Top eCommerce Development Companies Of 2020

What Is An eCommerce Web Developer?

eCommerce has changed the way businesses sell and consumers buy. It grows at a fast pace and it shows no signs of slowing down.

In fact, online retail sales are projected to reach $5 trillion by 2021.

To get a piece of this pie, businesses are bound to consider investing in online stores.

eCommerce developers exclusively build eCommerce websites and mobile applications that meet the unique needs of their clients.

They are skilled in coding and various programming languages like Java, Javascript, PHP, Python and CSS.

Unlike eCommerce designers who are responsible for the website aesthetics, eCommerce developers are in charge of the technical aspects of the products they build. And their job is to deliver fully functional stores that provide visitors with an outstanding experience.

What Do eCommerce Development Companies Do?

eCommerce developers offer standard web development services and some of the primary responsibilities are:

• Creating databases
• Configuring and installing shopping carts
• Integrating payment gateways
• Securing websites
• Integrating APIs
• Performing QA testing
• Maintaining websites
• And more

However, unlike other developers, they have additional skills and particularly specialize in tools and platforms commonly used by businesses that sell online.

These may include:

• Shopify
• BigCommerce
• WooCommerce
• Salesforce
• And more

What Is The Best Platform For eCommerce Development?

There are many platforms that eCommerce development companies use to build websites, and each comes with its own pros and cons.

Some platforms, such as Magento and Shopify, are powerful systems that allow for complex customization and are great for large-scale online retail stores.

While others, such as WooCommerce from WordPress, can also be personalized, but are better suited towards small to medium-sized eCommerce brands.

Other common eCommerce website platforms include:

• BigCommerce
• 3dcart
• Volusion
• Drupal
• And more

However, the best eCommerce web developers will be able to work with your brand to determine the right platform that suits your brand’s needs and objectives.

What Do Magento eCommerce Web Developers Do?

A Magento eCommerce development company specializes in developing apps and websites using the Magento eCommerce platform.

They provide businesses with easy shopping features, highly customizable, secure and reliable products that are extendable for future growth.

Most businesses rely on the help of Magento eCommerce web developers because the solutions they offer are SEO friendly, have great performance and scalability.

What Does A Shopify eCommerce Development Company Do?

A creates digital solutions using the Shopify eCommerce platform.

They help brands grow by developing fully functional and scalable online stores with many advanced features including direct selling across different platforms.

Shopify is the second most popular platform with a market share of 3.6% and businesses mostly consider it because of its reliability, powerful marketing tools and outstanding customer support.

How Much Do eCommerce Development Companies Charge For Their Services?

The cost of eCommerce development services will mostly depend on how complex your project will be in terms of features and functionalities, the number of developers who will work on it and the timeframe.

Some other factors that will influence the cost are:

• Your goals and expectations
• Data imports
• Domain name
• Hosting
• Integration
• SSL certificate
• Payment gateway
• SEO features
• And more

However, it will also depend on the location of the eCommerce developer.

Thereby, here is how much you should approximately expect:

• Eastern Europe: $27- $35 per person, per hour
• India: $10- $50 per person, per hour
• The USA: $50-$200 per person, per hour

What’s more, the cost also varies based on the platform the website is built with. Whether you choose Shopify, Magento or WooCommerce, these tools also have their own pricing structures.

Approximately, an eCommerce website can cost between $5000 to $350,000. But, if we are talking about a very complex website with many features, then businesses can pay as high as a few million dollars.

Why Hire An eCommerce Development Company?

The number of digital shoppers is projected to surpass 2.14 billion by 2021. (Statista)

While it may take years or even decades for brands to expand their physical businesses in another city or country, selling online offers great expansion opportunities.

With an online store, they can reach international and multichannel markets easily and quickly.

However, for you to close more deals successfully, investing in a professional website is of key importance.

This is where eCommerce web designers come useful. Thanks to their technical expertise they will deliver a store that offers outstanding user experience, engages and converts the visitors into paying customers.

In addition, while the upfront costs for an online store may seem hefty when you think long-term they are lower compared to investing in brick-and-mortar stores.

So, eCommerce is a cost-effective investment.

How To Choose The Right eCommerce Developer For Your Business?

Hiring an eCommerce development company, just like hiring any other development company, requires strategy and research.

The first step is always to define your business requirements and goals you hope to achieve by considering eCommerce services.

With your vision clearly defined, the search for the right partner can begin.

Consider the following factors to make your search easier:

• Portfolios: It’s imperative that you look into the track record of these eCommerce development companies to see if they have relevant expertise and experience that fits your brand and its goals. Portfolios will tell you what clients these companies have worked with, what results they delivered and whether they have an understanding of your industry.
• Strategic approach: Take some time to get to know every potential eCommerce developer to better understand their processes and how they construct their strategies for the websites they build. Then, make sure you select a partner that sees each client as unique and has a custom approach. This matters in getting a website that stands out from the others.
• Comprehensive plan: The best eCommerce development companies will come to the table with a comprehensive plan for how they will build your site, what features will be integrated and how long and in-depth the overall project will be. This includes communication, reporting, metrics and beyond. A solid plan is a strong foundation for an effective website.

Hiring Local vs. Foreign eCommerce Development Companies

If you are not sure whether you should outsource your project to an onshore or offshore eCommerce developer, here are a few tips to help you decide.

On the one hand, a local eCommerce web developer speaks your language, is close enough to visit your offices and understand the business environment you operate in

What’s more, they are also internationally competitive and keep abreast of the latest trends in the industry.

There is a cost associated with these advantages, though.

If you are looking to hire a home-grown eCommerce development company, be prepared to cash out about $10,000 – 50,000 for your project.

On the other hand, many businesses are offshoring their eCommerce development to get the best of both worlds: a well-developed solution and an intuitive user interface (UI) at a great price.

The inherent disadvantages of offshoring, however, surround a crucial aspect of development which is communication.

Different time zones, language proficiency and cultural differences can take their toll on the development process, so if you opt for offshoring, it is important that you go in prepared with a strategy to cover all contingencies.

Foreign eCommerce development companies, especially those in the regions known for their lower cost of living, typically command lower prices. The leading regions, in this respect, are:

• Eastern Europe
• South-Eastern Europe
• South Asia
• South-Eastern Asia
• East Asia

7 Questions To Ask eCommerce Developers Before You Hire One

1. Have you developed a similar eCommerce website in terms of industry and/or functionality? Previous experience and domain knowledge could greatly accelerate the eCommerce website development process, but should not be the decisive factor in your decision making.
2. Where can I see your portfolio? Previous experience in your industry will help your partner understand and meet your goals faster, if not better.
3. Which technologies have you mastered and why you’ve chosen to specialize in those in particular? Tech is changing by the day and serious eCommerce development companies will strive to be on top of their game, always. However, sometimes novelty is not the best indicator of agility, so if your prospective partner has chosen to forsake the latest tool on the market, seek justification for their decision.
4. What features do you think my product will need? Your website will be unique and developed for your needs only. So, define your goals and communicate them with the best eCommerce developers. Then, ask what features your site will need to have to meet your requirements.
5. Do you offer post-development services? You need to make sure the company you hire will be there to update your site to the latest platform versions and handle security threats. This is important in keeping your product up-to-date and fully-functional.
6. How long will it take to finish my project? It may happen that the best eCommerce developers work on several projects at the same time. However, obviously, you want your product finished as soon as possible. Therefore, ask these companies what is the deadline and require them to include it in your contract.
7. Who will work on my project? It is important to know who will work on your project and who you will communicate with. You need to make sure that the people you work with are easy-going and communicative to ensure the success of your project. And knowing who they are in advance will help you achieve that.

Takeaways On eCommerce Web Development Companies

The eCommerce market size is showing no sign of slowing down; On the contrary, it is expected to fully overtake physical retail in a not-so-distant future.

This is why retail brands are advised to invest in their online presence.

The best eCommerce development companies are innovative and always on top of development trends. So, they can help your business grow by providing you with a fully functional product.

To choose the best partner:

• Consider the location of the potential companies and think whether you want to outsource your project to an onshore or offshore company
• Check their portfolios to see which of them has relevant expertise and experience
• Ask about their strategic approach and see whether they have a comprehensive plan of action

Best of luck!

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