Having an eCommerce platform is no longer an option in today’s world. It has become a priority for many businesses; it is the quickest way for their customers to find them, expand into new markets, enhance brand awareness, and optimize sales.

However, choosing the platform to build your online business is a monumental task considering the overwhelming number of options in the market. In your initial research, you might have discovered that many software development companies in the USA offer to build a website by means of the Shopify platform, but you still don’t know much about it and aren’t sure whether it’s the right fit for your business.

In this article, we cover the basics of Shopify and its pros and cons to help you make that decision.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform with every feature you would want in an online store. This complete eCommerce software allows businesses to sell online with its outstanding features and functionalities that keep customers coming back. Shopify is trusted by more than a million business enterprises worldwide. So, if you seek independence with no worries about ownership, Shopify is the right option. It can help you start, run, and grow your business with ease.

How does Shopify work? You may ask. It unifies all of your eCommerce needs in a single platform. With the software, you can:

• Create and customize your online business
• Sell in multiple places such as the web, social media, mobile, online marketplace, brick-and-mortar stores, and pop-up shops.
• Manage your products, inventories, payments, and shipping

It is a complete cloud-based and hosted online store platform, meaning you can access it from any connected compatible device. Shopify gives you the flexibility and the peace of mind you need to run your business from anywhere.

Shopify Review: All the Pros and Cons You Need to Know

1. Shopify Ease of Use

Pro: The platform’s biggest selling point is its ease of use. Shopify understands that an owner’s main goal is to make the most sales without having to deal with technological issues and cumbersome administrative tasks. So, the company simplified the eCommerce store so you don’t have to go through the process of picking up an extra skill to launch and run your business online. It’s easy to get started with Shopify – all you need to do is create an account, select a template, and add your products. In addition, it features a user-friendly interface and assistance with managing technological issues.

Con: However, Shopify is essentially designed for less tech-savvy people which means you’re limited in terms of design and customization. So, if you want something more functional with a ton of customization properties for a considerably larger store, you might want to look elsewhere.

2. Available Customer Support

Pro: Shopify offers superior customer support. The company understands the inevitability of encountering issues while using technology. So, it has a dedicated team of extremely attentive and reliable individuals to help its users. You can contact Shopify’s customer support any time of the day or night through a variety of platforms including live chat, phone, or email. Its superior and 24/7 customer support service sets it apart from its alternatives.

Con: The support isn’t reliable if you encounter a sudden technical issue that requires an immediate solution. The company attends to more than a million businesses worldwide. So, receiving support directly from them, especially on urgent matters may become a challenge. In addition, you can only access them directly by phone in only four countries – the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

3. Shopify App Store

Pro: a good eCommerce solution should meet all the needs of an online store, from inventory management, shipping, customer relationship, marketing, and more. Being a simple platform for a normal user and because the provider understands every business has its unique needs, Shopify doesn’t provide all these services. Instead, it has a dedicated app store with at least 1,200 apps and plugins that integrate seamlessly with the software. All you need to do is find the right app for your business and install it.

Con: having an app store with multiple apps and plugins is advantageous in ensuring users only get what they need. However, extra apps and plugins not integrated into an eCommerce platform are known to negatively affect site performance. It is a problem Shopify users in need of multiple apps and plugins might have to put up with. Additionally, these apps don’t come for free.

4. Pricing

Pro: Shopify is one of the most competitively priced platforms in the market. In fact, it offers three pricing plans to give you the freedom to get what suits your business and budget. For instance, the basic plan is only $ 24 per month, the Shopify plan at $69, and the advanced plan at $299.

Con: the cost of getting into Shopify might be affordable but remember, you need apps and plugins to make the platform more efficient. These apps and plugins come at a price and they can be very expensive. In addition, you will need to pay extra for extended SEO features. So, in the long run, Shopify is quite costly.

5. Shopify Integrations

Pro: Shopify is a multi-platform eCommerce solution that integrates well with multiple channels such as web, mobile, social media, online marketplace, and more. You also get access to many payment processors such as Stripe, PayPal (News - Alert), and Shopify payments.

Con: However, Shopify is limited in terms of integration. For instance, Shopify users don’t have access to email hosting or access to marketing automation capabilities. You’ll have to look for other options if these functionalities are vital to your business.

Creating A Successful Website with Shopify Development Services

You’re now sold on the idea of partnering with Shopify for your online business and now all you need is to figure out how and where to get started. As a website builder, Shopify offers you fairly easy designs to use right off the box. However, it’s wise to include several additional tasks such as setting up payment mechanisms and other back-end development tasks to develop an efficient site.

For this, you’ll need to hire Shopify developers, however choosing the right one may be tricky. Fortunately, for you, it doesn’t have to be. At Spiral Scout, we’re a full-service software development partner providing quality Shopify development services for businesses looking to go online. Our team of Shopify experts takes time to work with you to help you customize a website unique to you and your business.