Does starting an eCommerce business and having your profits skyrocket seem like a goal you’re aspiring to? Well, it is more than just achievable! Nevertheless, it’s crucial to understand and follow all steps that will take you there. And development is one of the most important ingredients. So, how will you find the best tech stack for eCommerce web development and hit the bullseye?
It’s quite simple. Start small. All you need to do is cover some basic ground. Understand what a tech stack is in the first place, and then grasp the significance of picking the right tools and technologies. Now, there are somewhere between 12 and 24 million eCommerce sites at this very moment. But there’s plenty more room for another successful e-business out there! Nail the tech requirements, pair up with skilled developers, and get the better of this competitive market.
Shall we?
What is an eCommerce stack?
Selecting the best technologies and hiring in-house developers or outsourcing web development often come difficult. It’s particularly tricky for non-tech founders and entrepreneurs who are just getting started and have only the strong will to smash their targets and conquer the market. But, where do they start from? Like in most cases, it’s safest to get going by learning the basic stuff first. So, what is a tech stack for eCommerce development to begin with?
The definition of a technology stack suggests that it combines various frameworks, tools, apps, platforms, and programming languages. So, if you want to start an eCommerce business easily, it’s unavoidable to get the hang of tech terms and get familiar with the developers. And now, let’s explore the main parts of the ecosystem. And then, we’ll have a closer look at each aspect and layer to guide you through the whole process.
Let’s fill in the blanks: What technologies are required for eCommerce?
When thinking of a technology stack for an eCommerce website, consider it as a layer carefully stacked over another layer. Now, when we put it this way, it’s quite easy to understand the two fundamental building blocks. We have to focus on the front end and back end development first. So, the first one stands for the client-side development, while the second one is server-facing, which means this ecosystem isn’t visible to users in any way. And now, we’ll go into more specifics to help you complete your site thrivingly. Once you get more savvy regarding these details, managing, expanding, or hiring the right web development team will be as simple as ABC.
Front end tech stack for eCommerce website
If you want to entice new buyers and attract returning customers, your site must be impeccable. First of all, it has to look tidy, searchable, and visually pleasing. And here’s the thing – you will need an excellent Front end developer to drive these results and help you appeal easily to different types of customers, granting them astonishing experiences.
There are three main front end technologies that are always used apace with each other:
- HTML (short for HyperText Markup Language, HTML defines the content and the structure of a page),
- CSS (short for Cascading Style Sheets, CSS determines the layout and the design of the HTML elements),
- JavaScript and its popular frameworks and libraries like React, Vue, Angular, and jQuery.
In addition, you should explore SCSS, LESS, and SASS, and tools like Gulp or WebPack.
Back end eCommerce stack
A Back end tech stack for web development encompasses a lot of tools and frameworks that make your site work like magic. Here’s what you must take into account:
- Choosing an operating system,
- Picking a web server,
- Maintaining and processing data through databases,
- Selecting storage for gathered data,
- Deciding on a programming language you’ll use.
Some of the programming languages you could use include Java, Python, PHP, or Ruby. According to Statista, Python is the most popular language on this list. Its key frameworks that can help your dev team include Django, Pylons, and Flask.
How to choose the best technology stack for the eCommerce website you want to build
Choosing the right tech stack for an eCommerce website may be a bit of a brain-teaser. Sets of questions will fill your head. You might wonder whether it will be reliable enough, how much time will it take to develop it, and if there’s a community that will back you up. But don’t worry. You can assess your own business needs pretty quickly and base your technical requirements on these insights. So, it’s best to start by ensuring compatibility with your current tech stack and the skills your in-house developers have. That is – if you’ve already commenced the journey. And bear in mind that you can always pick a freelancer or a BPO company to help you out if a new tool or framework is needed and your current team lacks those particular masteries.
Ensure compatibility with the existing tech stack
If you are a brand-new aspiring eCommerce business, looking into existing frameworks and tools would be the safest way to get started. You should make sure that the new tools and platforms you choose are agreeable with the tech solutions you are now working with. Ensure that you have selected a fitting stack to develop your online store.
Look into your team’s tested dev skills and professional experience
It is not a top secret – most startups usually have a limited budget. And every successful e-business has once been where you are now. So at this point, you should undoubtedly use the background and skills of your team. Do what you do best. If you already have an experienced dev team, think about its expertise first and leverage its strengths to build your website.
Who do you want on board?
So, will you go for proven professionals with years of experience behind them, or would you rather give a chance to eager, young go-getters? Both options have their pros, of course. Seniority indicates smooth processes. However, sometimes it can bring the old ways, which might not be what you want or need.
On the other hand, super fresh tech specialists may offer innovative methods and solutions, but working with them unmistakably involves some complications, dilemmas, and delays. Still, it is up to you. Give it a moment and look more carefully into both options.
A Simple way to boost your results: Outsource web development
Who today hasn’t heard of numerous benefits of outsourcing? Raise your hand if you have at least considered this business practice and measured its risks and challenges against the advantages it could bring. Now, if you choose to outsource web development, you should plan the finances very carefully. Most reliable BPO companies don’t drive additional expenses. Still, in some cases, you might bump into some hidden costs of outsourcing and unexpected fees. To avoid these unpleasant surprises, you must research thoroughly and find the most suitable outsourcing partner out there.
If you select a trustworthy and professional external dev team, you will cut the costs, save time, deliver faster, and get more skills on board – instantly! The technical knowledge that has posed a problem is now available and leads you toward massive success.
Know the project-related specifics
Now is the time to look into the project requirements. Which features do you need, and what kinds of knowledge do they entail? Are you looking to build a simple one-pager or a multi-level eCommerce with countless blanks to fill? Finally, do you want to develop a progressive web app, a mobile app, or a website? Think these points through.
The first step is to understand the initial project requirements. They include size and niche-specific features. Then, you can easily narrow down your options and pick the tech stack for eCommerce web development.
Make it a Smooth sailing: Will it scale?
When we talk in terms of teams and hiring new people, there’s a huge difference between scaling and growing. And when you think of scaling a product, that’s when things get even more complex. Scalability is the key component in the world of e-businesses. It can easily make or break a company’s growth.
So, here is what you must know: if the technologies you use are not capable of scaling quickly without numerous new investments in talent, time, and money – you will be at risk of losing a competitive edge, buyers, profits, and more.
Popular & proven tech stacks for eCommerce web development
If you’re in need of a tested tech stack for eCommerce that will undoubtedly drive desired outcomes, you don’t have to take the bit between your teeth. Luckily, many have already had the same dilemmas. So, now, you can learn from other businesses and their experiences. Still, the most efficient stacks you should definitely go over are the LAMP, MEAN, and Python-based technology stacks.
LAMP
LAMP is the quickest tech stack for app development. This is what it stands for:
- Linux Operating System
- Apache Web Server
- MySQL database
- Perl / PHP / Python languages
It has only two downsides to its fast release. Firstly, it is not as scalable, and it is somewhat low-performance.
MEAN
MEAN is most likely the best tech stack for eCommerce web development. It is widely used to develop all kinds of online stores, and here is what it entails:
- MongoDB or MySQL databases
- Express.js back end framework
- Angular web app framework
- Node.js as a back-end platform.
You’ll have quick access to all public repositories and libraries, and it is made to cover the entire dynamic of any project.
Python + Django
According to studies, more than 8 million developers used Python in 2019. Django is possibly its most popular framework. If you want to learn more about eCommerce web development, this is a great place to start. Python allows speed, security, scalability, and support. And this is the stack most tech companies use:
- Apache Web Server
- MySQL or PostgreSQL databases
- Python scripting language
Django framework offers a high-security level for backend development.
Choose the best tech stack for eCommerce web development & get ready to kickstart your journey!
eCommerce development includes many steps, starting with creating unique features. Also, it demands knowledge of specific tools and frameworks. Nowadays, when everything is evolving and revolving around technology, there is a variety of eCommerce dev tools at your disposal. The choice is entirely yours. Be sure to follow the necessary steps and draw a pattern you will follow before picking your stack. And ultimately – choose the most skillful people to help you achieve your aims!
