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Key Features and Add-ons for a CS-Cart Children’s Goods Online Store

Ksenia Cheburova — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:55:55 +0000

Creating and successfully running an online store for children’s goods is not only a promising business venture but also a challenging task for entrepreneurs. In the previous article, “Reasons to Launch an E-Commerce Store for Kids’ Products” we explained why this market segment is attractive for investment.

However, in a world of fierce competition, simply having an online store does not guarantee success. Without certain key features, the store risks being inconvenient and, therefore, unable to attract and retain customers.

We have compiled a selection of add-ons to assist both newcomers to this business and owners of existing stores looking to expand functionality and increase conversions. All the add-ons have been developed by us, based on the current requirements of modern business, combining the expertise of our analysts, developers, and marketing specialists.

The names are clickable; when clicked, a page with detailed information about each add-on will open.

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For Easy Navigation on the Site

Convenient navigation is crucial in an online store for children’s goods, providing a comfortable and intuitive user experience. This increases the likelihood of purchases and helps retain customers.

A logical and straightforward site structure starts with the main page and menu. Through these, visitors can easily find the products and categories they need, such as clothing, toys, furniture, and more. For instance, if a mother is searching for educational toys for her child, she can quickly navigate to the “Toys” section, then the “Educational Toys” subcategory, and use filters for age and brand to easily select the right product. This also aids in better indexing of the site by search engines.

Useful Add-Ons:

For Effective Search

Special search add-ons are essential for an online store of children’s goods to ensure customers can quickly and easily find the products they need. It’s important to provide filters by age, gender, and product categories.

Age filters allow visitors to select products for specific age groups, such as 0-1 years, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, and so on.
Gender filters help parents search for products designed for boys, girls, or unisex.
Category filters simplify the search by dividing products into groups such as clothing, toys, books, furniture, and more.

For instance, parents looking for a gift for a 3-year-old boy can quickly select the relevant filters and get a list of matching products, saving them a lot of time and effort.

Useful Add-Ons:

For Buyer Confidence

These add-ons will help ensure customer confidence and peace of mind when choosing products.

Review System: Allows customers to post and read reviews from other customers, aiding in informed decision-making.
Product Ratings: Based on user ratings, these provide a clear idea of a product’s popularity and quality.
Review Moderation: Ensures that reviews are accurate and relevant, protecting customers from dishonest comments.

For example, if parents are looking to buy a baby stroller, they can read reviews and check the product’s rating to ensure its reliability and quality, knowing that the reviews have been verified for authenticity.

Useful Add-Ons:

To Attract and Encourage Repeat Purchases

Add-ons designed to attract and encourage repeat purchases help increase the number of customers and retain them.

Discounts and Promotions: Offer customers discount coupons and promotional codes, motivating them to make purchases.
Coupon System Integration: Simplifies the creation and use of coupons.
Promotions and Special Offers Section: Keeps customers informed about current discounts and advantageous offers.
Loyalty Programs: Cumulative bonuses and discounts for regular customers encourage repeat purchases. For instance, parents who regularly buy children’s items can earn bonuses for each purchase and use them to receive discounts in the future, making shopping more profitable and enjoyable.

Useful Add-Ons:

For Safe and Convenient Orders

Security add-ons in an online store for children’s goods not only ensure the protection of customer data and secure payments but also make the purchasing process as convenient as possible. Options like one-click ordering or paying in installments simplify purchases and make them accessible to everyone. Integration with proven and secure payment methods provides a high level of data protection and confidentiality.

Useful Add-Ons:

For Increasing Average Order Value

To increase the average order value in an online store specializing in children’s goods, consider implementing additional sales add-ons. These features aim to encourage customers to add more items to their carts. Similar Products Block provides recommendations of similar products to increase interest in additional purchases and boost the average order value. Related Products Block suggests complementary products or frequently purchased items to supplement the main product order, enhancing the shopping experience.

Useful Add-Ons:

For mobile conversion

CS-Cart inherently offers mobile optimization by default, ensuring that the online store for children’s goods is convenient to use on mobile devices. This enhances mobile conversion rates, making the store accessible and user-friendly even on the go.

For added user convenience, developing a dedicated mobile application can further streamline the purchasing process through mobile devices. This approach enables customers to make purchases faster and more efficiently, enhancing their overall shopping experience.

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Each feature and function described in our article aims to improve the user experience and streamline management for your online store of children’s goods. If you find a feature appealing but need enhancements or have unique business ideas, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our team is dedicated to offering tailored and practical solutions that can further elevate the success of your business. Let us collaborate to implement specific improvements that align perfectly with your vision and goals.

The post Key Features and Add-ons for a CS-Cart Children’s Goods Online Store first appeared on Cart-Power.

Exploring the Latest Updates and Features in CS-Cart for Your Business Growth

Ksenia Cheburova — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:39:18 +0000

Updates are not just about fixing bugs; they’re a step forward towards more convenient and functional management of e-commerce projects. For instance, in the recently released CS-Cart 4.18.1, a new admin panel have been introduced. In this overview, we’ll delve deeper into what other useful features are available in the new version of CS-Cart and how these changes can enhance the user experience with the platform.

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Redesigned Admin Panel

The new admin panel features a fresh style and user-friendly navigation, allowing your team to work faster and more efficiently with the store management system. The menu has been streamlined and relocated to the left sidebar. Additionally, the “Settings” section has been expanded in the bottom left corner. The updated product list with new filters will enhance the search and product management process, potentially leading to increased sales and improved user experience.

Enhanced PayPal Checkout

CS-Cart has offered various PayPal payment solutions over the years, some of which have been labeled as “Legacy” by PayPal in favor of newer options. Despite this, these deprecated solutions remain available in CS-Cart as part of the PayPal Legacy Payments add-on, enabling acceptance of payments through PayPal Express Checkout, PayPal Pro, PayPal Advanced, and Payflow Pro. However, it is recommended to use PayPal Checkout instead, a modern integration offering comprehensive features for CS-Cart Store Builder, akin to PayPal Commerce Platform for CS-Cart Multi-Vendor. The latest enhancements include the addition of alternative payment methods like Venmo, PayPal PayLater, giropay, and others, availability of which depends on location, currency, and customer preferences. Moreover, customization options for payment buttons, including style and color, are now available on the checkout page.

Improved Warehouses and Common Products

The issue with the interaction between the Common Products and Warehouses add-ons has been resolved. Now, these add-ons effectively cooperate, ensuring more precise inventory management and product availability. Previous versions encountered problems when using these functions simultaneously, leading to customer complaints. However, in CS-Cart 4.18.1, the incompatibility between them has been addressed. Now, the functionality of Common Products considers the availability of items not only from specific sellers but also across various regions, regulated through Warehouses and tariff zones.

Faster Loading of Product Variations

The performance of the “Product Variations” add-on has been improved, even when the “Show all possible feature variants” setting is enabled. Now, the product page loads faster, even if there are many variations.

Limiting the Size of Uploaded Images

A feature to limit the size of uploaded images has been added, allowing for optimized use of server space and increased performance. When attempting to upload an image larger than the specified limit, the user will receive a notification. This feature is particularly useful for marketplaces with multiple vendors who may not pay attention to the size of uploaded images. Additionally, it will benefit online stores with multiple administrators or content managers.

Numerous Storefront Improvements Implemented

The latest updates address several issues encountered in the storefront. Now, the current storefront is accurately highlighted within the storefront switcher on the layout page. Additionally, the selected storefront remains unchanged after saving modifications on the page, and clicking on the storefront in the bottom panel opens the currently selected one. Moreover, switching from the storefront to the admin panel while on the product page redirects users to the product editing page, as intended, rather than to the admin panel homepage.

SagePay Renamed and Updated to Opayo

CS-Cart has long included SagePay as one of its integrated payment options. Recently, SagePay underwent rebranding to Opayo after being acquired by Elavon. Technical adjustments were also made on the Opayo side, necessitating updates on our end. In CS-Cart 4.18.1, SagePay has been renamed to Opayo, ensuring seamless continuity of the payment method’s functionality.

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CS-Cart is not just a tool for building online stores; it’s an entire ecosystem that is constantly evolving and adapting to the changing needs of the market. Regularly updating CS-Cart not only ensures the security and stability of your store but also helps you stay competitive by providing access to new features and capabilities.

Why Updating is Important:

Security: Consistent updates encompass patches for vulnerabilities and security concerns, shielding your store from potential breaches orchestrated by malicious entities. Maintaining the current version of your CS-Cart is essential for ensuring the protection of both your data and that of your customers.
Functionality: Each update introduces new features, enhancements, and optimizations that can significantly improve the shopping experience and store management. For example, new admin tools, improved integration with payment systems, or enhanced search algorithms can increase the efficiency of your business.
Compatibility: With each new update, CS-Cart improves compatibility with third-party applications, add-ons, and services. This helps avoid integration problems and ensures smoother operation of your store.
Support: Older versions of CS-Cart eventually stop receiving support and updates. Therefore, to have access to technical support and updates, it's necessary to regularly update the platform to the latest versions.

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10 Add-Ons for CS-Cart Clothing and Shoe Store: Explore Our Selection

Ksenia Cheburova — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:11:57 +0000

To ensure the relevance of an online store, it’s essential to continually assess, enhance, and optimize it, while also introducing new content. This can be achieved without the need for extensive revisions by leveraging add-ons. The CS-Cart admin panel allows for seamless integration, configuration, and deactivation of new functionalities, without disrupting the overall site operation.

The integration of suitable add-ons can significantly enhance the store’s performance by introducing new features, enhancing existing ones, streamlining management, and boosting marketing effectiveness. We have curated a selection of 10 specialized add-ons tailored for clothing and shoe stores on CS-Cart. Each add-on’s name is clickable, directing you to our online store of ready-made solutions, where you can explore the details of each add-on and make a purchase.

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1. Size Charts

Clothing sizes can vary significantly among different manufacturers, leading to customer challenges when making online purchases. This issue may prompt customers to either buy multiple sizes for trial or abandon their purchase altogether. Mitigating this, adding a size chart to the product page can guide customers in selecting the appropriate size for their body type, thereby reducing the occurrence of product returns.

To facilitate customer decision-making, the size chart can be conveniently placed on the product tab or as a link directly on the product page. Alternatively, a pop-up window can effectively display a sizing guide.

The configuration of the size chart is facilitated by a specialized add-on, enabling automatic addition of the table to products with specific attributes. Administrators can seamlessly create the table and specify the products to which it should be applied, streamlining the process and saving time.

2. Additional Option Images

This add-on facilitates efficient management of product images by providing diverse options. It enables the addition of multiple images for each option, ensuring that when customers switch between options, the product images change accordingly. For instance, if a customer selects the color red, they will exclusively view images of the red product. This capability enhances the presentation of the product, potentially stimulating customer interest and purchase intent.

3. Parameter (Options) Variants Table

This add-on enables customers to view all the available options for a particular product. For instance, if the product is sneakers available in three colors and five sizes, customers can easily explore all the combinations of colors and sizes. Additionally, they can promptly add the desired quantity to their cart directly from the product page. This streamlined approach simplifies the purchasing process, minimizing the number of actions customers need to complete.

4. LookBook

This add-on enables the creation of product sets that can be displayed and purchased on a single screen. This is especially advantageous for clothing stores, as it allows customers to visualize how different items coordinate. Each item within the set is showcased alongside the others, empowering customers to promptly add them to the cart.

5. Collections

The add-on provides the capability to group products into thematic collections. Each collection can feature a cover, title, and description. These collections are presented on the product page, allowing customers to explore other products within the same group.

6. Product Accessories

This add-on enables the showcasing of accessories related to a product directly on its page. Users can set up the add-on to automatically exhibit accessories for a particular product or choose accessories from a designated category. Moreover, customization options for the accessory block include adjusting image size, implementing auto-scrolling features, and displaying prices as needed.

7. Power Labels

An effective method to capture customers’ interest in specific products is through the utilization of labels, either in text or graphic form. Text labels offer customization options such as selecting the shape (rectangular, rounded, teardrop-shaped, beveled, round), adjusting background transparency, text color, and borders. By incorporating labels, customers can filter products based on various labels, thereby enhancing the ease of finding the desired product.

8. Product Questions

Comprehensive product descriptions and high-quality images may not always suffice to finalize a purchase decision. There are instances when customers have unresolved queries, which, if unanswered, might lead them to abandon the purchase. The expeditious provision of answers to potential customers’ questions can significantly lower the likelihood of them leaving to patronize a comparable product from a different store.

This add-on facilitates the inclusion of a question and answer section on the product page, enabling customers to access additional information if it is not covered in the product description. The search functionality further expedites the retrieval of required information, while prompt responses bolster customer loyalty. Email notifications ensure timely responses to inquiries, and the option for customers to contribute to the Q&A section adds unique content to the product page. Together, these features enhance the likelihood of a product purchase.

9. Features and Filters with Icons

For a quick and convenient product search, the client needs clear navigation and a correctly configured filter. The names of the product characteristics may not be informative enough or ambiguous, so it is better to use images to describe them. To make the product search more productive, you can create a convenient filter with images of characteristics and their possible options. The add-on allows you to create filters, characteristics and variants of characteristics with images. These images can be used for visualization in the filter block, on the catalog page and on the detailed product page.

10. Live Search

An efficient and effective search function within an online store directly correlates with increased purchase probability. The “Live search” not only retrieves products but also guides customers toward making a purchase. The inclusion of category filtering, sections with related queries, brand filtration, category sorting, recommended product suggestions, and direct options for adding to cart, comparison listing, and wish lists collectively streamline the purchase process. Furthermore, the search history enables analysis of search activity, facilitates tailored recommendations, and mitigates situations with unfruitful searches. The capacity for customizable appearance and search parameters ensures simplicity and convenience, while delivering pertinent search results. Comprehensive details regarding all the features of this add-on can be found on its dedicated page.

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Enhancing the appeal and functionality of your clothing and shoe online store on the CS-Cart platform is now more achievable. The range of add-ons offered, including size chart and additional images for product options, as well as lookbook and live search functionalities, contribute to elevating the shopping experience, making it more convenient and engaging. Explore our collection of ready-made solutions in our online store and seize the opportunity to enhance your business. Elevate your store’s functionality, enhance shopping convenience, and stand out from the competition.

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Creating an Online Store for Digital Goods with CS-Cart: A Guide to Setup and Cost Estimation

Ksenia Cheburova — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:58:28 +0000

CS-Cart stands out as a leading e-commerce platform, catering to the launch of various online businesses, from basic children’s goods stores to complex event marketplaces. This versatile platform facilitates the sale of both physical and digital products. Having covered the essential information regarding the sale of digital products and the selection of a website in our previous article, we will now delve into the process of establishing a straightforward online store on the CS-Cart platform for selling digital goods. We will address the necessary requirements to begin, the series of steps to follow, and an approximation of the total costs involved.

Introduction

CS-Cart is a popular ecommerce platform that can be utilized to build a website selling demo access to cash gambling games. Some popular cash gambling games that can be offered include:

Aviator – This is a crash-type game where players bet on how long a virtual airplane will fly before it crashes. The longer the flight, the higher the potential payout.
Space XY – A spaceship flying game where players cash out before the spaceship crashes. This game has a space exploration theme and multiplying payouts.
Aviatrix – A medium volatility crash game featuring an aviation theme and NFT integration, allowing players to customize planes.
Magnify Man – A superhero-themed gambling game featuring expanding symbols and focusing on instant wins.
JetX – A fast-paced crash game featuring a jet plane theme and elements of skill-based gambling.

Steps to Create the Gambling Games Website

Install CS-Cart and activate a gaming demo data addon which contains base templates for a gambling site.
Create product categories for each type of cash gambling game offered. Configure category settings.
Add each gambling game as a digital product within the appropriate categories. Enter product descriptions, pricing plans, demo access details, and media.
Setup online payment methods to allow visitors to purchase demo access or play money for the games.
Design the frontend of the site through templates and skins to have a gambling aesthetic.
Add dynamic blocks and widgets to promote top games and new additions.
Configure shipping and order management rules for digital fulfillment.
Launch the site and continue adding new cash gambling games over time to expand the offerings.

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6 Essential Steps for Establishing a Digital Goods Online Store

Platform Selection: Selecting a platform with robust functionality, scalability, customization, security, and support for digital goods is critical for the project’s success. CS-Cart is recommended due to its extensive digital goods selling capabilities, open-source flexibility, and resilience under high loads.
MVP Development: Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with essential functionality enables a quick market launch to identify the target audience for future expansion. Prioritizing core store features in the initial phase is crucial for accessibility and simplicity.
Prototyping: Employing prototyping as a mandatory stage ensures the identification and rectification of inaccuracies before integrating the design, minimizing project delays.
Design Development: The creation of website pages is based on the prototypes, incorporating unique store features that differentiate it from competitors and optimize user experience and behavior.
Development: Post-MVP and prototype creation, core feature development involves coding, algorithm creation, integration with third-party services, and payment gateway connections, leveraging CS-Cart’s default marketing tools and extensive payment system support.
Testing and Launch: Step-by-step testing to minimize errors, parallelism for early error correction, and final testing precedes the market launch of the online store.

This comprehensive plan outlines the ideal approach for establishing an online store or digital marketplace that meets diverse business needs. Whether it’s launching an online school, publishing agency, digital art gallery, NFT platform, or music marketplace, we are here to support your venture. If you have a small project and require a simple online store, cost-effective ready-made solutions can help save time and resources. Below, we will detail the essential requirements for launch and associated costs.

Why CS-Cart is Suitable for Digital Goods

CS-Cart inherently supports the sale of digital goods, allowing for the establishment of a niche store or an entire marketplace for downloadable products.

Other Benefits of CS-Cart:

Swiftly download and configure digital products.

To initiate sales, it is necessary to download and set up a digital product using the administrative panel. CS-Cart offers the capability to configure diverse product characteristics and variations, as well as to establish rules for product display on catalog pages.

Furthermore, this functionality is applicable for service provision as well. For instance, if you operate an online store specializing in household appliances and seek to enable the online ordering and payment for equipment installation or repair services, CS-Cart allows for the seamless integration of services, treating them similarly to digital goods but with the option to disable delivery.

Just activate the downloadable products feature in your settings. You can establish a time limit for product loading and authorize customers to download the product immediately after full payment or according to the seller’s preference. Alternatively, you can provide a comprehensive description of the service without attaching a downloadable file.

Efficient management.

CS-Cart offers a comprehensive set of tools for order management, enabling the use of various payment systems and the selection of suitable methods to deliver digital goods to the buyer. For instance, you can choose to deliver a digital product in the traditional way, provide unlimited file access, or set a specific period for download key availability.

Accurate product pages.

In CS-Cart, you can customize detailed descriptions and additional attributes for digital products. The standard product card features reviews and ratings, as well as photos and video reviews to enhance conversion. Providing thorough and current information on the product card enhances customer trust in the store and increases the likelihood of repeat purchases.

Analytics and reporting.

CS-Cart gathers detailed analytics and reports on sales, visits, and other crucial metrics for your store, facilitating well-informed decision-making.

Seamless and rapid communication.

CS-Cart incorporates a dedicated Message Center to consolidate all client communications, including order clarifications, questions about products, and other inquiries. Integration with the Retail CRM system, as well as the option to set up a Telegram chat and an SMS notification system, ensures that no customer query goes unanswered.

Unique functionalities for digital products.

As an illustration, for the sale of NFTs, the “Auction” add-on can be utilized. Buyers have the ability to monitor auctions and receive email notifications, or opt to purchase a token without engaging in the auction. The auction conditions are entirely customizable, and the process is conducted automatically. Notifications are sent to participants, guests, and administrators, and the entire auction history is retained.

Should certain features prove insufficient or specific integrations be required, we can enhance the functionality of CS-Cart to align with your individual needs.

Requirements and Minimum Costs for Getting Started

If you currently have an existing website or a presence on a social network, you can leverage your content to promptly establish a CS-Cart online store. When the need arises to expand, you have the option to enhance the basic functionality with any components that may be lacking.

For instance, if you’re an artist aiming to sell downloadable prints through your own website, the minimum requirements would include:

1. License

The license fee for CS-Cart Store Builder Plus is $1,350.00, designed for a basic store with a single domain. The price for CS-Cart Store Builder Ultimate is $4,500.00, suitable for managing multiple storefronts or online stores from a single panel.

2. Hosting and domain

The cost of hosting and domains varies based on the type and length of the hosting plan, domain registration, and additional services. Shared hosting plans often cost between $2 to $7 per month, while VPS hosting can range from $5 to $20 per month. Dedicated hosting can cost anywhere from $10 to $400 or more per month, depending on the resources needed. Domain registration costs around $10 to $15 per year, but this can vary based on the top-level domain (TLD) and length of registration.

It’s essential to compare prices and services from different providers to find the best hosting and domain plan that fits your needs and budget. Keep in mind that as the project grows, you will need more hosting resources, which means the cost will be higher.

3. Design theme and uniqueness

An exclusive design theme will set your store apart from competitors. You can tailor store pages to complement your digital products, incorporate eye-catching banners, and adjust the appearance of menus, sections, and more. The starting cost for a theme is $119.00. Select from CS-Cart Themes and Templates.

If the pre-made design does not sufficiently accentuate the uniqueness of your online store, customization of specific design elements can be requested. In this case, the total cost will encompass the services of a designer (from $30 per hour) and a frontend developer (from $40-45 per hour).

4. Customized modifications or add-ons

The hourly rate for a backend developer begins from $50-60. If complex modifications are unnecessary, you can enhance your online store using add-ons. These are designed to address specific issues, such as the “Auction” add-on, with costs starting from $30.

As observed, in our experience, swift launches of online stores, even with modifications, can fit within a budget of $900 to $1,400.

For expansive marketplaces and trading platforms featuring a substantial volume of digital goods, distinct licensing and modifications will be necessary. In such instances, we recommend commencing with MVP versions of CS-Cart Multi-Vendor. This approach allows for the swift creation of a project, subsequently enabling gradual complexity enhancements and cost savings on unnecessary add-ons.

Examples of successful platforms for selling digital content.

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To summarize, the process of creating an online store for digital goods using CS-Cart involves several essential steps, starting from platform selection and culminating in the testing and launch of the store. CS-Cart’s suitability for digital goods is due to its comprehensive features, including efficient management, accurate product pages, analytics, reporting, and unique functionalities for digital products such as auctions. The minimum costs associated with setting up such a store include the CS-Cart license fee, hosting and domain costs, design theme, and uniqueness expenses, as well as customized modifications or add-ons.

The post Creating an Online Store for Digital Goods with CS-Cart: A Guide to Setup and Cost Estimation first appeared on Cart-Power.

The Best Marketplace Builder: 10 Must-Have Features

Cart-Power Team — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:58:50 +0000

Why is creating your own marketplace so popular now? Because it is a business model that is universal and suitable for any industry. A content streaming service like Spotify, a hotel booking service like Airbnb, or a freelance site like Kwork all bring providers and users together. Add to this the absence of costs for the purchase of products, various ways of monetization, a quick launch through MVP development, the ability to provide services to individuals and legal entities wholesale or retail.

Therefore, the creation of a business based on the development of a marketplace is in great demand. And the first question that the owner faces is what to do the development on?

A good marketplace builder will help you quickly create an e-commerce platform and enter the market. In this article, we find out which of the must-have functions should be in the constructor in order to make the right choice from all the variety.

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Choose a license for your marketplace

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Why is it better to choose a ready-made solution for creating a marketplace, rather than writing from scratch?

In the previous article “Custom Development vs Ready-Made Solution”, we reviewed development solutions and explained in detail the pros and cons of each.
Individual, completely self-written solutions allow you to create a unique marketplace that fully meets your requirements. You choose the technologies on which the marketplace will be created.

But developing from scratch has its drawbacks. The very search for an experienced development team can take a lot of time and resources. In addition, you will need to describe your requirements in detail and jointly form a high-quality terms of reference. The outcome of the development will depend on this. Moreover, it is a labor intensive process. Unlike ready-made solutions, you need to think through and create all the functionality. As a result, the timing of the launch of the marketplace is not predictable.

Development from scratch was almost the only solution 15 years ago. Today you can find many ready-made products, low-code cloud solutions that allow you to quickly deploy and easily manage the marketplace. Inside, there is already the necessary functionality to get started.

How to choose the best solution for your marketplace?

We have compiled recommendations on what a marketplace platform should be like so that you can quickly launch and easily manage your business.

1. No-Code or Low-Code software

To make the creation and configuration of the marketplace simple and straightforward, and not require a huge team of IT specialists to manage, choose no-code or low-code platforms.

Low-code allows you to design and build a website through clear and intuitive tools. You just drag and drop blocks in the interface and create the desired functionality. As a rule, such platforms already have a set of ready-made functionality. But even if you need to customize the site, then development based on ready-made templates will be easier.

No-code platforms are similar to low-code, but they are suitable for business users who have no idea and technical skills at all. All setup and management of the marketplace takes place through the user interface.

In order to develop a marketplace on low-code/no-code solutions, it is enough to clearly understand the business processes and workflows that you implement in the platform.

Benefits of low-code/no-code platforms:

Ease of use. The development process is easier or does not take place through intuitive interfaces.
Quick launch and development. You can create the main components yourself, connect the necessary functionality thanks to ready-made templates. This is the perfect way to quickly launch an MVP marketplace.
Low costs. You not only save time, but also reduce the burden on IT specialists for customization and maintenance. You will need less hours for development. Plus, you can test new ideas faster.
User support. To make it easy for any user without deep technical knowledge to work with the platform, platform developers support it with video instructions, tips, and a knowledge base.

CS-Cart Multi-Vendor offers both a No-Code cloud solution and an On-Prem platform for installation on the owner’s equipment. With CS-Cart Multi-Vendor No-Code, it will take a few minutes to launch an MVP marketplace. You do not need hosting and your own server, and the configuration and management takes place through the user interface. To expand the marketplace, you can easily switch to a ready-made open source platform. It contains all the necessary functionality, there are ready-made design templates, intuitive display settings. If necessary, you can customize the marketplace for any needs.

2. Platform capabilities for easy and fast scaling

A quick launch of an e-commerce site involves creating an MVP based on a ready-made solution with simple functionality settings. But what if you expand to a million users and products in a year? If you need to add new geographic regions? The marketplace platform must be scalable and support business growth. Also, in order to highlight your brand and add unique features, when choosing, pay attention to whether it will be possible to customize the necessary modules and make the development for yourself.

CS-Cart Multi-Vendor offers a choice of 5 solutions for creating an e-commerce site of any complexity:

CS-Cart Multi-Vendor No-Code. Cloud solution for easy launch and testing of hypotheses.
CS-Cart Multi-Vendor Standard. An open source server solution. The functionality includes more than 500 ready-made functions, a simple visual editor for CMS, design, themes, texts.
CS-Cart Multi Vendor Plus. In addition to what is in the Standard version, on the basis of Plus you can create a full-scale marketplace with a single mobile application for sellers and buyers.
CS-Cart Multi-Vendor Ultimate. Based on this solution, you can combine several businesses into one and create a multi-brand marketplace with many storefronts and your own warehouses.
CS-Cart Multi-Vendor Unlim. Suitable for fully customized projects.

If you need to expand the capabilities of your marketplace, the CS-Cart platform allows you to easily transfer your marketplace from a cloud solution to a server one, from Plus version to Ultimate.

3. Customizable and easy-to-manage functionality

Even if you have sufficient technical knowledge and are well versed in the intricacies of e-commerce, a marketplace platform should be understandable not only to you. Since the marketplace model involves the participation of sellers, the creation and placement of products on the platform should be just as accessible and understandable for them. The seller should be able to independently customize their pages and understand the management of their storefront, without resorting to the help of technical specialists. After all, the success of sellers on the marketplace leads to your profit.

In order for you to quickly launch the marketplace, CS-Cart has an initial setup wizard that will allow you to quickly adapt the platform to your business.

CS-Cart has built-in design tools to manage page design and content. You can create page layouts by simply drag-and-drop blocks. And in sales reports, information for sellers is displayed in a convenient way.

4. Ability to implement different business ideas: B2B, D2C, B2B2C

Very often, at the startup stage, marketplace owners choose one business model, and as the marketplace develops, they add new ones and mix them up. There are several benefits to using a variety of business models.
First, different models allow you to expand your customer base and sales opportunities.
Secondly, it allows you to more effectively and quickly adapt to rapidly changing market conditions. By having different revenue streams and business strategies, companies can mitigate risk and weather economic downturns.

In addition to wide functionality for the classic B2C marketplace model, CS-Cart has many functions for other business models. You can create a separate B2B storefront that is only available to approved sellers. The platform supports tiered pricing, bulk discounts for B2B customers’ needs. In addition, you can create customized product catalogs, manage inventory, and process bulk orders efficiently.

5. Marketplace localization for different countries

According to CSA Research, if visitors don’t understand a site, they won’t buy from it. Marketplace localization is important for several reasons. First, by adapting the marketplace to the local language, currency, cultural preferences, you create a personalized experience for customers. And also remove unnecessary barriers and make unhindered access to the marketplace. And this increases the trust and loyalty of customers.
Secondly, you expand your capabilities, enter new markets and gain access to a new customer base. To attract and retain new customers, you need to understand and meet the needs of this audience, look at and analyze competitors in this market.

The CS-Cart platform allows you to work all over the world thanks to: built-in 26 languages, multicurrency, tax settings and GDPR compliance. High-quality translation by native speakers is available for the storefront, admin panel and seller. You will be able to attract vendors from any corner of the world. The GDPR governs the transfer of personal data within and outside the EU. Your regulatory environment for doing international business will be in order.

6. High security

A prerequisite for any trading platform is to ensure the security of transactions. In the digital age, data breaches and identity theft are not uncommon. You must be aware of the protection of confidential customer and supplier information. This includes, among other things, commercial and personal data: names, email addresses, telephone numbers, commercial contract terms, commercial data that can give an advantage to competitors, and so on.
High security measures prevent fraud and unauthorized access to your platform. By implementing strong authentication protocols, encryption methods, and regular monitoring, you can minimize the risk of fraudulent transactions and hacking attempts while providing a safe and secure environment for your users.

To protect against unauthorized access and information leakage, CS-Cart has implemented:

Compliant with PCI DSS requirements. These are strict security standards for storage, processing and transactions with bank cards.
Compliance with GDPR requirements for the control of personal data.
Built-in anti-spam filter Google reCARTCHA.
Data pre-moderation function. You can view and verify the vendor and the content they want to publish before it appears on the marketplace.
Setting up and managing employee access. You can set up separate access for each employee only to the necessary functionality of the platform.
Secure data storage. CS-Cart does not store passwords.
Built-in protection against SQLi, XSS, CSRF.
Code review for each development task to check the code for flaws and unsafe patterns.

7. Create an omnichannel product

Omnichannel allows you to combine all possible ways of communicating with a client in one place. Presence on various services, platforms, social networks and instant messengers, the ability to make purchases through any device is becoming an integral part of modern e-commerce. Regardless of where the client wrote to you from, the ability to accept and process an order on your marketplace is omnichannel.

What omnichannel does:

Improves customer service. The buyer can contact through any sales channel and will know that the seller is aware of his purchase history. By collecting data from different sources, you can make personalized offers.
Increases traffic and sales. According to research, omnichannel customers spend 10% more.
Improves customer confidence. Customers develop more trust in the brand if it can be found on different sites, contact the seller without any problems and make a purchase.

CS-Cart allows you to create a global marketplace with a network of local storefronts and a single control center. There are tools on the platform for this:

Creating showcases for local markets with individual payment and delivery settings.
Synchronized mobile application for the marketplace, for comfortable shopping.
Integration with any services and applications through the Zapier platform.
Integration with sites and the ability to add a widget of your pages to any site. The site visitor will be able to purchase goods directly in the widget, which means on your marketplace.
Omnichannel tracking interface for customer journey, analytics, CAC, CLV and other data.
One control panel for all showcases and sales channels, no matter where you sell.

8. Opportunities for SEO promotion

SEO is essential to drive organic traffic to an ecommerce site, improve search engine visibility, and attract potential buyers and sellers. But marketplace SEO tools are also essential for merchants to promote their products and improve the visibility of their listings on search engines.

The CS-Cart platform is made as friendly as possible for search engines, and thanks to the built-in tools, you and sellers can independently manage meta tags, redirects, snippets, descriptions and keywords for each page.

9. Mobile application

In 2022, users worldwide spent 110 billion hours on apps, and total in-app spending was approximately $167 billion. The most popular apps in 2022 among marketplaces and online stores were Shopsy, Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon, and Tata Neu.

The mobile app makes shopping more accessible and convenient, while marketplaces can analyze data and offer a more personalized user experience. For example, push messages for sending promotions and sales work more efficiently than regular SMS messages.

The main characteristics and features that shopping apps should have are: personalization, great user experience and ease of checkout.

In CS-Cart, the source code of the mobile application is available for platforms starting from the Plus version. And this means that you can customize the appearance and functionality of the mobile application to suit your business goals.
All data of the marketplace mobile application is synchronized in real time with the desktop version. The same app is available for merchants to manage their catalog and orders.

10. Business process automation

The operational activities of an online store and a marketplace are very different in terms of order processing volumes. When you choose a multi-vendor platform, you need to consider its capabilities for automating business processes. Although this may require additional costs and resources from you, in the future you will be able to save and optimize time for processing orders, documents, reconciliations with sellers, marketing and other processes. Automation will help you allocate resources intelligently and thereby accelerate the development of the marketplace.

In addition to setting up the basic functionality of the CS-Cart Multi-Vendor platform for product management, order processing, sales tracking and customer interaction, a lot of additional add-ons and extensions are available to automate processes:

Live search will not only help you provide quick and smart product searches for customers, but will also collect history and analyze search activity for you. This information will give you the necessary hints and recommendations for the search string.

Advanced E-mail Marketing contains ready-made email templates and placeholders for notifications about abandoned carts, wishlists, viewed products, requests for product reviews. You can customize the time and volume of sent messages. The add-on allows you to add coupons for promotions to the body of the letter and collects statistics. Much of the email marketing work will be automated.

To ensure that the speed of the marketplace is not slowed down by heavy images, the WebP Images add-on automatically converts graphics on the site (product photos, logos, banners, etc.) into the WebP format. The client will not notice the difference in image quality, and the pages will run faster.

If there are a significant number of users on the marketplace, then processes such as ordering and user registration may be slower. In order to speed up the loading of pages and not test the patience of visitors, the Email Logger/Delayed Email Sender add-on will make sending emails and notifications a separate process. Marketplace pages will load faster.

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What is the result?

When choosing a platform for creating a marketplace, you need to pay attention not only to the cost and timing of its creation. Consideration should be given to the ability to quickly launch and create an MVP version, while it is not difficult to switch to an extended edition to create a full version of the marketplace. As well as easy learning to work on the platform for your vendors.

At the same time, modern trends in consumer behavior dictate their own rules. Your e-commerce business needs to be omnichannel and meet the requirements of a modern mobile app.

And in order not to drown in operational processes, when your marketplace reaches the peak of its development, you should take into account its possibilities for automation and lay it down at the stage of creating the MVP version.

The post The Best Marketplace Builder: 10 Must-Have Features first appeared on Cart-Power.