E-commerce Template vs Custom Design: Which One Fits Your Business Needs?

Your website communicates with your audience. To choose an ecommerce website template like a pro, you need to consider your business needs, the design and features of the template:

1. Analyze your ecommerce website’s needs, including its key functionalities, target audience and unique features.
2. Select a template design with an attractive appearance, great functionality and intuitive interface.
3. Ensure the template has features like high customization, mobile-friendly & responsive, cross-browser compatibility, and fast page loading speed.
4. Look for desirable features like SEO-friendliness, marketing tools, and social media integration.
5. Consider your brand and make sure the template fits it.

So the question is: e-commerce template or custom-made store?

There is no denying that starting an ecommerce business is an exciting venture and requires careful planning. One of the major decisions is choosing the right platform for your website – whether to use a pre-made template or go for a especially designed one. The choice between the two depends on various factors, including the type of business, timeline, budget, and level of customisation desired.

For small, niche-based businesses with simple requirements, a pre-made template may be a good option as it is affordable, quick to launch and versatile enough to easily add or remove features. but, websites designed  by humans are best suited for larger businesses with many technical and logistical requirements. These websites are developed with the business’s specific needs in mind and offer complete customisation, leading to unique and memorable user experiences that can improve brand loyalty and advocacy. Although well-designed websites are more expensive, ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, the investment is worth considering the benefits of a complete tailor-made website, the specialist teams and support provided, and the flexibility to add any number of integrations and features.

Timeline is another factor to consider. If you need to launch your website quickly, a themed template is a good option as the setup process is simple and fast. But remember that tailored websites require months of development and design by specialists. While this approach is more expensive, the

The result is a platform completely tailored to your specific needs, which can lead to unique user experiences, increased brand loyalty, and higher profits.

The level of customisation is another key factor to consider. Pre-made templates offer a certain level of customisation, but there is a limit to the number of features and integrations that can be added without compromising page speed. On the other hand, these designed websites offer unlimited options and integration options and provide access to a team of specialist developers and designers who can guide the best decisions at every digital touchpoint. Moreover, existing e-commerce systems and CRM can be easily integrated into the new site, which is impossible with pre-made templates.

Customization shows a really significant difference between templates and tailored designs. Because with themed templates, you can easily add or remove features, but there is a limit to how many apps and features you can use without sacrificing page speed. Another important aspect is that these websites allow you to add as many features as you like without sacrificing performance, and you have access to a team of developers and designers who can help you to make the best decisions. Also, custom-built websites allow easy integration with existing e-commerce systems or CRMs, which is not possible to have with a template website.

Maintenance is another aspect to consider. Pre-made templates are usually easier to maintain as updates are automatically taken care of, while tailored-design websites require more maintenance and upgrades. However, designed websites provide more control and flexibility, making it easier to troubleshoot and resolve any issues that may arise.

The platform provider handles updates and maintenance with a themed template. But with a website built from the ground up, you’ll need to hire a dedicated team to handle updates and maintenance, which can be more expensive. However, this also means you have more control over the updates and changes to your website, which can be a major benefit for some businesses.

To sum up, the choice between a premade template and a custom-built website depends on your business’s specific needs and goals. While pre-made templates offer affordability and ease of use, custom-designed websites offer complete customisation and a unique user experience. so, it is important to weigh each option’s pros and cons before deciding. So, You have to consider all of these factors carefully before making your decision, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of professionals in HEXA for help whenever you want.