Here are the different types of E-commerce platforms in the Philippines

The Philippine E-commerce industry has become noticeably busier in recent years. And as it grows at a compounding rate year on year, so does the list of E-commerce platforms available in the country.

It is crucial to know your options and the different types of E-commerce platforms in the Philippines to stand out among your competitors. These platforms, depending on your need, could make E-commerce easier for you.

So how do you identify which E-commerce platform would best serve your purpose? Let’s break down each type!

Self-Hosted Website

This type of E-commerce platform requires merchants to host or pay for the domain of their website to market products. It could be a little tricky for newbies in E-commerce in the Philippines because managing your website means you’ll be the one updating, maintaining, and fixing it. On the other hand, some merchants hire web developers to handle the initial process of building the site. The merchant then has the choice of managing their website on their own once it’s up and running. 

This platform is perfect if you are a tech-savvy merchant who wants full control over your platform. Since you’ve built it, you have the flexibility of what appears in your store. Plus, you’re not limited in customizing it and you can include anything you like on your site.

Social Media Platforms

E-commerce is not new to social media. It already has a significant presence across different platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest. It makes sense to use it as an E-commerce platform in a country with over 89 million active social media users.

Facebook and Instagram offer a conducive space for E-commerce merchants in the Philippines. Many have been using these social platforms to connect with their customers for a while now. You can also create shoppable content in the form of videos, photos, and articles that will allow your customers to add to items they’re viewing into their carts. There is also the convenience of live selling, where you can give your customers a whole new level of online shopping experience. And setting up Facebook Shop or an Instagram Shop gives you the advantage of built-in solutions for advertising, selling, and customer service.

Online Marketplaces 

The steady rise of online marketplaces has reached the Philippines’ E-commerce industry in no time. Online marketplaces are advantageous for merchants looking for ways to scale their businesses. Platforms such as Shopee and Lazada allow you to sell products without setting up your own online store. 

Also, it provides a flexible business opportunity for merchants with relatively low start-up costs. Through online marketplaces, you can reach more customers globally if you are selling items under homeware, fashion, sporting, and pets’ needs categories. 

But online marketplaces can be challenging for merchants, too. As there are a lot of products and stores displayed with yours, it is tricky to stand out from the competition. It’s very important to create a satisfying shopping experience to attract loyal customers who will become your very own brand ambassadors.

E-commerce Website Builders

Want to impress your customers with a beautiful and seamless site without the hassle of building one from scratch? Website builders are your best way to go.

This type of E-commerce platform is by far among the easiest to navigate even if you’re new to online selling. Website builders are perfect if you want to create your page fast. There are many easy-to-use website builders for online stores that can help you stand out like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and many more. Most site builders feature drag-and-drop page editors, as well as plug-ins to manage orders, shipping, and more. 

These are just some of the most common E-commerce platforms in the Philippines that online sellers use. There are countless E-commerce tools available today, and building a successful online store has never been more tangible. So whether you are well-versed in hosting sites or want to get as much help from the built-in tools, there is a platform for you. 

But with so many platforms to choose from, it can be overwhelming to settle on one that works best for your business needs. This is where an E-commerce enabler, like Payo, can help you!

Payo, one of the Philippines’ leading E-commerce enablers, can set up your store for you and help you sell your products no matter what platform you choose! Shopify? WooCommerce? Your own site? We got you!

We can even help you with selling across multiple E-commerce platforms in the Philippines. Plus, we can be your reliable Warehousing, Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, and Marketplace Optimization partner, too!

E-commerce is a whole lot easier with us! Send us a message at [email protected] or sign up now to explore more of our tech-driven innovations especially made for Philippine E-commerce.