#53 Evolution of Ecommerce Platforms: From the Early Days of the Internet and Bespoke Websites to Easy to Use Software like BigCommerce
The Ecom Show · Daniel Budai
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Show Notes
Evolution of Ecommerce Platforms: From the Early Days of the Internet and Bespoke Websites to Easy to Use Software like BigCommerce
Ever wonder what the early days of ecommerce looked like?
Jim Herbert from BigCommerce is one of the original online marketers from back in the day when bespoke ecommerce websites were the only way for merchants to establish a web presence!
From coding as a youngster to studying computer science in university to owning an agency and becoming the Vice President at BigCommerce for the entire Europe and Middle East regions, it’s safe to say there aren’t many people more qualified in the world to discuss the nuances of ecommerce.
Join our loveable podcast host and CEO, Daniel Budai, and our fantastic guest Jim as they discuss topics like:
✔️ Evolution of ecommerce
✔️ BigCommerce origin story
✔️ The difference between ecommerce platforms
✔️ Importance of partnerships and integrations
✔️ What’s next for BigCommerce
Then and Now
Back when the internet was relatively new, Jim Herbert was already working on the bleeding edge of ecommerce! Without ecommerce platforms readymade for shop owners, early “digital marketers” were more like coders.
Today’s marketers stand tall on top of the shoulders of these early internet pioneers like Jim, allocating a lot less time on tech and focusing more energy on building their brand. Now, the price of hosting and building an online ecommerce shop is a tiny fraction of what it once costed, leveling the playing field and making the dream of owning an online business that much more accessible.
Birth of BigCommerce
In 2009, Eddie Machalaani and Mitch Harper saw a need for an all-encompassing platform that would enable business owners and merchants to run their stores online. Since then, BigCommerce has grown into a multi-national company, moved its headquarters to Texas in the USA, grown its team to over a thousand people worldwide, and flourished in the ecommerce space!
Aside from helping countless merchants establish their brand online and giving them the tools to succeed, BigCommerce had its IPO back in 2020 to become publicly listed, all but guaranteeing it’s here for the long haul.
BigCommerce vs. Competitors
When it comes to “competitors,” Jim has a unique thought process. While Shopify is a household name and admittedly larger than BigCommerce, there is no need to compete with one another in the classical sense.
Shopify is fantastic with great software and easy to use interface for customers, which is why BigCommerce has opted to go in a different direction. They’ve managed to keep the process as simple as possible while still providing tons of freedom and options to choose their payment methods, apps, and other features for their store.
Integrations and Partnerships
One of the main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify? The amount of available third-party apps. BigCommerce believes in a more closed ecosystem with heavily vetted, high-quality apps for its users to choose from. Only the best tools and additions can be leveraged on BigCommerce, while Shopify allows its users to choose from an endless array of apps with varying levels of quality.
It might sound like an advantage to have a wide variety, but Shopify doesn’t guarantee the quality of all the third-party apps available. At the same time, BigCommerce makes the decision as pain-free as possible.
What Lies Ahead?
The world is constantly changing, so it’s impossible to map out the next 5 years or a major company, but Jim and his team have their eyes on the future of ecommerce.
That means better understanding how users interact with online platforms, figuring out what technology will be relevant in a few years, offering more native language services in different countries, and improving core features like SEO or UI/UX so customers can improve their conversion and average order rates.
If you’re eager to start your brand off on the right foot or switch to a different platform, check out BigCommerce or reach out directly to Jim via email at [email protected]!
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