{"id":93745,"date":"2026-03-31T17:42:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T22:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/?p=93745"},"modified":"2026-03-31T17:42:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T22:42:56","slug":"the-challenges-of-building-a-modern-ecommerce-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/the-challenges-of-building-a-modern-ecommerce-website.html","title":{"rendered":"The Challenges of Building a Modern eCommerce Website"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The further we get into the 21st century, the more contradictory the web seems to become. We have a plethora of no-code tools aimed to make things easier for novices and professionals alike. On the other hand, we see service providers that are increasingly complicated to work with.<\/p>\n<p>This tug-of-war is most evident when it comes to eCommerce. Yes, it&#8217;s now possible to get a basic shopping cart up and running without too much trouble. For instance, entering products into WooCommerce or Shopify is a streamlined process. It&#8217;s the rest of the experience that gets messy.<\/p>\n<p>While eCommerce has never been <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/myth-simple-ecommerce-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">simple<\/a>, one can argue that it also hasn&#8217;t gotten any easier \u2013 despite the technological advancements. Several contributing factors have held back progress. Let&#8217;s look at a few obstacles that are getting in the way of building a modern eCommerce website more efficiently.<\/p>\n<h2>So Many Options \u2013 Each with Caveats<\/h2>\n<p>Having a choice is usually a good thing. But what to do when there are so many options available?<\/p>\n<p>Between content management systems (CMS), shopping carts, payment gateways, and related plugins \u2013 it&#8217;s enough to make even a seasoned developer&#8217;s head spin. And, in addition to their benefits, each has caveats to consider.<\/p>\n<p>The recommendations we make to clients are crucial. Security, stability, and scalability are all project requirements. If we miss one or more of these aspects, it could mean a lot of headaches down the road.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s probably why many of us go with the tools we already know. Even if there are drawbacks, at least we have an idea of what to expect. Still, there&#8217;s always the possibility that a better solution exists elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ecommerce-challenges-01.jpg?resize=900%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"There are pros and cons to every eCommerce provider.\" width=\"900\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>More Stringent Privacy and Security Standards<\/h2>\n<p>Privacy and security are paramount for all websites. They become even more important when considering the need to keep an online store&#8217;s customer and transaction data safe. A significant breach could be disastrous for everyone involved.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, service providers appear to be making changes to tighten up these areas. It&#8217;s a positive in that we want the best security possible. But it can also make a web designer&#8217;s job more difficult.<\/p>\n<p>Take <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/choose-ecommerce-payment-gateway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">payment gateways<\/a> as an example. During the build process, we are often responsible for integrating them into a website. This usually requires login credentials to adjust settings, access API keys, etc.<\/p>\n<p>But it&#8217;s not always a simple task. Thanks to the use of <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/where-two-factor-authentication-falls-short\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">two-factor authentication (2FA)<\/a>, logging in means coordinating with clients to receive security codes. And if your client isn&#8217;t tech savvy or readily available, it could cause delays.<\/p>\n<p>Similar scenarios play out across providers. That makes setting up analytics, customer relationship managers (CRM), and even Google Maps APIs a messy chore.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, clients can delegate access to their existing accounts. Then again, you may have to walk them through setting up the services they don&#8217;t already use. It has become a routine, yet frustrating part of an eCommerce project.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ecommerce-challenges-02.jpg?resize=900%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Security technologies such as two-factor authentication can complicate the build process.\" width=\"900\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Data That&#8217;s Stored in Different Places, Ways<\/h2>\n<p>Data plays a huge role in eCommerce. The right information can help store owners make smart decisions on pricing, inventory, shipping, and more. But all too often, it seems like crucial data is scattered.<\/p>\n<p>This is particularly the case when building with WordPress and WooCommerce. The combo will provide some basics regarding customers and sales. However, the more <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/wordpress-free-plugin-woocommerce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plugins<\/a> you add to the mix, the more difficult it is to retrieve the little details that add further context.<\/p>\n<p>While the data may be stored on your website, that doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s easy to access. Because WordPress plugins can write and store data in various ways, not everything can be <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/wrangling-user-data-in-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrangled<\/a> into a single report \u2013 at least, not without some serious PHP code to bridge these divides.<\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s not just a WordPress problem. Service providers such as payment gateways and shipping companies could also have valuable order information. The process for tapping into and unifying it with other site data isn&#8217;t always straightforward.<\/p>\n<p>Because eCommerce tends to rely on third parties, data is spread all over the place. Web designers have often been tasked with either building a patchwork system for bringing it together or simply leaving some items out.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ecommerce-challenges-03.jpg?resize=900%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Data can be scattered across multiple sources.\" width=\"900\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>eCommerce Is a Different Animal<\/h2>\n<p>The reality is that building an eCommerce website is a unique challenge. It&#8217;s a puzzle that has multiple pieces \u2013 each with varying levels of complexity.<\/p>\n<p>And although the design and build tools may have been improved over the years, other areas have become more difficult to manage. This is due in part to the need for security and our reliance on third-party service providers.<\/p>\n<p>The result is clunky integration processes and disparate data sources. Putting this all together takes time, patience, and expertise. It&#8217;s a good reason why web designers should <a href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/hidden-benefits-raising-prices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">charge significantly more<\/a> for eCommerce projects.<\/p>\n<p>The finished product can still be outstanding. It&#8217;s just that getting there can be a pain!<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/challenges-building-modern-ecommerce-website\/\">The Challenges of Building a Modern eCommerce Website<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\">Speckyboy Design Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Specky Boy<\/p>\n<p id=\"kc_opp\"><small>Republished by  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blogtrafficexchange.com\/\">Blog Post Promoter<\/a><\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The further we get into the 21st century, the more contradictory the web seems to become. We have a plethora of no-code tools &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93746,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[128],"class_list":["post-93745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-affiliate-marketing","tag-advantage"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ecommerce-challenges-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3k0YU-oo1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":92636,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/cheat-sheet-managed-wordpress-ecommerce-hosting.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":0},"title":"Cheat Sheet: Managed WordPress Ecommerce Hosting","author":"admin","date":"March 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Our\u00a0Managed WordPress Ecommerce Hosting\u00a0lets you create a robust ecommerce store quickly and easily. That means building the exact store your clients need for hundreds, even thousands, less per year. Sell Anything. Anywhere.\u00a0 Powered by WooCommerce, our Managed\u00a0WordPress Ecommerce Hosting\u00a0features powerful flexibility with easy-to-use extensions and client-management tools. That can help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93355,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/woocommerce-wednesdays-why-a-flexible-ecommerce-platform-is-vital-to-your-business.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":1},"title":"WooCommerce Wednesdays: Why a flexible ecommerce platform is vital to your business","author":"admin","date":"March 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Having a flexible ecommerce platform is essential to creating a great shopping experience for your buyers. As an ecommerce site, you want the ability to add any feature or functionality to your store while also having the freedom to design your frontend however you\u2019d like. And in the rapidly growing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93426,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/why-managed-ecommerce-hosting-is-essential-to-business-success.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":2},"title":"Why managed ecommerce hosting is essential to business success","author":"admin","date":"March 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A lot goes into creating and operating an ecommerce site. From designing the frontend storefront to optimizing the website\u2019s speed, you and your team need knowledge and skills in a variety of areas. Even if you have the ability to handle every aspect of getting your site up and running\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92259,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/wordpress-ecommerce-everything-you-need-to-know.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":3},"title":"WordPress eCommerce \u2014 Everything you need to know","author":"admin","date":"April 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ready to get started with WordPress eCommerce? This guide will take you through the entire process \u2014 from the first idea for your domain name to your last plugins added \u2014 to start selling products on a WordPress website. Whether you plan to build an empire or just sell a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"WordPress eCommerce \u2014 Everything you need to know","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-ecommerce-bicycle.jpg?fit=640%2C359&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-ecommerce-bicycle.jpg?fit=640%2C359&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-ecommerce-bicycle.jpg?fit=640%2C359&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93351,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/shopify-alternative-use-medusa-to-build-customizable-and-flexible-ecommerce-solutions.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":4},"title":"Shopify Alternative: Use Medusa to Build Customizable and Flexible Ecommerce Solutions","author":"admin","date":"April 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Learn about Medusa, an open-source, developer-focused Shopify alternative that can be customized and scaled to suit your needs. Continue reading Shopify Alternative: Use Medusa to Build Customizable and Flexible Ecommerce Solutions on SitePoint. Source: Site Point","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1657505405medusa-shopify-alternative2.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1657505405medusa-shopify-alternative2.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1657505405medusa-shopify-alternative2.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1657505405medusa-shopify-alternative2.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1657505405medusa-shopify-alternative2.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92851,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/the-quick-guide-to-inventory-management-for-ecommerce.html","url_meta":{"origin":93745,"position":5},"title":"The quick guide to inventory management for ecommerce","author":"admin","date":"March 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"To build a sustainable, profitable, scalable ecommerce business this year, you need to understand the ins and outs of managing inventory. Poor inventory management can be a complex challenge to overcome for any ecommerce entrepreneur, no matter your expertise, the size of your business, the types of products you sell,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93745"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93805,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93745\/revisions\/93805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}