An e-commerce platform is a SaaS, that is, a complete solution to create an online store that does not require technical knowledge or previous experience and, therefore, is considered simple and easy-to-use software.
We created this guide to clarify the important points related to this digital resource and we invite you to take advantage of , the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America.
Before knowing everything about this type of technology, take a look at the practical tutorial that we prepared for you on how to create your online store step by step. Too easy!
What is the best e-commerce platform?
In our opinion (and bluntly), the best e-commerce platform in the Latin American market is Tiendanube and then we are going to tell you why.
1.
is the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, with more than 100,000 active stores throughout the continent.
It is ideal for all brands, whatever their stage, that are looking to increase their income through online positioning and the diversification of their sales channels.
With offices in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico and a team of more than 1,000 specialists, we have a robust, intuitive and flexible online sales platform that allows easy integration with the main ecosystem solutions.
Create your online store for free with Tiendanube!
Benefits
Among the many benefits of the Tiendanube platform, we highlight:
- .
- +11 with 31 customizable variants.
- Own payment platform, which allows entrepreneurs to sell online without paying the cost per transaction.
- Simplified stock management.
- Alliances with other payment gateways such as Mercado Pago or Ualá Bis, and with the main logistics solutions (Correo Argentino, Shipnow, OCA, to name a few).
- Amazon server to guarantee the stability of your online store, regardless of the number of users and transactions you have, and to protect your site from suspicious and fraudulent access.
- Unlimited sales and visits.
- Specialized customer service to answer all your questions.
In addition, we provide several key integrations for growing your business, such as Google Analytics, Facebook Shops, and Instagram Shopping.
If you are just starting out in the world of online sales, you can train on specific topics in , we offer you articles, courses, e-books and videos —free of charge!— on online sales and digital marketing in .
On the other hand, if your case is that you are already selling online but on another platform that is not meeting the needs of your business, we tell you that you have the possibility of Tiendanube.
Cloud Store Evolution
As we said above, our platform adapts to any stage of a business and, as it grows and operations become more complex, brands can opt for it.
It is an exclusive service where we provide an e-commerce executive dedicated to guiding the business with strategic and personalized decisions. In addition, you have access to customized solutions, preferential rates and exclusive benefits with our network of partners.
If you want to have flexibility and autonomy to manage your online store, communicate your brand identity like a professional and have help and attention throughout your growth, Tiendanube is your place!
Take a look at everything it has to offer:
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2.WooCommerce
A highly customizable WordPress plugin, WooCommerce has been offering different options to create online stores since 2017. With offices in Norway, UK and South Africa, it has more than 150 employees.
3. Undertake
It is a commercial platform focused on micro-enterprises, whose templates are easy to modify to create online stores. Its tools allow you to sell both physical and digital products.
Are you finishing defining yourself by one of these platforms?
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4.Wix
Founded in 2006, Wix is a platform that allows you to create web pages and virtual stores. In America, it has offices in Canada, the United States and Brazil. It provides tools that allow anyone to create a professional online presence.
5.PrestaShop
It is an open source platform that makes it easy to create and manage online stores. Headquartered in France, PrestaShop has +300,000 stores worldwide, with France and Latin America being its most important markets.
6.Shopify
Founded in 2004, Shopify is a digital solution with +1,000,000 customers and +5,000 employees worldwide. Based in Canada, it has different functionalities, such as the possibility of creating gift cards in online stores.
🎯 Here we share an exclusive comparison: . Know the platforms and decide on the most strategic for your business!
7. VTEX
VTEX, created in 2000, offers a modern architecture of electronic commerce and with constant updates of the commercial platform. It currently has +3,000 active virtual stores (with clients in +40 countries), +15 offices around the world and +800 employees.
8. Billoshop
Billowshop is an omnichannel e-commerce platform for small, medium and large business entrepreneurs. It has no sales commission and offers solutions for retail, wholesale or mixed sales with an unlimited number of products.
Do you want to know other options? Here is a list:
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What is an e-commerce platform?
As we told you at the beginning of this guide, an e-commerce platform is a SaaS, that is, a technological solution to create and manage an online store.
The main advantage of this type of solution is that it does not require technical knowledge or previous experience to be able to use it. 🙌
After a quick registration to obtain a periodic subscription -which usually takes a maximum of 10 minutes- the e-commerce platform will be available to manage the electronic commerce operations.
Among the most common configuration possibilities, the following stand out: design customization, product publication (photos and descriptions), shipping management and integration with marketing tools and advanced SEO management.
Are you not very clear about what SaaS means? No problem! Next, we explain it in detail.
What is SaaS?
SaaS (or Software as a Service) is a software distribution and marketing model. Two classic archetypes of SaaS companies today are Netflix and Spotify. Through a prepaid monthly fee and a connection, both make the infrastructure and technology available to the user in their respective niches.
Through out-of-the-box systems—which do not require any technical or programming knowledge—a SaaS allows the customer to customize, manage, and often integrate their profile with other platforms or systems, such as when Spotify allows the creation and editing of playlists or share a song on , for example.
In addition, security and maintenance are two other features of a SaaS, compared to common software. In the first case, since access is via the internet, all data is stored in the cloud. Therefore, there is no need to install it and risk losing data.
Regarding the maintenance, the update of the software depends on the SaaS company, which makes updates automatically. In this way, the user does not have to worry about making improvements to the system.
Now that you know what a SaaS platform is, it’s time to also understand what Open Source platforms are.
What is Open Source?
Open Source refers to open source software. In other words, a subscription software that is available from various companies. However, it is accessed by download and not in the cloud as in SaaS.
After downloading an Open Source platform, the software is provided with a basic configuration. The customization of the site, the integration with other applications and the maintenance of the platform are the responsibility of the entrepreneur (if he is tech-savvy) or a professional hired by him, which generates additional costs.
What are the advantages of SaaS vs. Open Source?
Once the above points have been clarified, it is time to understand why a SaaS platform is much more efficient than an open source one.
1. Agility of the e-commerce platform
The time is gold! Having your business online and running as quickly as possible is essential for efficient development and to get the first ones sooner than expected. A SaaS e-commerce platform, as we have already seen, does not require technical knowledge, which allows the store to be activated in a few minutes.
2. Cost-benefit
If you don’t know how to program, a SaaS e-commerce platform will surely be more accessible to you. By having a defined and periodic value, it is easy to predict the expenses in the business.
Also, if over time you notice that your company is reaching a new level, SaaS platforms generally facilitate upgrades to more advanced packages with greater functionality, which, at no time, will prevent its scalability.
💡 I know all the .
3. Customization and maintenance
Having a unique design that expresses your identity is essential to position your virtual store before the competition and in the eyes of your potential customers.
As one of the goals of SaaS e-commerce platforms is to provide a variety of options to the entrepreneur, customization and responsiveness will not be a problem. At Tiendanube, for example, we offer more than 11 that adapt to all types of screens.
Also, SaaS eCommerce platforms are always looking to improve their services. Therefore, maintenance of the virtual environment is commonly done through free and automatic updates.
4. Adaptability
With a SaaS e-commerce platform, the ease of integrating other channels in an online store and obtaining better rates and prices is greater. After all, strategic integrations are recurrent in this environment, like with payment intermediaries, for example.
In an Open Source platform, on the other hand, the integration process must be done manually, which takes time (and money, considering that it will be more difficult to negotiate the conditions).
In Tiendanube we have our in which, with a few clicks, you can select the apps you want to integrate into your store, from logistics solutions to customer service software.
5. Professional support from an e-commerce platform
What if something unexpected happens to you…
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