Want A Custom Ecommerce Portal? Get It Developed In PHP For Optimized Speed Score

In the last decade, the popularity of online shopping has gone up visibly, and the ongoing pandemic has added fuel to the fire! Developing an e-commerce website can be quite profitable. However, it is also necessary that you use the right platform for developing an e-commerce portal. There are many tools that you can use for developing such websites nowadays. However, it is prudent to pick a PHP-based tool or framework for setting up e-commerce websites. 

Why is using PHP for developing an e-commerce portal a prudent idea?

PHP is a server-side scripting language that has been in the web development scene for almost as long as HTML. Over the years, it has become more feature-packed and versatile. In fact, a majority of existing websites are powered by PHP- in some form or the other. It can be useful for developing feature-rich and fully functional e-commerce websites. However, to ensure your e-commerce website is designed using PHP in the best way, you should hire a suitable PHP web application development company.

• Diversity of platforms- There was a time PHP developers resorted to hand-coding for developing various types of websites. However, that is no longer the case. Nowadays, you can pick from a wide range of PHP-based tools to develop an e-commerce portal. There are CMS solutions like WordPress, Drupal or you may pick from e-commerce-specific solutions like Zen Cart and Magento. The benefit is you get many elements required to create stunning e-commerce websites in place.
• Cost-saving- You may have set a certain budget for setting up an e-commerce website. If the budget is not high, opting for a PHP-based tool makes sense. PHP, after all, is an Open-source language, and many of the derivatives based on it are also available free of cost. So, this keeps website development costs on the lower side. This can be ideal for e-commerce entities with a modest budget.
• Developer availability- Since PHP has been in the web development scene for a very long time, it is not hard to locate skilled PHP developers anywhere. This can be advantageous when you want to get an E-commerce portal designed using PHP tools. You can look for skilled PHP developers and custom PHP web development agencies offering such services in your location. In fact, there are many options available. You can hire an offshore PHP agency to outsource the work. You may also hire a skilled freelance PHP developer. 
• Speed- Web users are not exactly known for their patience, and the same can be said about people who buy things online. If your e-commerce website is sluggish, the majority of users will prefer buying from other websites. Using PHP, developing a fast e-commerce website is not tough. The latest version of PHP is even better in this regard. Even the PHP derivatives based on the newer versions offer faster performance. 
• Huge community support and documentation- The online community support for PHP is huge, and the same is true about PHP-based CMS and tools like WP and Magento. So, developing an e-commerce website using PHP frameworks and tools is never an uphill task. If the developers get stuck while the project is underway, they can seek support online. The online forums and communities will revert within a short time. 
• Security- In the past, PHP was often criticized for some security loopholes. However, the new version of PHP has got most of these security loopholes fixed. So, you need not worry about e-commerce site security issues if PHP is used. Moreover, if you pick PHP-based CMS tools like WP, you can use security plug-ins. 
• Integration with other tools- Your e-commerce website may have to be integrated with specific online services and tools. This can be necessary for the benefit of the end-users. PHP-based tools like WP and Magento offer excellent interoperability and integration with popular online services and tools. The expertise of a veteran PHP development company can be useful in this regard. 

Picking the right PHP agency for developing an e-commerce website

Nowadays, you will find so many agencies offering PHP development services, and some of them also offer e-commerce development packages. You can also pick from the PHP website development services that outsource work for foreign clients. However, assessing these entities using the vital aspects is something you can’t skip. 

Here is what you need to assess:

• First of all, learn about the tenure of the agency in this sector. A long-time player is likely to offer better services.
• Check out the portfolio of the agency and see how its E-commerce websites function. Check for aspects like security, speed, and overall experience.
• You also need to look out for reviews of its clients using online resources. 
• Before signing up for the agency, ensure you learn about cost and support terms. 

You can opt for either a PHP development agency or a freelance PHP developer to get an e-commerce website developed. It is hard to say what is the better option, and you have to analyze your needs and situation. If there is no hurry and the website to be developed is not huge, hiring a freelance developer may suffice. However, for creating a large-sized e-commerce website with third-party integrations, opting for the services of a PHP development firm is a better choice. 

Summing it up

PHP-powered platforms and tools are ideal for creating a secure, functional e-commerce portal. However, perform proper research before choosing the right agency offering such services.