10 FAQs to Evaluate Shopify Alternatives for Indian Enterprises

As Indian enterprises increasingly embrace digital commerce, Shopify often stands out as a leading e-commerce platform. However, for businesses with unique needs, such as localization, scalability, or seamless integration with local payment gateways, Shopify may fall short. Fortunately, there are several alternatives tailored to Indian enterprise brands, offering more flexibility, better features, and enhanced support.

In this blog, we will explore the 10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) when evaluating Shopify alternatives and dive into what makes StoreHippo the perfect solution for Indian enterprises.

10 FAQs To Help Indian Enterprise Brands Evaluate What to Look for in the Perfect Shopify Alternative

Here are the 10 questions along with related queries to help you make an informed decision about the best Shopify-like platform to grow your business in Indian markets and reach beyond borders.

10 must ask questions from Shopify alternative platforms for Indian Enterprises

1. What key features should the Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises have?

Answer: When choosing Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises, it's essential to look for platforms that offer seamless scalability, multi-currency and multi-language support, and integration with local payment gateways and logistics providers. Additionally, robust B2B features like dynamic pricing, bulk order management, and advanced customizations are crucial to meet the unique demands of Indian businesses. The top Shopify alternatives for ecommerce should also provide strong support for omnichannel selling and easy integration with preferred third-party software and tools.

Related Questions

1. What payment gateways are supported by the platform?
This helps verify if the platform integrates with popular Indian gateways like Paytm, Razorpay, and UPI, ensuring smooth transactions, which is crucial when selecting Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises.

2. Can the platform handle scaling across different industry verticals?
This question helps evaluate if the platform is versatile enough to support expansion into diverse sectors like retail, manufacturing, or healthcare, a vital feature for Shopify enterprise replacements.

3. Does the platform provide comprehensive SEO and marketing tools?
By asking this, you assess whether the platform can help increase visibility in search engines and run marketing campaigns, essential for top Shopify alternatives for ecommerce.

4. Can the platform integrate with third-party tools and apps?
This determines the flexibility of the solution in connecting with tools for CRM, analytics, or marketing automation, helping you streamline operations, which is important for Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises.

5. What kind of customer support is offered, and is it localized?
Asking this question ensures that the platform provides timely, region-specific support, which is crucial for businesses using Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises to manage technical issues efficiently.

StoreHippo, built on MACH ( Microservices, AAPI-first, Cloud-native, Headless) architecture excels in all these areas by offering advanced scalability options, extensive customization capabilities, and local payment integration, making it a strong alternative to Shopify.

2. Does the Shopify alternative have support for building multi-vendor marketplaces?

Answer: Yes, many Shopify alternatives offer built-in support for multi-vendor marketplaces, allowing businesses to onboard multiple sellers, manage commissions, and provide a seamless experience for vendors and customers. This feature is crucial for businesses looking to scale operations and create marketplace ecosystems, which Shopify enterprise platforms may not offer natively.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer features for managing vendor commissions and payouts?
This helps evaluate how efficiently the platform manages complex payment systems for vendors, which is essential when choosing Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises.

2. Can vendors manage their own storefronts and products on the platform?
This ensures that vendors have autonomy to manage their inventory, track orders, and customize their stores, making the marketplace more attractive to sellers and ideal for Shopify enterprise replacements.

3. Is there a built-in review and rating system for vendors?
Asking this helps determine if the platform has mechanisms to build trust between customers and vendors, an important feature for Shopify alternatives when running multi-vendor marketplaces.

4. Does the platform provide analytics and reporting tools for vendors?
This question helps assess whether vendors can access detailed insights into their sales performance, crucial for optimizing their business operations on a multi-vendor Shopify alternative.

5. Can the platform scale to support a growing number of vendors and transactions?
Ensures the platform can handle increasing vendor registrations and high transaction volumes, making it a reliable choice for top Shopify alternatives for eCommerce marketplaces.

StoreHippo comes with built-in multi-vendor marketplace support, allowing you to manage vendors, track commissions, and set up complex business models with ease. In contrast, Shopify requires third-party apps to enable multi-vendor features, which can become cumbersome and costly over time.

3. Does the Shopify alternative platform offer solutions for mobile commerce?

Answer: While most Shopify alternatives offer some degree of support for mobile commerce like mobile-responsive websites, not all platforms have the provision for building mobile apps, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) to ensure smooth shopping experiences on smartphones. This is crucial for Indian enterprises as mobile commerce is rapidly growing, with over 50% of e-commerce transactions in India happening through mobile devices. Having a mobile-first platform is critical for your business and you must ascertain your chosen Shopify enterprise alternative offers mobile commerce support.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer mobile apps for Android and iOS?
Asking this ensures that Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises provide mobile apps to enhance the user experience and increase engagement on mobile devices.

2. Is the platform optimized for mobile responsiveness?
This helps verify if the platform automatically adjusts the storefront layout for different screen sizes, an essential feature for businesses focusing on mobile commerce.

3. Does the platform support Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?
This question helps evaluate if the alternative ecommerce platform provides PWAs, which offer app-like experiences without the need for app store downloads, a great feature for mobile-first businesses.

4. Can customers complete transactions seamlessly on mobile devices?
Ensures that the platform supports mobile-friendly checkout processes, making it easier for customers to complete purchases on the go, which is vital for Shopify alternatives for eCommerce success.

5. Does the platform integrate with mobile-specific marketing tools?
Asking this helps determine if the platform can help sell better through mobile channels by integrating with third-party tools known for boosting engagement and conversion rates. Also, make sure to ensure what support the Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises you are considering do offer mobile-friendly marketing options like SMS campaigns and push notifications.

StoreHippo is designed with a mobile-first approach, offering Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that work flawlessly across devices and even on slow internet connections for tier II, III, and beyond cities. StoreHippo also comes with a built-in mobile apps builder that creates Android and iOS apps. Themes at StoreHippo are mobile-optimized and work on all devices. Shopify, while offering mobile-responsive themes, doesn’t have the same level of mobile-first design as StoreHippo, particularly for enterprises targeting mobile-driven markets.

4. How well does the Shopify alternative for Indian enterprises handle localization and regional business requirements?

Answer: The top Shopify alternatives for ecommerce that you are evaluating should be designed to handle localization effectively by offering multilingual support, integration with local software and service providers ( like; payment gateways like UPI and Paytm, logistics providers, etc.), and compliance with Indian tax systems such as GST. These platforms also allow customization for regional marketing strategies, making them ideal for businesses that need to cater to diverse audiences across different states in India.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform support multiple Indian languages for a localized shopping experience?
This helps ensure that the platform can cater to customers from different regions, enhancing accessibility and reach, a must for top Shopify alternatives for eCommerce.

2. Is the platform compliant with Indian tax regulations, including GST?
Asking this ensures that the Shopify alternative can handle the complex tax structures specific to Indian businesses, avoiding compliance issues.

3. Can the platform integrate with popular Indian logistics services?
This question helps determine whether the platform can connect with local delivery services like Delhivery or Blue Dart, ensuring smooth order fulfillment for businesses.

4. Does the platform offer support for region-specific marketing campaigns?
This evaluates if the platform allows customization of promotions and offers based on regional preferences, helping businesses tap into local markets more effectively.

5. Can the platform handle local currencies and payment methods?
Asking this ensures that the Shopify alternative supports INR and other region-specific payment methods like UPI, critical for businesses looking to succeed on top Shopify alternatives for eCommerce platforms.

While Shopify supports some localization options, StoreHippo shines by offering built-in multilingual capabilities with support for RTL languages like Urdu, local payment gateway integrations, and a built-in tax engine with full GST support. These features make StoreHippo one of the top Shopify alternatives for Indian businesses. 

5. Does the Shopify alternative for enterprises support B2B and B2C models simultaneously?

Answer: This question is important as your enterprise brand might diversify to different business models going forward. While many Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises offer some degree of support for both B2B and B2C models via apps and plugins, not all have a native support to run two or more business models from the same subscription. To ensure you are choosing the right platform you should ask if your chosen solution provides features like dynamic pricing, bulk ordering, and supports huge catalogs for B2B, while also offering user-friendly interfaces, product browsing, and seamless checkout for B2C. This flexibility will enable your enterprise brand to manage multiple sales channels under one platform, streamlining operations efficiently.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer dynamic pricing and bulk order management for B2B customers?
This ensures that Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises cater to large-scale B2B transactions while maintaining flexibility for B2C sales.

2. Can the platform support target audience-specific catalogs for B2B clients?
Asking this helps evaluate if the platform allows customized product listings based on customer type, a key feature for handling both B2B and B2C simultaneously.

3. Does the platform offer personalized pricing and discounts for B2B customers?
This assesses whether the Shopify alternative can handle different pricing models for bulk buyers, while still managing traditional retail pricing for B2C customers.

4. Can the platform build separate B2B and B2C stores?
Asking this ensures that the platform allows different experiences for B2B and B2C customers, keeping the interface streamlined for both types of users.

5. Does the platform support both bulk and individual order processing?
This helps verify if the platform can handle large B2B orders alongside standard B2C purchases, making it ideal for businesses using Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises.

StoreHippo is built to support both B2B and B2C business models, with features like customizable pricing, bulk order management, and personalized catalogs for different buyer segments. StoreHippo also offers full support for B2C ecommerce and both businesses can be run on two different stores managed by a common central admin. Shopify, on the other hand, may need extensive customization or third-party apps to manage such requirements efficiently.

6. How easy is it to scale the Shopify alternatives for enterprises as the business grows?

Answer: Shopify alternatives for enterprises should be designed to scale effortlessly as your business expands. These platforms should offer flexible infrastructure, allowing you to add more products, handle higher traffic, and integrate additional third-party tools without performance issues. As your business grows, your chosen Shopify alternative should also support more complex operations, such as multi-channel selling and international expansion, making it a viable option for long-term growth.

Related Questions

1. Can the platform handle an increasing number of products and SKUs?
This ensures that your chosen Shopify alternative for enterprises can manage larger inventories without affecting site performance, crucial as your product range expands.

2. Does the platform support high traffic volumes during peak sales periods?
Asking this helps evaluate whether the platform can handle spikes in traffic, which is important for scaling during events like seasonal sales or product launches.

3. Is it easy to integrate additional third-party tools as the business needs evolve?
This assesses whether the platform can seamlessly incorporate new tools for CRM, analytics, or marketing as the enterprise scales.

4. Can the platform support multi-channel and international selling?
This ensures that the Shopify alternative for enterprises allows businesses to expand into new markets and sell across different channels, crucial for growth.

5. Does the platform provide automated solutions for scaling operations?
Asking this helps determine if the platform offers automated features like inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer support, ensuring efficiency as the business scales.

While Shopify provides good scalability, it’s often tied to additional costs for enterprise-level plans. StoreHippo, however, offers built-in scalability with flexible server infrastructure backed by cloud-native architecture. It also offers seamless integrations with 300+ API endpoints allowing you to build a unique ecosystem for your brand needs. 

7. What kind of ongoing support does the Shopify alternative platform provide for Indian enterprises?

Answer: The best Shopify alternatives for enterprises should offer comprehensive ongoing support, including in the form of updates and upgrades of the platform, customer service, extensive documentation, and technical assistance. The platforms you are considering should also provide regular updates to ensure compatibility with the latest trends and technologies. For Indian enterprises, localized support, including regional language options and integration with Indian payment systems, is also crucial to maintaining smooth business operations.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer after sales technical support?
This ensures that businesses using Shopify alternatives for enterprises can get timely help whenever technical issues arise, minimizing downtime.

2. Are there resources like detailed documentation and tutorials for easy onboarding?
Asking this helps evaluate if the platform provides enough learning materials to help your team fully utilize its features.

3. Does the platform provide regular security updates?
Ensures the Shopify alternative for enterprises maintains strong security by offering frequent updates to protect against vulnerabilities.

4. Is there localized support for language, payments, and logistics?
This helps verify if the platform can provide region-specific support, which is essential for Indian enterprises looking to operate smoothly in the local market.

5. Does the platform offer performance tracking tools and reports for business?
Asking this helps ensure that the Shopify alternative provides insights and performance metrics to give deeper business insights for growth. 

StoreHippo, one of the leading Shopify alternatives for enterprises, goes beyond basic after-sales support by offering automatic updates and upgrades based on changing market trends. With features like multi-channel support for technical issues, help center, guides, videos and exhaustive blogs on the latest marketing and sales tips, StoreHippo ensures that your business always stays ahead of the curve, making it the perfect platform for growing Indian enterprises.

8. How easy is it to customize the Shopify alternative platform for brand-specific needs?

Enterprise brands require unique customizations to reflect their brand identity and meet specific operational demands. Shopify is known for its rigid structure, where advanced customizations often require expensive developer support or third-party apps.

Answer: Shopify alternatives you are considering should be highly customizable, allowing your brand to tailor its storefronts, product catalogs, and checkout experiences to reflect your unique brand identity. TheShopify competitors you are considering should have features and tools that help your brand to create a personalized shopping experience. Additionally, these platforms should offer seamless integrations, enabling brands to add new functionalities and third-party tools as needed.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer customizable themes and templates?
This ensures that the Shopify alternative provides enough flexibility for brands to design their storefront according to their visual identity and style.

2. Can businesses modify the backend for deeper customization?
Asking this helps verify if you can get the backend code tweaked to make advanced customizations, which is crucial for meeting specific brand requirements.

3. Are there drag-and-drop builders for easy design changes?
This feature allows non-technical users to easily modify the design and layout, making the platform accessible for businesses that need quick updates.

4. Does the platform offer custom checkout options?
Asking this ensures that the Shopify alternative can personalize the checkout flow to improve customer experience and align with the brand's unique needs.

5. Can the platform integrate with third-party apps and tools?
This question helps evaluate whether the platform allows seamless integration with marketing, CRM, or analytics tools, enabling further customization.

StoreHippo, as a leading Shopify alternative, offers extensive customization options with flexible themes, a powerful drag-and-drop builder, and the ability to tweak the frontend as well as the backend. Its API integrations and modular structure make it easy for enterprises to build brand-specific solutions, ensuring a fully personalized experience tailored to their business needs.

9. Does the Shopify alternative for Indian Enterprises offer headless commerce capabilities?

Answer: Yes, many Shopify alternatives for Indian enterprises come with headless commerce capabilities, allowing enterprises to decouple the front-end and back-end of their platforms. This enables greater flexibility in creating custom user interfaces across multiple touchpoints like mobile apps, websites, and kiosks while maintaining a centralized backend for data management. This is particularly useful for businesses that require highly personalized customer experiences across different devices and channels.

Related Questions

1. Can the platform's front-end be customized independently from the back-end?
This ensures that the Shopify alternative for Indian enterprises offers the flexibility needed to design unique front-end experiences without altering the back-end infrastructure.

2. Does the platform support omnichannel selling with headless architecture?
Asking this helps verify whether the platform can deliver seamless experiences across various customer touchpoints, an essential feature for enterprises looking to scale.

3. Are there API integrations to create a unique set up for different buyer groups?
This helps evaluate if the Shopify alternative provides robust APIs to facilitate custom set-up, crucial for businesses seeking tailored experiences.

4. Does the platform support different integrations and mobile apps for different stores?
Ensures that the Shopify alternative enables your business to create store specific apps, improving user engagement and performance on mobile devices.

5. Can the platform handle complex B2B or B2C setups with headless commerce?
Asking this helps determine whether the platform can manage different business models, allowing for customized experiences for both B2B and B2C customers.

StoreHippo, as a leading Shopify alternative for Indian enterprises, provides advanced headless commerce capabilities, enabling businesses to build personalized and high-performing customer experiences across multiple touchpoints. With API-driven architecture and seamless front-end customization, StoreHippo ensures enterprises can adapt to the evolving needs of their customers while maintaining centralized control of their operations.

10. Does the Shopify alternative offer transparent and cost-effective pricing for enterprises?

Answer: This question helps you evaluate if the Shopify alternatives offers transparent and cost-effective pricing models tailored to enterprise needs. Many alternatives for Shopify provide flexible pricing based on usage, features, and the scale of operations, allowing businesses to avoid hidden fees and pay only for the services they require. Additionally, Shopify alternatives for enterprises typically offer more affordable plans with features like unlimited products, transactions, and customization, ensuring scalability without excessive costs.

Related Questions

1. Does the platform offer flexible pricing plans based on business size and needs?
This helps evaluate whether the Shopify alternative provides tiered pricing, allowing your enterprise to scale without overspending on features you don’t need.

2. Are there any hidden fees or additional costs for scaling?
Asking this ensures that the chosen alternative platform maintains transparent pricing, so your business can plan their budgets effectively.

3. Does the platform charge for additional users, bandwidth, or transactions?
This helps determine if there are extra costs as the business grows, allowing your brand to predict operational expenses when choosing a Shopify alternative.

4. Are there bundled services or enterprise-specific pricing options?
Asking this evaluates whether the platform offers comprehensive packages for large enterprises, which can reduce overall costs and provide more value.

5. Does the platform provide clear pricing documentation?
This ensures that your chosen Shopify alternative for enterprises gives you detailed pricing information and helps you manage costs as your business grows.

StoreHippo, as a trusted Shopify alternative for enterprises, offers a transparent, flexible, and cost-effective pricing model that ensures businesses can scale without encountering hidden fees. With comprehensive plans tailored to enterprise needs and clear pricing structures, StoreHippo makes it easy for businesses to manage costs while accessing all the features they need for growth.

Conclusion

Choosing the right e-commerce platform for your Indian enterprise is a critical decision that impacts growth, scalability, and customer satisfaction. While Shopify is a popular choice, its limitations in localization, flexibility, and cost can be barriers for many businesses.

StoreHippo emerges as the perfect Shopify alternative, offering a comprehensive suite of features tailored to the unique needs of Indian enterprises—from regional customization and B2B/B2C support to headless commerce and advanced scalability.

If you're ready to take your enterprise brand to the next level, consider StoreHippo as your e-commerce partner. Start your 14-day free trial to explore the benefits right away!