E-commerce, also known as eCommerce, consists of the use of web platforms with the intention of promoting and selling a product or service. It consists of different modalities, among which stand out: the online store, eCommerce by affiliation and Marketplace.
Currently, this type of activity is carried out in all parts of the world; through different means or applications, such such as catalogues, shopping carts or email subscription. Its applications are varied and valuable benefits are obtained.
There are multiple online trading sites, but two of its top representatives are and Shopify. Both companies have achieved notable achievements; however, which is better and how are they different?
Amazon and Shopify What are the characteristics of these giants of online commerce?
Amazon it is a business giant. Since its foundation, it has become a benchmark for websites that offer distribution services internationally. For its part, Shopify is a multinational company based in Ontario, Canada. Currently, its eCommerce platform is home to more than 800,000 online businesses.
Both Amazon and Shopify are excellent options to start an e-commerce project. However, what characterizes each company?
Amazon Features
Amazon is an online marketplace that has a presence in the vast majority of countries in the world. Their products range from electronic devices, clothing and footwear, jewelry, and much more. Among the main features, the following stand out:
- Large sales volume: The company’s web platform is home to millions of users. For this reason, potential customers are business opportunities that should not be missed.
- Ease of uploading the catalogue: Having a catalog in the Amazon marketplace is a great advantage to expand your eCommerce. The website interface is intuitive, and you can load product inventory quickly. The system will provide you with templates with which you can organize the merchandise.
- Audience Reliability: Users give more confidence to the products offered on Amazon. This is due to the very high quality of service offered by the platform.
Shopify Features
Shopify gives you the ability to open your own online storewith which you will have access to international clients and obtain a large volume of sales. The fundamental characteristics of this platform are:
- Quick and easy to use interface: Creating your eCommerce on Shopify will only take a couple of minutes. The website offers numerous customization tools to manage sales and orders. Likewise, its simplicity allows you to make full use of all the platform’s functionalities.
- Unlimited catalog and notifications: You can upload any number of products to the Shopify catalog. Every time you receive a sale, or a customer wants to contact you, the management system automatically takes care of notifying you by email.
- Marketplace tools: Shopify provides its users with numerous tools that facilitate sales management. You can use templates to manage your catalogs, or use SEO applications on the web and thus increase the visibility of your products.
Amazon FBA vs Shopify. How are they different and which one is better for selling products on the Internet?
Although the platforms they work in a similar wayThe reality is that they have different approaches. Both sites have management tools that simplify transactions. In the case of Amazon, you can use Fulfillment by Amazon, known by its acronym FBA. This service allows the platform to take care of storage, packaging, shipping, and customer service.
On the other hand, Shopify has an application store, in order to improve your e-commerce. However, which of the two provides a better space to sell products? We tell you below!
Use and Configuration
In the case of Shopify, the web gives you access to a menu with a quick view of the total sales made, your main products and a detailed transaction schedule. In case of any doubt, you can find different help manuals, very well explained. Finally, the site design allows you to create the necessary foundation to build an eCommerce website.
Amazon, for its part, is characterized by having an extremely fast and simple configuration process. You just need to create an account, enter your data and the system will take care of the rest. Then, you only have to upload the products. You can help yourself with the FBA tool.
Prices
Nowadays, Amazon account of two sales plans. The first one is called as professional sales plan and has a value of 39.99 per month. On the other hand, there is the individual selling plan. It has a value of $0.99 per item sold. It is intended for people who sell less than 40 products per month, but it does not have the same features as the professional plan.
Shopify It has three sales plans. A basic planof €29 per month; the shopify planof €79 per month; and the advanced plan, which costs $299. Some features and tools are enabled by switching from one plan to a more expensive one. Likewise, you can complement your electronic commerce with applications from the web, or from third parties, although the latter generate additional costs.
Customer Support
In case of any inconvenience, Shopify has multiple communication channels to facilitate customer service. They can be mentioned: 24-hour active telephone line, 24/7 online chat, emails, audiovisual tutorials, specialized support and inquiries through social networks.
For his part, Amazon has a slightly more closed customer service method. You can request a phone call, so that a specialized agent of the company can contact you. You can also request help or file a complaint via email, provide forms, and inquire in the community forum.
Sales
Amazon’s FBA service has fees that cover the €2.41 to €137.32 of value. These payments are made up of shipping and referral fees, which vary depending on the category of your business. Rates per unit sold will depend on factors such as volume, size, time of year, and type of product. In addition, the monthly subscription costs are also added.
Shopify has selling fees on any of its payment methods. the rates They are located between 0.5% to 2%, although this also depends on the contracted plan. Usually the credit card rate is 2.9%, although it can decrease to 2.4% for each item sold.
Payment methods
Regarding the payment methods, Shopify has over 100 methods. In addition to having its own payment gateway, it also stands out for the ability to make payments through amazonpay Y .
Amazonfor its part, does not use Paypal as a payment method, and relies mostly on its own catwalk. Likewise, you can also pay with an international credit or debit card.
Amazon or Shopify? What is the platform with the best prices for buyers?
The You can find the best prices on the market on Amazon. Although Shopify surpasses the platform of its competition in some aspects, it should be noted that the Canadian company provides its services mainly for the dropshipping. This method consists of selling the merchandise of a third party.
The merchant does not need to store the products in its inventory, or have any contact with them. The service provides several benefits such as: less capital requirement, variety of products and the possibility of managing from anywhere, nevertheless; prices are not the most stable for buyers.
For this reason, the prices that are handled on the Amazon platform are more accessible and reliable for users who are looking for a particular product. The FBA service provides guarantees to the buyer, and greater facilities to the merchant.
Steps to use Amazon with Shopify and have the best of both worlds
Why choose between one and the other? It is possible to use both platforms for a better positioning, expansion and exposure of your eCommerce. Shopify has the particularity of link Amazon catalog in online store. In the same way, you will be able to link the product details and create listings.
To get the most out of both sites, you must first have an Amazon seller account, then you will have to pay for the professional plan. next, you have to add Amazon sales channel in your Shopify online store. The steps to achieve this are:
Activate the sales channel
Add the sales channel from Amazon from your eCommerce control panel on Shopify.
Press the sales channels button
A dialog will open informing you of the implications of adding a sales channel.
Click on add sales channel
Follow the onscreen instructions to get your accounts synced. Then, grant the permissions to the Amazon account from the Shopify admin. In this way, the process will be complete. you can start to sell your Shopify products on Amazon and vice versa. Link articles, create new offers or new posts.
Facebook Comments
Disqus