--- title: How Do I Choose an eCommerce Platform description: fjorge provides some high-level information on selecting an eCommerce platform. image: https://go.fjorge.com/hubfs/blog/Fotolia_72198849_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg --- [![Fjorge Digital](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/hub/470506/file-2409773430.png)](http://fjorgedigital.com/) - [![LinkedIn](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2407883531-png/images/linkedinWhite.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fjorge?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) - [![Facebook](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2409753260-png/images/facebookWhite.png)](https://www.facebook.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) - [![Twitter](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2409753285-png/images/twitterWhite.png)](https://twitter.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) - [Home](http://fjorgedigital.com/) - [Process](http://fjorgedigital.com/process/) - [Work](http://fjorgedigital.com/work/) - [About](http://fjorgedigital.com/about/) - [Blog](http://blog.fjorgedigital.com/) - [Contact](http://fjorgedigital.com/contact/) - [![LinkedIn](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2407883531-png/images/linkedinWhite.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fjorge?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) - [![Facebook](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2409753260-png/images/facebookWhite.png)](https://www.facebook.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) - [![Twitter](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2409753285-png/images/twitterWhite.png)](https://twitter.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.5dbeaf4d8d1a6d903f9ac7634b1bae3f.1422436931031.1422436931031.1422440381257.2&__hssc=69507087.1.1422440381257&__hsfp=1494918045) [The fjblog](https://go.fjorge.com) # [How Do I Choose an eCommerce Platform](https://go.fjorge.com/how-do-i-choose-an-ecommerce-platform) Posted by [Tim Barsness](https://go.fjorge.com/author/tim-barsness) on Wed, Aug 5, 2015 7:31 AM Successfully [launching an eCommerce website](https://go.fjorgedigital.com/download-our-guide-32-questions-to-ask-before-your-next-website-project-now) involves a lot of moving parts.  At the core of it all is the eCommerce platform.  Selecting a system that fits your needs is the key to successfully launching your brand.  There are two key facets that make up your selection:  hosted vs. installed and inventory integration vs. no inventory integration. [![Download our free guide!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/470506/963a3808-ad8a-46c2-ab02-a48eee96e5e3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/470506/963a3808-ad8a-46c2-ab02-a48eee96e5e3) ### ![Fotolia_72198849_Subscription_Monthly_M](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/Fotolia_72198849_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg?width=363&name=Fotolia_72198849_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg)Hosted Solutions A hosted shopping cart will get you up and running with relative ease.  Generally, these are treated as interim solutions that are already set up in the cloud for you to customize and get your online store up quickly and easily.  When choosing a hosted solution, you’ll want to make sure everything is running off your domain (mystore.com) in order to maintain control of your storefront for future expansion. Some examples of hosted solutions which allow custom domains include: - [Shopify](http://www.shopify.com/) - [Big Commerce](http://www.bigcommerce.com/) - [Volusion](http://www.volusion.com/) - [Amazon Webstore](http://webstore.amazon.com/) Benefits to hosted solutions include an existing eCommerce platform with the ability to start immediately and doesn't require developer support.  Because the merchant doesn't have control over the codebase, you'll want to make sure the hosted solution you choose to build your store on has the integrations and extensibility your busienss requires. ### Installed Solutions Installed eCommerce solutions (open source or otherwise) are commercially available software packages to be installed within your own environment.  These solutions often offer more flexibility, extensibility and customization than hosted solutions.  However, these systems need to be maintained, which comes at a cost.  If you’re looking for a solution which will be flexible for the long-term, you should be looking here. Below, I've included some examples of free installed eCommerce solutions: - [Magento](http://magento.com/) - [WooCommerce](http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce/) - [x-cart](http://www.x-cart.com/) ### Inventory Management Some eCommerce websites require that products be in stock in order to be purchased.  Generally these are selling products that have extensive lead time to produce.  If this is the case, you’ll need to integrate your inventory management system to make sure a product is in stock before you offer it to a customer.  This process generally involves a two-way synchronization between the website and inventory management system.     Topics: [eCommerce](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/ecommerce), [Shopify](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/shopify), [Magento](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/magento) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Digital Strategy (11)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/digital-strategy) - [Web Development (6)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/web-development) - [CMS Maintenance (5)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/cms-maintenance) - [SEO (5)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/seo) - [Magento (4)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/magento) - [Website Accessibility (4)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/website-accessibility) - [Website Launch (4)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/website-launch) - [Website Maintenance (4)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/website-maintenance) - [Wordpress (4)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/wordpress) - [eCommerce (3)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/ecommerce) - [App Development (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/app-development) - [Paid Search (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/paid-search) - [Podcast (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/podcast) - [Remarketing (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/remarketing) - [Shopify (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/shopify) - [Website Uptime (1)](https://go.fjorge.com/topic/website-uptime) see all [![LinkedIn](http://fjorgedigital.com/wp-content/themes/fjorge/images/linkedIn.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fjorge?__hstc=69507087.a46a63fc1b98f5c6352c717d9379fc4b.1422437048503.1422437048503.1422437048503.1&__hssc=69507087.6.1422437048504&__hsfp=2346531666) [![Facebook](http://fjorgedigital.com/wp-content/themes/fjorge/images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.a46a63fc1b98f5c6352c717d9379fc4b.1422437048503.1422437048503.1422437048503.1&__hssc=69507087.6.1422437048504&__hsfp=2346531666) [![Twitter](http://fjorgedigital.com/wp-content/themes/fjorge/images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/fjorgedigital?__hstc=69507087.a46a63fc1b98f5c6352c717d9379fc4b.1422437048503.1422437048503.1422437048503.1&__hssc=69507087.6.1422437048504&__hsfp=2346531666) #### [Email Us](http://fjorgedigital.com/contact) #### Phone Number: 612-877-3841 #### Address: 527 Marquette Ave Suite 2260 Minneapolis, MN 55402 [![Fjorge Digital](https://go.fjorge.com/hs-fs/file-2409753270-png/images/fjorge-digital-logo.png)](http://fjorgedigital.com) © 2015 fjorge ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/949166300/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0)