Guide on Choosing The Right eCommerce Platforms In Canada

Introduction

The world’s digital marketplace is constantly evolving at an exceptional pace. To be a part of this race, brands, businesses, and even countries are joining the world of eCommerce. One such country is Canada. You might know this country for its countless beauties or Maple syrup, but you will be surprised to know that Canada is the 11th largest market for eCommerce which is predicted to grow a whopping USD 50,159 million by the end of 2023, surpassing Australia!

That being said, if you are willing to start an eCommerce store in Canada, it is important to choose the right platform for that. In this article, we will discuss the trending eCommerce platforms in Canada.

But before that, let’s first understand what an eCommerce platform is and why you should opt for the best one for your business.

What is an eCommerce Platform?

A software that is designed specifically for the buying and selling of products or services over the internet. However, businesses nowadays are opting for cloud-based eCommerce platforms, instead of hosting their own solutions. That’s because cloud-based platforms are cheap and easy to implement and offer better security and higher availability with a dependable provider.

Unless you want to cover very specific requirements, the benefits of using an eCommerce platform are best. However, it is a troublesome task to choose the right solution as there are hundreds of platforms available. Once you select a platform, you cannot change it. Of course, eCommerce platform migration is possible which is an expensive affair and a blocker to your ongoing operations. So it is best to choose the right one from the start. While at times when there are no alternatives available, re-platforming can be complicated and often expensive.

Why You Should Opt for An eCommerce Platform in Canada

Opting for an eCommerce platform in Canada comes with a range of benefits which include:

Shipping and Tax Integration

Canadian-specific eCommerce platforms are often equipped with local shipping carriers and support taxation rules, simplifying logistics and compliance.

Local Market Alignment

Choosing an eCommerce platform that is compatible with the Canadian market allows businesses to align with the preferences, shopping habits, and payment methods preferred by their locals.

Currency and Language Support

eCommerce platforms designed for the Canadian region are compatible with the Canadian Dollar (CAD) and bilingual options, accommodating English and French languages.

Compliance and Security

Opting for an eCommerce platform that is familiar with Canadian regulations is a big plus. That’s because it will ensure compliance with data protection laws and security standards that are specific to this North American country, thus fostering trust among customers.

Regional Marketing Tools

Choosing an eCommerce platform specific to the Canadian region can offer you features and tools that are tailored to local marketing strategies, allowing businesses to target and engage with Canadian audiences effectively.

Tips to Choose the Right eCommerce Platform in Canada

As mentioned earlier, it is important to choose the right eCommerce platform for your business. As there are numerous eCommerce platforms available, it is important to choose one that offers features that matter most to your business.

If you run a traditional store and want to bring it online, you should look for an eCommerce platform that comes with Point-of-Sale (POS) capabilities. That’s because it can help you automate your inventory and get it synced automatically, no matter where the purchase has been made.

Check all the aspects before selecting any platform for your online store. Also, look for features to see if they can load and handle heavy website traffic. After you have found one with all the features, consider the budget and also check how effortless it is to use for your employees and customers. Lastly, don’t forget to check if the platform offers an SSL certificate.

Having an SSL certificate shows a sign of credibility and lets your customer know that it’s safe to input personal and their modes of payment details while placing an order.

List of eCommerce Platforms in Canada

Magento

First on the list is the most widely popular open-source eCommerce platform: Magento 2. This eCommerce platform comes with a host of advanced customization and highly compatible features. Magento 2 is the perfect platform for businesses with comprehensive and complex requirements looking for powerful marketing, search engine optimization, and catalog management tools.

Apart from that, companies can opt for eCommerce websites development  with the help of Magento’s developer tools, API-first, and many other tools. This eCommerce platform can also provide you with open-source and cloud-based solutions, making it perfect for businesses to expand in Canada.

Shopify

Another on the eCommerce list is Shopify which was founded in Ottawa, Canada! This eCommerce platform is best known for its easy accessibility and toolset. There are thousands of small and big ventures out there that rely on Shopify without hesitance.

Shopify’s eCommerce platform offers a ton of options, customizations, layouts, and designs, catering to different sizes of businesses and budgets. In fact, this platform comes with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, an app store, and inventory management, making it one of the most loved eCommerce platforms among Canadian brands.

Talking about the statistics, there are more than 4.7 million eCommerce sites powered by Shopify. If you are an omnichannel seller, this is the best platform for you as it offers a user-friendly drop shipping method because it can handle a large number of drop shipping integrations.

WooCommerce

Then comes the WooCommerce platform which is perfect for businesses that are looking for easy and smooth integration between their content and commerce. WooCommerce is the best platform if businesses are already using WordPress.

That’s because WooCommerce acts as a plugin within the WordPress framework and offers businesses with a wide range of customizations and multiple selections of extensions effortlessly integrating with WordPress.

Furthermore, it includes control and authority over their online storefronts. When it comes to features, WooCommerce offers online bookings, subscriptions, etc. Lastly, WooCommerce is an ideal platform for businesses that are aiming to implant eCommerce quickly and efficiently with content-driven marketing strategies.

Odoo

Last on the list is Odoo. While Odoo might not be an eCommerce platform, it does offer a one-stop solution for eCommerce businesses to automate their processes.

Talking about Odoo is a comprehensive suite of business applications that covers various business needs which includes ERP, CRM, and obviously, eCommerce. When it comes to features, Odoo offers various templates, drag-and-drop functionalities, and customization options for designing the storefront.

Apart from that, Odoo comes with a product management feature with which you can manage your product catalog efficiently, including adding products, defining attributes, setting prices, managing inventory, and organizing them into categories.

Odoo also provides your eCommerce business with a user-friendly shopping cart and checkout process, allowing your customers to easily add items to their carts, review them, and complete purchases.

If you run multiple online stores, Odoo is the perfect choice for you as it helps manage multiple websites and supports transactions in various currencies, making it suitable for businesses operating in different regions. Also, it supports integration with various payment gateways, enabling businesses to accept payments online securely.

Managing shipping methods, calculating costs, and tracking orders are important for any online store. Opting for Odoo as your eCommerce platform can simplify these tasks by offering tools to set up shipping options, manage deliveries, and keep customers informed about their order’s progress.

Final Thoughts

As an eCommerce owner, it is very crucial to select the best eCommerce store platforms, especially in Canada, where eCommerce businesses are on the rise. While selecting one, don’t forget to check out the features that matter to your business.

For instance, look for features like shipping, inventory management, customer management, payment methods, scalability, integrations, and more.

Whether you are a growing startup or a well-established firm, if you want to sell products through various channels such as online, in-person, mobile, and social media, it is essential to seek out eCommerce platforms with omnichannel capabilities.

However, there are not many platforms out there that offer these capabilities, and that is the reason it’s crucial to check the features thoroughly. You can also seek expert guidance by getting in touch with top eCommerce consultants like Bytes Technolab to make more informed decisions. By taking into account these essential metrics, you can effectively operate your business in Canada.