4 risks of choosing the wrong e-commerce platform

As business processes moved online, enterprises needed technologies that could get them to market faster. Enterprises needed commerce platforms with flexibility and scalability that could allow them to roll out a new user experience in days rather than months, or expand to new markets in a matter of months instead of years. 

Across B2B industries, there is a collective acknowledgement that traditional, legacy software cannot support future looking digital strategies. However, some enterprises are still hesitant to adopt modern technologies due to decades old notions about replatforming projects. Enterprises are faced with a choice, double down on existing technologies or replatform. However, there are risks associated with choosing the wrong e-commerce platform. 

4 risks of choosing the wrong e-commerce platform

Instability and performance issues - Performance issues can stem from many things, including a database that can’t handle growth, or the inability to handle system upgrades because of the amount of customizations made to the platform. These types of issues create a poor customer experience for buyers. It can also create unnecessary manual entry work for your customer service and sales reps who need to spend time looking for and rekeying lost or missed orders.

Loss of competitive advantage - B2B industries have become more saturated with enterprises that have successfully digitally transformed their e-commerce strategies. As such, it’s increasingly important for enterprises to bring innovation and advancement to their commerce experiences in order to gain a competitive advantage. Choosing an outdated e-commerce platform can result in a lack of features and functionality necessary to differentiate from competitors. 

Increased tech debt - Choosing the wrong commerce platform has many costs associated with it that many B2B enterprises overlook. An enterprise might save money on the front end by choosing a more out-of-the-box solution. However, in a few months or years when that platform cannot support the business’ growth, the enterprise will not only need to absorb the cost of maintaining that platform, but will also need the funds to invest in a new platform that fits their business. 

Failure to meet business goals - Choosing the wrong e-commerce platform can leave enterprises handcuffed in more ways than one. When sticking with legacy technologies, you run the risk of being stuck with an outdated version, experiencing caps on usage, or a system that is so patched that cannot adapt to changes in the market. These types of platforms do not support expansion into new revenue channels or any sort of long term growth. 

Future looking businesses should ensure that the e-commerce platform that they choose supports not only current business initiatives but is flexible enough to support any future growth as well. Investing in a platform that is built with MACH architecture ensures agility and extensibility for years to come.