Despite the global epidemic, the global ecommerce platforms business continued to develop. E-commerce transactions in Malaysia surged by 30% year on year in Q1 2021, reaching a new high of RM254.6 billion.

Businesses should consider CMS (Content Management System) platforms to get the most out of their e-commerce websites. These platforms are simple to use since they allow users to develop, update, and publish website content without the need for coding. Other features include changing page layouts, adding promotional banners, and building new page features, among other customization possibilities, to change the look and feel of an online store.

In Malaysia, the e-commerce industry is exploding, with more and more firms adopting e-commerce websites and platforms as a means of dealing with the pandemic and MCO (Movement Control Order) that restricted business operations across the country.

Businesses may wish to explore creating their own website to expand their online presence rather than relying entirely on major e-commerce marketplaces like Shopee and Lazada as prospects grow.

Here we’ll look at some of the greatest e-commerce website builders and CMS platforms for Malaysian online chevaliers:

1. Wix
2. Shopify
3. WordPress
4. EasyStore
5. BigCommerce
6. Ecwid
7. HubSpot
8. 3DCart
9. SiteGiant
10. EASYSELL

1.   Wix

The most popular website builder for online businesses, artists, and other creative types. Wix is the most popular platform for beginners who know little or nothing about coding and website design. Primarily a website builder, users can add a commerce module to their website to make it e-commerce ready.

The platform includes a simple drag-and-drop website construction function that is simple to understand and adapt for first-time users, as well as a variety of templates and built-in features from which users can choose.

Wix is best for SMEs looking to start an e-commerce website with a limited number of items and services.

2.   Shopify

Shopify is one of the most well-known names in the online world, with the second largest market share in the e-commerce business.

The SaaS platform is a huge hit among new online sellers who are just getting started and exploring the e-commerce market, with around 820,000 merchants using it by 2020. It’s great for merchants that don’t have technical knowledge or a development staff, making it the most user-friendly platform. Merchants may benefit from Shopify’s cross-platform capabilities, which include everything from POS systems to social media platforms and e-commerce marketplaces.

Users can also add a blog extension for content or other plugins for extra features to Shopify’s plugins and themes.

3.   WordPress

WordPress is presently utilised by 64.8 percent of all websites whose CMS system is recognised, making it the world’s leading CMS leader in the e-commerce business.

E-commerce merchants can also use WooCommerce, the e-commerce plug-in and platform created by WordPress, to develop e-commerce websites. WooCommerce soon became popular among e-commerce merchants because to its ease of installation and customization. WooCommerce is now the most popular e-commerce platform due to its extensive collection of plugins and themes.

Aside from its basic CMS features, WordPress is also quite configurable, requiring only a basic understanding of CSS and HTML to edit and adjust the website’s code to the user’s preferences.

WordPress is perfect for businesses of all sizes that want to customise their websites. There is also a large community for help and support.

4.   EasyStore

A platform for creating branded e-commerce websites situated in Malaysia. EasyStore is the most economical option in this list because it is a local brand.

With 30,000 companies on the site, the startup company has expanded its client base beyond Malaysia and is now accepting merchants from the United States.

When constructing a website using EasyStore’s platform, you have a lot of customization choices without having to know how to code. Users can choose from a variety of themes and customise logos, fonts, colours, and even the website’s primary layout for free.

5.   BigCommerce

BigCommerce, one of the most well-known names in the e-commerce industry, currently serves over 60,000 businesses. With a wide range of built-in features and CMS capabilities that are easily adaptable for each side of the spectrum, the platform can help both big scale e-commerce firms and e-commerce newbies.

BigCommerce is known for its excellent SEO integration and flexible APIs, which allow merchants to connect to popular software and CMS solution providers.

6.   Ecwid

Ecwid takes pride in being the greatest free eCommerce platform available.

Although Ecwid may appear unsuited to be compared to other eCommerce platforms on the surface, they have managed to remain in this competitive sector by carving out a niche for themselves.

That niche is the greatest free eCommerce platform available. What is the quality of their free platform? Let’s have a look.

As previously stated, Ecwid stands out from its competitors in the quest to be the finest eCommerce platform in Malaysia since they offer a free plan to its consumers.

Ecwid’s free plan appears to be a little sparse at first glance, with only one staff account and a product restriction of ten. However, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. And you’re not paying anything in this scenario. The best part about this plan is that, despite being free, it still includes unlimited file storage and bandwidth, ensuring that your website is scalable.

7.   HubSpot

HubSpot is a cutting-edge content management system and marketing automation tool. Although the platform lacks e-commerce capabilities, it can be readily coupled with over 200 e-commerce-related platforms, such as social media networks and other CMS platforms.

HubSpot integration with e-commerce platforms may help retailers automate marketing campaigns, better analyse consumer behaviour, manage and report income streams, and many other useful features.

8.   3DCart

3dCart is a modest company with a lot of potential.

When compared to Shopify and Big Commerce, 3DCart may appear to be a minor player in the race for Malaysia’s top eCommerce platform. However, 3DCart is rapidly expanding, and with a little more time, they may be able to compete with the other titans.

3DCart, like Shopify and Big Commerce, does not provide free plans to potential customers. However, their starting plan is far less expensive than the previous two platforms.

The 3Dcart beginning plan, which costs $19.00 per month, is their starting plan (RM 78.25). This package includes everything you need to establish your own eCommerce business, including a staff account, an eCommerce website, and the ability to store up to 100 products.

However, this plan has the advantage of being the cheapest to give unlimited bandwidth, ensuring that your site can grow with your users.

When it comes down to it, 3Dcart does its job well. They attempt to make it as simple as possible for users to create websites using their clean and simple main user interface and dashboard. The 3Dcart dashboard is simple and elegant, with a helpful tutorial for novices.

9.   SiteGiant

SiteGiant is perhaps Malaysia’s largest and best local eCommerce platform.

SiteGiant, unlike the other three eCommerce platforms, is unique in that it was born and raised in Malaysia. This implies that, unlike the competition, SiteGiant is more focused on the needs and desires of Malaysian business owners and customers. Although SiteGiant is not the largest eCommerce platform in the world, they are without a doubt the king of eCommerce platforms in Malaysia.

There are no free plans available at SiteGiant. As previously said, some of the more frugal business owners may face difficulties.

However, SiteGiant more than makes up for it with their plan cost. The cheapest SiteGiant plan is the Unicart Basic, which costs RM590 per year, or around RM 49.20 per month. You’ll get two staff accounts and a product limit of 500 with this package. This means it’s significantly less expensive than any of the previous plans. Despite the fact that it has a product limit of 500, it is simple to go around.

SiteGiant can provide you with anything you need for an eCommerce platform. Everything is included, including product listing management, inventory auto-sync, and a free SSL certificate.

Even better, SiteGiant recognises that their consumers are predominantly Malaysians, implying that their businesses are predominantly Malaysian-based. As a result, they added a tool called Malaysia Marketplace Integration, which allows you to sync your items and stock count with famous Malaysian online marketplaces including Lazada, Shopee, and Lelong.

Because you may sell on different platforms, this helps you expand your reach.

10. EASYSELL

EASYSELL is a division of Easy Asia Technologies made up of a group of devoted professionals who share a passion for problem-solving and a dedication to quality. They strive to help emerging small businesses get off the ground and grow into successful organisations by developing amazing technologies and making them available at affordable pricing to business owners who would otherwise be unable to afford such services.

Easy Asia Technologies is a renowned Search Engine Optimization agency based in Malaysia that serves customers both locally and internationally. Easy Asia Technologies has continually helped small, medium, and big businesses improve their online visibility by enhancing the ranking of their websites in search engine results pages since its inception in 2006.

Easy Asia Technologies, a search engine optimization company, offers international customers search engine marketing solutions. Easy Asia Technologies has helped over 900 clients capture highly focused visitors through innovative and ethical tactics, resulting in a solid ROI for both niche enterprises and well-known brands.

Easy Asia Technologies, which has over ten SEO specialists situated in Damansara (Selangor, Malaysia), has been known for the high quality of service they provide as well as the successful and long-term outcomes they can produce.

Easy Asia Technologies provides highly effective web development link sourcing and easy searching on all search engines around the world with in-house development for a range of technologies such as EASYSEARCH Booking System, EASYCART (eCommerce), EASYSEARCH Online Catalogue, the EASYSEARCH Enquiry System, and Apps. These cutting-edge technologies are then incorporated into the BGNX plans created for each client.

Closing remarks

Finding the appropriate platform for their business is not easy. Identifying the essential criteria for their website based on their company strategy is an effective way for merchants to cut down their possibilities. Merchants must also select if they want an e-commerce or content-first platform.

Larger firms should consider other variables such as marketing, design, technological skills, and anticipated future demands to keep up with the times, meet demand from existing consumers, and acquire new customers as the e-commerce market develops and evolves.