The BigCommerce for WordPress plugin is a fully-featured integration. One that is designed to allow you to scale your store quickly. It does this by keeping much of the back-end functionality within the BigCommerce SaaS platform.

This functionality includes:

• Catalog management
• Managing fulfillment logistics
• Processing payments
• Order management

The difference is that the plugin allows you to continue to use WordPress on the front-end. So, you have access to its unlimited customization options as well as thousands of themes and plugins.

With the power of WordPress, you can now design an attractive site that seamlessly integrates content and shopping. Whether your goal is to start a new blog, or craft perfectly-styled product descriptions, the plugin can help you achieve it.

An interesting fact. Shopify attempted this exact same thing a of couple years ago when they launched their own WordPress plugin. However, it has now been closed down and the only thing they offer for WordPress users is a way to add a button, no integration. Will BigCommerce pull off what Shopify couldn’t?

Advantages of BigCommerce

Embracing the power and functionality of WordPress has allowed BigCommerce to offer “headless commerce” to users – combining a strong backend commerce engine with the most popular content management system (CMS). Plus, it supports the ability to display content, create product categories, and conduct sales on the same URL, which is a good new SEO strategy.

Here are at the unique advantages that BigCommerce has created:

1. Improved Scalability

BigCommerce designed its new plugin to be robust and support scalability for large businesses. It did this in three ways:

1. The company included many standards ecommerce features within its own plugin. Thereby, removing the need to install additional plugins that can slow down your site.
2. It retained most of the back-end elements outside of WordPress, so they would not take up room on the platform and negatively impact site speed.
3. BigCommerce designed the plugin to allow you to build multiple WordPress stores. And you can still control them all from a single control panel.

BigCommerce built its SaaS platform with a focus on being able to easily accommodate large businesses. The company ensured its new WordPress plugin maintained this ability to handle large volumes of traffic. As well as high order volumes.

The plugin also supports up to 600 SKUs per product and enables the creation of complex catalogs. It offers over 250 options for creating a completely customized product catalog.

2. Enhanced Security

The BigCommerce plugin has maintained all the security features of its SaaS platform. These include:

• PCI Compliance. The new BigCommerce plugin has been designed to provide an embedded checkout experience. This experience takes care of PCI compliance and customer security on your behalf. For example, you do not have to worry about credit card data security, or items like encryption or collecting signatureswith PCI compliance.
• Secure user accounts and logins. BigCommerce offers secure logins, accounts, and payment information storage for your customers outside of WordPress. This feature can increase your customers’ sense of safety and confidence in the security of their data.
• Integrated payment gateways. The BigCommerce plugin provides you and your customers with instant access to over 65 different payment gateway integrations, that serve over 100 countries and enable over 250 local payment methods. Not only does this mean a vast number of payment options, but it also means you don’t have to worry about setting up or maintaining those secure gateways.

3. Customization Support

WooCommerce and BigCommerce both offer nearly unlimited customization through the WordPress platform. However, BigCommerce has designed in additional functionality that will make the customization process easier.

• Out-of-the-box functionality. The BigCommerce plugin has been designed to quickly and easily integrate all your standard ecommerce functionality into any existing WordPress themes, so that little upfront customization and no coding knowledge is required before launching your new store. It even supports the new Gutenberg block editor.
• AMP optimization. The plugin is designed to support Accelerated Mobile Pagesnatively on product and category pages so that your site is faster for mobile browsing and shopping.
• Unrestricted access to key plugin files: The BigCommerce plugin also supports WordPress’ standard method of overriding template files so you can modify any out-of-the-box designs without fear of losing your customization. In other words, you can customize your integrated product cards, lists, and cart without risking plugin updates that will undo your changes.
• A large support network. BigCommerce helps connect its customers to its large online community of entrepreneurs and online store owners so that you can discuss ideas, learn from others, and get answers to any of your customization questions. The company is also actively seeking developers to help improve the app and resolve any customer issues.

4. Additional Features

As a final advantage, here are several valuable features BigCommerce has built into its plugin:

1. Analytics. BigCommerce provides access to a wealth of data and valuable analytics about your store’s performance.
2. Streamlined global shipping. BigCommerce also provides real-time global carrier quotes and supports most major global couriers. This enables you to access options such as free shipping, drop shipping, flat rates, and much more. Plus, the company just released their BigCommerce Shipping functionality, which allows you to easily get customized, real-time shipping rates from major carriers at discounted rates.
3. Flexible shopping cart. BigCommerce’s embedded shopping cart offers extensive customization options so that you can offer enterprise-grade promotions and discounts within a fully responsive layout without any additional extensions or plugins.
4. Better credit card rates. BigCommerce allows all of its customers to have access to its pre-negotiated credit card rates. Currently, these are the lowest fees available within the SaaS e-commerce space. Plus, you can benefit from the BigCommerce’s affordable PayPal rates. And, as your business grows, and upgrade your plan, you get even better credit card rates.

Advantages of WooCommerce

There is no denying that BigCommerce a powerhouse of an ecommerce plugin. It’s strong, fast, and ready to scale your business. But, that doesn’t mean WooCommerce isn’t a good choice for your business either.