Which E-Commerce CMS should you choose?

To create a functional online store, you need to make a decisive choice: the e-commerce CMS (Content Management System) you’re going to use. This software enables you to create, manage and organize an e-commerce site without having to code everything yourself. Unlike a general-purpose CMS such as WordPress or Drupal, an e-commerce CMS is specifically designed to sell products online. Choosing the right platform means laying the right foundations for developing a solid, sustainable online business. So, which solution should you choose? Here’s an overview of the main options on the market to help you make the right choice.

Why is the choice of your e-commerce CMS so important?

The e-commerce CMS is the technical foundation of your online store. It directly influences:

– Its day-to-day management: adding products or tracking orders, for example.
– User experience (UX): smooth navigation to improve conversion rates.
– Search engine optimization (SEO): to optimize product pages for Google and attract traffic.
– Scalability: a fast-growing company needs a CMS capable of absorbing more traffic and more orders.
– Associated costs: some CMS are free to install (open source), but often require development or the addition of paid modules. Others, like Shopify, operate on a monthly subscription basis that includes hosting and maintenance, which reduces technical requirements.

The main e-commerce CMS on the market

There are many e-commerce CMS on the market, and it can be difficult to find your way around. That’s why we’ve selected the most popular ones. Discover their strengths and limitations, and find out which types of e-businesses they are best suited to

How to choose the right e-commerce CMS?

When it comes to e-commerce CMS, there’s clearly no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on your project, your budget, your technical skills and your ambitions.

Let’s take the example of two shoe sellers: the first sells locally with around 20 references, while the second wants to sell abroad with 1,000 products and multi-warehouse stocks. While the former may opt for Shopify or PrestaShop, the latter will be better off with a software solution such as BigCommerce or Magento. And it’s precisely in order to make the right choice that you need to ask yourself the right questions

What are your needs and objectives?

Before choosing your e-commerce CMS, start by clearly defining what you sell, to whom and in what proportions. Your needs will directly influence the most appropriate solution.
For example: for a few personalized products, Shopify will suffice. But for a large catalog with advanced filters, Magento is more appropriate.

What’s your budget?

The budget is a determining factor: beyond the subscription or license price, you need to think above all about hidden costs such as hosting, extensions or technical maintenance.

Good to know: WooCommerce, for example, is free to install, but often requires the addition of paid plugins to extend its functionality. What’s more, you’ll need to subscribe to a hosting service, the cost of which varies according to your needs¹:

– Shared hosting: between €5 and €20 per month.
– VPS (virtual private server) hosting: between €20 and €90 per month.
– Dedicated hosting: from €70 per month, rising to over €1,000 depending on performance requirements.

What are your technical skills?

Do you have technical skills or are you supported by a service provider? Mastering WordPress, managing updates or intervening in the code requires a minimum of web savvy. If this isn’t your case, a turnkey e-commerce CMS like Shopify will be more secure. On the other hand, if you have the technical resources, WooCommerce or Magento will give you greater freedom and customization options.

What are your customization requirements?

Do you want a 100% customized design? Do you need specific functionalities? Depending on your answers, Magento and WooCommerce offer advanced customization options. Shopify, on the other hand, is more accessible and offers pre-designed themes that are considered easier to use.

What are your SEO requirements?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for attracting traffic without relying solely on advertising. If you want to optimize each page in detail, WooCommerce and PrestaShop give you a great deal of freedom. Shopify, on the other hand, offers effective but more standardized SEO tools.

What are your scalability requirements?

Will your business grow rapidly? What’s certain is that your e-commerce CMS must be able to keep pace with your growth without slowing down. Magento and BigCommerce are designed to handle high volumes of traffic and orders. Shopify can also grow with you, but with certain technical limitations to be anticipated, such as managing very large catalogs or integrating complex third-party systems, for example.

Tips for a successful migration to a new e-commerce CMS

Migrating to a new e-commerce CMS can seem daunting, especially if your current site is already generating traffic or sales. However, a well-prepared migration is an opportunity to improve the customer experience, integrate new functionalities and boost your online visibility https://global.fr.shopping.rakuten.com/actualites/visibilite-et-marketplace/. Here are the steps to follow to ensure a smooth transition, without loss of data or impact on your business.

Migration planning in detail

A successful migration depends above all on good organization. Define in advance:

– Your objectives: do you want to improve ergonomics, performance or product management?
– A realistic timetable, with room for unforeseen events.
– The human and technical resources available (in-house team, service providers, etc.).

Data backup

Before any manipulation, it is imperative to secure all your data:

– Products: names, descriptions, prices, references, images..
– Orders: history, payments, status..
– Customers: contact details, accounts, preferences..

Our advice: create a complete backup of your site, via your host or a dedicated plugin, so that you can restore everything in the event of a problem.

Choose the right hosting

If you’re migrating to an open source e-commerce CMS like WooCommerce or PrestaShop, hosting is a critical point. Check:

– Performance (speed, traffic capacity)
– Technical compatibility with your new CMS (PHP versions, database…)
– Customer support and security options (SSL certificate, automatic backups…)

Good to know: good hosting contributes directly to the speed of your site… and to your conversion rate.

Test your new CMS before going live

Before you go live with the new version of your site, you should test each and every element of your CMS to avoid any missteps:

– The complete shopping path (search, shopping cart, payment).
– Product sheets, filters and forms.
– Mobile and tablet display.
– Payment and delivery modules.

Our advice: create a “test” version of your site to validate functionalities without impacting your current visitors.

Redirect old URLs

There are several tricks you can use to maintain your organic search ranking (SEO), but also to avoid 404 errors:

– List all important old URLs.
– Set up 301 redirects to new pages.
– Use tools like Google Search Console to check that everything is taken into account.

Good to know: migration without redirection can lead to a sharp drop in organic traffic.

Train your team to use the new e-commerce CMS

A well-trained team is a major asset to the success of your e-commerce business. Even the best e-commerce CMS in the world will only be useful if your team knows how to use it. To optimize this process, we recommend:

– Organize training sessions.
– Create internal guides for key tasks.
– Encourage your staff to ask questions and take ownership of the tool.

What about a marketplace?

Creating your own website is a fine step, but it’s not the only one. To gain visibility, it’s often wise to multiply sales channels, and a marketplace is a highly effective complementary solution. On Rakuten, you benefit from a turnkey environment, qualified traffic and personalized support to help you succeed online, even without an e-commerce CMS. Seize the opportunity!

Sources:

¹Shopify