Selecting the Right Ecommerce Solution for You

E-commerce hosting needs to provide the necessary software and hosting services that enables a  business to sell its products and services online. Regular web hosting services will offer server space, email accounts, technical support, and data security services. An  e-commerce hosting service needs to include shopping cart software and connection to a secure transaction service for the delivery and management of online payments.

A shopping cart on a business website is considered almost mandatory but consideration needs to be given to the adequacy of existing hosting arrangements.  The benefits of e-commerce are not fully available until full shopping cart, secure payment facilities and full 24/7 compatibility is ensured.

A customer experience with an e-commerce site – especially for the first time – is a critical, all important event. If the e-commerce site is not a well known brand name, then the customer will, not surprisingly, be cautious about such issues as personal data, website security, secure payments and fulfilment. A positive experience will win the customer’s hearts, minds and credit card! But all systems need to be aligned, not the least of which is the most appropriate e-commerce hosting service provider and offering.

The process of selecting the appropriate service provider and identifying the technical needs of the e-commerce site are not necessarily complex and will not, in general require consultants or vendor support. E-commerce hosting has no more complexity associated with it than standard hosting.

In choosing an , the following items are some which require consideration:

1. Bandwidth. E-commerce sites often require considerable bandwidth when compared with for example ‘information’ or brochure-ware sites. Transactions, including invoicing, product specifications, delivery schedules and payment processing often require considerable bandwidth and processing speed. Apart form security needs, there is nothing more frustrating for the customer experience than a slow, clunky interface with an e-commerce site and any ensuing transactions conducted online. Bandwidth considerations are important.
2. E-commerce server setup. Infrastructure of the hosting service provider needs to be compatible with multiple e-commerce clients. A roll call of existing clients as well as full specifications of the e-commerce service provider’s infrastructure will confirm (or not) their suitability. Look for big e-commerce clients already signed up.
3. Reliability. An e-commerce host needs to demonstrate multi-horned Internet connections which mean that the connections should be given by more than a single backbone provider as to ensure that it is up and working at all times.
4. Disk Space. An  e-commerce hosting package needs to offer a minimum of 25 MB of hard disk space; this would satisfy most e-commerce needs.. The serviced provider needs to demonstrate a capacity for expanded memory space when needed for peak demand periods and future growth.
5. Security. E-commerce customers have as their primary concerned private data security and security of payment.  The customer must be assured that each
   transaction is a secured one. All the usual concerns including firewall and data loss security needs to be assured on the online, e-commerce world.