Ecommerce Platforms & Tools

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is one of the biggest early decisions for any manufacturer moving into D2C. It can feel like a minefield of jargon, acronyms, and endless options. But at its core, a platform is simply the software that runs your online shop. It is the engine that powers your website, processes payments, manages products, and connects with other systems like stock or finance.

The right platform makes trading online easier, more reliable, and more scalable. The wrong one can slow you down, limit growth, or create costly problems later.

What an Ecommerce Platform Does

Think of the platform as your digital shop floor. It’s where customers browse, baskets are filled, and payments are taken. Behind the scenes, it should:

• Connect with your stock so customers don’t order items you don’t have.

• Handle delivery, tax rules, and payments automatically.

• Integrate with marketing tools like email and advertising feeds.

• Provide reports so you can see what’s working and what isn’t.

In other words, it should keep your shop running reliably, day in, day out.

The Main Options

There are plenty of platforms out there, but most UK manufacturers tend to look at four in particular: WooCommerce, Shopify, Shopify Plus, and Magento (Adobe Commerce).

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source platform that runs on WordPress, which already powers a huge share of websites globally. The flexibility here is a major strength. With the right setup, WooCommerce can scale from a small starter site to a robust ecommerce operation, while keeping full control in your hands.

Because it’s open-source, WooCommerce doesn’t lock you into a single provider. You own your data, your hosting, and your roadmap. That makes it attractive to manufacturers who want freedom to adapt as their business grows. It can require stronger technical expertise, but that’s where working with a specialist agency pays off. Many of our clients choose WooCommerce because it gives them the balance of flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness they need.

Shopify

Shopify is a cloud-based platform that runs on Shopify’s servers. It’s popular because it’s quick to set up and user-friendly, with an app store that lets you add features easily. For smaller teams or those just getting started, Shopify can be a good fit.

The trade-off is flexibility. You’re working within Shopify’s ecosystem, and customisation beyond what the app store offers can be limited. Costs can also rise quickly as you layer on paid apps.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is the enterprise version of Shopify. It offers more advanced functionality, better integrations, and higher support levels. It’s designed for businesses already turning over significant revenue online and willing to invest in scale. For some manufacturers, it’s a fit once D2C is a major revenue stream.

Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento, now Adobe Commerce, is one of the most powerful ecommerce platforms on the market. It’s highly customisable and built to handle very large, complex operations. That power comes with a price: it’s expensive to build, maintain, and host. For SMEs, it’s often overkill. For enterprise-level businesses with big budgets and complex needs, it can be the right fit.

Beyond the Shop Platform

The shop platform is the hub, but you’ll still need supporting tools to trade effectively. These might include product information systems, finance tools like Xero or QuickBooks, shipping tools for labels and tracking, email platforms like Klaviyo, and analytics tools such as Google Analytics 4. All of these should integrate back into your platform, reducing manual work and keeping data consistent.

Choosing the Right Fit

When weighing up platforms, don’t just focus on feature lists. Think about your stage of growth, your budget, and how much flexibility you want for the future. Shopify can be a good starter option if speed and simplicity are your priorities. Shopify Plus and Magento are built for scale but come with significant cost and complexity.

For many manufacturers, WooCommerce offers the best balance of control, flexibility, and scalability. It lets you own your shop and data fully, adapt as you grow, and avoid being locked into a single provider. With the right support, it’s a platform that can take you from your first online sale through to serious growth.

Key Takeaway

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The platform you choose should reflect your resources today and your ambitions for tomorrow. Shopify and Magento have their place, but WooCommerce remains the most adaptable option for many manufacturers — especially those who value control, flexibility, and a partner to help them grow.