How To Spot (and Compare) the Top Ecommerce Platforms

You may have just finished reading our Buyer’s Guide to Furniture Ecommerce Software and it only confirmed what you already knew — it’s time to upgrade your furniture ecommerce platform. With your list of “must-haves” in hand and your goals in mind, it’s time to shop! 

At Blueport, we understand that upgrading your furniture ecommerce software is no simple task, but finding the top ecommerce platform is an even bigger challenge. 

Part of finding the top ecommerce platform is knowing the best software for one business, might not be the best solution for your business.

Here are five questions to ask that’ll help you spot (and compare) the top ecommerce platforms:

Will This Ecommerce Platform Help Me Reach My Goals?

While you’re in the process of finding a top ecommerce platform, it’s important to understand the new opportunities you’ll have access to and ensure they align with your needs.

First, it’s crucial to take a look at your own goals. These may include: 

• Growing sales by driving more traffic to your stores.
• Effectively representing your brand online through your website, social media, and overall marketing presence. 
• Creating a modern, enjoyable online shopping experience that reflects the flexibility and personalization that customers expect.
• Using robust product data to meet search inquiries, providing helpful information, and ultimately improving the customer experience by helping consumers find the products they’re looking for.
• Increasing operational efficiencies to help continuously improve your business online and in-store.

Then, with your goals in mind, it’s time to weigh your options. The right platform will have features and tools aligned with your needs to help you reach — and exceed — your goals.

Will I Be Able To Grow Both My Ecommerce and In-Store Sales With This Platform?

The right ecommerce platform will provide you with the tools you need for overall omnichannel growth. 

Online Sales

One crucial question to ask is: does this platform have a track record of online sales in my industry?

Many platforms were built for businesses with smaller, often less complex products. As a result, furniture retailers often have to manage unforeseen issues that many other companies may not face. 

The right ecommerce platform for your business will have years of experience in helping other furniture industry leaders increase sales and improve their businesses. 

Local Store Optimization

Having an ecommerce platform doesn’t solely focus on your online store. Instead, it’s a way to create a local retail experience online. 

The right platform will provide you with geolocation tools to create personalized customer experiences based on their location. With this information, you can provide localized marketing, merchandising, pricing, and inventory information that feels familiar to your customers. 

Unified Commerce 

The right ecommerce platform will give you the tools to focus on both, keeping your entire business in sync. 

With omnichannel features, the top ecommerce platform will give you the ability to improve both your online and in-store locations, creating an incredible experience for all of your customers — no matter where they choose to shop. 

What Does the Implementation Process Look Like?

A platform upgrade may seem like a heavy lift initially, but when you upgrade to a top ecommerce platform you can be confident that the implementation process will be smooth.

Key features to look for include: 

• Relevant, built-in features. Does this platform provide you with functionality specific to the furniture industry? 
• Customization. Do you have the ability to personalize your website and other customer-facing materials to your brand and business rules? Your website and all other marketing materials should reflect your brand and style. The ability to personalize your brand is crucial in creating a unified experience between your online and in-store presence. 
• Project management and training. Does this platform provide an implementation team that has relevant experience? 

What Features and Integrations Does This Platform Offer?

A top ecommerce platform will include many tools, features, and integrations that help you improve your business. These may include: 

• The ability to easily create content, landing pages, and more. 
• A powerful search function that ensures your customers are finding the right products. 
• Customer segmentation features allow you to market to the right people at the right time. 
• Product recommendations that fit your customer’s style and needs. 
• The ability to enhance catalog data to provide in-depth information about your products, options, and availability. 
• Analytics that gives you the information you need to make data-driven decisions. 
• Real-time, localized product pricing, and availability so that each customer knows exactly what to expect. 
• A checkout process that matches your store experience and the flexibility your customers need, including options for multiple payment types and split payment options. 

Internal features like the ones above are essential, but a top ecommerce platform will stand out due to its ability to connect and add 3rd party features and integrations. Whether you need marketing tools, communication, or another helpful tool, the right platform will give you the ability to add applications to its already-powerful platform.

How Easy Is This Platform To Operate?

You may be thinking: all of this sounds great — but how can I be sure it’s going to be effective? 

Here are three questions to ask about reliability when searching for a top ecommerce platform: 

1. What Kind of Technical and Customer Support Is Available?

The right platform will offer you the expertise you need to help run your digital store, including experts who are working to ensure the platform runs as effectively as possible. While customer service will look different for every organization, it may include teams of quality assurance, IT operations, and more. 

In addition, the availability of resources such as an account or customer success team should be available to help you to learn more about the system and take full advantage of its tools.

2. Is This Solution Secure?

It’s crucial for your business and your customers that the platform you choose is secure. When searching for the right solution, be sure they are aware of and ready to help you tackle ever-changing compliance regulations, general security management, and more.

3. How Do I Know This Platform Will Stay Up-to-Date?

The right platform will always be on top of market trends, implementing new features, and providing the best, most relevant information to its customers. Specifically, cloud-based platforms can create a seamless experience for enhancements. 

Without continuous improvement, platforms will quickly fall behind in our ever-changing digital world.

4. What Are People Saying About This Platform?

As a furniture industry leader, you know the power that reviews hold — and they’re just as important when it comes to choosing the right ecommerce platform. 

When examining a system, take a look at what businesses similar to yours are saying. What have been their big wins? What about their challenges? By reading about other companies’ experiences, you can know what to expect from top ecommerce systems.

Find the Right Furniture Ecommerce Platform for Your Business

While this process can be daunting, it’s important to remember that the top furniture ecommerce platforms will help make it as simple as possible for you. 

In addition, you can stay organized and prepared by knowing exactly what tools you’re looking for to help meet your goals. Take a look at our Furniture Ecommerce Punch list to examine the use cases that apply to your business and find the best ecommerce solution for your business.