Question:

“What are some eCommerce platforms equipment dealers should consider?" 

Answer:

Going with an eCommerce system that your current website vendor offers is a good first choice, but if they don’t offer a solution that fits your needs, don’t worry. There are many options for your equipment dealership to choose from. 

Before making a decision, you’ll want to look at the cost, investment, control and configuration of any eCommerce system you plan to use to determine which solution is best for you. 

For example, Shopify and WooCommerce for WordPress are both popular eCommerce systems. Shopify is a good turn-key Software as a Service (Saas) platform, or if you have some technical expertise, WooCommerce for WordPress could be the right solution. 

The difference in these two options is the cost and time investment your equipment dealership will be making and the amount of control and configuration you get with each platform. 

At first, Shopify takes less time to set up, but your dealership will be stuck with the options and partners Shopify offers for payment processing, shipping, etc. With Wordpress, you could have more control over these options and save money, but it comes at the cost of having to do a lot of the setup and configuration on your own. 

The Ask Team SI series allows dealers to regularly ask marketing questions and get them answered in real time. It is brought to you courtesy of Team SI.

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Established in 2010, Team SI is a data-driven marketing firm where designers, strategists, and data specialists create unique customer experiences for clients using digital and social media platforms. Team SI developed its own proprietary system called Doppio, which pairs the most sophisticated, aggregated and automated data-analytics platforms available with the insights and instincts of its certified professional staff to optimize campaign effectiveness. They're best known for coining the term "TraDigital": the art of blending traditional and digital marketing. Learn more…

Ultimately, before making a final decision, determine how your dealership will handle the amount of work that will come with any eCommerce platform. Because once you choose a platform, you’ll need to have the resources ready-to-go to handle order fulfillment, shipping, returns and customer service. By thinking of this long-term strategy first, it might assist you in choosing an eCommerce platform that would be best for your business.