Types of E-commerce Solutions
by Mike Cohen on Apr.18, 2009, under E-commerce
When it comes to e-commerce there are hundreds, if not thousands of options out there. They mostly fall into one of the categories below.
- Hosted Shopping Cart
- Hosted Software
- Integrated Software
- Custom Software
| Hosted Shopping Cart Examples: PayPal, Americart, Mals-e.com, Shopping cart provided by Merchant Account |
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| The shopping cart and order form are hosted on servers different from your own. These servers are maintained and operated by the solution provider. You provide links from your site into the shopping cart. | § Good for selling a few products
§ Low risk, all information processed on server maintained by a 3rd party provider. § Tech support § Low start up cost § Site design unaffected |
§ Difficult to manage large number of products.
§ Limited design control of shopping cart, order forms. § No control over shopping cart process functionality § Order management is limited to tools provided by the solution provider. § Customers leave your site to checkout, may cause confusion, lost orders. |
| Hosted Software Examples: Yahoo Store, Network Solutions E-commerce, ProStores.com, ShopPal.com, Homestead.com, Volusion.com, Yahoo Store, Nexternal.com, AspireSoft.com, Shopify.com |
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| The web host is providing the use of licensed e-commerce software or e-commerce software developed by the host. Your entire site resides on their servers. The monthly fee includes use of the software and web hosting. | § Proven technology
§ Tech support § Low/Moderate start up cost § Possibly do-it-yourself § Low risk, all information processed on server maintained by a 3rd party provider. |
§ Functionality can be limited
§ Future functionality enhancements may not be possible § Design possibilities may be limited § Potentially high monthly cost, transaction fees |
| Integrated Software Examples: Magento, X-Cart, Zen Cart, AbleCommerce, osCommerce, Interspire.com, VP-ASP |
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| Existing software is configured and customized for your site. This software may be purchased or it may be free, open source software. | § Proven technology
§ Possibly tech support § Many built in features § If open source, developer can customize to meet design, functionality requirements |
§ Moderate to high start up cost: software may be costly, developer costs may add up
§ Responsible for server security |
| Custom Software | ||
| A solution developed specifically for your needs by a developer or firm. | § Full design and functionality requirements will be met
§ Unlimited future functionality enhancement possibilities |
§ Not necessarily proven technology
§ High start up cost § Dependent on firm or programmer for support § Responsible for server security |
