How To Choose the Best Technology Stack For the Development of eCommerce Websites?

• By Amanda
• 26-01-2023
• E-commerce

Every day, more people shop online, and by 2024, that number is expected to reach 4.5 billion. It should be no surprise that eCommerce is one of the biggest global industries. According to estimates, the e-commerce market has a lot of room to grow and could rise from $3.3 trillion today to $5.4 trillion in 2026 due to the industry's rapid growth.

To fully capitalize on the growing digital market, businesses need to use the most efficient technology they can. It might appear at first glance that e-commerce developments have made constructing a technology stack simpler than before.

However, selecting the best technology for eCommerce development can be challenging. This article will provide helpful tips on choosing the best technology stack for eCommerce website development. Well, if you're looking to know more, keep reading.

What Is a Technology Stack?

Before getting deep into the subject, let's first clarify a technology stack. It is a collection of software, such as operating systems, development languages, databases, libraries, frameworks, tools, and other resources used to build a website.

The concept of the technology stack is introduced to provide software building blocks for developers and their developers to build applications on top of. This way, developers can focus on the application's core and let their technological background help them structure the best solution for their needs.

What Are the Categories of a Technology Stack?

As mentioned before, a technology stack comprises different software and other resources. Therefore, it is divided into various categories to organize the best elements.

If you're looking to develop an e-commerce project, there are four main categories of technology stacks:

Front-end eCommerce technologies:

A front-end technology stack is software for a website's display and operation. For any eCommerce store, front-end technologies are usually chosen for the design and development of a website.

There are different front-end technologies used in tandem. Let's talk about them below:

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language):

It is the core language used for building a website. HTML is constructed of tags and attributes, which add style and behavior to a site. HTML provides the structure for a website, based on which different technologies can be stacked to add features to your eCommerce site.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):

The CSS language is a style sheet that defines how the site's text, images, and other layout attributes should be arranged and styled. CSS defines the general appearance of a website by defining fonts, colors, and decorations.

JavaScript:

It's a programming language that helps create dynamic and interactive website elements. Using JavaScript makes creating interactive indicators, tabs, slideshows, etc., easier for your eCommerce website. With JavaScript, you can add additional features like popups, sliders, and modals to your eCommerce site.

Vue.js:

It's a front-end JavaScript library that enables fast and easy development of Single-page applications. It allows developers to code and organize their ideas in less time. Vue.js is most commonly used in developing Single-page applications by eliminating redundant code and boilerplate methods.

Node.js:

Node.js is a server-side platform used to build robust and scalable web applications. It's a server that uses JavaScript to serve the front end. That reduces the amount of repeated code between the front and server so that both are easier to update and maintain.

React.js:

A flexible JavaScript library helping developers create large web applications that are easy to maintain and scale. React.js helps create reusable UI components, making the development process faster, and also helps in keeping a consistent style across the site's pages.

Angular:

It's a front-end framework for building Single-page applications to make them easier to test, maintain and extend. Angular is responsible for the view layer in MVC, and it also handles how data is converted into HTML elements and how events are propagated to take user interaction.

Back-end eCommerce Technologies:

The backend part of the technology stack stores and processes data for the front end. The back-end can be separate from the front end, and it can also be a hybrid of both, with the right CMS, as Magento permits complete control over the front end and back end of a website. Either way, choosing a back-end technology stack is critical. This would allow you to focus on building your eCommerce website instead of worrying about developing your back end.

There are different back-end technologies used, depending on what your business needs are:

C#:

One of the most popular programming languages used for developing complex applications. C# is a general-purpose programming language that allows programmers to create, test and deploy professional-level software.

Web Server:

A web server is a computer program that delivers content to clients (for example, browsers) based on the type of request. There are different types of servers — Apache, IIS, Nginx, etc. — each serving the purpose of hosting and delivering your website's content.

Database:

A database is a collection of data organized for quick retrieval and modification. In most cases, choosing the proper database for your eCommerce store is necessary. Some databases used by developers include:

• MySQL
• MongoDB
• DynamoDB by Amazon
• Firebase database by Google
• PostgreSQL

Storage:

Storage, also referred to as object-based or object storage, is a method for handling and managing data storage using various units or objects. Such items are stored separately and are not part of the files in the other folders. Nevertheless, object storage combines the data fragments that make up a file, adds all the pertinent metadata to that file, and fixes a custom identifier.

AWS S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Solution):

AWS S3 is an object-based cloud storage service that gives the facility to store large files such as images, multimedia files, and videos in a simple, reliable, and secure way. AWS S3 storage provides durable and inexpensive long-term data storage that's easily accessible.

Firebase Storage by Google:

Firebase by Google is a cloud storage platform for mobile and web apps. Firebase Cloud Storage provides unified storage for mobile, web, and server applications. That's easy to upload and share files and documents.

Third-party services:

Software developers use third-party services to add features to their products that are not supported by existing technologies. Each service has its own APIs that help the developer call upon a specific feature or functionality in their eCommerce store.

There are a variety of services available today, and each provides different features and functionalities:

Analytics tools:

Analytics tools are used to help measure, manage and report on the metrics that matter for the business. These metrics include engagement, conversions, revenue, traffic, and other essential performance indicators.

CRM:

CRM is a customer relationship management tool that helps track and manage existing customers' loyalty, sales, and support. It's useful for companies looking to build strong client relationships through personalized lead management, risk identification, and analysis.

Payment gateways:

Payment gateways are used to accept payment in the eCommerce store securely. It helps you create an automatic and secure checkout process. A payment gateway is often integrated into the eCommerce website's back end, making it more secure for users.

Shipping modules:

Shipping modules provide services that help deliver products bought online. It allows online retailers to provide their customers with different shipping and delivery methods. These modules are also sometimes integrated into an eCommerce platform's back-end, making it more convenient for users to shop online by offering quick delivery options.

Social channels:

Social media presence is created for the eCommerce store by social channels. This can be employed to interact with clients and the target audience, build brand recognition, and even facilitate better SEO.

Programming Languages:

Programming languages are tools that developers use to create their eCommerce stores. They allow programmers to create different types of applications, as well as websites, games, software, and much more.

For eCommerce developers who might need to become more familiar with programming languages, they can choose a wide variety of platforms when developing their sites. Popular programming languages used by eCommerce developers include:

Ruby (Ruby on Rails):

Ruby is a general-purpose programming language used for web development, scripting, and configuration management. It's frequently used for full-stack web applications. The Ruby on Rails (ROR) framework is a browser-based web application toolkit written in Ruby.

Java (Spring):

Java is a general-purpose computer-programming language that's considered to be a platform-independent programming language. It's used for everything from Android apps to enterprise software and website development.

Python (Django, Pylons, Flask):

Python is a general-purpose programming language used for web development, software engineering, library and application development, data analysis, and scientific computing.

Scala (Play):

Scala is a highly-performant general-purpose programming language. It is a statically typed, heavily object-oriented language with a robust type system, compiles time-checked exceptions, and supports multiple programming paradigms.

PHP (Laravel):

PHP is a server-side scripting language that's used for web development as well as scripting. It's frequently used for front-end scripting and back-end programming. It's a prevalent language and is very easy to learn, which makes it quite useful for beginners.

Groovy on Grails:

Groovy on Grails is a general-purpose, dynamic programming language that compiles directly to Java bytecode. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming.

How-To Choose A Technology Stack For eCommerce Web Development?

It is essential to carefully think through the features you would need in your eCommerce store and choose the right technology stack for your project. This will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Moreover, it is crucial to consider the type of client you are pursuing, analyze their needs and choose a tech stack that would help deliver those specific requirements for their business. Here is a step-by-step process to Choose the Best Technology Stack for eCommerce Website Development:

Considering your business requirements:

Before choosing eCommerce Technology Stack for Web Development, first, do some research and look into the needs of your business. You have to define what you are looking for clearly. Here are some questions you should ask yourself for this purpose:

• What kind of products/services would you be selling online?
• What are your target customers? Who will be visiting your website?
• Are there any particular places or past experiences that influence which type of eCommerce platform you are looking for?
• How would their buying habits change from the current market conditions?

Choose a Tech Stack that is acceptable for all those factors and, most importantly, would fit your eCommerce website design.

Compatible with Existing Stack:

This is one of the top essential factors in deciding on a technology stack for eCommerce website development. Choosing a tech stack that supports your business's existing technology and infrastructure is essential. For example, if you want to use advanced features of front-end and back-end programming languages like HTML5 and CSS3, then you need to choose a stack that supports those as well as PHP.

Another thing to consider while choosing an eCommerce technology stack is compatibility with the existing technologies and your project budget. You have to carefully select any suitable tool or platform so that it is within the budget allocated for eCommerce development projects.

Scalability and Robustness:

There are two main things that you should focus on while considering a technology stack for your eCommerce website. First is the scalability that the stack provides. Scalability ensures that your website runs smoothly even with more users.

Secondly, you must also focus on the robustness of your technology stack. Robustness minimizes and prevents data loss by ensuring your website runs well and faultlessly, even after a heavy load.

Choose a Secure Tech Stack:

Security is the most important thing you must consider while selecting an eCommerce technology stack. It would be best if you kept in mind that every customer who comes to your website may require sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or personal information.

If this data falls into the wrong hands, it can put your business at risk. The best eCommerce technology stack should be secure and highly reliable; even after heavy traffic loads, this technology stack has to maintain its security by providing a robust infrastructure.

Consider Development Lapse Time:

When choosing a technology stack for your eCommerce website, you should be aware of the development project duration. This factor only affects the cost of your project. If a technology stack takes a long time to work on, you will have to pay more money while setting up an eCommerce website.

The other thing is that, in case of longer project duration, you must wait longer for your eCommerce development project to be completed. It ensures that the whole project is completed within a reasonable time frame and within a fair budget. Furthermore, considering this factor will help save money and time for eCommerce Web Development.

Budget Planning & Hardware Requirements:

This factor is essential to deciding upon an eCommerce technology stack. It would help if you kept in mind that your eCommerce website development project has to be completed within your budget, and also, it must be enhanced smoothly. The type of business needs can be identified after considering these factors.

You can allocate a part of your budget to further research and development so that you can gather more information while choosing a tech stack for your eCommerce project. Moreover, it will help clear doubts about any developer's deadlines or budget overruns.

Ease of Maintenance and Support:

Another factor should be considered when choosing an eCommerce technology stack. You will have to regularly manage your eCommerce website for a couple of years. So, your tech stack selected must be easy to maintain and support.

Apart from this, the support team must be easily reachable and well-trained enough to manage any technical issues that might come up with your website. Moreover, it should be able to handle any customer queries very carefully.

Best Tech Stacks for E-commerce Website Development?

We know the best way to Choose the Best Technology Stack required to build a successful eCommerce website. In this section, we will be discussing the best Tech Stacks for eCommerce website development.

LAMP Stack:

LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. That is among the most common ways of using technology stacks for creating e-commerce websites. It provides a lot of benefits and stability. It is open-source software covered by the GNU/GPL version 2 license. Additionally, it offers outstanding support for data processing and dynamic web pages.

MEAN Stack:

MEAN is an abbreviation for MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, and Node.js. MEAN stack comes with all the components and modules of the LAMP stack. Some of the significant advantages of using MEAN stack are that it's fast, secure, and easy to manage. It's free software under Apache License version 2.

Python-Django:

Python-Django is a free and open-source eCommerce web application development platform. It provides many advantages, including flexibility, reliability, scalability, and efficiency. Python-Django is built on the Django framework, which makes it easy to develop high-quality code in Python.

.NET Framework Stack:

.NET Framework Stack consists of ASP.NET, VB.NET, C#, and other .NET languages. It's one of the most popular and widely used eCommerce technology stacks worldwide. It is based on Microsoft's development platform, which offers many advantages, such as scalability, robustness, and reliability.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, we understand there are various types of technology stacks, and each stack is specifically suitable for different eCommerce website development projects. This comes with many advantages, such as greater flexibility, higher efficiency, upgradeability, etc. The different types of technology stacks or combinations are meant for eCommerce website development projects depending upon the above factors.

So, you can select the best tech stack that suits your business requirements and budget according to these factors. With the correct information in hand, you can focus on your business development and achieve great success in the future without any hurdles coming in front of you.