Shoper review 2024 - CMS summary for e-commerce stores

shoper-logo

08/03/2024

08:00 min

Bartosz Lewandowski

Shoper review 2024 - CMS summary for e-commerce stores

08/03/2024

08:00 min

Bartosz Lewandowski

shoper-logo

Do you want to start an online store? Shoper is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Poland, enabling entrepreneurs to quickly and effectively launch their own online store. Built to maximize ease of e-business management, it offers a wide range of features and tools, from simple design options to advanced marketing and analytical tools.

The Shoper e-commerce platform stands out in the market primarily due to its intuitiveness, making it accessible even to those who are just beginning their journey with online commerce. Since the Shoper store is a hosted platform, users can focus on growing their business without worrying about technical aspects like security or software updates.

Basic information about the Shoper platform

Shoper is one of the most popular e-commerce solutions on the Polish market. It offers a rich range of functionalities that support online sales at every stage of its implementation.

Price

The software offers various pricing plans, allowing the offer to be tailored to the needs and financial capabilities of the store. Prices start from a basic package, which is tailored to the needs of beginners thinking about starting an online store. For more advanced options intended for large enterprises. The company also provides the opportunity to use a free trial period so that entrepreneurs can test the platform before committing to a subscription.

You can find the current price lists at https://www.shoper.pl/cennik-sklepu-shoper/.

Omnichannel features

Shoper has the ability to integrate with various sales channels, which is useful in planning an omnichannel strategy. The platform allows sales not only through its own online store but also through marketplaces, social media, or even stationary sales points, providing a uniform shopping experience.

Integration with accounting systems

When running an online store, you must have accounting, and without an accounting system, it's a real ordeal. Therefore, on the Shoper platform, you get easy integration with popular accounting systems, which significantly facilitates store financial management. Thanks to this, entrepreneurs can automatically synchronize sales data with accounting software.

finances

Number of implementations

Shoper is a leader in the Polish e-commerce market, with thousands of active stores operating on this platform. Many years of experience and continuous development of functionalities make more and more entrepreneurs decide on an online store, and the Shoper e-commerce platform appears on the high podium.

Service model

The software uses the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, which means it is delivered as a service over the internet. Shoper users subscribe to the online store service, giving them access to a range of ready-made solutions and the current version of the software without having to deal with its maintenance or updates.

Origin

The Shoper store is a Polish e-commerce platform created by DreamCommerce S.A., which is an additional advantage for Polish entrepreneurs, considering the adaptation of functionalities to the specifics of the local market.

Blogging

Which is extremely important in the e-commerce industry. The SaaS platform supports the ability to blog directly from the platform. This is an important element of building relationships with customers and an option supporting effective positioning.

Implementing promotions and discounts

If your strategy largely revolves around frequent promotions, it's worth noting that the Shoper store offers advanced tools for managing promotions and discounts. This allows for the creation of discounts in online stores, e.g., only for logged-in customers. This can be particularly valuable for beginner sellers who need to quickly attract new users.

sale

Implementing changes

The Shoper platform, of course, operates in the SaaS model, and you can implement all changes directly in the admin panel. It is worth adding that as part of the subscription, the software provides access to system files. By modifying the store's code, customers who need extensive functionalities can install them according to their needs.

Sales features of an online store on Shoper

The functioning of a store in the SaaS model mainly depends on its sales features. Unfortunately, they are often simply lacking, and only through integration do entrepreneurs get the opportunity to connect. Taking a closer look at the Shoper platform and browsing innovations in the e-commerce industry, below we present the most important ones worth considering when creating an online store.

Security certificates

Data and transaction security is the foundation of trust in e-commerce. The creators are aware of this, which is why Shoper offers SSL certificates ensuring the encryption of data transmitted between the server and the client's browser.

secure-in-web

Having an SSL certificate is now a standard expected by customers making online purchases, and the software provides this to its users at no additional cost, thus building a solid foundation of trust and professionalism.

Want to start an online store? Then you have hosting included!

Managing technical infrastructure can be a challenge for many entrepreneurs, especially in the early stages of running an e-business. The Shoper platform offers a comprehensive solution, with hosting already included in the subscription price.

Integration with Allegro

Integration with the Allegro platform opens doors for sellers to one of the largest marketplaces in Poland. Thanks to this, they can easily export their products and manage sales from one place. This feature allows reaching millions of new customers, increasing the chances of rapid business growth and building brand recognition on a scale that would be difficult to achieve by operating solely on their own platform.

Integration with payment systems

The software offers broad integration with the most popular payment systems, such as Autopay (formerly Blue Media), PayPal, or Przelewy24 and other alternative solutions. Thanks to this, regardless of payment preferences, the store can offer a convenient and secure way to conduct transactions.

Shipping cost calculator

The shipping cost calculator, which we get access to after purchasing a plugin, allows customers to quickly and accurately estimate delivery costs before finalizing the order. This not only increases transparency and fairness, benefiting the entire purchasing process, but also can reduce the number of abandoned carts, as customers are not surprised by additional costs at the finalization stage.

Mass product upload

Effective assortment management is the foundation of a smoothly functioning online store. Fortunately, we have a mass product upload feature here, which is an invaluable aid in managing large catalogs.

Ability to sell virtual products

In the age of digitization, the sale of virtual items, such as e-books, online courses, or software, is becoming increasingly popular. The store allows sellers to easily include them in their offer, opening doors to new markets and target groups.

ebook

Cart recovery

Recovering abandoned carts is one of the most effective strategies for increasing sales in e-commerce. Shoper offers tools that enable automatic reminders to customers who added products to their cart but did not complete the transaction.

Product variant differentiation

Customers value the ability to choose, which is why offering items in different variants, such as size, color, or configuration, is very important. And the online store must allow for easy management and presentation of different product variants, which Shoper does.

Technical support

In case of any technical problems or questions, access to professional technical support is invaluable. Although the platform operates in the SaaS model and theoretically there should be no problems with it, browsing thematic groups on Facebook, we can come across negative opinions from users regarding the customer service department.

Search and filtering

Advanced search and filtering features are, of course, a standard today. Depending on the offers and size of the store, we can set a lot of custom filters here with practically no limitations.

Order and return management

We also have the ability to manage orders and returns easily. Just go to the orders tab, select the customer, and mark their order as "return."

SEO optimization and the Shoper store

SEO optimization is a key element of any effective e-commerce strategy, and the Shoper platform has extensive capabilities in this area. One of the basic features is the automatic sitemap, which helps search engine robots better understand the store's structure. It is automatically generated here, just like canonical tags, which prevent content duplication issues.

seoopt

Website security, confirmed by an SSL certificate, is already a must-have because it not only protects user data but also is an important ranking factor in search engines. Shoper also allows adding text on category pages in two different places, which is beneficial from an SEO perspective and allows for quite effective positioning.

In terms of on-page optimization, the platform offers extensive editing capabilities for SEO elements from URLs, through ALT attributes of images, meta descriptions, H1 tags, to page titles (title) and the robots.txt file. Unfortunately, access to robots.txt is somewhat limited by imposed fragments such as crawling speed.

We also find a tool for manually setting 301 redirects, managing noindex tags, which allows excluding specific pages from indexing, as well as the ability to implement structured data, which enriches search results with additional information, increasing their attractiveness and potential CTR (click-through rate).

Your own online store in a mobile version

With mobile devices in mind, the platform has been designed to be user-friendly for smartphone and tablet users, which is crucial because Google often uses mobile-first indexing.

mobile

Advantages of Shoper

Shoper, as one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Poland, offers many advantages that make it an attractive solution for both small and large enterprises conducting online sales. The impressive results of the software largely stem from features such as intuitive operation at an attractive price.

Another important advantage is the comprehensiveness of the offered features. Shoper provides a wide range of tools necessary for effective e-business management, from advanced product management options, through SEO optimization, marketing functions, to analytics and reporting. Thanks to this, it is hard to find another platform that is so accessible to beginners.

Security is another aspect in which Shoper is a good choice. The e-commerce store's standard SSL certificate, regular security updates, and advanced data protection mechanisms ensure that both the entrepreneur's and users' data are safe.

Integration with external systems is yet another advantage of Shoper. It allows easy integration with popular payment systems, price comparison sites, courier companies, sales platforms like Allegro, accounting systems, and marketing and customer service tools.

Disadvantages of Shoper

Although Shoper is a highly regarded e-commerce platform offering many advantages for running an online store, like any solution, it also has certain limitations.

Compared to some other e-commerce platforms that offer free versions or lower starting rates, Shoper may seem like a more expensive option, especially if we need to use more advanced features or individual solutions. Additionally, in the basic version, we have a limit of up to 50,000 products, and to remove it, you must purchase the premium package.

Another potential limitation is the degree of customization. Although Shoper offers a wide range of templates and a certain degree of personalization, companies looking for more advanced, custom design solutions may encounter limitations. For stores that want to fully individualize their websites, the need to adapt to certain platform frameworks may be somewhat restrictive. Most stores simply look identical.

Moreover, SaaS platforms like Shoper involve less control over the technical infrastructure. For some enterprises, especially those with higher requirements for personalization and control, this may be a problem. Limitations regarding server-level customizations or specialized integration solutions may not be fully met.

Integration with external systems, although widely supported, may sometimes require additional effort or costs, especially in the case of less popular or custom solutions. Although Shoper allows integration with many accounting systems, payments, or sales platforms, specific integration needs may require an individual approach, which involves additional costs or the need to hire specialists.

For whom we recommend the Shoper store

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

For small and medium-sized enterprises that are just taking their first steps with e-commerce or are looking for a stable platform that also offers technical support.

Start-ups

Start-ups looking for a quick and effective way to introduce their product or services to the network will also find fulfillment of their needs in Shoper. The flexibility of pricing plans and the ability to scale the store as the business grows.

Companies wishing to integrate omnichannel sales

For companies looking for effective solutions enabling the integration of various sales channels in one place. Shoper allows easy connection of the e-commerce store with marketplaces, sales platforms like Allegro, stationary stores, and social media channels.

Companies in the fashion, electronics, and other industries

Due to the flexibility in managing products and categories, Shoper is especially recommended for companies in the fashion, electronics, and other sectors that require dynamic assortment management. The ability to quickly import offers, manage variants, and conduct promotions and discounts makes it suitable for these industries.

fashion

Entrepreneurs seeking support and education

Shoper is also recommended for those who value access to technical support and educational materials. It offers expert assistance and a range of training and webinars that help users develop their stores and gain knowledge about e-commerce.

Shoper applications

Managing an online store requires considering many aspects, from legal aspects, through marketing strategies, to optimizing the purchasing process. Below we present some functionalities worth considering when creating a store.

Before launching an online store, it is crucial to ensure that it operates in accordance with applicable laws and respects consumer rights. For this purpose, store regulations and privacy policies are necessary. Creating these documents can be challenging, but with the help of applications like "Shoper Regulations" (price 199 PLN per year), this process becomes much simpler.

Boosting sales through Cross-Selling

Upselling, i.e., encouraging customers to purchase additional products, is a proven way to increase order value. This can be achieved with the "Related in Cart" application (price 22.99 PLN per month), which allows easy suggestion of related items. It not only increases the cart value but also enhances satisfaction by offering comprehensive solutions.

Rewarding customers

Customers appreciate receiving something for free or as part of a promotion. The "Free Product in Cart" application (price 44 PLN per month) allows stores to offer bonus products when certain conditions are met, e.g., after exceeding a certain order amount.

Highlighting benefits

Informing customers about ongoing promotions, free delivery, or other benefits at an early stage of the purchasing process can significantly influence their decisions. The "Hot Info" application (price 23 PLN per month) allows placing messages about current promotions or special offers in the store, thus speeding up the decision-making process.

Expanding the offer with additional services

Offering customers additional services or products, such as express shipping, decorative packaging, or warranties, can be a good way to increase profits. The "Hot Basket" application (21 PLN per month) allows easy addition of such options to the shopping cart.

Encouraging larger purchases

Encouraging users to purchase a larger quantity of products in exchange for discounts is a proven way to increase sales. Thanks to the "Quantity Thresholds" application, stores can easily set discounts depending on the number of products purchased, thus encouraging larger purchases.

Reducing the number of abandoned carts

Abandoned carts are a big challenge for any e-commerce store. The "Exit Popup" application (price 27 PLN per month) can help reduce them by displaying messages encouraging the completion of purchases when the customer seems interested in leaving the page.

Summary

Shoper has gained recognition among Polish entrepreneurs thanks to its intuitive operation, rich functionality, and flexibility. It is a solution aimed at both small and medium-sized enterprises and individual entrepreneurs wishing to establish a presence in the e-commerce world.

The key advantage of Shoper is its comprehensiveness for e-commerce. It offers a wide range of tools necessary for effective online sales, including advanced product management options, SEO optimization, various payment methods, and integrations with external systems, such as accounting systems or sales platforms like Allegro.

Shoper also takes care of the legal aspects of running an e-commerce store, offering tools for generating regulations and privacy policies, which is invaluable in the context of complying with data protection regulations. Additionally, the platform ensures a high level of transaction and customer data security, which is crucial for building trust and credibility for an online store.

Technical support and a rich knowledge base are additional points for which Shoper receives praise. Access to professional assistance and resources enables quick problem-solving and facilitates store management.