With the continuous popularization of e-commerce in Hong Kong, SMEs are now at an unprecedented critical turning point: e-commerce is no longer a choice, but a necessary skill for the survival of enterprises.
However, when merchants are ready to enter the online market, the first problem in front of them is: “Should I find a professional web design company to create a unique online storefront, or directly use the online store platform to quickly enter the online market?”
Before making a choice, it is better to conduct a “soul-searching”: What is your e-commerce goal?
If you want to create a unique brand image and provide a highly customized shopping experience (such as special animation effects, membership systems, API interface docking, etc.), professional web design companies can meet your needs in all aspects; but if you are looking for a low-cost and fast store opening without complex functions, then online store platforms such as Shopify, Shopline, Wix, etc. may be a more efficient choice.
Website design company vs online store platform: How should small and medium-sized enterprises make a wise choice?
●Website design company: Create a unique brand experience
【Advantages】
Customized design: Fro user interface (UI)/user experience (UX) to shopping process, it can be tailored according to the brand tone, effectively avoiding the dull feeling brought by templates.
Great SEO optimization potential: Professional development teams can deeply optimize search engines to increase natural traffic. According to relevant research, the SEO performance of customized websites is usually more than 30% higher than that of templated websites.
No platform commission: The transaction capital flow is completely controlled independently, avoiding the 2% – 5% handling fee charged by the platform. For B2B businesses or cross-border e-commerce with high customer unit prices, this is a considerable saving.
【Potential Challenges】
Long development cycle: From demand communication to website launch, it may take 1-3 months, which is not suitable for companies that are in urgent need of opening a store.
High subsequent maintenance costs: It is necessary to regularly update technology and fix vulnerabilities. If the company does not have an internal IT team, it may increase operational pressure.
Currently, HONIK Biz’s partner, Hong Kong Web (https://hkweb.com.hk), is launching the “Have Fun SME Web Design Solution”, which not only covers website creation and web design, but also includes domain name registration, SSL encryption certificate and web content update services. For details, please contact HONIK Biz customer service!
● Online store platform: low-cost, high-efficiency “ready-to-fight”
【Advantages】
Quick store opening: products can be put on the shelves within a few hours after registration, which is very suitable for testing market response. For start-ups or small retailers, this is a tool for quickly verifying business models.
Built-in financial flow and logistics: integrated credit card payment, convenience store pickup and other services, eliminating the trouble of self-connection.
No technical worries: The platform is responsible for server maintenance, security updates, etc., and merchants only need to focus on marketing.
【Potential limitations】
Template design: It is difficult to highlight brand differentiation and may “bump” with competitors. For example, two clothing stores using the same template may give consumers a sense of “déjà vu”.
Bound by platform rules: If you violate platform policies (such as selling specific products), you may face the risk of suspension. For example, some platforms prohibit the sale of adult products or counterfeit goods.
Long-term costs may be higher: monthly fees plus transaction fees, function expansion fees, etc. If the online store has complex functions or high turnover, the total expenditure may exceed that of building a website yourself.
According to the survey, 80% of small e-commerce companies will choose to open an online store platform in the early stage, but after the annual revenue exceeds 5 million, about 35% will turn to building their own website to pursue greater control.
In general, choosing a “website design company” or “opening an online store platform” is essentially a trade-off between resource allocation and business strategy.
If you are a “speed faction”: urgent need to go online, limited budget, product standardization → give priority to opening an online store platform.
If you are a “brand faction”: pursuing uniqueness, long-term operation, functional flexibility → invest in professional website design.
Ultimately, no matter which path you choose, the key is to continuously optimize the user experience and use data to drive marketing, which is the core of e-commerce success.
