When youï¿¿re selecting an ecommerce cart you are faced with a choice between licensed software and hosted carts. Which one if better? There is no definite black and white answer to this question, as the best product to use really depends on the requirements of your online store. Both licensed and hosted ecommerce carts have their own set of pros and cons. Deciding which one to purchase is a matter of weighing how the pros and cons can affect your business.
The licensed ecommerce cart
A licensed cart software is one which you can download and install on a web server of your choice upon paying a one-time fee. The main advantage you get if you choose this type of software is that you own will own the license to it, allowing you to host the software on any server as long as it meets the server requirements. Consequently, you can bring the software with you should you decide to move from one hosting company to another.
Another advantage of the licensed ecommerce cart is flexibility. Because you own the software, you can access and customize its codes to fit your needs. This type of software does not only allow you to change existing features but to actually add new tools as your store and business grows.
On the downside, a licensed software is quite hard to operate without a good amount of technical knowledge. Moreover, the typical price of this software is quite high for small businesses, especially because most software vendors require full, one-time payment. Add to this the expenses you will incur on ecommerce infrastructure and you are talking about a lot of money.
Hosted shopping cart software
The hosted ecommerce cart on the other hand is a software provided by a service provider. This technology, also referred to as an application service provider or ASP software model, is usually paid for in monthly or annual basis so it is more affordable. Some providers also charge a minimal commission fee on total sales in addition to the monthly or annual fee.
Good hosted ecommerce software is also as flexible as licensed ones. A good hosted cart provides an array of convenient features to online store owners.
The main advantage of using a hosted cart is quick execution of the software, and thus, a shorter turn around time. Moreover, this type of cart comes with round the clock monitoring and security, full and continued support, automatic software upgrades, and easy management that does not require technical skills. Likewise, when you choose a hosted solution, there is no need for you to invest in ecommerce infrastructure as this would be provided by the server.
Best hosted ecommerce software
If you decide to go with a hosted ecommerce cart software, make sure to work only with Netz Internet Solutions. Our Ecommerce System is very easy-to-use and we can help you to a build fully functional ecommerce site that you can manage without IT skills. Call us at the 1-888-NetzBiz to learn more about the solutions we offer.
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