I often get the same question.
It might not be so strange, since I've been working on this for a long time.
What online store solution should I choose?
I've been working on websites and online stores since the '90s. I've tested out most of the solutions that exist on the market, sometimes of curiosity-- sometimes of necessity.
There is a lot of good happening on the technology front in Norway now, but I think Norway is also following in online stores.
Norwegian companies have often chosen tailored solutions. It has some advantages as well as design and self-developed functions, but it costs extra. Both “up front”, and over time.
Shopify has today more than 8500 registered online shops in NorwaySo let's say that this is the same thing as that. Should you also choose Shopify? Is it all a problem?
The Question
Someone asked me again not long ago. The question is the same thing I've been getting for over 20 years now.
What online store solution should I choose?
The question comes in several forms: an enterprise should start with a online store and wonder what to choose, an enterprise is not satisfied with the online store they currently have and want to exchange, the enterprise is not satisfied with the owners of the online store, or with the price they pay for the online store solution. But the real question is the same thing.
Is there one online store solution that's outstanding, and in that case, which one is best?
First, why should I think about this?
I've been working on this for a long time, and I've been testing most of the time. I have had my own online store since 2005, I have been involved in making online shop solutions, and I have also been involved in many online shop projects with customers.
I have therefore been able to make online shops for most of the known online store solutions available.
I have tested everything from Perlshop in the 90s, self-developed online store solutions, Norwegian Mystore, osCommerce, Wix, Intershop, Magento, Magento 2, Woocmerce, Episerver Commerce, and now also the last few years Shopify.
Although I am not an expert on each solution, I have developed a broad impression of all of them, and can give a impression of what you should consider.
And not least, I've been working long on marketing, and I've seen how the choice of online store solution can affect the effect of marketing and sales.
I know from experience that sitting in a webshop project can also be exciting, frustrating, rewarding, traumatic, emotional and as I said, expensive at once.
So I think that the time you put in front of you is always worth it. Consider the solutions that will help you to get along well first, and you will avoid too many surprises and bad experiences along the way. Create a checklist and investigate, for example:
- What functions do you need?
- Need specialization?
- Where do you get the customers from today?
- How do you market your online store?
- Do you need storage solutions or customer support systems?
- Do you need to integrate systems with the online store?
- What do you sell, and have your products special features that need to be considered?
- Is the solution that you consider safe?
- Do you have an overview of the cost of the solution? Both start-up and operation?
- What solutions do you need in the future, and what will they cost you?
- Does the solution cover the requirements of GDPR and privacy rules?
- Is the system easy to manage?
Do not underestimate the last point. The online store solution shall be fun to work in. If you have employees you want to keep and keep for a long time, it is okay that the system they will work for 8 hours a day is good to use.
And that's not necessarily how everything is going to fall into what solution you're going to choose. Many people do well with solutions that might not be ideal. But it's an important factor, and what you choose can make your life better -- or worse. So it can be an important and difficult choice.
I mean, Shopify is one of the systems you should put yourself into.
I have not been purchased and paid by Shopify, and I am not newly saved either. Shopify is not perfect - the perfect solution does not exist.
But Shopify meets some requirements I would set as the owner of a online store. If you are now sitting and assessing the solution you are going to choose, you should read on.
A little about Shopify
The first Shopify store opened in Canada, and was a snowboard shop for the Shopify people themselves. They quickly saw other companies using the same solution, and today, Shopify is a billion-year-old group of millions of online stores in 170 countries.
It's traded for billions through Shopify stores every year, and Shopify has obviously become popular in Norway too. In 2024 it's over 8500 Norwegian online stores using ShopifySo let's say that this is the same thing as that.
For the smaller ones
For the smaller online stores, Shopify is a very interesting option. For a few hundred times a month, you get a stable and modern online store that can give a lot of sales if your products and prices are good enough. And not least, they look good.
But maybe even more importantly, you don't have to be a Mensa member to make your own online store. Choose between simple templates that match your needs. You get started quickly, and it is intuitive and easy to manage the store.
For the Greater
Shopify has a separate solution for major players; Shopify Plus. With Shopify Plus you get special treatment, you get to talk to experts, and you get up to 10 online stores installations under one solution. You get the option to set up B2C online store, or Shopify’s own newly developed B2B solution.
If you're on Shopify Plus, you can also use Shopify Flow. Then you can automate some business-critical things in a practical way. Soon empty in stock? Automatically create orders. Do you have many different types of customers who need different things? Segment customers automatically based on what they have purchased or what they do on the websites.
Although Shopify just increased the price of Shopify Plus, I still think an investment of about 25,000 -- per month price-failure is compared to other market solutions. And you get everything in one; all the store installations under the same umbrella, and many possible integrations.
Should everyone choose Shopify?
Of course, not everyone should choose Shopify. But I can say a little bit about what factors are important, and what you should look for.
Shopify is certainly an interesting alternative for some, and should be included in the list of solutions you consider.
To save you some time, I can mention some advantages and disadvantages of using Shopify.
Some Benefits of Shopify
- It's easy and cheap to get started. With only a few hundred notes a month, you're up fast and you're going with a well-functioning online store. As long as you can live with those choices Shopify has taken for you, you'll be far in a short time.
- You don't need a developer to start. You don't have to develop your own code, and you don't have to take into account all factors such as organic visibility and integration. As long as you can live with the integrations that are available, some have probably done this before you.
- The basic features of a modern online store in 2024 are already there. You cannot reinvent the wheel, someone has already thought about you.
- As long as you can live with the options available within payment, design, language and functions, you can choose what suits you. You download the app you want, and are running on a few instants.
- It's intuitive and easy to use, and most people can start adding products and information quickly.
- There are lots of guides and tips on the web, as long as you understand English. You quickly learn the basic functions and you find lots of instruction videos on everything from integrations and customizations.
- If you choose known CRM (customer lation) or ERP systems (business processes), there are already apps available for this. You might not have to pay the big integration costs.
- Shopify scores ok on the technical side, OK speed, mobile fit. It works.
- Intuitive interface for users, no surprises anywhere. You get a online store that works on mobile, and you have to mess up well to destroy the design and code.
- If you need functions that are not available in the base installation, there are good chances that you will find an app that will meet your needs.
- Consumers are used to Shopify shops. Because so many online shops run on the same platform, you rarely experience that users get confused or surprised.
- It's easy to work with marketing if you have a Shopify store. Because the solution works out of the box, such as me, is not going to get out of the way to fix technical problems or search engine optimisationSo let's say that this is the same thing as that.
- Scalability. When you grow, you can go over to Shopify Plus about seamlessly. When you're ready for it, you press a button, and you're over.
- Security. Shopify is considered a safe solution in many areas. It is PCI Compliant in relation to payments, you get free 256-bit SSL certificates, has built-in security practices for the stores, and it supports 2-factor login.
Is everything pink with Shopify? No, no.
Some disadvantages with Shopify
- Maybe because many people can start with online store without purchasing development services, few Norwegian developers specialize in Shopify. So you often have to go abroad to the big country if you want to do something that is not in the package you bought.
- There is still little information in Norwegian about Shopify. So you have to know English, and be willing to get into the system on your own.
- What you see is what you get. Would you have a thing that Shopify didn't have? Then you will hope there is an app you can buy (there is usually, but you will have to pay for it)
- If you are on a regular Shopify license, you must live with the Checkout page that is included in the package.
- The hidden costs - Part 1: the apps cost. At least a lot of the good guys. There may suddenly be more costs here than on Shopify itself.
- The hidden costs - Part 2: Shopify's commission on sales can come as a surprise of many, and if you haven't added it to the price calculations, you lose margins. In addition, you also pay commissions to other payment providers like Vipps and others.
- Norway is a mini-putt market for billions of corporate Shopify. This means that Norwegian adaptations and local wishes are not in line. Just have something? Then you either have to develop it yourself, or you have to wait.
- A good example here is Shop Pay. It's an alternative other country has, and if you use their own payment system, the commission is going to be smaller. But since it's not here yet, you have to pay more per sale.
- You can't talk to a human being at Shopify unless you're at Shopify Plus. But then you will often get good help (Note: Your Shopify expert will only help you with Shopify related things, not apps).
- B2B solution is relatively new. It works, but not expect a solution that gives your B2B customers back route. And you have to have Shopify Plus to get it. And it costs.
Note. You may need a developer anyway
So I'd like to add another thing with Shopify, which many might not include in the calculations. It may not be a direct disadvantage, but many should think about when you consider it.
Imagine you've set up a Shopify store, and you have good products that are priced correctly. You increase your sales, and you scale out of Norway, you need B2B online shops, and more installations in other languages, with different currency and much more need for bandwidth. What are you doing?
The first thing you should do is celebrate with a glass of shampoo. There are too few Norwegian shops that can scale internationally!
The other thing you should do is look at your choices. Like with other solutions, you're probably sitting there thinking you're not quite satisfied with what you have. But at least you know the solution well.
So you're making a calculation of the best options and maybe you're quickly getting to the Shopify Plus might be a good alternative: you already know the solution, Shopify has B2B online store, you get up to 10 installations for 2500 USD each month, and you get a contact person and more power. And not least, press a button, you're on it.
But it may not always be that simple.
I'm not saying that all this doesn't always work, but here's some things you should know about:
Your Shopify contact can only help you with Shopify things. All the apps you may need, you must bring the App Provider with you.
With Shopify Plus you often need a self-designer to help you make the changes you need to get even more of your premium solution. You should add the development costs to the math.
But first you have to catch a developer.
Shopify developers are inflated here in Norway. You may need to go out into the world and look, and as many people have experience, it is not always easy to communicate with your developer across borders, time zones and language barriers.
Another thing:
Shopify Plus's B2B webshop as mentioned relatively fresh. I was in several discussions about this, and it was by no means as good as promised. It's just a goal. The first version was more or less a copy of a regular Shopify store, without much adjustments to B2B customers, who often have other needs. There are better and more well developed B2B online store solutions out there. That said, it's getting better. And you get used to it.
And one more thing:
I'll say it again. Shop Pay is not available in Norway yet. If you start reaching a relatively high turnover, you'll quickly see that it had paid off with Shop Pay. But since this isn't yet in 2024, you either have to add your prizes, or bite in you the commission you have to out with-- including to Shopify yourself.
What should I choose?
Yeah, but what does this mean? Should I pick Shopify or anyone else? It depends on you.
The answer is based on both costs of the switch (in hours and money), operating (licensing, hours) and commissions (Shopify and others), and potential increase in income by switching to something better.
But I'm relatively sure of a couple of things:
Whether to select a new online store solution in 2024, and not Consider Shopify as an alternative--and you make a strategic mistake. You should get involved in this solution before selecting.
I think most of the small and medium Norwegian companies will do well with a web shop from Shopify. In most cases, Shopify covers their needs.
So I also think that many major players in Norway should have a Shopify Plus store. If you look abroad, the ratio is much higher on tailor-made heavy-duty systems in this country.
I also believe that some actors still benefit from developing other and tailored solutions. This is good for existing Norwegian developers.
And finally, I think we need more people who can Shopify in Norway. Both on development, design and marketingSo let's say that this is the same thing as that. There are many nice developers in Norway, but we need more Norwegian developers working with Shopify to exploit the potential.
Should you choose Shopify?
Don't know, it's up to you. But you're gonna have to assess Shopify.
Do you need help migrate your online store to Shopify?
Contact INEVO. We have helped many online shops with migration, and we have been an official Shopify partner since 2019