10 Technical Lessons from Launching 70+ E-Commerce Stores

Over the course of launching over 70 e-commerce stores, we’ve learned that success often hinges on making the right technical decisions. Each store is unique, but some common themes emerged around choosing the right type of platform and architecture. Here are the biggest lessons learned when it comes to selecting between SaaS, PaaS, and Open Source, understanding on-premise, cloud, and hosted solutions, and diving into headless, composable, and microservices architectures.

SaaS vs. PaaS vs. Open Source: Simplicity or Control?

Lesson 1: SaaS works best when speed and simplicity are priorities

For many businesses, especially those starting out, SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce have been game-changers. They allow you to get up and running quickly without needing deep technical knowledge. From our experience, stores that need to launch fast and don’t have a development team thrive with SaaS.

Key Takeaway: If your priority is to focus on selling rather than tech, SaaS can save you time and hassle. But as your needs grow, you might find yourself constrained by the limited customization options.

Lesson 2: PaaS offers a middle ground for growing businesses

We’ve seen that PaaS (Platform as a Service) solutions, like Magento Commerce Cloud, are ideal for stores that have outgrown SaaS but aren’t ready to manage everything themselves. PaaS allows for more customizations while still handling some of the heavy lifting, like hosting and scaling.

Key Takeaway: PaaS is great if you need more flexibility without having to manage the full technical setup. It’s a sweet spot for businesses with some technical expertise that want to build custom features but don’t want to handle server maintenance.

Lesson 3: Open Source provides freedom but comes with responsibilities

In our experience, open-source platforms like WooCommerce and Magento Open Source work well for businesses that need complete control over their store’s functionality and data. These platforms are like blank canvases, you can make them do whatever you want, but you’ll need the right team to maintain them.

Key Takeaway: Open-source platforms are best for those who have a clear vision of what they want and the resources to make it happen. If you want to own your data and build something truly unique, open source is the way to go. Just be prepared for ongoing maintenance and technical investment.

On-Premise vs. Cloud vs. Hosted: Control vs. Convenience

Lesson 4: On-premise solutions give control but demand a lot of upkeep

Early on, we learned that on-premise hosting, where you keep servers and data on-site, can be an advantage if you need full control over your environment. However, we quickly realized that it’s a major commitment, managing servers, security, and software updates takes a lot of time and resources.

Key Takeaway: Only opt for on-premise if you have strict data compliance needs or existing IT infrastructure. For most modern e-commerce businesses, the time and cost of maintaining physical servers outweigh the benefits.

Lesson 5: Cloud solutions provide flexibility and are ideal for scaling

Many of our most successful store launches used cloud hosting through providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. Cloud hosting lets you scale up quickly during peak times (like holiday sales) without worrying about server limitations. It’s like having an infinitely expandable warehouse for your data.

Key Takeaway: Cloud hosting is perfect if you anticipate growth or fluctuating traffic. It reduces upfront costs and makes it easy to adjust resources as your business evolves. But it’s important to choose a provider with strong security and reliability.

Lesson 6: Hosted solutions reduce hassle but can lock you in

We’ve also worked with hosted solutions, which are like cloud hosting but with all the server management handled by the provider. For example, Shopify Plus handles the technical aspects for you while offering some advanced features. This makes it easy to focus on business rather than worrying about the back-end.

Key Takeaway: Hosted solutions are great for businesses that want the convenience of cloud without managing the details. But beware of vendor lock-in; moving your store to another provider can be challenging once you’ve committed.

Headless Commerce: When to Decouple for a Better Experience

Lesson 7: Headless commerce is worth it if you need a unique front-end

In several projects, we found that headless commerce, where the front-end is separated from the back-end—was key to delivering a custom user experience. It allowed us to build highly customized websites and mobile apps that still used a reliable back-end like Shopify or BigCommerce.

Key Takeaway: Headless is ideal if you want a beautiful, custom-designed store that stands out from the competition. It allows you to control exactly how your store looks and performs. But it’s not for the faint of heart, expect higher development costs and more complex integrations.

Lesson 8: Headless unlocks omnichannel potential

With headless setups, we’ve been able to create seamless shopping experiences across multiple channels, like websites, mobile apps, and even in-store screens, all from a single back-end. This was particularly useful for businesses that wanted to offer consistent customer experiences no matter where shoppers interacted with their brand.

Key Takeaway: If your goal is to unify the shopping experience across different platforms, headless is a powerful tool. It requires technical expertise but can differentiate you in a crowded market.

Lesson 9: Composable Commerce: Build What You Need

Composable commerce is a relatively new concept that we’ve seen work wonders for stores with complex needs. It allows businesses to choose the best tools for each part of their store: like Stripe for payments, Algolia for search, and Contentful for content management. Integrating them into a seamless experience.

Key Takeaway: Composable commerce offers ultimate flexibility, allowing you to build a truly custom solution by combining best-in-class services. But it’s like managing a toolkit, if you don’t have the right skills, things can get messy quickly. It’s perfect for businesses with unique needs and the technical resources to manage integrations.

Lesson 10: Microservices can future-proof your e-commerce, but don’t overcomplicate

We’ve also implemented microservices for businesses that want to break down their e-commerce functionality into smaller, more manageable parts. Think of microservices as creating a series of mini-apps, one for checkout, one for product recommendations, another for customer reviews, can all work independently.

Key Takeaway: Microservices can be a game-changer if you’re looking for scalability and resilience. You can update one service without affecting the others, making it easier to innovate. However, it’s important not to overcomplicate things. For smaller stores, this approach can create unnecessary complexity. Only opt for microservices if you’re facing significant growth or need high reliability.

Conclusion: Aligning Technology with Business Goals

After launching over 70 e-commerce stores, we’ve learned that the right tech choices depend on your goals, resources, and growth plans. SaaS is quick and easy, PaaS offers more customization, and open-source gives freedom but requires commitment. On-premise, cloud, and hosted solutions balance control with convenience.

Headless and composable commerce offer flexibility for unique user experiences but need technical resources. Microservices scale well, but require expertise.