As we all know, eCommerce is booming and will continue to do so. Improvements in the shipping industry, advancements in payment gateways, and enhanced mobile shopping experiences have also boosted international eCommerce sales.
Around 52% of online shoppers reported buying products from both local and international brands in 2021. And the numbers have increased in the past years.
The majority of eCommerce international transactions are driven by established and well-known brands. In 2023, D2C established brands reportedly made $134.55 billion. But do you know how these brands manage to handle such large sales and transactions at a global scale? The answer is simple – enterprise eCommerce platforms.
These platforms allow businesses to unify all their operations in a digital ecosystem. So, they can get a bird’s eye view and adapt to customer demands. If you are widening your brand presence, enterprise eCommerce can be your perfect choice.
Being a leading eCommerce development company, we will help you understand what enterprise eCommerce is, signs you need enterprise commerce solutions, top platforms to watch out for, different costs you should acknowledge, and factors to consider when selecting a platform for your business. So, let’s dive in:
What is Enterprise eCommerce?
As the name suggests, enterprise eCommerce is digital commerce happening at an enterprise level. It typically involves millions in annual revenue and a complex operational structure.
Enterprise eCommerce businesses often have diverse needs. They may sell to other businesses (B2B) as well as directly to consumers (B2C), and may have global operations with multiple warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Due to high-volume operations, these brands need the infrastructure and tools necessary to handle sales and customers. Enterprise eCommerce platforms are the backbone of many well-known brands as they offer various robust features such as advanced inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), robust security, multiple currency support, and detailed analytics.
When Should You Upgrade to Enterprise eCommerce?
Usually, enterprise eCommerce is what businesses grow over their journey. But it doesn’t stop you from entering the space if the customers are welcoming your brand wholeheartedly.
Many brands switch to enterprise eCommerce platforms when their current service is not capable enough to manage the operations. Here are some signs that indicate your business needs an enterprise eCommerce solution:
- Increasing Downtime: Frequent outages or slowdowns can frustrate customers and affect sales negatively. If your platform struggles to handle current traffic levels, it clearly indicates that you’ve outgrown it.
- Limited Functionality: Are your team members repeatedly performing manual tasks for each transaction? This inefficiency often points to a need for more advanced features that can automate these processes.
- Dependency on Multiple Add-ons: Constantly searching for and integrating additional services? A more comprehensive platform with built-in tools could streamline your operations and reduce complexity.
- Operational Bottlenecks: Difficulty accessing crucial information like order histories, vendor details, or inventory data can slow down your entire operation. A robust system should provide quick, easy access to all essential information.
- Global Market Challenges: If expanding internationally feels like an uphill battle due to language or currency limitations, it’s time to look for a platform that supports global commerce seamlessly.
- Financial Visibility Issues: Struggling to get a clear, comprehensive view of your eCommerce financials? Lost invoices and inaccurate reporting can have serious consequences. An upgrade could provide the financial clarity you need.
- User Limitations: Many non-enterprise platforms restrict the number of backend users. If you’re facing this challenge, it’s a sign to choose enterprise eCommerce for high scalability.
Enterprise eCommerce Platforms You Should Keep an Eye On
Entering enterprise eCommerce doesn’t just mean finding a solution for your growing store traffic and sales. Instead, it’s a comprehensive approach to enhancing your inventory management, upgrading payment gateways, increasing your website’s security, analyzing customer data efficiently, and bolstering mobile responsiveness.
While you can always hire eCommerce developers and build a custom online store, enterprise eCommerce platforms help you manage business growth without any hassle. So, let’s explore some top platforms:
In the ever-evolving world of online retail, Shopify Plus has emerged as a game-changer for large-scale businesses. The platform combines scalability, cutting-edge features, and top-notch support to deliver an unparalleled eCommerce experience.
Key features:
- Scalability: Forget about server crashes during peak times. Shopify Plus handles over 10,000 transactions per minute, ensuring smooth sailing even during the busiest flash sales or holiday rushes.
- Customization: The Script Editor takes personalization to new heights. Tailor your checkout process and promotions to fit your brand’s unique needs and keep customers coming back for more.
- SEO: Climb those search rankings with ease. From auto-generated sitemaps to customizable meta tags, Shopify Plus gives you the tools to improve your eCommerce SEO.
Whether you’re a rapidly growing startup or an established enterprise, Shopify Plus adapts to your needs, helping you stay ahead in the competitive eCommerce landscape.
Pricing:
Starting at $2500/Month for 1-year term.
Wix is a user-friendly, cloud-based development platform that helps you create and manage responsive websites effortlessly. While it was originally known for its easy drag-and-drop interface, Wix has now become a major player in the world of enterprise eCommerce software.
Key Features:
- Payment Processing: Wix makes online transactions simple with integrated payment gateways like Wix Payments. You can also use external providers such as PayPal and Stripe.
- Marketing Tools: Businesses can take advantage of Wix’s marketing features like email campaigns, chatbots, and loyalty programs to better connect with customers and increase sales.
- Integrations and Apps: You can expand your website’s functionality with a variety of third-party apps and integrations from the Wix App Market. These tools cover everything from inventory management to marketing automation.
Pricing:
When it comes to pricing, the Business Elite plan offers advanced eCommerce features for $159 per month. Additionally, you can explore personalized enterprise solutions at a custom price point that fits your needs.
In the world of SaaS eCommerce platforms, Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is a highly popular platform known for its enterprise-grade capabilities. It offers you options to choose between on-premise and cloud-based hosting, along with a wide range of third-party integrations.
Key Features:
- B2B and B2C suitability: Adobe Commerce effortlessly bridges the gap between B2B and B2C markets. Its tailored tools cater to the unique demands of both sectors, making it a go-to choice for businesses of all sizes.
- Security features: When it comes to security, Adobe Commerce takes no chances. Your online transactions and sensitive data are fortified with top-notch protection, giving you peace of mind in today’s digital world.
- Ease of use: Adobe Commerce boasts a user-friendly interface that makes navigation a breeze, even for newcomers to the eCommerce world.
Pricing:
With Adobe Commerce, you can build your online store in two ways: by using open-source code or by using their cloud software. While the open source is free to use, you may need to hire Magento developers for higher efficiency. The cloud software is offered on custom quotes based on business requirements.
WooCommerce is a flexible, powerful solution for enterprises willing to invest in customization and robust hosting. Being one of the best open source eCommerce platforms, WooCommerce offers a vast ecosystem and often exceeds the requirements of large-scale businesses.
Key Features:
- Customization options: As an open-source solution, it offers unparalleled customization. Dive into the code and tailor every corner of your store to match your unique vision.
- Analytics: Built-in analytics provide crucial sales insights, while plugin integrations offer deeper reporting capabilities.
- Payment processing: WooCommerce integrates well with major gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square, ensuring smooth transactions for you and your customers.
Pricing:
As an open-source platform, you can access the source code of WooCommerce for free. To build advanced functionalities, you should hire WooCommerce developers to ensure a hassle-free process.
Then, you need to consider other costs such as hosting, store themes, plugins, etc. Here’s a cost breakdown you can consider:
Hosting: average $120 annually (can vary based on the service provider)
Domain registration: $15 on average
Store themes: $0 to 100 annually
Security: Free to $239 annually (based on the tool)
BigCommerce is an ideal eCommerce platform for enterprises that need flexibility, robust features, and scalability. It’s designed to support both B2B and B2C transactions, making it a versatile choice for businesses aiming to grow in the digital commerce world. It stands out with its continuous innovation and comprehensive built-in features tailored for advanced eCommerce needs.
Key Features:
- Ease of Use: Building and managing online stores is simple with BigCommerce’s user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those with limited technical skills.
- Marketing Features: BigCommerce offers integrated tools for promotions, discounts, and email marketing campaigns. Native integrations with platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Google Shopping further enhance its marketing capabilities.
- Integrations/Apps: Its app marketplace is extensive, offering various third-party applications. From ERP integrations to advanced review systems, you can significantly enhance the store’s functionality and performance.
Pricing:
The BigCommerce Pro plan comes at $299/Month when billed annually. It offers a maximum of 8 inventory locations and $400k sales yearly. You can request custom pricing if this doesn’t match your needs.
Squarespace is another famous platform known for its website-building capabilities; it has also made a huge impact in the eCommerce domain. It’s a suitable platform for enterprises that need a blend of aesthetics and functionality.
Key Features:
- Scalability: Squarespace provides multiple plans suitable for businesses of all sizes. It efficiently manages large product inventories and high enterprise traffic, ensuring smooth scalability for growing enterprises.
- Analytics: With analytics, you gain detailed insights into website traffic, sources, sales data, and conversion rates, helping you make informed decisions.
- Integrations/Apps: Squarespace extensions enhance the platform’s functionality, offering tools for shipping, inventory management, and accounting. These integrations simplify business operations, making it a robust choice for expanding businesses.
Pricing:
Squarespace Advanced Commerce plan is priced at $52/Month (billed annually). However, you can get a custom price quote for your enterprise needs.
Checklist for Selecting an Enterprise eCommerce Platform
When exploring options for your enterprise eCommerce platform, you must see the bigger picture. While the costs might seem high initially, a long-term partnership with the selected platform will provide you with great returns.
Here are some important points you must consider when selecting an enterprise eCommerce platform:
Integration Options
In enterprise eCommerce, seamless integration is the secret sauce for business success. Your chosen platform should link various departments, services, and software to improve operational efficiency.
For modern enterprises using multiple tools, your eCommerce platform should integrate well with every system. From enterprise resource planning (ERP) to warehouse management software (WMS), product information management (PIM) to customer relationship management (CRM), and even your marketing automation platform (MAP) – integration is key.
But not all platforms are created equal. Many platforms may restrict you when incorporating outside technologies.
Data Security
When choosing an eCommerce platform, prioritize data security. The platform should help you in following the best eCommerce security practices because any breach could jeopardize your entire business.
Deciding between a self-hosted platform and a SaaS platform can impact data security. Self-hosted platforms offer greater visibility and control over your data, allowing you to manage security measures directly.
On the other hand, SaaS platforms include security and PCI compliance in their monthly fees. This means these platforms handle essential security tasks for you, freeing up your resources for other business activities.
Based on your needs and business growth, you can choose between these options.
Omnichannel Selling Capabilities
As an enterprise business, using multiple sales channels is crucial for easier customer reach. Establishing a seamless branded selling experience enhances the customer journey, drawing more shoppers to your store.
A powerful omnichannel tool enables you to target more shoppers while saving time on feed management. Enterprise eCommerce platforms often provide features to manage various sales and advertising feeds, including social media and marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
These tools simplify the promotion of your brand, creating new opportunities to expand your reach. By utilizing these features, you can efficiently manage your sales channels and boost your brand’s presence across different platforms, ultimately attracting more customers and driving growth.
Mobile Optimization
Smartphone shoppers contribute a significant portion to the global eCommerce sales. In the first quarter of 2024, smartphones accounted for 77% of global eCommerce traffic. And around 66% of total online shopping orders were made from smartphones.
These numbers are enough to prove the importance of mobile commerce. Your selected eCommerce platform should help you improve mobile-responsiveness.
Global Commerce Support
When entering into enterprise eCommerce, you should consider if your brand is going to reach new customer markets. Then, your desired platform should have multi-storefront capabilities to build multiple personalized stores in new regions and manage them through a unified back-end account.
You might also face multi-currency challenges, and your platform should be able to eliminate any current issues to ensure a seamless checkout experience for international customers.
FAQs on Enterprise eCommerce Platforms
Q1. What are the key benefits of using an enterprise eCommerce platform for B2B sales?
Enterprise eCommerce platforms offer scalability, custom customer experiences, integrated CRM systems, and detailed analytics. They simplify B2B processes, improve order management, and support personalized pricing, leading to happier customers and better retention.
Q2. How can I ensure a smooth transition to an Enterprise eCommerce platform?
Plan ahead, involve key team members early, and test data migration thoroughly. Ensure your new platform works well with current systems and provide thorough training. Choose a platform that can grow with your business and stay in touch with users for feedback.
Q3. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) I should track for my enterprise eCommerce business?
Keep an eye on conversion rates, average order values, customer lifetime values, and how many customers you retain. Also, measure sales growth across different customer groups, how well your marketing efforts pay off, and overall website traffic. Tracking customer satisfaction and retention rates is crucial for long-term success.
Conclusion
Moving to enterprise eCommerce might look like a gold mine of revenues and brand loyalty and you aren’t even wrong if you think so. But remember, it’s a huge mountain to climb. You’ll need a solid plan and a clear understanding of your business goals to make the right decisions.
The enterprise eCommerce platforms listed above can help you a lot in your journey. However, the need for hiring eCommerce developers might arise in the future as your business scales. You can trust BrainSpate for top-notch eCommerce development services. Reach out to our team to discuss your needs!
