It is ideal for businesses that sell in different regions and countries.

When you start working with the platform, you only have one template to start using or change entirely.

If you want to have a unique website with specific features or unusual design – SF B2C CC allows you to do it all. You can adapt not only the interface for the client but also the internal components for the administrators.

For especially high-grade results, you will most likely need to seek help from a team of experts who already have experience with this platform.

The cost of using the platform depends on the profit of your store. The company takes a percentage from 2% and up to 4% of this cost. It is a relatively expensive option, but all the features and functionality you get are superb. 

Among the disadvantages of the platform in comparison with others is its cost and only one template to use if you don’t have additional knowledge.

Wix

Wix is a fast-growing platform with over 110 million users.

The platform has an intuitive drag and drop interface and a ton of ready-made templates to use. You can also create a logo on the platform and generally use it not only for eCommerce.

If you’re missing the platform’s features, it’s easy to find everything you need in the Wix App Market. It has everything from the Sales Pop app to Chat, Forum, and Evens apps.

Speaking of prices: the most budget-friendly plan will cost you $4.50 a month, but for a store, it’s better to get a more expensive one – $12.50 a month, this will give you more options.

The downside is that the cheapest plan comes with forced Wix branding only. Not surprising, but it doesn’t look very nice. If you want to track or analyze a site, this is impossible without a more expensive plan.

The main disadvantage will be that this is not an option for fast-growing stores, only for small ones with a simple product/service. It will also be difficult and expensive to transfer your site from Wix if you decide to switch to another platform. Yes, they’ve got you for life.

Bigcommerce

BigCommerce is a SaaS eCommerce platform that is one of the most established in the field. 

One of the standout features of the platform is that you can add an unlimited number of goods to your store. A lot of templates are available as well for the design.

Unlike other platforms, you get a decent set of functionality even with the lowest in price pack, and no one leads you to buy a more expensive plan for integration of the paid-for apps. But each pack has a cap on annual sales, which can make planning difficult.

Bigcommerce pricing ranges from $29.95 per month to varied pricing for the BigCommerce Enterprise to provide the best business solutions. 

The Pro package will also charge a monthly fee for every $ 200k per month with an annual limit of $ 400k.

On the downside, the templates are not as changeable as wanted, they are all quite similar, and the typefaces for the theme are confined. And reaching the annual sales limit, you’d have to update for a more expensive plan.

In comparison, none of the packages have a shipping discount, only for the full-cost shipping.

Why Commerce Cloud is a good choice

A significant detail of the Salesforce Commerce Cloud B2C approach is that it is a ready-made platform with a wide range of features and tools for any unique request to your online store. 

Moreover, you have access to the site back-end to customize the store for your customer needs.

The platform has a very personalized approach. Any changes can be applied both from scratch or using third-party tools: plugins and applications. 

All plugins that can be used are certified and will not slow down the site.

In addition to the possibilities of unique design and functionality, you can also apply analytics and marketing to the site. Create personalized ads and feeds to interest customers. 

Furthermore, the platform constantly updates the set of technologies, adds new functionality, and fixes flaws. Salesforce uses AI technology that will advise customers on customized queries. It is a great way to customize your buyers’ desires.

In addition to all this, you can also conduct A/B testing both for the functionality and the user path. So you can find the option that suits you best. In the initial stages and customization, this is especially true.

Most common mistakes 

Choosing the cheapest option 

Many companies do not devote enough time to research and choose the cheapest option. Not knowing what they want and what functions the plan gives. 

This decision leads to additional expenses on add-ons or even more on transferring to another platform. 

When choosing a platform, keep in mind that you will seemingly be using it for a long time. Consider all the options and choose the one that suits your needs in the best way possible.

Do everything by yourself

If you are just getting started with eCommerce or want more sophisticated features (unique design), doing it by yourself can take a lot of time and money.

Due to a lack of experience, you can make a mistake that will lead to troubles, and it will be challenging to fix it.

Sometimes the best option would be to hire an expert or a group of experts who can set everything up to make your store work properly.

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Conclusion on how to manage your online store with commerce cloud b2c

Commerce Cloud B2C is excellent for one store but may not be relevant for another. It all depends on what outcome you want to see at the end and what your priorities are. 

I also suggest taking into account the time for development and customization. Yes, it may take some time, but trust me – it’s really worth it. 

About the author 

Mariia Volovyk

Mariia is currently working as a Content Manager in Koroka Solutions. She writes articles and creates a branded look of social networks for the company. Contact Mariia via LinkedIn.