Consider the last time you encountered difficulty making a purchase in-store or online. Perhaps the checkout line at the store needed to be shorter, or when trying to buy something online, you kept getting an error message. This could have harmed your customer experience or even made you give up and leave altogether.
Research from Vistaprint disclosed that 42% of customers are unlikely, and 21% said they are ‘not likely at all’ to purchase from a store with poor design or an unprofessional outlook. This makes it imperative for you to prioritize building a sophisticated ecommerce store that guarantees a quality buyer experience on the front end.
Having a good user experience isn’t just about making your store look nice – it’s about having all the visible and invisible parts working together to help customers easily move through and complete their shopping journey as quickly as possible. And, as the number of consumer touchpoints grows, you must be aware of how the front and backend of your ecommerce store operate, both independently and together, to generate a smooth omnichannel experience. This blog post will discuss the distinction between frontend and backend ecommerce, ways to separate them in a headless tech stack, and some standard technologies.
Ecommerce Frontend vs. Backend Technology
The front end of an ecommerce store can be considered its digital storefront, containing all the design elements that customers interact with, such as font, color, images, and product pages.
Frontend developers use languages like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to create a functional and engaging user experience. On the other hand, backend technology is the website’s server side that holds all the data, such as products, prices, order details, and customer information, and transfers it to the front. The web server, application server, and database form the backend, allowing the front end to look good and function properly.
3 Pillars of Frontend Ecommerce
When developing an online store, three fundamental elements should be considered. These principles are pertinent to all digital sales channels but are particularly vital when constructing a thriving ecommerce platform.
1. UX
User experience (UX) covers how customers view and interact with an online shop. Creating a great UX for your store is essential as it can help transform viewers into buyers. However, minor UX errors such as nonresponsive page design or inadequate navigation can add up and lead users to abandon the story altogether. Here are some of the best UX design examples from Shopiroller merchants.
Filter on product listings
On Shopiroller, you can simultaneously use multiple product filters such as brand, price, in-stock, and style. Moreover, the filter is dynamic, showing only products that match your criteria. For instance, if you choose Under Armour as a brand with no long-sleeve shirts available, then the store won’t display that style filter. This eliminates the possibility of you facing an error message or a blank screen while shopping.
Purchase Process
According to Baymard’s research, 69.8% of shoppers stop the checkout process without completing their purchase. However, an improved checkout design can increase the conversion rate by up to 35%. Hence, when customers proceed to checkout, they should be focused on things other than ads, pop ups, or account creation. Bearpaw provides an excellent example with its simple purchase process, without any unnecessary distractions. Additionally, there is a chat box at the bottom right corner for customers needing additional assistance.
Shorter payment process
The checkout process for your store should be brief, uncomplicated, and have as few clicks as possible. Any additional steps can deter customers from completing their purchase and leaving your website. Shopiroller offers a streamlined one-page checkout to reduce friction and simplify payment.
Merchants can also enable shipping and billing addresses to autocomplete to avoid the laborious process of filling in personal details. Rock Bottom Golf is an excellent example of how to streamline the payment process. They offer address autocomplete and various payment methods, such as PayPal and Affirm, for even faster checkout.
So that customers can save time during future purchases, these options allow them to connect their payment accounts securely.
2. Performance
Performance has a direct impact on the user experience of your web application. The first five seconds of page loading time can make or break conversion rates, with every additional second reducing it by 4.42%. Therefore, optimizing images is essential since larger prints slow the process and minimize quality when using SEO techniques.
Familiar Places provided suggested Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) check performance levels. Minifying tools can help you find a balance between optimizing and quality.
- Measure your audience reach and impact.
- Analyze traffic sources.
- Measure average session time and bounce rate.
- Identify conversion rates.
- Measure ROI and profits.
3. Design
A recent five-year study from McKinsey revealed that companies that prioritized store design grew more rapidly than those that didn’t. This proves just how important it is to have an aesthetically pleasing store to make an excellent first impression and keep customers returning.
When visitors come across an online store with a cluttered layout, mismatched fonts, and blurry images, they’re likely to leave quickly in search of something more accessible to the eyes. To ensure your store looks its best and makes a great first impression, here are some design tips to keep in mind:
Optimizing the user experience: Ensure your stories are easy to use and navigate on desktop and mobile devices. Include clickable calls-to-action (CTAs) that mark the next steps in the customer’s journey for a smooth transition between pages.
Keeping a consistent brand identity: Make sure customers get the same experience, regardless of whether they are browsing your social media page, shopping on your online store, or using a mobile app. Ensure your brand stands out and is easily recognizable through consistent design elements.
Considering color: Colors can significantly impact how customers perceive your brand. Carefully research Color Theory to understand how colors convey various meanings and emotions. Select complementary colors for your store to create an attractive visual identity.
These tips will help you create a great first impression and improve your design.
Benefits of Headless Frontend Ecommerce
Safer Upgrades
Headless e-commerce allows agile and safe upgrades as the front and back end work independently. This means developers can quickly respond to market trends without changing the system. It also reduces the risk of costly backend development due to changes in the front end.
More Personalization Options
A headless approach lets you choose the best front-end experience or CMS for your business. You can customize your storefront to accurately reflect your brand and audience’s preferences and integrate necessary functionalities and applications.
Easier Integrations
The backend can connect multiple touchpoints using powerful APIs like smartphones, smartwatches, and digital signage. This ensures that customers have consistent experiences on various channels.
Greater Flexibility
The most beneficial aspect of headless e-commerce is its flexibility. You can test out different platforms and features until you find the ones that work best for your business without feeling stuck with what you have. This makes it easy to switch up your front or backend technology.
Frontend Ecommerce Technologies
As the user-facing layer, UI designers and UX engineers must select a solution for their store that looks great and performs optimally. Nowadays, many web browsers have integrated scripting languages, so plugins aren’t necessarily required. This article will explore some of the most commonly used frontend ecommerce technologies.
From scripting languages to design tools, these technologies all work together to create an ecommerce store that loads quickly and looks great across all devices.
HTML:
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard coding language for web applications. It provides structure to text and images, informing web browsers how to display content.
JavaScript:
Using JavaScript, developers can create interactive games, animation, 2D and 3D graphics, and more. This dynamic programming language enriches the user experience and adds a dimension of creativity to web pages.
AngularJS:
AngularJS is a structural framework for dynamic web apps, transforming HTML from static to involved. It makes components more visible and helps improve store performance.
Node.js:
An open-source server-side runtime, Node.js, is designed to develop scalable network applications. JavaScript and its modules comprise a cross-platform environment allowing event-driven, asynchronous processes.
ReactJS:
ReactJS (or “React”) is an open-source JavaScript library that provides dynamic user interfaces for single-page web apps. It helps ensure users have a cohesive experience across different devices and screen sizes.
VBScript:
VBScript (Visual Basic Script) is a client-side scripting language created by Microsoft that allows developers to create interactive and lightweight web pages.
AJAX:
AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML) is a tool to develop more efficient and interactive web applications. It enables data retrieval from the server after the page has loaded and improves the application’s responsiveness.
JQuery:
JQuery is a library written in JavaScript that simplifies many programming tasks and reduces the amount of code required. It is user-friendly, has a consistent API, and works across multiple browsers.
Responsive Web Design:
Responsive Web Design (RWD) ensures optimal viewing experiences across all devices and screen sizes for websites and webpages. This allows developers to create applications that can be adapted to suit users’ needs no matter where they are.
Vue.js:
Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework for developing user interfaces and single-page applications. Easy to learn, it can be incrementally adopted and integrated with other libraries.
Backend Ecommerce Technologies
To offer a great user experience, the front end of an ecommerce store needs to be backed up by reliable backend technology. Here are some of the most common solutions used to construct the infrastructure of such sites.
Saas Solutions:
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a subscription-based software service similar to leasing a house. Rather than purchasing or downloading the SaaS platform themselves, customers can utilize the SaaS provider’s hosting services, including security maintenance and upkeep of the system. Moreover, a SaaS solution has many advantages, such as; fast setup, ease of use, scalability, and customer support.
Shopiroller’s Open SaaS solution allows customers to benefit from the merits of a SaaS platform while having access to platform-wide APIs for personalization and integration with external applications or functionalities.
PHP:
PHP is an open-source, general-purpose scripting language that can be integrated into HTML and is available to download and use for free. Many ecommerce platforms like Magento and Volusion are built using PHP.
Python:
Python is a popular, general-purpose programming language applied to construct web applications, process data, and automate tasks. Its syntax is easier to understand than PHP and has highly readable code, making it suitable for just-beginning developers.
Java:
Java is an object-oriented programming language designed to have fewer implementation dependencies across applications such as gaming systems, social media platforms, and audio/video applications.
MySQL:
MySQL is a relational open-source database management system (RDBMS) that manages databases based on the relational model. This is especially crucial for ecommerce websites that contain lots of content stored in a database, hence the importance of proper data handling and rendering.
PostgreSQL:
PostgreSQL is an open-source, powerful RDBMS that extends the SQL language and includes additional features such as a full-text search and messaging system to manage complex workloads.
ASP.Net:
ASP.Net is an open-source, cross-platform framework allowing developers to create dynamic web applications and services. It’s an extension of the .NET developer platform consisting of tools, programming languages, and libraries for building various types of apps.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Why Is It Essential To Create A storeThat Stands Out In The Ecommerce Industry?
A: In the highly competitive ecommerce industry, creating a great store is essential for success. A store that looks good on the front end and functions appropriately on the back end will help you stand out from competitors and provide an optimal user experience and store performance.
Q: What Are Some Standard Frontend And Backend Technologies Used To Create An Ecommerce Website?
A: Common frontend technologies include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, VueJS, and Angular, while popular backend technologies include PHP, ASP.NET, NodeJs, Python, and Java.
Q: What Can Shopiroller Offer To Help Create An Impressive Ecommerce Store?
A: Shopiroller supports both the front and back end of your ecommerce store, allowing you to design an impressive store easily. It also provides intuitive design tools to quickly customize and refine your store for maximum user engagement, access to advanced analytics and reporting to track your site’s performance, and more. With Shopiroller, you can build your store confidently and start your ecommerce journey quickly!
Q: What Are Some Advantages Of Using Shopiroller To Build An Ecommerce Store?
A: Some advantages of using Shopiroller include its intuitive design tools, access to advanced analytics and reporting, ease of use, scalability, and more. It’s also designed to help you create an impressive store that stands out in the ecommerce industry.
Q: Is Shopiroller Suitable For All Types Of Businesses?
A: Yes, Shopiroller suits all types of businesses, from small to large enterprises. It’s a comprehensive platform that allows you to create an effective and efficient store regardless of your business size. With advanced features, you can create and optimize a store to help your business scale and succeed.
Q: What Other Tips Should I Consider When Building An Ecommerce Site?
A: Besides using Shopiroller, there are other tips you should consider when building an ecommerce website. Make sure your stories are mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines so customers can easily find it online. Additionally, provide clear product descriptions and images to help customers make informed decisions. Lastly, ensure your checkout process is secure and efficient to minimize customer confusion and abandonment.
CONCLUSION
Creating a great store is essential in the highly competitive ecommerce industry. To achieve this, it’s vital to ensure that your store looks good on the front end and functions well on the back end so they work together to deliver an optimal user experience and performance. Understanding standard frontend and backend technologies will help you build an ecommerce store that meets your customers’ needs and enables you to grow your business.
Building a store that stands out can be challenging, but with Shopiroller, you don’t have to worry. The platform supports the front and back end of your ecommerce store, allowing you to create an impressive store easily. With Shopiroller’s intuitive design tools, you can quickly customize and refine your store for maximum user engagement. You’ll also get access to advanced analytics and reporting to track your site’s performance so that you can make the most of your ecommerce venture. Build your store with Shopiroller today and start your ecommerce journey with confidence!
