There are many ways to build an app, website or e-commerce store. With so many options things can get truly confusing. Look for a company that is experienced with your industry or a problem you are trying to solve. Look for teams that have a problem-solving mindset and demand transparency with the tech (stack) they are using. Ask for more info on who is going to work on your project. Avoid sales people that say “yes we can to anything for you, superfast and super cheap, no problem”.
Let’s say you are building an e-commerce store, and you meet with few agencies in your price range that can help you build it.
These companies can build your online store in many ways:
- WordPress and WooCommerce with a theme
- WordPress and WooCommerce with a separate front-end. VueJS, React, etc.
- Shopware commerce with a separate front-end with VUE StoreFront
- Saleor Commerce with Nextjs commerce
- Spryker commerce
- Sylius commerce
- Commerce tools
- Shopify with a custom theme
- Custom e-commerce app with a custom theme
The list goes on.
There are so many options it’s crazy, but what should you pick?
Nothing.
If you don’t have the tech skills, don’t pick a platform or tech. Pick a team that’s right for the job and your company.
Be very specific with your requests.
If you request high security, extensibility, speed, easy integration with other micro-services, complex custom features. Then WordPress and WooCommerce is not for you.
If you need enterprise grade security, cloud hosting, speed, advanced customization and microservices then Pick Saleor Commerce, Shopware or Commerce tools.
Maybe you need your project to be fast and cheep (at first) and nothing else matters, then WP and WooCommerce might be your thing. Just make sure you learn about the downsides.
If you don’t want to be tied to one company and you want to hire another company later, than custom e-commerce is not for you.
Because, if you pick a company that makes their own software, you are tied to them. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you don’t like each other in the future. You are stuck in a toxic relationship that you need to pay for.
If this is your concern then always request open source platforms with a good development community.
To make things simpler, you should consider hiring an Independent digital business consultant to look at your feature list and requests.
Let them help you pick a company for your project.
Author:
Muamer Mujevic
Digital business strategist
m: +385 91 1980 506
ln: linkedin.com/in/iconi