The seven best enterprise ecommerce platforms

If you’re in charge of running a high-volume store, you’re familiar with the constant pressure to optimize systems for the best performance, highest uptime, and smoothest customer experience. You need confidence in your chosen enterprise ecommerce platform: it’s the foundation of your site’s functionality, design, security, search engine rankings, and more.

Perhaps you want to move your store to an enterprise ecommerce platform that provides more power, flexibility, or features. Maybe your stakeholders are looking for an enterprise platform with a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). Or you’re in the early stages and are starting to explore options for your business or a new client.

Either way, you’re in the right place.

In this post, we’ll break down what constitutes an enterprise ecommerce platform, examine the important qualities that define the top-rated options, clarify the different types of enterprise ecommerce solutions, and compare the best choices available. We’ll finish by taking a look at some important considerations when migrating to the right enterprise ecommerce platform, and show you why WooCommerce stands out in the enterprise commerce market.

Enterprise ecommerce platforms are tools for selling online that are specifically designed for high-volume stores. These tools typically offer robust features, priority or dedicated support, and code optimized for high traffic. 

Some platforms are built exclusively for enterprise businesses, while others offer enterprise-level plans in addition to options for smaller stores.

Before we dive into enterprise ecommerce solutions, let’s take a look at some considerations before making this important decision. The right enterprise ecommerce system software offers:

Full customization and flexibility

If you run an enterprise business or enterprise ecommerce store, you need a platform with no limitations. You should be able to create and implement a site design that matches your brand — whether that brand is more traditional or challenges the norm.

Of course, customization and flexibility go beyond design: Large stores often need specific functionality to support their customer experience. This might include custom product builders, personalization options, size- or weight-based pricing and shipping, financing options, omnichannel inventory syncing, and wholesale portals. And they need to be able to adapt to the needs of their target market and industry.

Take the time to find an enterprise platform that’s truly flexible, that allows your development team to customize the source code, add extensions, and create a unique, beautiful design.

When your team needs something done, you don’t deserve to be waiting on permission from a closed-source platform or for a call back from a project manager. You should be able to act and act now. 

Top payment processing options

Perhaps you have negotiated rates with a specific provider that you’re already working with or you sell big-ticket items, so many of your customers need access to financing. Or, you might have a busy customer base that much prefers digital wallets to more traditional payment methods.

Make sure that your new enterprise ecommerce platform allows for all the payment methods you require — and all the ones you might want down the road. Evaluate each tool that you’re considering for their security standards, so that you never have to worry about your customer’s payment data being compromised.

No penalties or extra fees for growth

Consider the total cost of ownership when it comes to your ecommerce platform. Look beyond how much it costs on a monthly or annual basis right out of the box: Some platforms charge additional fees as the business grows, which should be factored into your cost analysis.

These enterprise ecommerce platforms increase the amount you pay based on factors like website traffic, sales, number of products or variations, and number of users. Keep an eye on this and, ideally, choose one that doesn’t penalize growth.

Your ecommerce platform shouldn’t take advantage of your success; it should propel it. 

Performance features specific to high-volume stores

High-volume online stores face unique performance and functionality challenges. Not all platforms will accommodate large volumes of traffic and sales without slowing down or even crashing completely. 

Choose a solution built specifically for enterprise-level stores, with high-performing code and performance tools like content delivery networks (CDNs). One advantage of open-source software over SaaS options is being able to select hosting that fulfills your requirements now and as you grow — without being over-charged for unnecessary add-ons.

Dedicated support

Downtime and functionality issues are never good for an online store, and this is especially true for businesses with large volumes of sales. Because of this, dedicated support is non-negotiable. 

Make sure that you can reach a support team member who understands the specific needs of your ecommerce business whenever you need help, using your contact method of choice.

Full ownership and control 

Not all platforms allow you to truly have full control over your store, products, and content. Some have limits when it comes to design and functionality. Others don’t allow access to their source code, limiting your customization capabilities. And others can take down your site without notice if they decide you violate their terms (cue the lawyers!).

Your best bet against these risks is to choose an open-source ecommerce platform. Open-source software options — like WooCommerce — make their source code fully available so you can modify, contribute to, and repurpose it any way you’d like.

Top security options

Security should be a top priority for high-volume online stores. The more customers you have, the more customer data your enterprise platform is responsible for. An ecommerce platform with top-quality security features is absolutely essential.

Here are some examples of security features to look for:

• Regular updates and patches to stay on top of security vulnerabilities.
• Real-time backups to protect all of your orders and customer data.
• The ability to make your site GDPR and PCI-DSS compliant.
• Spam protection tools for comments, forms, and payments.
• The ability to implement secure password policies and role-based access controls.
• Malware scanning and instant alerts.
• A website firewall.

A high-quality ecommerce platform will either have these features built in, or will make the process of adding them simple (such as through a plugin or extension). 

Integration with the other business tools you use

As a business grows, so do the number of tools and services used to keep it running — and your ecommerce platform needs to integrate seamlessly with all (or at least most) of them. For example, you might use a customer relationship management (CRM) tool, integrate inventory management software with an ERP, publish frequently on several social media platforms, and track everything with automated accounting software.

When evaluating a new ecommerce platform, check that your tech stack can sync with it through a built-in connection, third-party application, or custom API integration.

Omnichannel selling capabilities 

Many enterprises sell on platforms beyond their online store, such as Amazon, Walmart, or TikTok Shop. Some may own physical retail locations or sell products wholesale to third-party retailers. If this describes your business, then you’ll want to be able to sync your product catalog, inventory, and operations with your other selling platforms or offer a wholesale portal for business partners.

It’s important that all of these channels are connected: your product information needs to be up-to-date on each platform. This includes data like inventory levels, pricing, branding and imagery, sales, restock information, and more. Otherwise, a business risks over-promising and under-delivering, which could result in lost revenue and trust.

Simple account setup for all your team members

Your large online store likely has a variety of team members who need to log into your site. Here are just a few possibilities:

• Site administrator 
• Marketing and ecommerce managers
• Content writers
• Customer service representatives
• Web developers or engineering team
• Third-party agency team

You should be able to quickly create accounts for each of these people, allow them to complete their work, and provide them with the minimum level of access they need for their role.

Let’s take a look at a few types of ecommerce solutions that you can choose between.

SaaS ecommerce platforms

With Software as a Service (SaaS), customers pay to use a piece of software, typically on a monthly or annual term. The software itself belongs to the providers, and users license the right to “borrow” it. There are often several plans to choose from, each one offering different features.

With SaaS solutions, the code is typically locked down and unavailable for stores to modify — or even view in most cases. Users also agree to certain terms and conditions when signing up for a plan, and the ecommerce platform has the right to take down a site if it violates those terms.

However, SaaS ecommerce platforms tend to allow you to be more hands-off. They often include hosting, security, and website management in addition to ecommerce functionality. In exchange for this ease of use, however, you’ll often experience less control and flexibility with SaaS platforms.

Headless ecommerce platforms

Headless platforms essentially separate the frontend of your store (the user experience) and the backend (your data). The idea here is that because these operate separately, changes to one won’t affect the other. For example, a design change won’t negatively impact your payment gateways. 

While this can certainly be beneficial for large stores who value flexibility, it often requires a larger development team to build and manage. Building a headless enterprise ecommerce solution can also take much longer and require more resources. 

Open-source ecommerce platforms

Open-source platforms make their source code publicly accessible to read and modify however users see fit. This gives businesses much more flexibility, as developers can create custom commerce solutions for absolutely any need that your online business has. You’re not limited by or locked into certain terms or rules, and you maintain full control over every aspect of your online store.

With open source, there’s often a large community with a spirit of innovation. For example, with WordPress and WooCommerce, there are thousands of plugins and extensions — created by both third-party developers and the team at WooCommerce — to add functionality to websites.

Some open-source software is free to download, which makes it possible to run an online business that costs exactly what it needs to, and no more than that. Total cost of ownership, including hosting, advanced functionality, and payment processing fees can be individually selected, offering unparalleled cost efficiency.

Learn more about the difference between open and closed source software in this blog post.

Now that you have a little bit of background, it’s time to find the right enterprise ecommerce software for your business. We’ll take a look at seven popular options in this enterprise ecommerce platform comparison.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source ecommerce platform built specifically for WordPress. Because it’s open source, it offers ultimate flexibility. Your development team can build any type of site, add functionality through extensions, and customize the source code as needed. You also maintain full control and ownership over every aspect of your online store.

With WooCommerce, there are no limits to the types of products or services a business can sell. Charge monthly for your services or for membership programs. Send subscription boxes. Sell downloads or license keys. Create custom pricing and access for each client, group of clients, or wholesale accounts. Manage multiple stores or websites from the same admin dashboard.

On top of that, there are endless ways to set up payments, shipping, inventory management, and more. You can integrate your store with any of the other tools or selling platforms you’re already using. Woo Enterprise businesses get all of that in addition to a dedicated customer success manager, top-notch performance, and great security features. 

It’s no wonder ecommerce enterprises like Kellox, wet n wild, and Nutribullet choose WooCommerce to power their stores.

Features of WooCommerce:

• A wealth of payment options. With WooCommerce, you can offer tons of payment options to your customers — traditional credit/debit cards, “buy now, pay later” options, financing, digital wallets, in-person card readers, cryptocurrency, and more.
• Powerful integrations. Integrate with any tools you need, from customer relationship management software to enterprise resource planning systems. The WooCommerce marketplace has thousands of extensions available, but if there’s not one for your tool, your developer can create a connection for you with the WordPress REST API.
• Full design customization. In addition to fully-customizable source code, you can also harness the power of WordPress. Use the Block Editor and Site Editor to create everything from pages and posts to checkout pages and product archives by simply dragging and dropping elements into place.
• Lots of shipping configurations. No matter how complicated your shipping setup is, WooCommerce has a solution for you. Thanks to built-in features and extensions, you can charge based on weight, cart total, dimensions, location, and any other number of factors. 
• A dedicated customer success manager. Your friendly, helpful customer success manager can provide personalized guidance on your ecommerce strategy and offer business-boosting resources. You’ll also have access to round-the-clock priority support.
• High performance that scales. You can scale your store as large as you’d like, and know that your ecommerce platform will grow right alongside you while running smoothly, securely, and efficiently. 
• The ability to choose your own hosting provider. Instead of being locked into a required hosting plan that you have little control over, you can choose any provider that you’d like based on factors like security, performance, resources, and staging functionality.
• Options to sell any type of product or service. WooCommerce is a great option for physical and digital stores, service-based businesses, and more. You can sell everything from physical products and digital downloads to subscriptions, memberships, wholesale items, bookings, software licenses, and more.
• Top-notch security. WooCommerce includes features to protect your content and customer data. For extra peace of mind, you’ll have the option to add any other security tools you’d like.
• Omnichannel selling capabilities. Sync product information — like inventory levels and photos — with your other platforms, like Amazon, Walmart, and Facebook Marketplace.
• Migration support. WooCommerce Enterprise includes data migration and basic site setup so you can hit the ground running right away.

Benefits of WooCommerce:

• You’ll maintain full ownership over your store and data. You don’t need to worry about your store being taken down at any point by your provider, and you can use your information and data any way you’d like, including moving it to another host or platform.
• You only pay for what you need. WooCommerce itself is free enterprise commerce software, and you can purchase extensions to add functionality as needed. You won’t be stuck paying hefty prices for functionality you’re not even using, but still benefit from total flexibility. This ultimately reduces your total cost of ownership (TCO).  

Price of WooCommerce:

Woo Enterprise plans are completely custom — you can request a demo and quote here.

Note that you will need to purchase hosting separately, since this is an open-source tool. It does, however, include a $2,000 USD annual discount on Pressable hosting. Pricing will vary based on the provider that you choose. 

2. Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a cloud-based, SaaS enterprise ecommerce software with headless capabilities. It offers powerful tools for small businesses, like PWA options, automated workflows, and integrations with third-party partners. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other Salesforce tools, like their popular CRM, for a more complete and streamlined marketing process.

However, you’ll need an advanced development team on your side to effectively use Salesforce Commerce Cloud. While it enables businesses to take advantage of a lot of customization, that customization can be very complicated. Their plans can also be quite pricey. 

Features of Salesforce Commerce Cloud:

• Progressive web app (PWA) capabilities. Developers have access to a powerful PWA with server-side rendering, native device capabilities, and more.
• A flexible framework. Create immersive experiences like AR try-ons and shoppable blog posts.
• Enterprise-grade security. Benefit from built-in features like a web application firewall, DDOS protection, and security monitoring.
• Performance tools. Salesforce Commerce Cloud includes performance-focused features like a global content delivery network (CDN) and caching.
• Automated setup flows and templates. Speed up your site launch with pre-built setup flows and templates based on your ecommerce business type.
• Certified partner apps. Connect to third-party tools with a library of applications.
• A variety of payment solutions. Collect payments via invoices, chat bots, and more. Or integrate with more traditional providers like PayPal. 
• Omnichannel selling capabilities. Sell across multiple channels, but manage orders from a single dashboard.

Benefits of Salesforce Commerce Cloud:

• It allows your development team to create hyper-personalized, marketing-driven customer experiences.
• It has a lot of built-in automation tools that simplify the management of enterprise-level online stores.
• It includes advanced analytics tools that provide deep insights into customer behaviors.

Price of Salesforce Commerce Cloud:

Pricing for Salesforce Commerce Cloud varies widely and it can be confusing to configure a plan with all the options that you need. You must first choose a commerce plan that is priced based on factors like:

• Your business type (B2B, B2C, etc.).
• Features required.
• Number of price books (sets of pricing for products).
• Number of stores.
• The number of credits you’d like for their on-demand sandbox environment (which scales automatically with your site).
• Your number of “unmanaged orders” (orders on other platforms that you want to sync with your online store).

Then, you select a customer support plan that ranges from basic instructional resources to a designed success manager. 

Finally, there are all sorts of add-ons, marketing automation platforms, and other features that you may need to purchase to fulfill your website’s needs.

While this does allow you to create a very custom pricing plan, it can also be very confusing. Pricing is also not publicly visible — you’ll need to reach out for a quote.

3. Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is a plan built specifically for enterprise businesses. It offers advanced features for large stores, like a load-tested checkout, omnichannel capabilities, wholesale functionality, and more. 

Shopify Plus is a closed-source, self-hosted platform. While it does offer some advanced customization capabilities — specifically when it comes to third-party integrations — the code is still proprietary. This means that there is a limit when it comes to flexibility and control. 

It’s also important to note that Shopify Plus does offer a built-in payment processor. But if you choose to use a different one, you’ll need to pay both your processor’s fees, and a 0.20% transaction fee to Shopify for each sale. This means Shopify Plus can very quickly eat into profits.

Features of Shopify Plus:

• Third-party tool integration. Sync your store with the other third party apps and tools that you use thanks to add-ons or custom API integrations.
• Headless options. Shopify Plus includes a headless tech stack if you want to go that route for your business.
• Omnichannel commerce. Sync your online store with a variety of selling channels, social media tools, and in-person retail commerce solutions.
• Wholesale functionality. Set payment terms, quantity rules, and payment displays for your wholesale customers.
• Built-in security and analytics. Lock down your site with data encryption, bot protection, and more. Plus, you’ll get access to reporting tools.
• A library of themes and a drag-and-drop editor. Shopify Plus offers a small library of themes you can use to build your site, plus an editor that makes creating pages simpler.
• Immersive capabilities. Shopify Plus includes tools for 3D models, augmented reality, and “try before you buy”. 
• 24/7 priority support. Get access to round-the-clock support, plus a library of resources.

Benefits of Shopify Plus:

• You can get started relatively quickly thanks to themes and a drag-and-drop builder.
• Shopify Plus requires less maintenance than other platforms, since it’s a self-hosted option. But keep in mind that this also means less control for store owners.

Price of Shopify Plus:

Plans start at $2,300 per month when billed annually. Costs can vary based on your business processes, structure, and size, though, so you’ll need to reach out for a custom plan to determine your total costs for this particular enterprise platform.

4. BigCommerce Enterprise

BigCommerce markets themselves as “open SaaS”, explaining that they offer the ongoing maintenance and support of a SaaS platform while still offering flexibility for businesses. Hosting, security, performance, and support is included in all of their plans, with enterprise-level resources and features available for larger stores.

BigCommerce supports cross-channel ecommerce, a variety of payment options, wholesale and B2B models, and more. They also have a library of free and premium add-ons for additional functionality.

While BigCommerce does include a built-in page editor and options to customize code, the theme library is much more limited than with other platforms like WooCommerce. And, at the end of the day, it’s still a SaaS ecommerce tool — you don’t have access to all of the source code and you lack the control of open source tools.

Features of BigCommerce Enterprise:

• A built-in page builder. Create pages without needing to work with code.
• A variety of integrations via add-ons. Install add-ons to integrate with everything from accounting tools to other sales channels.
• Various payment options. Accept digital wallets alongside a variety of traditional payment methods and currencies.
• Headless commerce options. BigCommerce offers headless options, integrating with multiple front-end frameworks, content management systems, and digital experience platforms.
• Cross-channel ecommerce capabilities. Sell on social media, third-party marketplaces, and via in-person POS systems all at the same time.
• B2B configurations. Segment your customers, send them purchase orders, create custom pricing, manage quotes, and more.
• Faceted search. Elasticsearch is built into BigCommerce, providing advanced search tools and custom fields.
• 24/7 support. Get technical support any time of day or night. They also offer additional services for launch, growth, and more.

Benefits of BigCommerce Enterprise:

• It’s a bit more customizable than some competing SaaS platforms.
• It offers a wealth of support options (with varying prices) that cover multiple aspects of running a successful online business.
• It supports multiple commerce models, from B2C and B2B to wholesale.

Price of BigCommerce Enterprise:

Like some other enterprise ecommerce solutions, plans are completely custom and based on projected sales volume and integrations.

5. Adobe Commerce 

Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento or Magento Commerce) is an open-source enterprise ecommerce platform. As such, you can choose where it’s hosted (on premise or on the cloud) and fully customize the source code. You may need a team of developers with specific technical expertise to help you build out your store.

You’ll get access to a library of extensions and can integrate with a variety of outside tools thanks to their API. But ongoing site maintenance, management, security, and more will fall into your hands.

It integrates with Adobe’s powerful suite of tools — like Target, Experience Manager, and Real-Time Customer Data Platform — for a holistic approach to customer management and insights and can even assist as a kind of marketing automation platform. If you’re already using these tools, this could be a good option for your business.

Features of Adobe Commerce:

• A progressive web app (PWA). Create a PWA for your store so that your visitors can benefit from an immersive mobile optimization experience. It combines the speed and ease of use of a mobile app with the power of desktop browsers.
• B2B store functionality. Adobe Commerce offers a B2B option that allows customers to manage their own accounts. Plus, you can create buyer categories with special pricing and permissions, track quotes and orders, and more.
• A variety of payment options. Accept everything from debit and credit cards to digital wallets and buy-now-pay-later plans.
• Integrations with Amazon and Walmart. It integrates well with Amazon and even includes store fulfillment by Walmart Commerce.
• A page builder. Drag and drop design elements and products to build your own pages.
• Cloud-based service. This configuration includes a global CDN, security protection, image optimization, and more.
• An open API. Connect to any third party tool you’d like thanks to the REST API.

Benefits of Adobe Commerce:

• You can manage multiple brands and types of stores at once, from the same dashboard.
• It’s open source, so you can customize the code however you see fit for a truly unique enterprise-level store.

Price of Adobe Commerce:

Pricing plans are custom and based on your individual ecommerce business needs.

6. SAP Commerce Cloud

This enterprise ecommerce business solution was built specifically for large organizations, and supports B2B, B2C, and hybrid business models. It provides headless ecommerce options thanks to its API and decoupled JavaScript-based store setup.

While it allows for a good amount of flexibility and has some great features for very complex international stores with large product catalogs, it also has a steep learning curve. You’ll need a development team that has a lot of training on the platform to build and maintain your store.

Features of SAP Commerce Cloud:

• Out-of-the-box integrations. By default, it integrates with SAP S/4HANA and other SAP CX solutions. If you want to connect to other tools, your developer can do so using their API.
• Support for large product catalogs and international audiences. It offers unique features for large volumes of products, like support for multiple languages and currencies.
• B2B ecommerce features. Enjoy B2B self-service portals, support for super complex product configurations, quotes and negotiations, and more.

Benefits of SAP Commerce Cloud:

• It provides excellent tools for very complex product setups, especially for stores handling a lot of different currencies and languages.
• It offers a lot of customizability for developers who are experienced with the platform.

Price of SAP Commerce Cloud:

Pricing is custom, and you can reach out to them for a demo and quote.

7. Oracle Commerce Cloud

Oracle Commerce Cloud is part of the Oracle suite of tools. It was structured to be API-first, so developers can take full advantage of that setup to create something pretty custom. However, it does have quite the learning curve, so you’ll need to find a team that’s experienced with Oracle Commerce Cloud in particular.

It integrates very well with other Oracle tools for supply chain management, manufacturing, data, and more. It isn’t quite as simple to sync your store with third-party tools, so this could be a good option if you’re already using Oracle for other functionality but may not be suitable for your first foray into Oracle software.

Features of Oracle Commerce Cloud:

• Multisite capabilities. Host multiple sites in the same place for easier management. Plus, create branded microsites faster and more seamlessly.
• Separate studios for business managers and developers. Oracle separates dashboards for technically-minded users and those who just want to manage the store. This makes website work easier and faster on all accounts.
• Simple integrations. Use their API and webhooks to sync your store with third-party tools.
• Self-service tools for clients. Empower B2B clients by allowing them to manage subscriptions, quotes, and more without having to reach out.
• The Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This system includes security controls, top-notch performance, and more.

Benefits of Oracle Commerce Cloud:

• It offers options for both B2B and B2C stores, as well multisite setups.
• Developers can use Oracle as a headless system, if desired.

Price of Oracle Commerce Cloud:

Pricing is completely custom, so you can reach out for an exact price based on your needs.

If you’re considering ecommerce platform migration in order to better support your growing business, then there are some things to keep in mind. Let’s take a look at a few considerations.

Align on a launch date

It’s critical to determine a specific date and time to launch so that everyone involved is on the same page. This is also helpful if you’re notifying your customers and clients about the new site launch ahead of time — it can be a great way to generate buzz and excitement!

There are a variety of ways you can approach launching your site on the new platform. The safer route might be to choose a day and time when your store is the least busy. For example, the top B2B enterprise companies see their lowest traffic volumes on Sunday evenings. This, of course, will vary based on your business and audience.

Another approach is to migrate in advance of a peak selling season or new product launch. While this could add a bit of risk if something goes wrong, it could also be a way to generate excitement and rally customers around your brand.

Secure your customer data

Your first consideration when it comes to customer data is security. It’s absolutely imperative that you encrypt or otherwise secure all order information and customer account information as you migrate your website.

You also want to back up all of that information — securely! — so that you have records of all purchases and other customer data in case you need them.

If you’re running a store that relies heavily on customer accounts, this is going to be an even bigger factor to consider. Do they have existing subscriptions? Are you sending them quotes or invoices? Do they have access to certain types of content? Do they have accounts with passwords and usernames? Do they have role-based pricing?

Make sure that you not only have a plan to transfer this information to the new site, but that you have onboarding business processes to make things as easy as possible for your customers. That might include providing them with documentation, sending automatic emails for account setup, or ensuring that your support team is well-trained and available immediately after launch.

Determine the cost of migration

As an enterprise store, you’ll need a firm grasp on the investment required for the migration process. It’s important to note that, in most cases, you’ll only be able to migrate your data, not your actual website design. Each platform is built differently, so you’ll need to work with your development team to recreate the frontend of your website before finishing the migration process. Or, perhaps now is the perfect time to pivot to a fresh look and feel.  

There are several different options for migrating, and your choices largely depend on the platform you’re migrating from and to. Some ecommerce solutions, for example, include migration support with their enterprise plans, though others charge an additional fee. 

If your in-house team needs migration support, consider bringing on a developer or agency that specializes in platform migrations. This can be a great route, since they can typically handle both data migration and site design. You can also have a detailed conversation with them about any unique aspects that they should keep in mind during site migration.

If you’re migrating to WooCommerce and would like developer support, we recommend working with a certified Woo Agency Partner. They’re all vetted, trusted WooCommerce experts that can help with any aspect of your project. You can filter the partner library by time zone, language, price, and more.

Plan for any potential downtime

In most cases, when a migration is performed correctly, there shouldn’t be downtime. However, it’s important to plan for any possible scenario. 

This includes ensuring that you have a full backup of your current site on hand, prepping a “down for maintenance” or “coming soon” page that you can display in case of any issues, and providing an alternative way for existing customers to get in touch with you — social media, phone, email, etc.

You’ll also want a checklist and pre-set protocols for emergencies — such as when to simply revert DNS settings back to the original site to continue operations while you troubleshoot the new site in a staging environment. 

Integrate all third-party tools

If you use third-party tools like CRMs, enterprise resource planning software, inventory management solutions, or accounting software, you’ll need to make sure that those are integrated with your new website. In many cases, enterprise ecommerce platforms will have out-of-the-box integrations or extensions that make connections simple, and you’ll be able to test your new website in a staging environment prior to launch. In others, your developer may need to create an integration using an API.

Test your new website

Test everything. And then, test it again.

Make sure all of your links work. Check all of your ecommerce functionality, from cart and checkout processes to shipping, payments, and account management. Ensure that all of your forms work and that you receive notifications. Test your search functionality and 404 page. 

Review your site on all browsers and devices. Use tools like Google PageSpeed and GTMetrix to test your website speed on multiple device types and from several locations. Double check that everything works well from an accessibility standpoint.

Have a variety of team members go through this process. And, ideally, have members of your audience test as well. You can use real customers or clients, or use providers like UserTesting to get feedback from people who meet specifications of your choosing. 

Of course, there are other considerations and steps to take before launching on your new platform and sharing your site with the world. Have a thorough discussion with your team and developers to make sure nothing is missed. And if you’re looking for a starting point, check out our essential pre-launch checklist.

We might be a little biased, but we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe it was true. Now that we’ve covered the top options and what you should look for, let’s review why WooCommerce is the best enterprise ecommerce platform.

At its core, WooCommerce is flexible. As an open-source solution, your development team can edit every single aspect of the source code to create completely custom functionality. 

Thanks to the Block Editor and Site Editor, other team members can quickly make any changes necessary to the site — edit text, publish products, switch out images, add to the blog, and more. There’s also an entire extension library full of integrations and extra functionality that can enhance your site without needing to work with code whatsoever.

Have unique payment gateways or processors? Want to sell subscriptions, memberships, services, or bookings? Have a wholesale side of your business? Do you sell internationally and in multiple currencies or languages? WooCommerce can accommodate all of it.

You’ll also be able to choose the security and performance tools you want to use and benefit from numerous enterprise ecommerce hosting options. You can customize these to the specific needs of your ecommerce business to form a solid foundation for continued growth. 

Consider Jetpack Security. This powerful plugin offers security features like real-time backups that save a copy of your site every time a change or sale is made, automatic malware scans, brute force attack protection, and spam prevention. And that’s just one example — you can choose any plugin, extension, or outside service you like!

Bonus: With an enterprise plan, you’ll get a $2,000 discount on Pressable hosting!

You can choose from a large variety payment processor extensions, or use the REST API to integrate with other tools. WooPayments is one excellent option, accepting everything from debit and credit cards to digital wallets, international currencies, and in-person payments. 

And whether you have simple or intricate shipping and inventory management configurations, WooCommerce can support them and even sync your store with other selling platforms so your inventory is always accurate. Integrate with third-party inventory management and shipping providers, and use extensions to create complex shipping rules based on factors like weight, distance, cart total, location, and more.

You get all of this alongside a strong developer community and helpful support team. You’ll even benefit from a dedicated customer support manager and solutions architect. 

Plus, WooCommerce and WordPress are so widely used around the globe, you’ll never struggle to find competent agencies or developers who can knowledgeably resolve issues or completely design custom enterprise commerce solutions when an existing extension doesn’t quite meet your needs.

It’s easy to see why WooCommerce stands out among the top enterprise ecommerce platforms. 

Ready to roll? Get a custom quote, explore the Woo Agency Partner hub, and get to know some recommended hosts.

Still have questions? Let’s answer some common ones.

What is an enterprise ecommerce platform?

Enterprise ecommerce platforms are tools designed for online stores with large sales volumes. It provides all the functionality required to run an ecommerce store, while also including additional tools and support for enterprise level businesses, specifically.

How much does an enterprise ecommerce platform cost? 

Costs vary widely based on factors like the platform you use, your sales volume, your number of products, and more. Most of the time, an enterprise level ecommerce platform will offer custom prices for each individual store. 

What is considered an enterprise store?

Enterprise stores typically operate on a large scale and have a more complex structure, such as several divisions. They often operate internationally and have a variety of products and product types.

Why should I migrate to WooCommerce?

If your ecommerce business is growing, now is a great time to migrate to WooCommerce Enterprise. It provides endless flexibility, dedicated support, lots of top-notch features for large businesses, and ultimate control over your organization. Plus, it offers a lower total cost of ownership than other tools, since it’s open-source and allows you to essentially fill in the exact functionality you need.

Does WooCommerce include hosting?

No, WooCommerce does not include hosting, as it’s an open-source ecommerce platform. You can choose from any hosting provider or cloud hosting provider that you’d like, allowing you to scale much more easily as your business grows and avoid vendor lock-in. 

Does Woo Enterprise include custom site builds? 

If you are launching a website, Woo Enterprise can help architect the solution. We can also direct your team or existing agency on the best approach. If a complete custom site build is required, we can connect you with an officially vetted Woo Agency Partner to assist.

What are some examples of large stores using WooCommerce?

Here are just a few of the enterprise businesses that trust WooCommerce:

• Universal Yums
• Nalgene
• ISC Sales
• Xero Shoes
• Nutribullet
• Skytech Gaming
• Wet n’ Wild Beauty 
• Montvel

What value will I get out of Woo Enterprise?

• Access to business-boosting resources through a single point of contact.
• Personalized guidance on ecommerce strategy from a dedicated Customer Success Manager and Solution Architects.
• Round-the-clock priority support for technical challenges with your store.

Who qualifies for Woo Enterprise?

• Anyone wanting to migrate to WooCommerce from another platform.
• Existing customers looking for comprehensive support in their ecommerce journey.

Does Woo Enterprise offer migration support?

Yes! Woo Enterprise includes data migration and site setup. Additionally, certified Woo Agency Partners can assist with more advanced configurations. Get in touch to discuss a migration plan tailored to your store.

The time that migration takes depends on the amount of content and the level of customization required. Migration projects can range from two to four weeks; larger-scale moves may require more planning and testing.

About

Brent MacKinnon

Brent MacKinnon is the director of product marketing and developer advocacy at WooCommerce, helping to make the platform better for developers and merchants alike. With over a decade of experience in product marketing and strategy, Brent is passionate about supporting the WooCommerce community and helping entrepreneurs of all kinds succeed with Woo.