Web-Based Providers: All the Big Names in Ecommerce
If you're thinking of going with a web-based ecommerce shopping cart, you can look first at all the big names in Internet retailing: eBay, Amazon.com, Paypal and Yahoo all offer complete ecommerce shopping cart solutions that are easy to set up using web-based tools. All of these ecommerce shopping cart providers can get you up and running with a complete ecommerce shopping cart solution the same day, with just a few hours of web-based work. Take time to read the reviews and reports from other consumers before deciding on a shopping cart solution.
Software-based Ecommerce Shopping Carts
Consider a locally hosted, software-based ecommerce shopping cart solution if you have an existing web site and wish to custom integrate the electronic shopping cart into the exisitng site. Locally hosted solutions are also good for a business with strong and profitable existing business rules that it does not want to change. Software-based electronic shopping carts are easier to customize than web-based versions. But remember, software-based solutions require IT support to install and manage. So you need to either have those skills yourself, or budget them into your ultimate ecommerce shopping cart solution.
What to Pay for a Web-Based Solution
Ecommerce shopping cart providers like to make the entry cost low, so you can expect to purchase and set-up a web-based ecommerce plan, complete with electronic shopping cart, for as low as under $20 per month. Most ASP providers offer graduated ecommerce shopping cart plans, with expanded bandwidth offerings and toolsets for more money. High-end ecommerce shopping cart plans can go from $300 or so monthly up to thousands of dollars, depending on the plan. You should research many ecommerce providers to compare hosting plans and services before making a final decision.
Web-based Ecommerce Shopping Carts
The easiest way to get an ecommerce shopping cart up and runnning quickly, with few headaches, is to use a web-based, remotely hosted ecommerce shopping cart provider. With a web-based ecommerce shopping cart provider, also known as an ASP (Application Service Provider), you sign up on the web, pay via credit card, and can immediately begin uploading and selling over the web through a pre-built ecommerce shopping cart.
Web-based ecommerce providers will also take on virtually all IT and software management duties. However, it can be an inelegant solution, especially for existing businesses with custom business rules, or large, busy sites that want to fully integrate the ecommerce shopping cart into an existing site or otherwise do custom tracking of patterns and purchases.
Be An Informed Shopper
If you've decided you need an ecommerce shopping cart solution for your site, you're going to be faced with a number of big decisions before making a purchase of an electronic shopping cart.
Make sure you know the answers to the following questions before you put down your money with an ecommerce shopping cart provider:
* Do I need a full-service ecommerce shopping cart solution or do I have some of the parts already?
If your business already takes credit cards, you likely have a merchant account that can be web-enabled. However, if you're just starting out, it might be easier to go with a provider that bundles everything in one package.
* Should I go with a web-based ecommerce shopping cart or integrate ecommerce shopping cart software directly onto my site?
This depends on how handy you are with IT work and how interested you are in doing it. If you want a turnkey solution, a web-based or ASP model might work best. If you work with a web developer, IT staff, or are reasonably technical yourself, you might opt for a locally hosted ecommerce shopping cart solution, which allows more control and easier integration with your existing business rules.
* How much do I realistically have to spend?
Ecommerce shopping cart solutions range from free to thousands of dollars. You should know your general budget before starting out.
Ecommerce Shopping Cart Basics
An electronic shopping cart is a piece of ecommerce software that performs the following duties:
* Allows a user to select and hold items, usually from an online store.
* Calculates purchase price totals - including multiple items, taxes and shipping costs.
* Interfaces with payment gateway/merchant account - you need a merchant account to accept credit cards.
* Sends email confirmation of purchases.
* Tracks customer shopping patterns and purchases.
* Recognizes repeat customers.
An ecommerce shopping cart is not a complete ecommerce solution. A shopping cart is just a piece of software. Without a merchant account, a secure server and an e-commerce enabled storefront, it doesn't function. You will need to find an ecommerce shopping cart provider to help you put together an overall ecommerce shopping cart solution.
Software-Based Providers: Out-of-the-Box Functionality
If you're looking for a software-based, locally hosted ecommerce shopping cart solution, investigate the results of well-known software-based ecommerce shopping cart providers. These solutions almost always include turnkey offerings or can integrate with the business owner's choice of shopping cart merchant account and/or hosting providers. There are also free, open-source electronic shopping carts available in popular web programming languages like ASP and PHP. Finally, if you use a commercial hosting provider, the provider may already have an integrated ecommerce software solution installed on its commercial servers. Call your host provider to find out.
What They Say; What They Mean
So if an ecommerce shopping cart is merely a piece of the overall ecommerce software picture, why is the term often used to mean the entire picture? Like when someone says "Coke" to mean a soft-drink or "Band-Aid" for any kind of protective strip, the term e-commerce shopping cart has taken on a bigger meaning than its official meaning. Often, when you hear or read the term "ecommerce shopping cart," the speaker or writer is actually talking about the entire ecommerce solution, which can include the merchant account, secure server, product database and even marketing tools like automatic responders and email lists. So if you're researching an e-commerce shopping cart solution for your business, remember to make sure you are clear on what exactly is meant when someone refers to an "ecommerce shopping cart."
Custom Ecommerce Shopping Carts
If you're starting a business, you will likely have more freedom in choosing an electronic shopping cart than if you're trying to fit an ecommerce shopping cart into your existing business rules. Most off-the-shelf ecommerce shopping carts offer some customization, but experienced business owners will likely find themselves in the position of having to change some existing business practices to fit the ecommerce software offered by the ecommerce shopping cart provider. In this case, some businesses might want to investigate building a custom ecommerce shopping cart solution rather than change existing business practices. This is a clear business decision. Custom electronic shopping carts can cost thousands, but so can changing existing, profitable business practices. Your call as to what's ultimately best for your business.