The web hosting platform and necessary services required to run an online store are provided by e-commerce hosting. A company that offers E-commerce hosting services can offer everything from the domain name to the online storefront, shopping cart, and inventory management.
Although managing an online business can be challenging, it can be made easier with the right E-commerce hosting package. Knowing e-commerce hosting is essential if you want to grow your website’s traffic, generate sales, or advertise your online business.
The essential components of Ecommerce hosting have been marked. You need to understand how it operates, which kind of hosting is ideal for e-commerce, and how the various platforms compare by the time you finish reading this article.
What is Ecommerce Web Hosting?
Web hosting services specifically created to help online businesses involved in electronic commerce, or ecommerce, are referred to as ecommerce web hosting.
Ecommerce platforms, as opposed to traditional websites, need particular features and functionalities to process data carefully, handle the complicated nature of online transactions, and control the heavy volume of traffic that comes with online shopping.
A key element of web hosting for e-commerce is the availability of a dependable and safe server infrastructure. This guarantees that sensitive consumer data, including payment and personal information, is protected.
Secure protocols and SSL certificates are examples of security measures that are essential for protecting transactions and building customer trust. E-commerce hosting services also frequently come with features like frequent security updates and threat detection and prevention monitoring.
Performance optimization is another essential part of hosting for e-commerce websites. Fast and responsive websites are crucial for delivering a flawless shopping experience, especially considering the competitive nature of online businesses.
Content delivery networks (CDNs), caching techniques, and scalable server resources are features that e-commerce hosting companies usually provide to guarantee optimal website speed and performance—even during periods of high traffic.
Another important consideration for e-commerce web hosting is scalability. Businesses’ hosting requirements change as they expand. To handle this expansion, e-commerce hosting services offer scalable solutions that can adjust to rising website traffic, product listings, and customer databases.
Online sellers can accommodate growth thanks to this scalability without sacrificing user experience or performance.
Furthermore, e-commerce web hosting frequently comes with features designed especially for managing online stores. Incorporating popular e-commerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, or Shopify may be necessary for this, in addition to offering tools for order processing, inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM).
These functions help an online store run smoothly by optimizing workflows and promoting overall productivity levels for businesses.
Ecommerce web hosting is a specialized form of hosting that caters to the unique needs of online businesses engaged in electronic commerce. It encompasses elements such as security, performance optimization, scalability, and tailored features for efficient store management.
Choosing the right ecommerce hosting provider is crucial for the success of an online business, ensuring a secure, fast, and reliable platform for conducting online transactions.
How Does Ecommerce Hosting Work?
An online storefront is a requirement shared by all Ecommerce stores. Your website is the storefront in this particular situation. The domain name is the store’s name and address.
A server houses the space that your online store takes up. Your hosting provider is the space’s owner, and you pay them rent. A lot of hosts also provide services that go beyond simple configuration.
Registration of a domain gives your online store a name and address. To host your website, a domain registration is required. You can get a domain name from your hosting provider.
Hosting is the practice of leasing server space for your website’s content. A website needs space on a server to connect to the internet. Depending on the resources your website needs, you may require dedicated or shared space.
A website or website builder tool to create your store is called an online storefront. A website is a must, and it must look good. Either hire a professional to design your website, or use the templates and website building tools your e-commerce hosting provider offers.
An eCommerce solution that can take payments is required. You can construct your store and add the plug-ins needed to process payments with the support of an eCommerce platform such as WooCommerce or Magento. Certain tools will handle the hosting for you as well, such as Shopify.
The core components of eCommerce hosting include:
- Server Space: Ecommerce websites require a dedicated space on a server to store their website files, product information, and customer data. Hosting providers offer various server options, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting, catering to different website traffic and performance needs.
- Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred between your website and visitors’ browsers. High bandwidth is crucial for eCommerce websites to handle large product images, smooth checkout processes, and maintain overall website responsiveness.
- Software: eCommerce hosting providers often offer pre-installed eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, or Magento, making it easy to set up and manage an online store. These platforms provide features for product management, inventory control, customer management, payment processing, and order fulfillment.
- Security: eCommerce websites handle sensitive customer information and financial transactions, making security paramount. Hosting providers employ various security measures, including firewalls, malware protection, and data encryption, to safeguard eCommerce websites from cyberattacks.
- Scalability: As your eCommerce business grows, your hosting plan should accommodate increased traffic, product volume, and transaction processing. Scalable hosting solutions allow you to upgrade your server resources and bandwidth seamlessly to meet evolving demands.
- Support: Reliable customer support is essential for eCommerce businesses, especially when dealing with technical issues or unexpected server downtime. Hosting providers offer various support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, to assist their customers promptly.
Ecommerce hosting plays a vital role in enabling businesses to establish and operate successful online stores.
By providing the necessary infrastructure, tools, and security measures, eCommerce hosting empowers businesses to reach a global audience, manage their online operations effectively, and drive sales growth.
What Types of Hosting Work Best for Ecommerce?
While all hosts function, some perform better than others. Learn about the requirements and demands for your website, taking into account the resources, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
After that, choose the kind of hosting package that best suits your needs.
- Shared Ecommerce hosting – The cheapest option: Here, your store and website will share a server with numerous other companies. Although each of you will receive a certain amount of server space, there may occasionally be speed hiccups. This could happen if your neighbors are fighting with you for the same resources, especially when traffic is heavy.
- Ecommerce hosting on dedicated servers: Here, you’ll get your very own private server. For large businesses anticipating high traffic, this is perfect. There is no resource sharing on a private server, and all bandwidth is allocated to maintaining a functional website.
- VPS E-commerce Hosting: Your website will be hosted on servers with other companies, just like with shared hosting, but with this type of hosting, your neighbors can’t hog your resources.
- Cloud-Based Ecommerce Hosting: Businesses that exceed the capacity of shared hosting should consider cloud-based e-commerce hosting. Here, you’ll have on-demand power usage and access to resources throughout the entire data center.
Here is a table that summarizes the pros and cons of each type of hosting for ecommerce:
| Type of Hosting | Pros | Cons |
| Cloud Web Hosting | Scalable, flexible, high availability | More expensive than shared hosting |
| VPS Web Hosting | More dedicated than shared hosting, less expensive than cloud hosting | Not as scalable as cloud hosting |
| Dedicated Web Hosting | Most performance and control | Most expensive |
| Managed Shared WooCommerce Hosting | Easy to set up, technical support and maintenance | More expensive than shared hosting |
The best type of hosting for your ecommerce business will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you are a small business with a low budget, then shared hosting may be a good option.
If you have a medium-sized business with moderate traffic, then VPS hosting may be a better choice. And if you have a large business with high traffic, then cloud hosting or dedicated hosting may be the best option.
Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a hosting provider for your ecommerce business:
- Uptime: The amount of time that your website is up and running.
- Performance: The speed and responsiveness of your website.
- Security: The security features that the hosting provider offers to protect your website from data breaches and other threats.
- Customer support: The quality of customer support that the hosting provider offers.
By considering these factors, you can choose a hosting provider that will help you run a successful ecommerce business.
Top Business E-Commerce Hosting Solutions
The list of businesses that respond to the e-commerce sector has grown as a result of its expansion. These are the biggest and most widely utilized e-commerce web hosting providers by online retailers.
1: BigCommerce
BigCommerce has long been a well-liked solution for small-to-medium-sized businesses, but it has lately gained popularity among mid-market and enterprise companies as well.
It offers many native features, an easy-to-use dashboard, excellent SEO, and the benefits of SaaS, including a lower total cost of ownership and a quicker deployment time.
BigCommerce offers solid headless commerce capabilities and extremely flexible APIs (more on that later).
BigCommerce provides comprehensive educational resources, personalized Enterprise Customer Onboarding, and catalog transfer services to make the re-platforming process easier.
To support the needs of BigCommerce Enterprise clients, Enterprise Account Managers, and Technical Account Managers also offer extra resources and customized support.
In addition, BigCommerce provides a sizable network of agencies and partners that are competent in the platform and can help with design, development, and SEO requirements. The platform may have a steeper learning curve than some other simpler platforms because of its greater native functionality.
On the other hand, BigCommerce University provides specialized training that can quickly bring you and your team up to speed on the platform. This training is available on campus, on-site, and on demand.
2: Salesforce Commerce Cloud
A Software as a Service (SaaS) option for companies wishing to optimize their omnichannel retail is Salesforce Commerce Cloud (formerly Demandware).
It provides an integrated platform that lets companies handle their sales across physical and digital channels with a single, cohesive solution.
Salesforce Cloud Craze is a better option if you run a B2B or hybrid business, as Salesforce Commerce Cloud is designed for B2C businesses.
Though the platform offers a number of ancillary services that can enhance the e-commerce offering, prior programming and web development knowledge may be necessary.
3: Commercetools
Commercetools is an API-driven, microservice-based software-as-a-service platform that is utilized across various industries.
The merchant completes the frontend experience by integrating with web applications or digital experience platforms; commerce tools provide the backend functionality.
The platform can be integrated with DXPs and frontend content management systems such as Bloomreach and Adobe Experience Cloud, in addition to CyberSource, Contentstack, and Fantastic.
For different user experiences, commerce tools can help businesses connect to a range of digital touchpoints, such as mobile apps, IoT, AR/VR apps, and more. It can connect to all frontends and applications.
Commercetools provides features for inventory management, returns management, and multi-store management despite having a limited ecosystem of partners.
4: Adobe Commerce utilizing Magento
With Magento at its core, Adobe Commerce, a component of the Adobe Experience Cloud, can be hosted on-site or in the cloud.
Magento gives you total platform control, supports a sizable product catalog with numerous variants, and offers numerous built-in features for product bundling, multi-store functionality, and other features.
Magento is a well-known brand with a significant market presence.
Your total cost of ownership may be challenging to determine if using Magento Commerce will require a high dependence on designers, and developers, and costly maintenance and support. Magento does, however, have a strong developer community that is available to address any concerns and provide answers.
5: SAP Cloud Commerce and Hybrid Commerce.
SAP Hybris Commerce is available for on-premises or cloud infrastructure hosting; its cloud-based solution is SAP Commerce Cloud.
Businesses with a significant global presence will find SAP Commerce Cloud’s native functionality—which includes multi-site, multi-language, and multi-currency support—appealing, especially when combined with SAP Hybris.
In addition, they provide omnichannel capabilities, subscription order management, Salesforce automation, sophisticated data management tools, and options for multiple catalogs.
6: CX Commerce from Oracle.
The cloud-hosted product spin-off from the on-premise Oracle Commerce is called Oracle CX Commerce, formerly known as Oracle Commerce Cloud. Oracle Commerce Cloud is a SaaS platform that serves B2B and B2C clients across multiple verticals.
Oracle Commerce Cloud features AI capabilities and supports multi-channel strategies in addition to its API-first architecture, which allows for development flexibility. Some consumers, however, have reservations about excessive maintenance and overhead expenses, which can put off retailers on limited funds.
7: Shopify Plus
Shopify is a well-known player in the e-commerce industry. They introduced Shopify Plus in 2014 as a solution for business customers.
The Shopify Plus platform, being a SaaS solution, provides good uptime statistics, security, and management of PCI compliance. Additionally, the Shopify Plus platform provides a customizable checkout, mobile optimization, and ease of use.
The platform offers a comprehensive app catalog, some of which are only available through Shopify Plus, and a dedicated Merchant Success Manager and Launch Manager to support their enterprise clients.
Unfortunately, Shopify Plus depends on third-party apps to fill in the gaps in native functionality, which, when all of the apps you’ll need are added, can significantly raise your total cost of ownership. Don’t forget to account for these expenses when making decisions.
You will also need to use APIs to transfer data between your platform and other systems. Shopify Plus, however, has strict limits on the number of API calls per second.
Two more things to think about:
- Be aware that in addition to the monthly subscription fee, you might also be charged for paid extensions, themes, and plug-ins, as well as additional transaction fees, especially if you don’t use Shopify’s in-house payment processor.
- Compared to other platforms, Shopify Plus has less B2B functionality, and it can only accommodate up to 10 storefronts.
8: WooCommerce Entrepreneurship
Merchants can use WooCommerce hosting, an open-source, customizable WordPress plugin, to turn their blogs and websites into virtual stores. It provides multichannel options, multiple payment gateways, and SEO features.
It has a vast and expanding application and extension store, is free to use, and has a fully functional integration with WordPress hosting.
Additionally, because it’s a WordPress plugin and depends on the platform, store owners must handle their own PCI compliance. Features like coupons and abandoned cart recovery also come with additional costs.
Why is eCommerce Focused Hosting So Important?
Ecommerce-focused hosting can be highlighted in several ways and is essential to the success of online businesses. First and foremost, an eCommerce website’s functionality and speed are vital.
These days, users anticipate fast loading times, so any delays could result in a bad user experience and possibly lost business.
Ecommerce-focused hosting is designed to meet the unique requirements of online retailers, guaranteeing quick checkout times, smooth navigation, and fast page loads.
Ecommerce focused hosting is important for several reasons:
- Performance and scalability: eCommerce stores require a high level of performance to handle large amounts of traffic and process transactions quickly. eCommerce focused hosting providers offer servers that are specifically designed to meet the demands of eCommerce stores, with features such as high-speed SSD storage, ample RAM, and powerful processors. This ensures that your store can handle traffic spikes during peak periods and provide a smooth and responsive user experience for your customers.
- Security: eCommerce stores handle sensitive customer data, such as credit card numbers and personal information. eCommerce focused hosting providers offer a variety of security features to protect your store from cyberattacks, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and malware scanning. They also provide PCI compliance support to help you meet industry standards for data security.
- Reliability: It is critical for eCommerce stores to be up and running at all times. eCommerce focused hosting providers offer uptime guarantees and 24/7 support to ensure that your store is always available to your customers. They also have redundant infrastructure in place to minimize downtime in the event of a hardware or software failure.
- Ease of use: eCommerce focused hosting providers often offer one-click installation for popular eCommerce platforms, such as WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento. They also provide tutorials and support to help you manage your store and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
- Cost-effectiveness: eCommerce focused hosting providers offer a variety of plans to fit different budgets and needs. You can choose a plan that is tailored to the size and complexity of your store, and you can scale your plan up or down as your business grows.
In addition to these general benefits, eCommerce focused hosting providers may also offer additional features that are specifically beneficial for eCommerce stores, such as:
- Shopping cart integration: This allows you to connect your store with a popular shopping cart system, such as PayPal or Stripe.
- Payment gateway integration: This allows you to process payments securely through your store.
- Shipping integration: This allows you to connect your store with a shipping carrier, such as FedEx or UPS.
- Tax calculation: This automatically calculates and applies sales tax to your orders.
- Inventory management: This tracks your inventory levels and alerts you when you need to reorder stock.
Overall, eCommerce focused hosting is a valuable investment for any business that operates an online store.
It can help you improve performance, security, reliability, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, and it can provide you with the features you need to run a successful eCommerce business.
Things to Think About When Selecting a Store Host
Selecting a store host is a crucial decision for any e-commerce business. The right host can provide the necessary infrastructure, support, and resources to help your store grow and succeed. Here are some things to think about when selecting a store host:
1: Functionality and Features
- E-commerce Platform Compatibility: Ensure the host supports your chosen e-commerce platform, such as Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce.
- Scalability: Consider your store’s growth potential and choose a host that can accommodate increasing traffic and data volume.
- Security: Opt for a host with robust security measures to protect your store’s data and transactions.
- Payment Processing: Confirm the host supports your preferred payment gateways for seamless transactions.
- Marketing Tools: Evaluate the host’s marketing tools and integrations to enhance your store’s visibility and reach.
2: Performance and Reliability
- Uptime: Prioritize a host with a proven track record of high uptime to minimize downtime and ensure your store is always accessible.
- Speed and Load Time: Choose a host that delivers fast page loading speeds for a positive user experience.
- Bandwidth: Select a host with sufficient bandwidth to handle your store’s traffic and prevent bottlenecks.
- Infrastructure: Assess the host’s infrastructure, including data centers and servers, to ensure it can handle your store’s demands.
3: Support and Customer Service
- Technical Support: Evaluate the host’s technical support availability, responsiveness, and expertise in resolving issues promptly.
- Customer Service: Consider the host’s customer service reputation, response times, and willingness to address your concerns.
- Documentation and Resources: Check the host’s documentation and resource availability for self-service troubleshooting and support.
4: Pricing and Value
- Pricing Structure: Analyze the host’s pricing structure and ensure it aligns with your budget and growth plans.
- Bundled Services: Evaluate the host’s bundled services and determine if they offer additional value for your needs.
- Hidden Fees: Be transparent about potential hidden fees or additional charges associated with the host’s services.
5: Reputation and Reviews
- Industry Recognition: Check the host’s industry recognition, awards, and certifications for credibility.
- Customer Reviews: Read customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the host’s performance and reliability.
- Community Engagement: Assess the host’s involvement in online communities and forums to demonstrate their commitment to the e-commerce industry.
Remember, selecting a store host is an investment in your e-commerce business’s success. Take your time, carefully evaluate your options, and choose a host that aligns with your specific needs and goals.
Conclusion
For ecommerce stores, choosing the right host eliminates a lot of headaches. Use cases will differ depending on the business, but certain elements apply in all situations.
Business owners who keep these things in mind will be able to choose the best ecommerce hosting package for their requirements.
Since your online store is the foundation of your company, choosing an eCommerce hosting provider is essential. Thus, it must be:
- Secure
- Within your financial means,
- Capable of managing anticipated volumes of traffic,
- Possess a large number of practical integrations
- Best possible outcome
A suitable ecommerce web hosting is essential to run your online store. It offers a responsive site, server security, and technical support.
The ecommerce hosting solution has to fit your business demands. You should consider all the factors mentioned as you pick an ecommerce web host.
An excellent hosting provider will improve your ecommerce business with an optimal running website.
Learn more about ecommerce hosting on the Hosting Mastery Hub.
FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q#1: What is ecommerce web hosting?
Ecommerce web hosting is a type of web hosting that is specifically designed for online stores. It provides the server space, bandwidth, and software necessary to run an ecommerce website, including shopping carts, payment gateways, and customer management tools.
Q#2: Why do I need ecommerce web hosting?
If you are planning to sell products or services online, you need ecommerce web hosting. Regular web hosting is not designed to handle the traffic and security requirements of an online store. Ecommerce web hosting will help you to ensure that your website is fast, secure, and reliable.
Q#3: What are the different types of ecommerce web hosting?
There are three main types of ecommerce web hosting: shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, but it is not as powerful or scalable as VPS hosting or dedicated hosting.
VPS hosting is a good option for medium-sized businesses, while dedicated hosting is the best option for large businesses with high traffic and security requirements.
Q#4: How much does ecommerce web hosting cost?
The cost of ecommerce web hosting will vary depending on your needs. Shared hosting plans start at around $5 per month, while VPS hosting plans start at around $20 per month. Dedicated hosting plans can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month.
Q#5: What features should I look for in an ecommerce web hosting plan?
Some of the most important features to look for in an ecommerce web hosting plan include:
- Server space and bandwidth: Make sure that your hosting plan has enough server space and bandwidth to handle your website’s traffic.
- Shopping cart software: Most ecommerce web hosting plans will include shopping cart software, such as Magento or WooCommerce.
- Payment gateways: You will need to integrate a payment gateway into your website in order to accept online payments.
- SSL certificate: An SSL certificate will encrypt your website’s data and protect it from hackers.
- Customer support: Make sure that your hosting provider has good customer support in case you need help with your website.
Q#6: How do I choose an ecommerce web hosting provider?
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an ecommerce web hosting provider, including:
- Your needs: What type of website do you have? How much traffic do you expect? What features do you need?
- Your budget: How much can you afford to spend on hosting?
- The provider’s reputation: Read reviews of different hosting providers to see what others have to say about them.
- The provider’s customer support: Make sure that the provider has good customer support in case you need help with your website.
