Running a successful ecommerce or subscription business starts with selecting the right systems! Ecommerce businesses are an AI-proof way to succeed in the digital.
In today’s competitive digital landscape, the technology you choose can make or break your company’s potential. Did you know that businesses using integrated, efficient systems can increase their operational productivity by up to 20% (this is a longer read)?
This guide will walk you through the critical systems you need to consider, helping you make informed decisions that drive growth and streamline your operations.
Core Ecommerce and Subscription Management Platforms
Choosing the right platform is the foundation of your digital business infrastructure. The ideal system for ecommerce businesses will provide seamless integration, scalable features, and robust support for your unique business model.
Example Systems:
- Budget-Friendly and Starter-Tier Platforms:
- Shopify Basic: Starting at $29/month
- Full-featured ecommerce platform for small businesses
- Includes website, blog, and marketing tools with basic inventory management
- WooCommerce: Free WordPress plugin, hosting costs $10-$30/month
- Open-source ecommerce solution with extensive customization options
- Ideal for businesses with existing WordPress websites
- Low-cost entry point with scalable features
- BigCommerce Essentials: Starting at $39/month
- Comprehensive ecommerce platform for small to medium businesses
- No transaction fees and includes unlimited products, staff accounts, and storage
- Wix eCommerce: Starting at $27/month
- Website builder with integrated ecommerce capabilities
- Easy drag-and-drop interface and built-in marketing tools
- Square Online: Free basic tier, Premium at $29/month
- Simple ecommerce solution with point-of-sale integration
- Great for businesses with both online and physical store presence
- Mid-Tier Subscription and Ecommerce Platforms:
- 2Checkout (now Verifone): Starting at $49/month
- Global payment platform with subscription management
- Supports multiple currencies and payment methods
- ReCharge Payments: Starting at $199/month
- Specialized in subscription billing for ecommerce businesses
- Provides advanced recurring payment and customer portal features
- Niche and Specialized Platforms:
- Gumroad: 10% + $0.30 per transaction
- Simple platform for creators selling digital products
- Low barrier to entry with minimal setup requirements
- SendOwl: Starting at $9/month
Payment Processing and Financial Systems for Ecommerce Businesses
Efficient payment processing is crucial for maintaining cash flow and providing a smooth customer experience. The right system will protect your revenue streams while offering flexible, secure transaction capabilities.
Example Systems:
- Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Offers global payment support with 135+ currencies
- Provides advanced fraud prevention and subscription billing features
- Paddle: 5.0% + $0.50 per transaction
- All-in-one revenue delivery platform for software and digital goods
- Handles global tax compliance and international payments
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems for Ecommerce Businesses
A powerful CRM transforms customer data into actionable insights, driving personalized marketing and retention strategies. The best systems provide a 360-degree view of your customer interactions and potential opportunities.
Example Systems:
- HubSpot CRM: Free basic tier, Professional at $500/month
- Comprehensive marketing, sales, and service platform
- Offers advanced contact segmentation and automated workflows
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Starting at $1,500/month
- Enterprise-level CRM with deep ecommerce integration
- Provides AI-powered customer journey personalization
Inventory and Order Management Solutions
Effective inventory management prevents stockouts, reduces carrying costs, and ensures timely order fulfillment. The right system provides real-time tracking and predictive analytics to optimize your supply chain.
Example Systems:
- NetSuite: Starting at $999/month
- Comprehensive ERP with integrated inventory management
- Supports multi-location inventory and advanced demand planning
- Cin7: Starting at $299/month
- Cloud-based inventory management with multichannel selling capabilities
- Offers direct integrations with major ecommerce and accounting platforms
- Fishbowl Inventory: Starting at $329/month
- Robust inventory management solution for small to medium-sized businesses
- Provides advanced manufacturing and warehouse management features with QuickBooks integration
- Zoho Inventory: Starting at $79/month
- Cloud-based inventory management with multichannel selling support
- Offers seamless integration with Zoho CRM and accounting platforms
- Inflow Inventory: Starting at $79/month
- Affordable inventory management solution for smaller businesses
- Offers barcode scanning, purchase order management, and reporting tools
Marketing and Customer Acquisition Platforms Ecommerce Businesses
Modern marketing platforms go beyond simple campaign management, offering sophisticated tools for customer segmentation, personalization, and performance tracking. These systems are critical for driving growth and maintaining a competitive edge.
Example Systems:
- Klaviyo: Starting at $20/month
- Email and SMS marketing platform specialized for ecommerce
- Provides advanced segmentation and personalization features
- Mailchimp: Free tier, Premium at $299/month
- All-in-one marketing platform with website builder and CRM
- Offers comprehensive advertising and landing page creation tools
Time Management and Research Strategies for System Selection
Navigating the complex landscape of business systems requires a strategic approach to research and implementation. Effective time management can transform the daunting task of system selection into a structured, efficient process.
Time Management Tools and Research Techniques:
- Notion: Starting at $8/month
- Powerful project management and research organization platform
- Allows creation of comprehensive databases, kanban boards, and collaborative workspaces for tracking system research
- Trello: Free basic tier, Business Class at $10/user/month
- Visual project management tool for tracking system evaluation stages
- Enables creation of research boards with checklists, due dates, and collaborative annotations
Research Methodology:
If you’re serious about starting an ecommerce business, you have to read! Find articles on trends and look for data and numbers to determine your market size. Work backwards from there.
- Dedicated Research Blocks
- Allocate specific, uninterrupted 90-minute research sessions
- Use time-blocking techniques to maintain focus and prevent information overload
- Systematic Comparison Frameworks
- Create standardized evaluation matrices for each system
- Develop scoring criteria covering key features, pricing, integration capabilities, and long-term scalability
Documentation and Knowledge Management:
- Evernote: Free basic tier, Premium at $7.99/month
- Comprehensive note-taking and research archiving platform
- Supports web clipping, document scanning, and cross-platform synchronization
- Google Workspace: Starting at $6/user/month
- Integrated document creation and collaborative research tools
- Provides real-time sharing and comprehensive version tracking
Consultation and Expert Validation:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator: $79.99/month
- Platform for connecting with industry experts and system implementation consultants
- G2 and Capterra: Free research platforms
- Provide detailed user reviews and independent system comparisons
Conclusion on Ecommerce Businesses
Selecting the right systems is a critical investment in your ecommerce or subscription business.
If you’re looking to learn more about how to start an ecommerce business you can read my ecommerce startup guide.
Be careful evaluating your specific needs and choosing platforms that offer scalability, integration, and robust features, you can create a technology ecosystem that supports your business goals and drives sustainable growth.
About the Author
My name is Andrew Barrier and I started this blog for entrepreneurs as a side project while building a 9 – figure healthcare startup. My journey has been all about transforming the way businesses operate by integrating digital tools, automation, and AI—necessary elements for any company aiming to stay competitive now and into the future.
This blog is where I share what I’ve learned along the way. The good and the bad.
My philosophy is taking action, no matter what. I have an Executive MBA from University of California, Irvine with a concentration in Health Care management and Digital Transformation.
I hope this blog encourages you to become more curious about business and take action to start YOUR own business.
