Planning your Ecommerce website design? Lets talk development

If you’re in the planning phase of a new ecommerce website design or want to change your existing set-up, we want to run through the different ecommerce website development options there are available to you.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the different types of ecommerce website development options, including building from scratch, SaaS, headless, microservices, API-first, and cloud-native. And their advantages and disadvantages, so you can make the best development choices for your ecommerce website design.

Build from Scratch

Building an e-commerce website from scratch means creating a custom website with your own codebase. As this requires a higher level of technical ability, it may require hiring web developers, designers, and IT professionals to build and maintain the website. Building from scratch provides complete control over the design and functionality of the website. However, this option will be for more high-end budgets and will take more time.

Pros:

• Complete control over the design and functionality of the website
• Customizable to meet specific business needs

Cons:

• Big budgets
• Time-consuming
• Requires expertise and ongoing maintenance

SaaS

Software as a service (SaaS) is a popular e-commerce website development option that allows businesses to use third-party platforms like WordPress to create and manage their websites. SaaS platforms are cloud-based, which means that businesses don’t need to worry about managing the infrastructure or security of their website. SaaS is an affordable and scalable option for small and medium-sized businesses.

Pros:

• Affordable and scalable
• No need to manage infrastructure or security
• Access to third-party apps and integrations

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Limited control over the website

Headless

Headless e-commerce is a newer approach to website development that separates the front-end and back-end of the website. In a headless e-commerce setup, the website’s back end handles the business logic and data management, while the front end handles the user interface. This approach provides flexibility in design and functionality, as developers can use different front-end frameworks and tools.

Pros:

• Flexible design and functionality
• Ability to use different front-end frameworks and tools
• Faster website performance

Cons:

• More complex setup and maintenance
• Requires developer expertise

Microservices

Microservices is a modular approach to website development, where different features and functions of the website are broken down into small, independent services. This approach allows businesses to develop and deploy new features quickly and efficiently. Microservices are scalable and reliable, as they can be updated and modified without affecting other parts of the website.

Pros:

• Scalable and reliable
• Quick and efficient development and deployment
• Independent services are easier to manage and update

Cons:

• Requires developer expertise
• More complex setup and maintenance

API-first

API-first is an approach to e-commerce website development that prioritizes the development of application programming interfaces (APIs) before building the user interface. APIs allow different software applications to communicate with each other, enabling businesses to create customized experiences for their customers. API-first development is scalable and flexible, allowing businesses to adapt to changing customer needs.

Pros:

• Scalable and flexible
• Customizable experiences for customers
• Faster development and deployment

Cons:

• Requires developer expertise
• Limited control over the user interface

Cloud Native

Cloud-native e-commerce, like Shopify, is a modern approach to website development that uses cloud-based services and technologies to create and manage websites. Cloud-native websites are designed to be highly scalable, fault-tolerant, and resilient. This approach provides businesses with the flexibility and agility to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs.

Pros:

• Highly scalable, fault-tolerant, and resilient
• Fast deployment and integration
• Reduced infrastructure costs

Cons:

• Requires expertise in cloud-based technologies
• Limited control over the infrastructure

To wrap up, choosing the right e-commerce website development option for your business is critical to its success. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages and can have an impact on the design and functionality of your site.

If you’re not sure what type of ecommerce website development would work best for your business needs, then please get in touch. We’d be happy to explain them in more detail and talk you through which option might work best for you.