According to statistics, 40% of the world's population is connected to the internet. 8 billion devices also have internet access. Online mode offers more options than the offline for entrepreneurs and those looking to start new businesses.
eCommerce has revolutionized the way people shop and sell online over the past few years. People can buy items online quickly and easily without ever visiting a physical store. Online stores can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Ecommerce websites are quickly developing to offer greater discounts, flat-rate shipping, loyalty programs and other incentives.
eCommerce development is a complex process that requires specific tools and frameworks. There are many eCommerce software tools and technologies available. The specific business needs of each retailer will determine which tools and technologies they choose. eCommerce can be built quickly using pre-made tools or customized solutions can be developed by businesses who refer to eCommerce development services.
What is an eCommerce Development stack?
It can be difficult to choose the right technologies, whether you are looking for in-house web developers or outsource web development. This is especially difficult for entrepreneurs and non-tech founders who just got started, and are driven to conquer the market. But where should they begin? It's safer to start by learning the basics first, as it is in most cases. What is the best tech stack to start eCommerce development?
A technology stack is a combination of various frameworks, tools and programming languages. It is essential to understand tech terms and to be familiar with developers if you are looking to launch an eCommerce business. Let's now look at the major components of the ecosystem. Then, we will take a closer look at each layer and aspect to help you navigate the entire process.
Let's get started on eCommerce website development!
You will need many technologies and tools to create an ecommerce store and run a successful online company. Your e-business plan must include both software and hardware technologies.
Web Server
Hosting an e-commerce website requires a web server. This server stores all the Html files, JavaScript, PHP, databases, media files and other files needed to run the website. The web server is run on either Windows or Linux. It is not an easy job to manage a web server. Website development companies either host the site on their web server or hire a hosting company for space on a secure server.
Server Software
The web server recognizes that a client visits any website via a web browser and requests specific information. It processes the request and provides the appropriate files to the client. These files are then displayed to the user by the web browser.
There are many options for server software including file server software and database server software. Apache and Windows IIS are the most popular web server software. You can use server software on either a physical or virtual server.
Web Tools
To create an e-commerce website's front end, a web authoring tool can be used. These tools range from simple HTML text editors like Notepad++ to more advanced graphic authoring tools, as well as a CMS (content management system), which has built-in frameworks and debugging software.
Dreamweaver creates Html files along with CSS (cascading styling sheet), which improve the visual appearance of the website. Visual Studio.net is another web authoring tool that can be used for creating sites with integrated databases. Web authoring tools include graphic design packages, which create the user interface's skin.
Database System
An integral part of any e-commerce website is a database. Databases are used to store information about products and services, such as prices, descriptions, images, details, and sales. The database also stores customer information such as their order details, payment details, shipping details, contact information, and other details.
Programming your website to securely connect to the database is essential to ensure that orders are processed correctly, and your business runs smoothly. PHP and MySQL are the communication routes between the website's database management system (DBMS) and the website.
Networking
TCP (transfer control protocols) and IP (internet protocol), describe how computers should communicate with one another via the internet. They also share information. Common TCP/IP protocols include HTTPS, HTTPS, and FTP. These protocols are used to access websites without our realizing. FTP (file transfer protocol), is used to download files directly from a browser.
HTTPS (where "S" stands to security) is responsible for secure communication between a browser and a server such as account information or personal data.
It is essential that an e-commerce website, or online store, has a secure connection. TLS (transport layer security), and SSL (secure sockets layers) are protocols that ensure trust and security for any e-commerce website.
Browser Compatibility
A web browser is software that allows you to find, retrieve and display web server content. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer are some of the most popular web browsers. Before launching a website, web developers and agencies will test it on multiple browsers and display the results on different screen sizes and devices.
The Tip: Use Google Analytics to analyze website traffics. You can see which browsers are most popular and which ones they are using.
Ports
Ports enable one device to connect to another through a unique IP address. One device can have multiple ports.
Port 25 (SMTP), is normally reserved for email. It's used to send data from remote email servers. It is impossible to send emails if this port is blocked. Other common port numbers include 80(HTTP), 443 (4HTTPS), 21 (20FTP), 22 (SSH), and 44 (3HTTPS). To tighten security, firewalls can block ports.
Domain Names
Domain names are linked to a company, or a brand. Reputable domain names are key to successful e-commerce businesses. It is best to choose the domain name that matches your business name if you are a smaller business. This will help you rank high in search engines.
It is crucial to register multiple domain names, such as.com and.net for a successful business online.
This ensures that your business is not copied by others.
This quick summary will help you to put everything in order.
Front End HTML, CSS and JavaScript, Ajax and JQuery
Server Side Programming: PHP.
CMS: WordPress, Magento, OpenCart and PrestaShop
Database: MySQL and MSSQL
The Main Factors in Choosing eCommerce Technology
E-Commerce site developers can get overwhelmed by the many programming languages, frameworks and tools available. We have compiled a list to help you make an E-Commerce development tech-stack.
Start with the Current Tech-Stack
Start with the most widely used technologies and tools if you're new to eCommerce and aren't sure which technologies or tools to use. There are already reliable, secure and stable solutions available, so you don't need to start a new tech-stack. These could include the following tech stacks.
LAMP stands for Linux, Apache MySQL, PHP. This is the most popular tech stack for web development. They are not very scalable and may slow down the growth of your E-Commerce projects. Although this is a great way to get started, it might not be the best for your perspective.
MEAN refers to Mongo DB Express, Angular and NodeJS. This tech-stack can be used to build online stores and is ideal for E-Commerce development.
Python and Django are two other tech-stacks that are widely used in E-Commerce development. It provides strong security for your back-end. This stack is often used by software developers to combine Apache with MySQL or PostgreSQL as a web server.
.NET uses Windows as the operating system. You can also adjust it for Linux or macOS.
Describe your Project Details
Every project is unique and requires different resources, requirements and needs. Identify the features that you would like to see on your eCommerce website and calculate the costs.
Consider Project Length
E-Commerce is all about time to market. Your project's success will depend on how quickly you bring it to market. It is important to determine development milestones and deadlines. This includes whether an MVP should be released, whether it's worth starting with LAMP tech stack or how many developers you wish to include in your project.
Scalability
Scalability is second in E-Commerce. It is important to consider how your project will develop. This will determine the technology stack and the resources required to support the project in future.
IT Talent Available on the Market
Talents are the key to product quality and project costs. It's easier to find and develop specialists for technology that is more widely spread. Sometimes, however, there isn't enough talent or the cost is too high to meet your needs.
There's always a solution. For example, you can look beyond the market and switch to outsourced software development. This will allow you to access a larger pool of talented people with vast expertise. Outsourcing software development can often be cheaper than developing your E-Commerce solution internally.
Best Technologies to Develop eCommerce Websites
The majority of web technologies offer all the features you need to create a cutting-edge website. These amenities include multiple payment gateway support and responsive designs. They also offer great customer service and elegant themes and templates.
How can you make an informed decision about the best web technology to use for your ecommerce website?
We have compiled a list with the latest web technologies that can be used for any type of e-commerce website. Have a look.
Shopify
Shopify is undoubtedly one of the most preferred and popular web technologies for hosting an e-commerce website. Shopify has a proven track record of continually improving and adding new features to its site.
Shopify offers responsive checkout. Responsive checkout is a great feature for any store, as half of all ecommerce transactions are done on mobile devices. Your customers will also be able pay in BitCoins, instead of traditional currencies. Isn't this amazing?
Magento
Magento has been the most trusted e-commerce platform for B2B and B2C customers. Magento is an SEO-friendly platform that offers many customization options. Magento's integration with third-party products and services makes it a favourite among customers.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a great choice for a hassle-free setup. WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin for WordPress that allows store owners to quickly and easily sell their products. WooCommerce plugin is used by around 30% of online store owners to not only sell their products, but also ship and collect payments.
OsCommerce
OsCommerce is a great option if you want to self-host an online store. OsCommerce gives store owners complete control over their store and database. The community has already updated over 7000 add-ons. The community of over 280,000 service providers and store owners are available to help you at any stage of your online business.
OsCommerce appears to be one of the most open-source platforms that have been available.
Drupal Commerce
Drupal Commerce is technically unbeatable because it was built from scratch and kept in mind the framework. This allows Drupal Commerce to focus on what it can build with it. Drupal Commerce is a great content management and online marketing platform that ensures customers and their users have an unparalleled experience when using the ecommerce website.
Drupal Commerce is second in open-source website content management system usage, after WordPress.
Volusion
Many features make Volusion a popular choice. One of these is the user-friendly interface. Volusion's add-on shop isn't as large as Shopify, and a blog setup cannot be done. However, account specialists can provide personalized services. Volusion stores use the mobile site instead of a responsive layout.
Squarespace
Squarespace is the best choice if you want to create a stunning, richly-imaged website. Squarespace's templates are beautiful and well-designed, and their ecommerce tools are excellent. Squarespace gives its clients full control over product variants and inventories, coupon generation, shipping options, and other aspects.
It has all the tools you need to create an e-commerce store.
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The Key Takeaway
It is crucial that project stakeholders decide which programming languages and frameworks they want to include in the software-development tech-stack before they begin the development of an E-Commerce website. The tech-stack is what determines the functionality and future development strategies of an eCommerce solution. Companies should be careful when forming their tech-stacks.
A team of software developers can help you if you are unsure about the best tech-stack to use to build your eCommerce website. They will help you choose the right tech-stack to build an eCommerce solution that meets your current needs and also works for your future goals.
