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Innowise is an international full-cycle software development company founded in 2007. We are a team of 1800+ IT professionals developing software for other professionals worldwide.
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Innowise is an international full-cycle software development company founded in 2007. We are a team of 1600+ IT professionals developing software for other professionals worldwide.

The ultimate guide to the best eCommerce CMS platforms in 2024

The last ten years have seen an explosive rise in eCommerce, reshaping the global marketplace. And this growth trajectory remains unyielding. Thus, the revenue in the sector is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 9.49% from 2024 to 2029, potentially achieving a market volume of $6,478 billion by 2029. In terms of user base, the eCommerce market is set to expand significantly, with the number of users expected to reach 3.6 billion by 2029. Inspiring figures, right?

To keep up with the ever-changing eCommerce world, you need a sharp eye to pick the right content management system (CMS) that will drive your online store’s growth. In this article, we’ll overview the top CMS options, helping you choose the right platform.

Key features to look for in a CMS for eCommerce

To start, seek out the functionalities that will upgrade workflow efficiency and customer satisfaction. There’s no other way around it. It’s not just about being performance-oriented; it also needs to be intuitive so you can tap into the CMS’s full potential. Below, we’ve highlighted the particular features that can facilitate this.

User-friendly interface

User-centric interface possesses a well-organized dashboard with key metrics, intuitive drag-and-drop functionality for design and layout, and step-by-step wizards for complex setup processes. A user-friendly system offers straightforward navigation, bulk editing capabilities, and a variety of customizable templates alongside powerful search and filtering tools — all contribute to a perfect user experience.

Customization options

Personalization features in an eCommerce CMS are essential for customizing your online store to align with your brand’s distinct identity and address specific business needs. This includes modifying templates and themes, adding custom code for specific capabilities, and integrating with third-party tools and services.

Scalability

A scalable CMS allows your site to easily handle increasing traffic, especially during peak sales periods or marketing campaigns. This flexibility is vital as it helps maintain performance and user experience even as the audience grows. Additionally, a scalable CMS supports flexible infrastructure and operational costs, such as hosting.

Product management

Integration with PIM systems like Pimcore or Akeneo maintains accurate and consistent product information. Real-time inventory tracking keeps stock levels in check, preventing overselling and helping customers find what they need. A CMS with these features certainly boosts operational efficiency and delivers a dynamic, satisfying shopping journey.

SEO capabilities

A CMS with powerful SEO capabilities improves a website’s search engine performance by managing meta tags, integrating keywords, and analyzing content in real time to follow SEO best practices. Such a system generates XML sitemaps for better indexing, adds schema markup for rich search snippets, and includes performance optimization plugins to improve site speed.

Security features

When choosing a CMS, putting customer data protection first must be a top priority. SSL certification encrypts data between the user and server, securing sensitive information during transactions. Additional measures include regular software updates, robust firewall protection, intrusion detection systems, and multi-factor authentication for administrative access.

Compliance and accessibility

These tools not only keep operations legally compliant but also support an inclusive and user-friendly online environment. Thus, GDPR compliance tools help manage customer data in line with regulations, protect data privacy and avoid legal issues. Accessibility features make sure the CMS meets standards like WCAG, allowing the site to be usable for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Analytics and reporting

Detailed sales analytics offer in-depth reports on performance, conversion rates, and customer behavior, revealing trends and opportunities. Insights into customer data and purchase history allow for personalized marketing. Integration with Google Analytics further enhances tracking and analysis.

Integration with payment gateways

Integrating payment gateways into CMS simplifies transactions, ups security, and builds customer trust by allowing easy, secure purchases right on the site. It also automates inventory management and financial tracking, providing detailed analytics for better business insights. This integration improves customer experience with diverse payment options and facilitates marketing opportunities like promotions and personalized recommendations.

Multilingual and multi-currency support

If your goal is to reach and engage a diverse, international audience, a CMS with advanced multilingual and multi-currency support is what you should look for. Combined, these features expand market reach and deliver a customized, user-friendly experience for shoppers worldwide.

Ready to accelerate your business with CMS?

We’ll help you cut through the noise to maximize every feature.

Top CMS platforms for eCommerce in 2024 

Picking the best CMS for eCommerce can feel like navigating a maze. If you’re launching a new online shop or upgrading an existing one, these standout CMS platforms are definitely worth exploring. Here’s a brief look at some of them, highlighting their key features, advantages, and disadvantages — all to help you make an informed decision.

Platform Key features Pros Cons
Shopify

Cloud-based e-commerce platform known for ease of use and flexibility

  • Customizable templates
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Mobile responsiveness
  • Built-in SEO
  • Marketing tools
  • App marketplace
  • SL and PCI compliance
  • Efficient product and inventory control
  • Flexible payment options
  • Extensive app marketplace
  • 24/7 support
  • User-friendly and scalable
  • Extra fees needed if not using Shopify Payments
  • Coding for advanced tweaks required
  • Monthly costs
  • Many apps are paid
  • Slowdown with large inventories
Magento

Open-source platform that offers a high level of customization and flexibility

  • Open-source
  • Advanced options for product types and attributes
  • Single-admin management
  • Built-in SEO
  • Multi-language and multi-currency support
  • Customizable themes
  • Third-party integrations
  • Robust security features and regular updates
  • Capable of handling large amounts of content and high traffic
  • Customizable to specific business models and workflows
  • Strong community support
  • Technical expertise for customization and management required
  • Higher cost for hosting and development
  • Regular updates and maintenance needed
WooCommerce

WordPress plugin that adds e-commerce functionality to WordPress sites

  • WordPress integration
  • Options for physical, digital, and variable products
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Flexible shipping methods and calculations
  • Integration with WordPress SEO plugins
  • Extensions marketplace
  • Multi-language support
  • Easy integration
  • Extensive customization options
  • Suitable for various types of online stores
  • Large community
  • Scalable
  • Slower with large inventories or high traffic
  • Regular updates and maintenance of both
  • WooCommerce and WordPress needed
  • Limited built-in features
  • Technical expertise for customization needed
  • Plugin dependency
Drupal

Open-source content management system (CMS) written in PHP

  • Modular architecture
  • Robust content management capabilities
  • Multi-language support
  • Responsive design
  • Robust security features
  • Built-in SEO
  • Headless CMS
  • Capable of handling large amounts of content and high traffic
  • Strong community support
  • Highly customizable
  • Difficult for beginners to learn and implement
  • Resource-intensive
  • Overhead for small projects
  • Compatibility issues and increased maintenance efforts
PrestaShop

Open-source solution with a focus on flexibility and customization

  • Open-source
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Multi-store management
  • Flexible shipping methods
  • Advanced tax setting
  • Built-in SEO
  • A variety of themes and design customization options
  • App marketplace
  • Feature-rich
  • Strong community
  • Highly- customizable and scalable
  • Complex setup
  • Optimization for large catalogs and high traffic needed
  • Extra costs with premium modules, themes, and hosting adding
  • Regular updates and maintenance needed
OpenCart

Open-source platform known for its simplicity and ease of use

  • Open-source
  • Multi-store management and support
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Various shipping options
  • Configurable tax settings
  • Extensions marketplace
  • Customizable templates
  • Built-in SEO
  • Community support
  • Large marketplace for adding extra features and functionality
  • Highly customizable and flexible
  • User-friendly
  • Optimization for handling large inventories and high traffic required
  • Regular updates and maintenance needed
  • Limited built-in features
  • Technical expertise for customization needed
NopCommerce

Open-source platform built on the ASP.NET Core framework

  • Multi-store support
  • Multi-vendor support
  • Built-in SEO
  • Marketing tools
  • Extensive customization options
  • A wealth of plugins, themes, and extensions
  • Scalable
  • Complex setup and management
  • Limited out-of-the-box features
  • Performance issues on large-scale deployments
Django

High-level, open-source web framework written in Python

  • ORM (Object-Relational Mapping)
  • Powerful and customizable admin interface
  • Built-in protection
  • URL routing
  • Template engine
  • Built-in authentication system
  • Rapid development
  • Extensive and well-maintained documentation
  • Suitable for a wide range of web applications
  • A vast ecosystem of packages and libraries
  • Scalable
  • Slower development if only specific components needed
  • Difficult for beginners to learn and implement
  • Performance issues
Shopware

The platform designed to help businesses of all sizes create and manage online stores

  • Open-source and enterprise editions
  • Customizable themes and templates
  • Extensive plugin marketplace
  • Multi-channel capabilities
  • Integrated marketing tools
  • Highly customizable
  • User-friendly
  • Scalable
  • Strong community support
  • Complex setup
  • Higher cost for enterprise features
  • Performance issues
Bagisto

Open-source e-commerce platform built on Laravel

  • Laravel framework
  • Multi-warehouse inventory management
  • Multi-language and multi-currency support
  • Regular updates and improvements
  • No licensing fees for the core platform
  • Customizable and extendable
  • User-friendly
  • Limited built-in features
  • Less accessible plugins and support
  • Performance issues
Sylius

Open-source platform for developers needing extensive customization

  • Symfony-based
  • Multi-channel support
  • API-first approach
  • Advanced merchandising tools
  • Customizable architecture
  • Developer-friendly
  • Active development and community
  • Flexible and scalable
  • Complex setup
  • Higher development costs
  • Limited out-of-the-box features

How to choose the right CMS for your eCommerce business?

Check out the list below — you might find your own challenges staring back at you:

  • You’ll want a CMS that can grow with your business, not one that’ll be outdated soon enough.
  • Finding a balance between a user-friendly system and one with all the advanced features you need can be a real challenge.
  • Your CMS should play nicely with your existing tools like CRM and marketing automation platforms.
  • Budgeting can be tricky, with potential hidden costs that catch you off guard.

Did any of these problems feel all too familiar? If “Yes,” we can help. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to choosing the best CMS system for eCommerce.

Step 1: Create a list of requirements to your future eCommerce CMS

How to do that effectively? We offer you some questions to consider:

  • How easy is it to use and maintain the CMS?
  • How customizable is the CMS to fit your specific needs?
  • What level of support and resources does the CMS provider offer?
  • How does the CMS handle security and data protection?
  • Is the CMS scalable enough to grow your business?
  • What is the cost of operational expenses (hosting, plugins, etc)?
  • Does the CMS support various payment gateways?
  • Can the CMS manage a large inventory efficiently?
  • Does the CMS offer analytics and reporting tools?
  • How well does the CMS support mobile commerce?
  • Does the CMS have built-in SEO features to help improve your search engine rankings?
  • What features might you need in the future?

Your answers to these questions will help you develop a comprehensive list of requirements, enabling you to evaluate and compare different eCommerce CMS solutions. 

Additionally, evaluate your budget not just for the initial purchase but also for ongoing expenses such as hosting, maintenance, and potential upgrades. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to be sure that the CMS you choose offers significant advantages that justify its cost.

Step 2: Find a reliable implementation partner

If your company doesn’t have a large in-house development team, hiring an implementation partner is a smart move. These specialists assist in identifying the optimal CMS that aligns perfectly with your business goals.

An experienced partner can make the setup process smoother and faster, tackling tricky tasks more effectively than an in-house team might. This speeds up the deployment and helps your business start reaping the benefits of the CMS sooner. 

Basically, such service providers don’t just help you get up and operating — they also make sure your digital strategy keeps growing and thriving in the long run, providing you with a sense of security and stability.

Step 3: Carry out in-depth research and gather real-world insights

With your requirements list in hand, it’s time to research and identify potential solutions. Please try to get a feel for how these solutions perform in real-world scenarios to fully realize the practical challenges and benefits you may get when deciding on this or that CMS platform. Reach out to companies similar in size and needs to yours and inquire about their experiences with the CMS they use. 

Additionally, explore online reviews and case studies and participate in forums or communities where CMS users share their experiences. On these platforms, users usually highlight some common issues you may face or hidden advantages.

Engage your implementation partner throughout this process. Their expertise can help you convert the data and experiences you gather into an informed decision. They can also assist in setting up demos or trials with shortlisted CMS providers, allowing your team to test the systems and see how well they function.

Step 4: Consult with stakeholders

Start by chatting with your team and stakeholders to explore different CMS options. Since any new CMS is a major investment impacting various parts of your organization, gather input and buy-in from key players. 

Engage stakeholders such as your sales team, marketing professionals, and customer service representatives. Their input is valuable in determining what features will boost customer experience, streamline operations, and support marketing efforts. For example, marketing teams might need CMS features that facilitate SEO optimization and integration with email marketing tools. At the same time, customer service might prioritize user-friendly interfaces and efficient order-tracking systems. 

Thus, involving stakeholders creates a sense of shared ownership and commitment to the project’s success.

Step 5: It’s time… to make a big decision!

Once you are here, considering stakeholder feedback and evaluating each system’s ability to meet your current and future needs, the final step is to make an informed decision and proceed with implementation.

Innowise, as an implementation partner, brings a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge, which can save your team valuable time and resources. Our responsibilities stretch well beyond the initial setup phase; we provide continuous support even after implementation to guarantee your system functions perfectly all the time. 

We can help implement and customize the CMS to match your specific requirements, integrate it with existing systems, and arrange training sessions so that your team has the skills to use it fully. Working with us means you can mitigate risks and devote your attention to your core business activities, knowing your digital infrastructure is in skilled hands.

We also provide continuous maintenance and optimization services to resolve issues, implement updates, and refine your strategy as your business evolves and expands.

Stop stressing over the perfect CMS.

Let our experts handle the decision for you.

Future trends in eCommerce CMS

Selecting a CMS that remains adaptable to shifting market trends is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in 2024, as it guarantees the platform can not only address present eCommerce needs but also evolve with emerging industry developments. Anticipated future trends include:

Headless commerce adoption

Increased focus on security and privacy

AI and machine learning integration

No-code and low-code solutions

Enhanced user experience (UX) and accessibility

Sustainability and ethical commerce

Omnichannel content management

Blockchain for better transparency

Wrapping up

So, there you have it — the top eCommerce CMS platforms of 2024! Each one brings something unique to the table, so the right choice for you really comes down to your specific needs and goals. Take your time to explore each option, check out demos, and maybe even chat with other users to get a feel for what works best for you.

And here we are — your reliable partner who can help you at each stage of the eCommerce journey while you choose, implement, and maintain your best CMS for eCommerce 2024.

FAQs

It can be an extensive process. You’ll need to transfer your data, potentially redesign your site, handle SEO carefully, thoroughly test everything, and possibly train your team on the new system. Proper planning and expert assistance from companies like Innowise can lead to less stress, less effort, and greater success throughout this process.

SEO matters a lot when picking a CMS because it affects your search engine ranking. Look for a CMS with built-in SEO tools, mobile-friendly design, fast loading times, SEO plugin integration, and clean code. This will help boost your traffic and grow your business.

Yes, there are free eCommerce CMS options available, such as WooCommerce (a free WordPress plugin), Magento Open Source, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Drupal, NopCommerce, Django, and Shopware. These platforms offer robust features and customization options, but you may need to pay for hosting, themes, plugins, or additional support to fully set up and optimize your store.

Picking a CMS is all about balancing features and budget. Focus on the must-have features that match your business needs, like scalability, ease of use, customization, integration, andmore. But also make sure it fits your budget. The key is to find a CMS that offers what you need without breaking the bank.

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Coolgun Dima Head Of PHP

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Coolgun Dima Head Of PHP

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