Unveiling BigCommerce: All You Need to Know

In today's business landscape, many entrepreneurs prioritize establishing an online presence for their companies. However, finding accurate and comprehensive information on how to achieve this goal can be challenging, as there are numerous websites to sift through. If you fall into this category, you have come to the right place.

In this blog, we will introduce you to BigCommerce, one of the World's top eCommerce platforms that can streamline your eCommerce journey and make it a more seamless experience. 

What is BigCommerce? 

BigCommerce is a well-known eCommerce platform that offers hosted services through software-as-a-service (SaaS) to merchants and retailers. It was founded in 2009 by Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper who had first met in an online chatroom in 2003, the company was initially launched as Interspire and later rebranded as BigCommerce. 

Its first office was established in Texas, USA. Machaalani and Harper led the company for six years until Brent Bellm, former COO of HomeAway, took over as the CEO. In July 2020, BigCommerce filed for an IPO and became a publicly traded company the following month. Today, the platform boasts over 60,000 online stores and generates billions of dollars in revenue. 

What are the Features Offered by BigCommerce?

As a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, BigCommerce provides a plethora of tools to ensure the seamless operation of an online store. 

Here are some of the characteristics that set BigCommerce apart from its competitors:

Product Management:

BigCommerce provides comprehensive product management features, including product imports, inventory updates, order trend analysis, and inventory level updates, among others. What sets BigCommerce apart is that it allows sellers to manage their eCommerce websites without relying on third-party services. 

Multi-Currency Support:

BigCommerce understands the importance of multi-currency support for cross-border sales. As partners with five top payment gateways, BigCommerce offers flexibility to online sellers by converting product prices into customers' local currency, displaying the value accordingly. 

Multi-Channel Support:

BigCommerce enables online sellers to reach a larger audience by integrating with platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and others. This multi-channel support opens more opportunities for sellers to connect with customers. 

Order Management:

BigCommerce simplifies the order management process, allowing sellers to create and process orders effortlessly. The platform assists sellers from the moment a customer clicks the buy button, helping with order processing, invoice and packing slip generation in one go. 

Tax and Shipping:

These are crucial aspects of any eCommerce platform, and BigCommerce offers flexibility in these areas. Online sellers can provide features such as next-day delivery, in-store pickup, free shipping, and package tracking, among others. BigCommerce even offers a free app called Ship Station to help sellers with discounts for customers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)-Friendly:

BigCommerce is designed to be SEO-friendly, allowing users to enhance the visibility of their eCommerce websites through microdata editing and on-page SEO. Additionally, BigCommerce offers SSL certificates with all its plans and assists in creating an SEO-friendly URL structure. 

What are the Different Plans Offered by BigCommerce? 

BigCommerce provides a 15-day free trial for online sellers to assess their business requirements. Afterward, sellers can choose from four different plans and fulfill the necessary payment conditions. 

Let’s take a detailed look at the various plans offered by BigCommerce and their features: 

BigCommerce Standard Plan 

The Standard plan is comparable to the basic plans of other well-known eCommerce platforms such as Shopify or Volusion. It offers the following advantages 

• A standard online store 

• Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth 

• Unlimited staff accounts 

• Access to multiple channels like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Facebook, etc. 

• Numerous payment gateways and shipping options

• Coupons, discounts, and gift cards 

• Real-time shopping quotations 

• Free sitewide HTTPS and dedicated SSL 

• Mobile-friendly tools and pages

• Built-in blog 

• Multi-currency support

BigCommerce Plus Plan 

The Plus plan is one of the most popular ones offered by BigCommerce and it includes all the features of the Standard plan, and additionally offers: 

• Customer grouping and segmentation

• Storage of credit card details on the BigCommerce Website, 

• Abandoned cart saver tool

• Persistent cart, enabling customers to access their cart and pay for products through multiple devices.

BigCommerce Pro Plan 

The Pro plan is like the Plus plan which also provides access to Google customer reviews and various product filtering options. 

BigCommerce Enterprise Plan 

The Enterprise plan is the most advanced one offered by BigCommerce, combining features from all three previous plans, along with additional benefits like multiple storefronts, unlimited API calls, and price lists. This is suitable for businesses with high sales volumes, and the pricing can be negotiated directly with BigCommerce.  

Benefits of BigCommerce

It provides a wide range of advantages to its customers, setting it apart from its competitors. The following features differentiate BigCommerce:  

• Scalability 

BigCommerce caters to businesses of all sizes, offering unique pricing plans that allow online sellers to choose one based on their specific business requirements. Additionally, it provides the flexibility to switch to different plans as per their growth and profitability needs.  

• Omnichannel Approach 

BigCommerce adopts an omnichannel approach, enabling customers to sell through multiple platforms, creating a seamless and consistent customer experience. The platform also connects and simplifies management across various sales channels. 

• SEO Benefits 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for enhancing the visibility of an eCommerce business. BigCommerce provides effective SEO tools, such as product-based search, optimized URLs, and popular searches, to improve the eCommerce website’s traffic and performance. 

• Powerful Built-in Features

Built-in features are vital for eCommerce websites, eliminating the need for expensive third-party integrations. BigCommerce offers a plethora of built-in features across all its plans, from Standard to Enterprise, empowering online sellers with a rich feature set. 

• Secure Platform  

Security is paramount for eCommerce platforms to protect user data and prevent online fraud. BigCommerce ensures website security through multiple measures, including SSL certificates in all its packages, instilling trust and reliability in eCommerce websites. 

What are the Steps to Set Up an Online Store on BigCommerce? 

BigCommerce is an excellent choice for small-scale and medium-scale businesses, offering top notch selling and management tools that provide flexibility and healthy competition in the eCommerce industry. If you are looking to create a BigCommerce store, here is a step-by-step guide to help you out.

Sign up for an Account:

Go to the BigCommerce website (click on the domain link) and click on 'Start Your Free Trial' to sign up for an account. You'll need to provide some basic information about your business, such as your name, email address, and business type. 

Choose a Plan:

BigCommerce offers a range of pricing plans to fit different business needs. Select the plan that best suits your requirements and remember that you can always upgrade or downgrade later if needed. 

Set up your Store:

Once you've signed up, you'll be prompted to set up your store. This involves selecting a theme for your store, adding products, setting up payment and shipping options, and configuring other settings such as taxes and customer accounts. 

Customize your Store:

BigCommerce allows for extensive customization, so you can make your store look and function exactly how you want it. You can customize the design, add apps and extensions, and configure other settings to match your branding and business needs. 

Launch your Store:

When you're ready, you can launch your store and start selling to customers. BigCommerce provides tools to help you market your store, manage orders, and track your performance, so you can focus on growing your business. 

In conclusion, BigCommerce is a robust and scalable eCommerce platform that provides a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to establish and manage their online stores. It’s extensive array of features, tools, and integrations equips businesses of all sizes with the necessary resources to create a professional and fully functional online store. From customizable storefronts to efficient product management, secure payment processing, streamlined shipping and logistics, powerful SEO and marketing tools, seamless mobile commerce, and top-notch security and reliability, BigCommerce offers a robust set of features to support businesses throughout their online selling journey. 

If you are interested in delving deeper into the world of BigCommerce, do not hesitate to get in touch with Jobin & Jismi, a recognized BigCommerce Certified Partner. Our team has access to the latest tools and technologies to help our clients thrive and expand their businesses.