SaaS Ecommerce Platform : A New Trend in E-ommerce
Whether you are new to eCommerce or have been doing so for a while, you are probably familiar with the term. In this blog, we will go over everything a business owner needs to know about the SaaS business strategy they have used or are inclined to use for their eCommerce website.
What is a SaaS Ecommerce Platform?
SaaS(Software as a Service) ecommerce platform is a cloud-based system that is accessed on any web browser. The ecommerce industry runs on SaaS-hosted servers. Third-party is then responsible for the security, performance & maintenance of the application on the server. This enables businesses to reduce costs, shorten time to market, and easily scale up operations.
Subscriptions are used to license SaaS applications. Users are charged a monthly charge based on the level of service and the number of users. This licensing model is typically a low-cost method for sellers to still have proper access to one‘s e-commerce platform wherever and whenever an internet connection is available.
Advantages of SaaS Ecommerce platform
There are many ways in which many merchants are attracted to SaaS ecommerce platforms.
1. Out of the box Solution
SaaS ecommerce platforms are ready-made solutions. Most platforms already include a limited amount of basic shopping trolley functionality. Merchants can take advantage of custom build, configurable themes, basic product information systems, effective marketing, and other required functionality.
Because of all these functionalities, new merchants can quickly set up and operate an online store. SaaS projects do not take months to finish. To run your business, you don’t need your own IT team or active research knowledge. Merchants can benefit from simple, user-friendly interfaces.
2. Maintenance
The primary benefit of SaaS ecommerce platforms is that the software is hosted and maintained by the provider. You do not need to look for a hosting provider to work with. Instead, they’re in charge of high availability, implemented in the following, software bug fixes, software updates, and any other issue that comes up. Your provider is always keeping an eye on and evaluating the operation of your store. Support teams for SaaS providers are typically responsive and helpful.
This is an important distinction of SaaS ecommerce platforms if you do not possess your own IT team to oversee this level of administration.
3. PCI compliance and security.
If you intend to sell online, you have to be PCI(Payment card Industry) compliant so that your customers’ payment information is secure. In order to ensure PCI compliance, SaaS ecommerce providers take the following steps. It is one‘s responsibility to stay current on every spot or bug fix that may affect your security.
This is a significant benefit for many retailers. Customers can put their trust in you with sensitive information. With the number of data breaches that occur today, it’s more essential than ever before to possess their trust.
4. Adaptability
Growing retailers require an SaaS ecommerce platform that can scale with them. It should be simple to add more customers, process more orders, and implement more complex functionality as needed.
SaaS ecommerce platforms are more adaptable than other platforms. New apps can provide additional functionality. When you’re ready, you can add new sales channels. To deal with increased traffic, you can increase server bandwidth; this is especially important when running flash sales.
Furthermore, expanding your business does not have to entail incurring large new expenses. Your platform does not need to be rebuilt every time your business processes change. When adding new users or features, it can be as simple as moving up a payment tier.
5. Pricing
Generally speaking, SaaS ecommerce processes can be less expensive. There aren’t any upfront costs to get started. Because you are not creating your platform from scratch, you will not incur exorbitant development costs. You don’t always have to collaborate with such a companion to create a fully customized webstore design. You don’t need to spend as much money on add-ons because the platform already has so much functionality.
Maintenance is yet another area in which merchants can save money. You are not responsible for the ongoing upkeep of your webstore. Software patches and bug fixes don’t require payment from collaborators.
Disadvantages of SaaS ecommerce Platforms
While SaaS ecommerce systems have numerous advantages, they are not always the best platform for every business. Consider the following areas where SaaS platforms may fall short for merchants.
1. Lack of Customization
SaaS platforms use prebuilt templates and built-in functionality. There are many benefits to these areas, including ease of navigation and rapid start-up, but they can also be restrictive.. In some instances, SaaS ecommerce platforms do not allow for extensive customization.
In contrast to open origin, most SaaS ecommerce platforms do not provide access to the software’s code. As a result, you are unable to alter it. What you perceive is what you receive. If you require very specific functionality, a SaaS platform may be unable to provide it.
2. Managing Complicated Situations
Complex business processes usually require sophisticated customization. Because users deal with various distributors and warehouses, you may have complex logistical requirements. Selling across multiple marketplaces, multiple eCommerce platforms, and selling internationally all hinder your selling processes.
An easier, out-of-the-box SaaS ecommerce platform will not meet all of your requirements. To connect all of your systems and processes, you’ll need to customize one’s platform and use integration. Most merchants in this situation rely on a custom-built platform.
3. Supporting B2B Needs
Whether a platform is SaaS or not, most eCommerce systems fall short for B2B sellers. Although B2B is beginning to look more like B2C, B2B requirements are different. For B2C sellers, customer-specific pricing, discounts by quantity, wholesale pricing, and different payment terms aren’t necessary. Not all eCommerce SaaS systems have solutions for these requirements. Or if they do, they don’t do it well.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, SaaS ecommerce platforms are more capable than other platforms. Keeping an eye on the current situation and the use of SaaS platforms by businesses, you can expect SaaS ecommerce solutions to gain widespread acceptance in the coming years. We are simply providing you with information about the benefits of using SaaS solutions for the development of e-commerce sites.