Differentiation is what makes the world of economics revolve. Brands don’t succeed by being too like each other. Rather, they succeed by being different in just the right ways – the right competitive ways.
Those same principles apply in eCommerce to online stores. Websites in the same industry shouldn’t all be too like each other or they sacrifice a competitive advantage. This is what makes these advantages of custom eCommerce web development so salient.
Bespoke Functionality in eCommerce Solutions
Templated, SaaS solutions like Shopify and BigCommerce offer little bespoke functionality out of the box, open-source platforms like Magento and WordPress offer none.
In order to get those custom tools or custom functionality you want for your website, you’ll need to hire an eCommerce website development company to create them.
No More Botched Integrations
Bad integrations are not only terrible for the user experience, they can also cripple the functionality of a website and result in glaring security deficiencies. A provider of development services can help ensure that critical tools are integrated properly and result in no such issues.
A Faster, More Functional Website
Speed is a killer of the user experience if the page does not load quickly. Oftentimes, excess code, tech debt, and other issues slow down websites, and these fall directly under the purview of a web developer to rectify. More often than not, they can.
Improved Navigation
No modern eCommerce website can lean on just one navigation channel. Competitive websites should offer several, at least search functionality and a comprehensive mega menu at a bare minimum. Other options include highlights or badges for top-sellers and auxiliary hamburger menus.
Better Security
Web developers can find the errors in code that result in sloppy security, then turn those issues around. Keep in mind also that security is not just a concern for your users (and that poor security is a massive barrier to conversions) but that bad site security will also hamper search engine optimization or SEO.
A Better Mobile Experience
With the majority of online shoppers now accessing eCommerce websites (and buying) on their mobile devices, it is now a matter of grave importance to have a solid mobile interface. Templated solutions only go so far. Let a developer audit your mobile experience and apply their expertise to the improvements in user-friendly, mobile-first online shopping.
Enhanced Compliance
Believe it or not, eCommerce websites are seen as places of public accommodation and must be compliant with the regulations of the ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act. Websites that are not compliant are subject to fines or worse. A web developer can help ensure compliance.
More User Confidence
The less an eCommerce website looks standardized and templated, and the more it appears to have custom functionality, the more confidence and trust it will garner from users. Think about your own experiences and see if they reflect this general observation.
Higher Engagement Rates
The more custom functionality an eCommerce website offers, the better engagement it will generate from visitors, and we all know what follows that…
Higher Conversion Rates
Higher conversion rates, which are the backbone of eCommerce. In fact, the custom eCommerce web development suggestions contained in this article are some of the most commonly suggested to improve conversion rate optimization, or CRO, which can help improve the overall profitability of an eCommerce website.
Hiring an Agency for Custom eCommerce Web Development
Just as in digital marketing, doing custom eCommerce web development work is a skill and one that isn’t all too common. If you don’t have someone on the payroll with the skills (or the time) to undertake a full-scale custom development project, consider hiring an agency with the abilities needed to execute your project. It may cost you in the short term but it can pay big long-term dividends.
