Saas, or Software-as-a-service, licenses users to browse without needing external hosting. It is the best thing about this platform as retailers need not have to manage the software by themselves as Saas can host the content, removing the need for external solutions.
Now, BigCommerce and Shopify are two big Saas eCommerce players that help businesses to launch online stores. With these platforms’ help, a merchant can employ a wide range of tools without advanced web development skills. Here, we are breaking down the features and drawbacks of Shopify and Bigcommerce.
BigCommerce Features
Founded in the year 2009, BigCommerce was started with the aim to provide firms that want to kickstart an online retail store, regardless of size. Additionally, the platform even provides products according to a firm’s size.
This platform’s Enterprise edition is developed especially for mid-size firms, while the Essential version is crafted for small enterprises.
Both of these versions support varied payment gateways and offer multiple integrations like MYBO Exo integration with Shopify and other applications. You can either do this integration by yourself or hire BigCommerce development companies to do your work seamlessly.
Themes and Customisation Options
The setup of your online store will be much quicker with this feature and it will also make your site one-of-a-kind. You can customise your site and the checkout experience.
Its customisation ability is one of the best for startups and mid-budget firms.
Payment and Inventory Administration
PayPal, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and Stripe are some of the payment gateways that are accepted by BigCommerce. Additionally, unlike Shopify, this platform won’t penalise you when you use third-party payment gateways.
Additionally, you can also handle inventory and user orders from a singular location. This platform’s much-acclaimed inventory handling system removes the need for external software and automates omnichannel sales.
BigCommerce Cons
Annual Sales Limits
BigCommerce subscription plans will depend on your online sales per annum. The subscription plans increase when your E-commerce store achieves a definite annual sale threshold.
BigCommerce believes that the improved plans keep firms fetching extra benefits like abandoned carts, store credit card options, and Google Reviews. However, the premium versions come with premium pricing.
Very Few Free Themes
Suppose you want to design your site in your own vision. Well, that can prove to be costly when using BigCommerce, as you will need to purchase a theme or design with the help of an agency alliance. Minnow firms keep an eye on extra costs they have to pay through the budget.
Shopify Advantages
Shopify was created in the year 2004 with the aim to offer a complete eCommerce experience to retailers. The developers wanted to allow merchants to craft online stores easily and sell their items rapidly.
The platform’s easy-to-use dashboard, simple organisation of items, and order administration abilities make it one of the most favoured among many retailers. The pros of Shopify are as follows:
Wide Range of Themes and Templates
With more than 20 free site themes and 150+ premium themes costing $100 to $180 available in Shopify, you can customise your site as you want. Change themes and represent your brand using creative and latest templates with the help of HTML and CSS access or just by hiring a Shopify expert.
Additionally, all these themes are optimised for mobiles, supporting content marketing crafting through blogging. Despite the fact that BigCommerce offers less customisation compared to Shopify, this should not be your base for choosing an eCommerce platform for your firm.
Mobile Optimisation
Shopify’s dynamic themes are one of its best features. They can adapt according to any device’s screen resolution, so you need not worry about recrafting your website according to the device. Tailored H1, meta tags, and titles are also supported on this platform.
These optimisations will help you stand out from the crowd and can help your hired local SEO Melbourne company to rank your website in Google.
Application Addition
Shopify needs outside apps to function properly. So, you can meet your store’s needs and enhance your business site by adding more customisation using various app integrations. Moreover, you can find cost-free and paid apps from its app store, and many applications are supported with both of these platforms.
Shopify Drawbacks
Extra Fees & High Fees for Advanced Features
This eCommerce platform charges retailers not only monthly subscriptions but additional transaction fees as well. Plus, merchants can also be penalised with extra fees if they are using a third-party payment gateway.
So, you need to say goodbye to the third-party payment gateways if you want to avoid paying extra for them.
Conclusion
Selecting the right eCommerce platform can be complicated, but it is a fundamental decision you must take. Using BigCommerce or Shopify is great for experimenting with a Saas platform; however, only some platforms can be beneficial for some businesses.
