What Is Shopping Cart Software? How These Platforms Power eCommerce

Whenever I visit the supermarket with my mom or girlfriend, the first thing I look for is a functional shopping cart. I push the cart back and forth to test the friction between the wheels and the floor, examine it for cuts and bruises, and put it through a cleanliness check.

If the cart ticks all the boxes, it earns the right to host the hundreds of pounds of groceries the women in my life have in store for it (oh, the wordplay!). If you’re married, you appreciate eCommerce stores more than others! Thank you, Boston Computer Exchange.

Shopping cart software is like a virtual shopping cart you push around when you’re shopping online. You can add items to it, review what you’ve picked out, and securely check out.

My link game is strong, so if you didn’t take the time to click on the first one I shared, here’s the tea: Boston Computer Exchange was the first eCommerce store. Jump into my virtual cart — I’ll take you around the world of shopping cart software.

Unlike a physical shopping cart, shopping cart software isn’t limited to product storage. You can compare it to a designated shopping helper that makes your online shopping experience easy and organized.

It tracks inventory to ensure you don’t purchase an item that’s out of stock, calculates taxes and shipping, manages discounts and coupons, and integrates with payment processors, including debit or credit card providers and digital wallets.

It does all the heavy lifting for you, quite literally.

Hosted Vs. Self-hosted Solutions

If you’re thinking about building your own online store, shopping cart software is the trusty sidekick that will turn your basic website into a fully functioning eCommerce platform. No, really. Without the software, your website is just a product gallery — visitors can view the products but can’t buy them.

To understand the difference between hosted and self-hosted shopping cart solutions, let’s take the example of a physical store. If you want to launch a physical store, you can either rent retail space for your business or build one from the ground up on a piece of purchased land.

In eCommerce, this is exactly what hosted (AKA, cloud-based) and self-hosted solutions represent, respectively:

• Hosted Solutions: Hosted solutions take the guesswork out of the game. All you have to do is sign up, choose your plan, and voilà — your brand-new online shop is up and running! They offer limited customizations and less control, though.
• Self-Hosted Solutions: Self-hosted solutions come with more responsibility. You have to install the shopping cart software on your own web server and have full control over everything, including customizations, design, security, updates, and backups.

I’ll talk about these solutions in more detail soon and include examples as well. I know you’re brimming with excitement — have some patience, my friend!

Who’s your favorite superhero? On some days, it’s Batman for me, on others, I lean toward Spider-Man — how can you not love the Peter Parker backstory? Tobey Maguire was the best Spider-Man, hands down.

Shopping cart software is the superpower you need to conquer the world of eCommerce. It works behind the scenes to create a seamless, personalized experience for your users. And no, unlike most superheroes, it doesn’t damage public property!

Product Catalog Management

I am a self-proclaimed organization freak — I want everything to be perfect. The reason I used the word “want” instead of “need” is because sometimes, I just don’t care. I’m quite moody. Mind you, when I’m in the mood for an organization drive, I won’t leave any margin for error. Shopping cart software helps you keep your online store organized.

With it, you can organize products, descriptions, and pricing easily — there’s no room for mood swings in eCommerce!

Secure Payment Processing

Security is non-negotiable in online shopping. Money is hard-earned, and you’ll lose your reputation in a flash if even one of your customers experiences a security breach while paying for a product on your platform — social media has its boons and banes.

Shopping cart solutions guarantee encryption and protection of sensitive customer information, PCI compliance, and support for multiple payment methods.

User-Friendly Interface

Speaking of organization, would you rather move into a well-organized house or one in disarray? Imagine frantically searching for your toothbrush in the morning, only to find it among the kitchen utensils after an hour! I’d be livid.

Similarly, your customers need (yes, they need) a user-friendly shopping experience. Your platform needs to be easy to navigate and visually appealing. The software ensures your customers will find their toothbrushes in the bathroom!

Order Tracking and Management

As soon as I place an online order, I take a look at the expected time of delivery and track updates regularly. A bad courier service really spoils my mood — promises must be kept.

With the software, both your customers and sellers can monitor real-time order updates. Transparency is key in online shopping — your customers, in particular, should be able to keep track of the whole delivery process, from the click of the ‘Buy’ button to the doorstep delivery.

Mobile Optimization

I don’t remember the last time I logged into Amazon, or any other eCommerce platform on my laptop. It’s so much easier to surf these platforms on my smartphone. To be honest, I do the bulk of my online shopping in bed, right before I sleep!

A seamless mobile shopping experience is key to success. To put it into perspective, nearly 4.9 billion people use smartphones. Need I say more? You need shopping cart software.

Customizability

You may have a stellar unique selling point (USP) but without a well-designed cart, layout, and features, your potential customers may just abandon their cart and head elsewhere — you need to keep them interested until they swipe their credit cards!

With some shopping cart tools, customization isn’t limited to the cart — you can use them to design and manage your whole store.

These tools allow you to add themes and plugins and integrate them with other tools, including CRM and analytics systems.

Before I, or rather we, plunge into the shimmering depths of hosted and self-hosted shopping cart solutions, I want you to understand the different categories of shopping cart software.

I’ll leave it to you to figure out which of these categories hosted and self-hosted solutions fall under!

Standalone Shopping Carts

Standalone shopping carts are like those employees who get the job done but don’t do anything extra! They arrive at the office on time and leave not a minute late. They don’t care if it’s your birthday today.

Standalone shopping carts are specialized software that only focuses on cart management and the checkout process.

If you need a tool to manage payment gateways, for instance, you’ll have to call Dave from the finance department. Magento, OpenCart, and WooCommerce are some good examples.

Integrated Solutions

Integrated solutions are the person for every job. Need a PowerPoint presentation (are they outdated)? Call Steve. Need a chocolate cake for Jane’s retirement bash? Call Steve. Steve is a “one-stop shop” for everything you need. And yes, he’s happy and earns a handsome salary.

Integrated solutions come with everything you need to seamlessly run your online store.

From inventory management and product pages to payment processing and marketing tools, everything is prebuilt. Of course, this means you have less flexibility. Shopify, Wix, and BigCommerce are some of the premier integrated solutions.

Open-Source vs. Proprietary Software

Of the six shopping cart examples above, three are open-source, and the others are proprietary software. Technically, even the open-source options have a cloud-based version, but yeah. I’ll let you figure out which is which.

This table should give you a better idea:

If you guessed WooCommerce, OpenCart, and Magento are open-source, you deserve a cookie. Chips Ahoy! are my favorite cookie brand, and if it’s yours too, you deserve two cookies.

If you don’t want to use a traditional shopping cart solution, you’ll have to build and implement a custom system.

While eCommerce juggernauts like Amazon opt for this approach and likely implement many elements of shopping cart software as microservices, you may not have this luxury — the development cost and time, complexity, and potential security risks might hit you hard.

The undeniable truth is that you need to use shopping cart software for your eCommerce venture. I recommend starting with a readily available platform (like Shopify) before switching to a custom solution, if (strictly) necessary.

Benefits of shopping cart software:

• Simplifies the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment: Cart abandonment is a menace. The software makes it easier for your customers to complete their purchases.
• Enhances customer experience with personalization and quick transactions: Personalization (like tailored recommendations) and quick transactions? I’d keep coming back for more!
• Supports scalability as the business grows: As your business grows, your cart can handle more customers, products, and transactions with a smile on its face.
• Provides data insights for inventory and sales optimization: Helps you track customer trends, stock levels, and what’s selling.
• Boosts security for online transactions: The stigma around fraudulent online transactions is real. You need the software to keep customer data safe.

If you have the manpower, intellect, and financial might to substantially add to these benefits with a custom solution, by all means, go for it. Otherwise, purchase one of the popular shopping cart software options I’ve mentioned in the next section.

We’re finally here! Such is the knowledge of shopping carts I’ve empowered you with, you could probably school me on the differences between hosted platforms and self-hosted options!

Nothing makes a guru happier than his students making it big. Humbly, I’m going to talk about popular shopping cart software options.

Hosted Platforms

Yes, integrated, proprietary software like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Wix are hosted platforms. No more cookies for you — we’re here to learn.

If you just want to sign up for a full-fledged online shopping store experience, pick a template, and launch your store, hosted platforms are “it.” They’re maintenance-free, include technical support, and eliminate your worry about coding or dealing with servers.

Self-Hosted Options

Self-hosted options, including WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart, are open-source and give you total control over everything. You can design your online store as you please, add custom widgets, and fortify it with stringent security measures.

Although you can make your store as fancy as you want, you need to know your way around coding, servers, and hosting to make things work… or… hire someone who can. Please explore all of these solutions thoroughly.

Specialized Solutions

If the options I mentioned above don’t work for you, you could also opt for a specialized solution. And they don’t come better than Ecwid and Shift4Shop.

Ecwid

Ecwid is a good option for small businesses with a pre-existing website. For example, let’s say you have a flourishing Facebook page and want to use your newfound popularity to set up an online store. With Ecwid, you can set up your store with drag-and-drop tools in just a few minutes. It’s beginner-friendly and affordable. I don’t consider it the final product, though. It’s more of a placeholder solution.

Shift4Shop

This is where Shift4Shop (previously 3dcart) comes into the picture – it offers the best of both hosted and self-hosted shopping carts. It’s highly customizable, and with it, you can build an eCommerce store with industry-specific tools, deep customization options, and robust SEO-friendly tools. Need I say more?

At this stage, if you don’t know which shopping cart software is right for you, you’re in a good place — choosing the right software isn’t as easy as picking a bar of chocolate (you can’t go wrong with a Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme bar). A searing headache is justified. Okay, maybe just a mild one.

Luckily for you, I have just the cure — a six-step checklist to choosing the right shopping cart software.

1. Assess Your Needs

When I buy clothes, I scrutinize each inch for blemishes — I wouldn’t pay a dime for a flawed product. After all, I spend hours narrowing down my choices (I’m not easy to please).

So, why shouldn’t you pay attention to the minutest of details when launching a business — it’s your financial “baby”! Your cart should match your needs. Consider the size of your business, the types of products you’re selling, and who your target audience is.

2. Determine Your Budget

Do you want a free, open-source tool like WooCommerce, or do you have the budget for a premium, integrated tool like Shopify? The key word here is “budget.” It’s important to determine how much money you can set aside for shopping cart software.

I’d like to add, some platforms charge a transaction fee per sale — if you don’t have the financial power to buy the best software, it could come back to bite you in the you-know-what. Don’t count pennies, count dollars.

3. Find Out if the Platform Is Easy to Integrate

Let’s say you’ve found the perfect software, but it isn’t compatible with tools you already use, including your payment, inventory, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Do you take it on the chin and swipe your credit card? No.

You must select a solution that easily integrates with your existing tools. Trust me, the technical hassles aren’t worth it. Your focus should be on selling, not troubleshooting!

4. Evaluate Customer Support and Community

When things go wrong, you should turn to customer support teams to help with technical issues. You may need all the help you can get to set things straight. And that’s their job.

A responsive customer service team can make a world of difference. Also look for access to resources like guides, tutorials, and active forums where you can voice your concerns.

5. Determine Scalability

If you’ve got a solid, long-term plan, your business should grow steadily. Of course, supply and demand will determine the speed of your growth. One of the questions you need to ask of your preferred shopping cart solution is, “Can it grow with my business?”

If the answer is “no,” you need to move on to the next best choice. I never said business is easy. And you know that too. If you outgrow your cart, your competitors will outgrow you.

6. Assess Security Features

Sensitive customer information is legally collected and sold by numerous companies. I mean, I just read an article on profitable and legal ways to collect customer data. If the editorial team is talking about using this data to assess buying trends, sure, it could be profitable. But if they’re talking about selling it to others (as is often done openly and on the dark web), boy…

You need to collect customer data for personalization and trend analysis — I understand that. But make sure you comply with regional and global data protection and compliance regulations.

Did you watch the bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson? Don’t come at me for saying it was scripted, but yeah, it was. It wasn’t a fight between two fighters in their prime. It was all about a hefty payday.

The only true challenge Mike Tyson faced in the ring was the battle against fatigue — he’s 58 years old! Jake Paul is less than half his age… Shopping cart software is like Mike Tyson in his prime; Although he’s GOATed, he did face a challenge or two.

Here are some of the common challenges you may face with shopping cart software:

High Cart Abandonment Rates

I’ve seen the frustration on the faces of shop owners when customers leave their shop without buying anything after rummaging through nearly half the products in the store!

It’s a part of the game. In online shopping, cart abandonment is a similar situation. And cart abandonment rates are alarming — the global cart abandonment rate is a whopping 70.19%. Phew.

A change of heart, a complicated checkout process, unexpected shipping costs, and a lack of trust in your site’s security could lead to it. To get your customers over the finish line, consider correcting these wrongs.

Pro Tip: A guest checkout system works a charm — if they really like your platform, they’ll eventually register.

Integration Issues

If you already have several tools and systems in your locker, you might find it challenging to integrate the shopping cart software with them.

This isn’t just a hiccup — it’s a major headache.

It can disrupt your entire workflow and make managing your online store cumbersome. The solution?

If you’re starting from scratch, consider placing the software at the center of your infrastructural strategy.

Otherwise, ensure it has API support or ready-made plugins to help integrate with the tools you already use.

Customization Limitations

Proprietary software can hinder your ability to be creative.

While it may help you hit the ground running, you might not be able to tweak your store’s design, features, or functionality to your liking.

I’d hate to feel boxed in with a limited, proprietary cart.

Look for a cart that offers flexible themes (visual appeal is what first attracts a customer), open-source options, and third-party add-ons. You know the drill.

Hidden Costs

I loathe hidden costs. If you advertise a product to cost $1, make sure it costs $1!

Don’t hit me with transaction fees or extra charges for features like advanced reporting or custom integrations.

That should come out of your pocket, not mine.

Always put yourself in the shoes of the customer. And please don’t overcharge for shipping.

Be transparent — your customers want to know everything upfront.

I already gave you one pro tip in the previous section. Although I’m not an online business owner yet, I do have a few more tricks up my sleeve — it pays to be vigilant. Let’s start by expanding on the guest checkout tip from earlier.

• Simplify the checkout process: The fewer clicks, the better. Some eCommerce stores compel you to sign up as soon as you enter them — hold your horses! If I like your offerings, I’ll sign up in my own time. If you allow guest checkouts and incentivize users with cashback options on purchases, they’ll sign up. Be smart, not desperate.
• Use trust signals like SSL certificates and secure payment logos: An eCommerce shop without an SSL certificate is like a supermarket without a security system. Earn the trust of your customers by securing your website with an SSL certificate and displaying secure payment logos where necessary.
• Enable multiple payment methods for convenience: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket — convenience your customers by offering multiple payment methods.
• Provide clear shipping information and costs upfront: Please, be upfront about all costs. Consider a subscription system that reduces or eliminates shipping fees.
• Leverage abandoned cart recovery strategies: Email follow-ups are a great way to get your customers to revisit their carts. But hey, please don’t drown them in emails.

With these pro tips, you’re likely to build a winning online venture. Consider future-proofing your store as well.

Speaking of future-proofing, I have a list of trends that might shape how the online shopping experience looks in the near future. I’ve chosen the top three trends for you, of which I’m a great fan of AI-powered shopping personalization and blockchain-based transactions, in particular.

I was close to picking voice commerce and its integration with shopping carts, but I feel it won’t make waves — there’s too much room for error, and it’s likely to frustrate your customers.

AI-Powered Personalization for Shopping Experiences

I hardly write an article these days without talking about artificial intelligence (AI)! And I don’t mind — AI is the present and the future.

Take a moment and think about how AI-powered personalization might work in online shopping. If you thought of tailored product recommendations or personalized discounts, you’re on the right track.

Can you imagine how creepy it would be if a shopkeeper knew exactly what you needed as soon as you stepped into a shop? That’s artificial intelligence for you, without the creepy bit, of course!

Blockchain Technology for Secure Transactions

I’m passionate about blockchain technology, especially in the realm of secure transactions. Blockchain isn’t just about cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) — it’s a decentralized and transparent system that could build a “digital fortress” around your payments.

It’s extremely difficult to tamper with blockchain technology, ensuring every purchase is safe, fast, and fraud-free.

Again, there’s a big difference between blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

Do Your Own Research (DYOR)! I don’t see the technology being used in mainstream eCommerce anytime soon, though. Here’s to hoping for a more secure future!

If you want your customers to shop till they drop, you need to make the whole shopping experience luxurious for them. I’m not talking about selling luxury items — I’m talking about living by the notion that “Customer is king.”

If I were you, I’d keep an open forum for customer grievances and dedicate a support team to take care of them. While I don’t believe the customer is always right, by analyzing these grievances, they could point you in the right direction — success.

Also, study the business models of your fiercest competitors and try to address their weak points in your business strategy. You’re ready to tackle the world of eCommerce.

Go get ‘em!