So often we see that technology is the key to success, and failure to stay up-to-date can really cost in the long run. Ecommerce (online shopping) is an area that many retailers are failing to adopt.

Online spending in 2015 peaked at a massive £115 billion and rose again in 2016 to an even larger £133 billion. Ecommerce is growing at an alarming rate, especially for those who aren’t taking their share of that money.

It’s understandable why many retailers haven’t adopted the technology. It’s complicated and getting started can require some real know how. But there are other options, you don’t need to be a website developer to get started.

Here are a few ways to get started:

3^rd Party Marketplaces

There are tons of 3^rd part marketplaces you can utilise. eBay, Amazon, Etsy and Not on the High Street are just a few examples where you can sell goods online without even needing your own website.

The advantage to this approach is that there is a ready-made audience and platform that requires very little technical expertise to get started with.

On the downside, these sites often have steep fees which can drive down margins and you will most likely face tough competition that further drives down your pricing.

Open Source Platforms

For a proven platform with a large number of features, open source platforms are a good choice. They’re normally quite flexible and have easy integration for API’s and plugins so you can mould them to your own needs.

They do however require a commitment in terms of time and money. Open source platforms require some development time so it will take some time to get up and running and unless you can code you’ll likely have to pay someone.  

Bespoke Platforms  

A platform that’s tailor made for your own needs will always be the best option, of course. It’s the most flexible way and it’s scalable to your needs. You have complete control of how it finishes and looks.

Although, like all things bespoke, the cost can be extremely high. It requires a high level of technical knowledge from an experienced developer and often a designer too. It does have lower costs going forward as there are no fees (although you will still have to pay for hosting) so many see it as an investment.  

SaaS Template Based Platform

SaaS (software as a service) platforms are one of the quickest and easiest ways an ecommerce website can be set up. They use a template-based approach to ensure speed and low technical knowledge is required.

They still require a little time, but no technical skills are required. EKM, Wix and Shopify are all popular options in the SaaS market. There are plenty of features available, and perhaps, more importantly, they often have a support package available, which is handy for those who will need help. 

Stax offers our own SaaS website package as part of our partnership with EKM, allowing our customers to have a fully managed online presence for minimal cost and effort. They don’t even have to carry the stock themselves! The EKM store comes pre-loaded with more than 40,000 products from Stax and customers can add their own products as they wish.

With plenty of features available, including automated stock updates, inventory and pricing nothing could be simpler. Costs start at just £24.99 per month so the financial investment is also minimal.   

For more information on Stax’s EKM online store offering or to sign up, visit http://staxonlineshop.com